Opinion ID: 4552835
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Bullock’s 2019 Motion for a Sentence Reduction

Text: In January 2019, Bullock filed a pro se notice of supplemental authority, which the district court construed as a motion for a reduced sentence under § 404 of the First Step Act. The district court appointed counsel for Bullock to determine Bullock’s eligibility for a sentence reduction under the First Step Act. In response, the United States Probation Office filed a memorandum explaining that Bullock was ineligible for First Step Act relief because (1) he was held accountable for 166.75 grams of crack cocaine at sentencing, (2) that crack cocaine amount exceeded the new 28-grams threshold, and (3) thus Bullock’s statutory penalty range remained unchanged. Bullock filed an unopposed motion to reduce his sentence under the First Step Act. Bullock explained that both he and the government disagreed with the Probation Office. Bullock and the government agreed that Bullock was entitled to a sentence reduction under § 404 of the First Step Act because he had stipulated to a drug quantity of 25 grams of crack cocaine in the plea agreement, which was below the new 28-grams threshold. As a result, Bullock and the government 4 Case: 20-10469 Date Filed: 08/03/2020 Page: 5 of 11 agreed that Bullock’s statutory penalties and advisory guidelines range were now reduced. The district court denied Bullock’s motion, finding him ineligible for relief under the First Step Act. The district court found that, at sentencing, Bullock was held accountable for 166.75 grams of crack cocaine, and, therefore, the statutory penalties for his drug offense remained unchanged by the First Step Act.