Case Name: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee v. Vincent THOMAS, Defendant-Appellant
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2013-04-02
Citations: 545 F. App'x 273
Docket Number: No. 12-30815
Parties: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee v. Vincent THOMAS, Defendant-Appellant.
Judges: Before JOLLY, ELROD, and GRAVES, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 545
Pages: 273–274

Head Matter:
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee v. Vincent THOMAS, Defendant-Appellant.
No. 12-30815
Summary Calendar.
United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.
April 2, 2013.
Kevin G. Boitmann, Assistant U.S. Attorney, Diane Hollenshead Copes, Esq., Assistant U.S. Attorney, Carol Loupe Michel, U.S. Attorney’s Office, New Orleans, LA, for Plaintiff-Appellee.
Vincent Thomas, Texarkana, TX, pro se.
Before JOLLY, ELROD, and GRAVES, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM:
Vincent Thomas, federal prisoner # 30134-034, pleaded guilty to distributing five grams or more of crack cocaine and distributing 50 grams or more of crack cocaine. He was sentenced to a mandatory minimum term of 20 years of imprisonment. Thomas now seeks leave to proceed in forma pauperis (IFP) on appeal to chal lenge the denial of his motion for a reduction of sentence pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c). By so moving, Thomas challenges the district court's certification that his appeal was not taken in good faith. See Baugh v. Taylor, 117 F.3d 197, 202 & n. 24 (5th Cir.1997).
To the extent that Thomas contends that the provisions of the Fair Sentencing Act (FSA), which amended the amounts of crack needed to trigger statutory minimum sentences, should apply to him, the district court lacked authority to reduce his sentence below the statutory minimum sentence of 20 years. See United States v. Carter, 595 F.3d 575, 578-81 (5th Cir.2010). Accordingly, Thomas's argument that he is entitled to a reduction in light of the FSA is without merit. Cf. Dorsey v. United States, — U.S. -, 132 S.Ct. 2321, 2335-36, 183 L.Ed.2d 250 (2012) ("[I]n federal sentencing the ordinary practice is to apply new penalties to defendants not yet sentenced.").
Thomas's argument that the district court erred by not considering the mitigating factors under 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) when determining whether to reduce his sentence under § 3582(c)(2) is likewise unavailing. See Dillon v. United States, 560 U.S. 817, 130 S.Ct. 2683, 2691-92, 177 L.Ed.2d 271 (2010). To the extent that Thomas seeks to challenge his original sentence on the basis that the district court failed to consider the § 3553(a) factors, arguments challenging an original sentence are not cognizable under § 3582(c)(2). See United States v. Evans, 587 F.3d 667, 674 (5th Cir.2009).
Because Thomas has failed to demonstrate a nonfrivolous issue for appeal, his motion for leave to proceed IFP is denied. See Baugh, 117 F.3d at 202 & n. 24. The appeal is dismissed as frivolous. See 5th Cir. R. 42.2.
IFP MOTION DENIED; APPEAL DISMISSED.
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.