Opinion ID: 2743480
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Convictions and Sentences in 1998

Text: In October 1996, Elam robbed several victims at a drug store at gunpoint. In 1997, Elam was indicted on: (1) one count of robbery, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1951(a) (“Count 1”); (2) one count of using a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c) (“Count 2”); and (3) one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) (“Count 3”). In 1998, a jury found Elam guilty of all three counts. The maximum statutory penalties for Elam’s three convictions were (1) 20 years’ imprisonment for Count 1, (2) a mandatory term of 5 years’ imprisonment for Count 2, and (3) life imprisonment for Count 3. Relevant to this appeal, the maximum statutory penalty for Count 3 increased from 10 years’ imprisonment to life imprisonment because the sentencing court found that Elam had four prior 2 Case: 13-12702 Date Filed: 10/17/2014 Page: 3 of 10 state felony convictions that qualified him as an armed career criminal under the Armed Career Criminal Act, 18 U.S.C. § 924(e) (“ACCA”) . See 18 U.S.C. § 924(a)(2), (e). Specifically, Elam’s presentence investigation report (“PSI”) cataloged his extensive prior criminal activity, which yielded a criminal history category of VI. Elam’s prior criminal activity included these Florida state court convictions: (1) two separate 1983 burglary convictions, in violation of Fla. Stat. § 810.02(3); (2) one 1989 conviction for the sale, purchase, or delivery of a controlled substance on or near school property, in violation of Fla. Stat. § 893.13(1)(c); and (3) one 1994 conviction for possession with intent to sell, purchase, manufacture, or deliver cocaine, in violation of Fla. Stat. § 893.13(2)(b).1 The PSI noted that these four prior felony convictions were predicate offenses that qualified Elam as a career offender under U.S.S.G. § 4B1.1 and an armed career criminal under the ACCA and U.S.S.G. § 4B1.4. The applicable offense level under the career offender guideline was 32. The applicable offense level under the armed career criminal guideline was 34. 1 Elam’s prior criminal activity also included these Florida state court convictions: (1) three separate convictions for resisting an officer—in 1988, 1992, and 1993; (2) one 1992 conviction for marijuana possession; and (3) three separate convictions for obstruction of justice—in 1991, 1992, and 1993. 3 Case: 13-12702 Date Filed: 10/17/2014 Page: 4 of 10 Applying the higher applicable offense level, the PSI determined that Elam’s offense level was 34. Based on his criminal history category of VI and an offense level of 34, Elam’s mandatory guidelines range was 262 to 327 months’ imprisonment. 2 Elam, through counsel, objected to the PSI in several ways—both in writing and at his sentencing hearing. But, none of his objections related to his four prior state felony convictions or his classification as an armed career criminal. On May 29, 1998, the district court sentenced Elam to a total sentence of 322 months’ imprisonment, near the high-end of the guidelines range. This sentence was comprised of 240 months on Count 1; 262 months on Count 3, to run concurrently with the sentence on Count 1; and 60 months on Count 2, to run consecutively to the sentences on Counts 1 and 3.