Opinion ID: 2982994
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Constitutionality of Richardson’s Sentence

Text: “A constitutional challenge to a sentence is a question of law and reviewed de novo.” United States v. Jones, 569 F.3d 569, 573 (6th Cir. 2009). Richardson raises a number of constitutional challenges to his 1,494 month sentence, which is comprised largely by his consecutive mandatory sentences under 18 U.S.C. § 924(c). Section 924(c) establishes mandatory minimum sentences for using or carrying a firearm during and in relation to any crime of violence. In particular, § 924(c)(1)(A) establishes a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years of incarceration for an individual’s first conviction under § 924(c), and § 924(c)(1)(C) establishes a 25 year mandatory minimum sentence “[i]n the case of a second or subsequent conviction under this subsection.” Section 924(c)(1)(D)(ii) further mandates that sentences under § 924(c) must run consecutively with any other terms of imprisonment. Richardson specifically contends that his consecutive mandatory minimum sentences under § 924(c) and (d) violate: (1) separation of powers, (2) the Fifth Amendment right to an individualized sentence, (3) equal protection, and (4) the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment. These arguments fail.
Richardson first argues that the consecutive mandatory minimum sentences at issue violate the separation of powers doctrine by “stripp[ing] the judiciary of its constitutional and judicial prerogative in sentencing.” Richardson’s Br. at 39. The Supreme Court has recognized that “Congress, of course, has the power to fix the sentence for a federal crime, and the scope of judicial discretion with respect to a sentence is subject to congressional control.” Mistretta v. Nos. 13-2655/2656 United States v. Richardson Page 24 United States, 488 U.S. 361, 364 (1989) (internal citations omitted). We previously denied a separation of powers challenge to a mandatory minimum sentence in United States v. Cecil, noting that we have “‘flatly rejected’ the claim that mandatory minimums unconstitutionally violate separation-of-powers principles.” 615 F.3d 678, 696 (6th Cir. 2010) (quoting United States v. Odeneal, 517 F.3d 406, 414 (6th Cir. 2008)). Richardson recognizes this existing precedent, but “asks this Court to revisit the Cecil holding that rejected the separation of powers argument.” Richardson’s Br. at 40. This panel cannot grant Richardson’s request. As was explained earlier in this opinion, pursuant to Sixth Circuit Rule 32.1(b), “[p]ublished panel opinions are binding on later panels. A published opinion is overruled only by the court en banc.”
Richardson next argues that his consecutive mandatory minimum sentences violate his right to individualized sentencing under the Due Process clause of the Fifth Amendment. This argument is also foreclosed by this Circuit’s existing precedent. In Odeneal, we recognized “that there is no constitutional right to individualized sentencing in non-capital cases.” 517 F.3d at 415; see also United States v. Levy, 904 F.2d 1026, 1035 (6th Cir. 1990). As this is a non-capital case, Richardson’s argument is foreclosed by this precedent. Once again, Richardson invites us to reconsider our previous holdings and, once again, we are not empowered to do so.
Richardson also argues that his mandatory minimum sentences deprive him of the equal protection of the law. The Supreme Court has acknowledged that the Fifth Amendment contains “an equal protection component” applicable to the federal government. United States v. Hughes, 632 F.3d 956, 960 (6th Cir. 2011) (citing to San Francisco Arts & Athletics, Inc. v. U.S. Olympic Committee, 483 U.S. 522, 543 n. 21 (1987)). “The analysis of a Fifth Amendment equal protection claim is identical to an equal protection claim under the Fourteenth Amendment.” Id. Where a legislative distinction does not target a suspect class or implicate a fundamental right, it need only have a rational basis to survive an equal protection challenge. LensCrafters, Inc. v. Robinson, 403 F.3d 798, 806 (6th Cir. 2005). Nos. 13-2655/2656 United States v. Richardson Page 25 Richardson claims that the sentence required by 18 U.S.C. § 924(c) impinges on his fundamental right to liberty. However, no such right to liberty exists for a person who has been “justly convicted.” Hughes, 632 F.3d at 962. Accordingly, the challenged mandatory minimum sentences must survive only rational basis review. Of particular concern to Richardson is the sentencing disparity implicit in § 924(c)(1)(C)’s higher mandatory minimum sentence for individuals who have been convicted under § 924(c) for a second or subsequent offense. Richardson argues that this disparity lacks a rational basis. We have previously held that, “[w]here rational basis review governs, we will not strike down a statute on equal protection grounds unless the varying treatment of different groups or persons is so unrelated to the achievement of any combination of legitimate purposes that we can only conclude that the legislature’s actions were irrational.” Johnson v. Bredesen, 624 F.3d 742, 747 (6th Cir. 2010) (internal quotation marks omitted). The government argues that § 924(c) survives rational basis review because the statute’s sentencing discrepancy between first time offenders and repeat offenders can be justified by the legitimate governmental goal of deterring recidivism. See United States v. Raynor, 939 F.2d 191, 194 (4th Cir. 1991) (rejecting a comparable challenge to § 924(c) and recognizing “the clear intent of § 924(c) to deter the use of firearms in the commission of crimes and to increase the cost of committing a second offense”). Richardson has failed to demonstrate that this governmental purpose is illegitimate and that § 924(c) is not rationally related to achieving this purpose. Thus, he has failed to establish that his mandatory minimum sentences under § 924(c) infringe upon his right to equal protection of the law.
Finally, Richardson argues that his 1,494 month sentence violates the Eighth Amendment’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment inasmuch as it is “grossly disproportionate” to his criminal conduct. Richardson’s Br. at 42. “The Eighth Amendment does not require strict proportionality between crime and sentence. Rather, it forbids only extreme sentences that are ‘grossly disproportionate’ to the crime.” Harmelin v. Michigan, 501 U.S. 957, 1001 (1991). Sentences are not deemed cruel and unusual simply by virtue of being mandatory. United States v. Wimbley, 553 F.3d 455, 463 (6th Cir. 2009). Nos. 13-2655/2656 United States v. Richardson Page 26 We have regularly upheld sentences exceeding 1,494 months for § 924(c) violations related to armed robberies. For example, in United States v. Watkins, we upheld a 1,772 month sentence for a defendant who had been convicted of six § 924(c) violations associated with the commission of robberies. 509 F.3d 277, 283 (6th Cir. 2007). Despite acknowledging that “the Eighth Amendment places an outer limit on criminal penalties that are grossly disproportionate to the offense,” we concluded that due to the “numerosity and seriousness of the offenses, the comparable sentences imposed by this circuit in similar circumstances, and the requirement that sentences for § 924(c) firearms convictions run consecutively to all other sentences, [the defendant’s] sentence [was] not grossly disproportionate to the offenses.” Id. at 283; see also United States v. Clark, 634 F.3d 874, 878 (6th Cir. 2011) (finding that a 2,269 month sentence for six robberies did not violate the Eighth Amendment); United States v. Willis, 232 F. App’x 527, 539 (6th Cir. 2007) (finding that a 1,920 month sentence for seven armed robberies was not cruel and unusual); United States v. Wiley, 132 F. App’x 635, 643 (6th Cir. 2005) (finding that a 3,184 month sentence for eleven armed robberies did not violate the Eighth Amendment); United States v. Marks, 209 F.3d 577, 583 (6th Cir. 2000) (finding that a 2,242 month sentence for nine robberies did not violate the Eighth Amendment). In light of this Circuit’s consistency in upholding similar sentences for § 924(c) convictions in comparable circumstances, Richardson’s 1,494 month sentence cannot be deemed grossly disproportionate and therefore does not constitute an Eighth Amendment violation.