Opinion ID: 712935
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Mandatory Minimum under Section 841

Text: 17 The district court based its denial of Levay's motion for reconsideration in part on its conclusion that Levay faced a minimum sentence of twenty years under § 841(b)(1)(A). 2 A court may deny a motion under § 3582(c)(2) if the sentence under the amended guidelines is greater than the original sentence. U.S.S.G. § 1B1.10(b) (1993); United States v. Shaw, 30 F.3d 26, 28 (5th Cir.1994). Moreover, the guidelines provide that [w]here a statutorily required minimum sentence is greater than the maximum of the applicable guideline range, the statutorily required minimum sentence shall be the guideline sentence. U.S.S.G. § 5G1.1(b) (1993). See United States v. Schmeltzer, 960 F.2d 405, 408 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 506 U.S. 1003, 113 S.Ct. 609, 121 L.Ed.2d 544 (1992). 18 Here, however, the district court erred because the minimum sentence Levay faced under § 841(b)(1)(A) was ten years, not 20. Section 841(b)(1)(A) provides for a minimum sentence of ten years for first offenders. Any person convicted of a prior drug offense must serve a minimum of 20 years. Although the presentence report stated that Levay had been previously convicted in 1984 of possession of methamphetamine and in 1985 of manufacturing methamphetamine, the district court improperly concluded that this information automatically triggered the 20-year minimum sentence. Despite providing for a 20-year sentence for prior convictions, the statute also establishes a mandatory procedure for proving prior convictions. 3 Failure on the part of the government to file, before trial or before entry of a guilty plea, an information stating the previous convictions, prevents a count from enhancing a sentencing under the statute. 4 United States v. Noland, 495 F.2d 529, 533 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 419 U.S. 966, 95 S.Ct. 228, 42 L.Ed.2d 181 (1974). See also United States v. Nanez, 694 F.2d 405, 411-12 (5th Cir.1982) (dicta), cert. denied, 461 U.S. 909, 103 S.Ct. 1884, 76 L.Ed.2d 813 (1983). Here, since the government withdrew its notice of intent to prove prior convictions as part of the plea agreement, the court was precluded from considering prior convictions as a factor under § 841(b)(1)(A). 19