Opinion ID: 1234144
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Facts Underlying the Current Offense

Text: On June 29, 2006, Fort Smith police encountered Williams again. In this traffic stop, Williams was a passenger in a vehicle being driven by a relative. The police searched the vehicle and discovered 14 grams of crack cocaine. Williams was arrested and charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute a mixture or substance containing cocaine base. Williams pleaded guilty to the charge, and the court accepted his guilty plea. Prior to his June 13, 2007, sentencing hearing, the Probation Department prepared a presentence investigation report (PSR) that categorized Williams as a career offender under U.S.S.G. § 4B 1.1 based upon his March 2003 state and federal convictions. Williams objected, arguing that his March 2003 convictions were related for sentencing purposes under § 4A1.2 and should be treated as only one prior conviction. The district court overruled Williams's objection and determined that he was a career offender under U.S.S.G. § 4B1.1. The court's determination raised Williams's criminal history from category IV to category VI. After computing his total offense level to be 29, the district court calculated Williams's advisory Guidelines range as 151 to 188 months. Williams argued that a departure under U.S.S.G. § 4A1.3(b) was warranted because his criminal history was overstated. The district court denied his departure motion and sentenced Williams to a term of 151 months' imprisonment, which would run concurrently with a 12-month sentence for violation of his supervised release and an undischarged term of imprisonment imposed by the Circuit Court of Sebastian County, Arkansas. Additionally, the district court ordered Williams to serve three years of supervised release following his incarceration and ordered him to pay a fine of $2,000.00 and a $100.00 special assessment.