Opinion ID: 2670563
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: first modification motion

Text: 3 Case: 12-12596 Date Filed: 04/18/2014 Page: 4 of 11 On November 1, 2007, the Sentencing Commission promulgated Amendment 706. USSG App. C, Amend. 706 (2007). “The effect of Amendment 706 is to provide a two-level reduction in base offense levels for crack cocaine offenses.” United States v. Moore, 541 F.3d 1323, 1325 (11th Cir. 2008). On March 3, 2008, the Commission made Amendment 706 retroactively applicable. USSG App C., Amend. 713 (2008). Therefore, following the adoption of these Amendments Mr. Tellis’s base offense level under USSG § 2D1.1 was lowered from 38 to 36 given the amount of crack involved in this case. Also on March 3, 2008, the Commission revised its policy statement in § 1B1.10. It said that a defendant is not eligible for a sentence reduction where an amendment “does not have the effect of lowering [his] applicable guideline range because of the operation of another guideline or statutory provision.” USSG § 1B1.10, cmt. 1(A). To receive sentencing relief under § 3582(c)(2), the Amendment relied upon must lower the “applicable guideline range.” Id. The Commission defined the applicable guideline range as “the guideline range that corresponds to the offense level and criminal history category determined pursuant to [USSG §] 1B1.1(a), which is determined before consideration of any departure provision in the Guidelines Manual or any variance.” Id. In May 2008, the district court ordered a supplemental PSR to establish whether, in light of Amendment 706 and USSG § 1B1.10, Mr. Tellis’s original 4 Case: 12-12596 Date Filed: 04/18/2014 Page: 5 of 11 sentence should be reduced. One week later, Mr. Tellis moved for a modification of his sentence pursuant to Amendment 706. In its response to the district court order, the Probation Office stated that the base offense level for Mr. Tellis under Amendment 706 in light of the amount of drugs involved would be 36. “However,” it continued, “pursuant to the career offender provisions of USSG § 4B1.1, the offense level is enhanced to 37, and with a 3 level reduction for acceptance of responsibility, the total offense level becomes 34.” Applying the three-level reduction pursuant to substantial assistance as before would then result in an offense level of 31, which has an imprisonment range of 188 to 235 months. Thus, to reach the offense level of 31, the Probation Office relied on the career offender offense level in USSG § 4B1.1 as a starting point. On July 18, 2008, Mr. Tellis and the United States filed a joint stipulation. They noted that the supplemental PSR “correctly states that, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(2), the defendant is eligible for a reduction in his previously-imposed term of imprisonment.” It added that the PSR is also correct that: pursuant to USSG § 1B1.10, the retroactive application of Amendments 706 and 711 . . . makes the defendant eligible for a reduction in his sentence to a total term of imprisonment of 188 months. Therefore, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(2), the Court may adjust the defendant’s previously-imposed sentence by reducing it by up to 22 months. 5 Case: 12-12596 Date Filed: 04/18/2014 Page: 6 of 11 On August 19, 2008, the district court reduced Mr. Tellis’s sentence to a term of 188 months.