Opinion ID: 72899
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: facts

Text: Vautier pled guilty to conspiracy to manufacture and possess with intent to distribute 100 or more marijuana plants in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 846, possession of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c), and conspiracy to use intimidation and threats and/or corruptly persuading another person to influence the testimony in an official proceeding in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 371 and 1512(b)(1). At sentencing, the district court found Vautier responsible for 465 marijuana plants and 206 grams of hashish oil. Under the sentencing guidelines, the marijuana plants and hashish oil were converted into a marijuana equivalency of 475.10 kilograms, giving Vautier a base offense level of 28. See U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1 (1992). The district court made several adjustments to Vautier’s offense level. The district court adjusted Vautier’s offense level upward four levels for his role in the offense and two levels for obstruction of justice. The district court also adjusted the offense level downward two levels for acceptance of responsibility, giving Vautier an adjusted offense level of 32. On the Government’s 5K2.1 motion, the district court 2 departed upward six levels for Vautier’s causing the death of his brother during the commission of a drug trafficking offense. On the Government’s 5K1.1 motion for substantial assistance, the district court departed downward eight levels, making Vautier’s final total offense level 30.1 The court sentenced Vautier to a total of 120 months.2 Vautier’s sentence was affirmed on direct appeal. United States v. Vautier, 36 F.3d 93 (11th Cir. 1994) (table).
Two years later, the Sentencing Commission adopted Amendment 516, which reduced the weight equivalent per plant from 1,000 grams to 100 grams of marijuana. See U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1(c) (1995). Under Amendment 516, the total weight of marijuana attributable to Vautier for sentencing purposes would be reduced to 47.8 1 At the sentencing hearing, the government moved for a two-level downward departure based on Vautier’s substantial assistance. The district court granted this motion, which should have resulted in an offense level of 36 and sentencing guideline range of 188 to 235 months. However, without restating the specific number of levels it intended to depart for substantial assistance, the court imposed a sentence of 120 months. On appeal, the parties do not address this discrepancy and assume the court imposed an eight-level downward departure for substantial assistance. Thus, for purposes of this appeal, we assume that the court granted an eight-level downward departure for substantial assistance, arriving at a total offense level of 30. 2 Since Vautier fell within a criminal history category of I, the applicable sentencing range for his total offense level of 30 was 97 to 121 months. 3 kilograms, resulting in a base offense level of 20, as opposed to the base offense level of 28 at sentencing. The Sentencing Commission expressly provided that Amendment 516 have retroactive effect. See U.S.S.G. App. C, amend. 516. A defendant serving a prison sentence may seek a reduction in his sentence pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(2) if the guideline range applicable to that defendant is lowered as a result of Amendment 516. U.S.S.G. § 1B1.10 (1995). Based on Amendment 516, Vautier filed a motion to reduce his sentence pursuant to § 3582(c)(2). The district court denied the motion, stating that “in light of this Court’s expressed concern of the defendant’s demonstrated violence and factoring all of the other considerations with went into the establishment of this defendant’s sentence, the same sentence would have been imposed under the current amended guidelines.” On appeal, Vautier argues that the district court erred in denying his § 3582(c)(2) motion to reduce his sentence.3