Case Name: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee v. Anthony BENJAMIN, Defendant-Appellant
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2016-07-11
Citations: 654 F. App'x 666
Docket Number: No. 15-30418
Parties: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee v. Anthony BENJAMIN, Defendant-Appellant
Judges: Before BARKSDALE, DENNIS, and SOUTHWTCK, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 654
Pages: 666–667

Head Matter:
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee v. Anthony BENJAMIN, Defendant-Appellant
No. 15-30418
Summary Calendar
United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.
Date Filed: 07/11/2016
Kevin G. Boitmann, Assistant U.S, Attorney, Diane Hollenshead Copes, Esq., Assistant U.S. Attorney, New Orleans, LA, for Plaintiff-Appellee
Ada Phleger, Federal Public Defender’s Office Eastern District of Louisiana, New Orleans, LA, Claude John Kelly, III, Federal Public Defender, Gary V. Schwabe, Jr., Esq., Assistant Federal Public Defender, New Orleans, LA, for Defendant-Appellant
Before BARKSDALE, DENNIS, and SOUTHWTCK, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM:
Anthony Benjamin, federal prisoner # 30977-034, challenges the denial of his 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(2) sentence-reduction motion. In 2010, he pleaded guilty to: possession, with intent to distribute, 50 grams or more of cocaine base, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(A); possession, with intent to distribute, 500 grams or more of cocaine hydrochloride, in violation of § 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(B); and being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2).
Benjamin's pre-sentence investigation report (PSR) calculated his total-offense level at 29, and his criminal history category at V, which resulted in an advisory Sentencing Guidelines range of 140 to 175 months' imprisonment. The court adopted the PSR, and sentenced Benjamin to 170 months.
In 2011, citing Guideline Amendment 760, Benjamin moved for a sentence reduction under § 3582(c)(2). The court: granted the motion; reduced Benjamin's total-offense level to 27, giving him a Guidelines range of 120 to 150 months' imprisonment; and reduced his sentence to 158 months' imprisonment. Our court affirmed that above-Guidelines sentence. See United States v. Benjamin, 487 Fed.Appx. 937, 938 (5th Cir. 2012).
In 2014, Benjamin filed the § 3582(c)(2) motion that forms the basis of this appeal, asserting he was entitled to another sentence reduction based on Amendment 782 (reducing base-offense levels provided for in Guidelines' drug-quantity table). As a result of that amendment, Benjamin's total-offense level was reduced to 25, and his amended Guidelines range was reduced 120 to 125 months' imprisonment. Nonetheless, the court denied his motion, stating Benjamin's current 158-month sentence was "fair and reasonable under the circumstances" and that he "received the prior benefit of a sentence reduction".
In challenging that determination, Benjamin asserts: he was eligible for a sentence reduction; and, the court abused its discretion in denying, his § 3582(c)(2) motion because it clearly erred in its assessment of the evidence when weighing the 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) sentencing factors. A decision whether to reduce a sentence pursuant to § 3582(c)(2) is reviewed for abuse of discretion. E.g., United States v. Evans, 587 F.3d 667, 672 (5th Cir. 2009).
Section 3582(c)(2) provides for reductions where a sentence was imposed "based on a sentencing range that has subsequently been lowered' by the Sentencing Commission". United States v. Doublin, 572 F.3d 235, 237 (5th Cir. 2009) (quoting § 3582(c)(2)). Such reductions "are not mandatory; this section merely gives the district court discretion to reduce a sentence under limited circumstances". Id. at 238.
The record shows the court gave due consideration to: Benjamin's § 3582(c) motion; the § 3553(a) factors; and his mitigating assertions, including his positive post-sentence rehabilitation efforts. As noted,' the court was under no obligation to grant a sentence reduction. See Evans, 587 F.3d at 673. Accordingly, Benjamin fails to show the requisite abuse of discretion. See id. at 672-73 & n.11; United States v. Whitebird, 55 F.3d 1007, 1009-10 (5th Cir. 1995).
AFFIRMED.
Pursuant to 5th Cir, R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5th Cir. . R. 47.5.4.