Opinion ID: 71441
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Unconstitutional Application of Sentencing Guidelines

Text: 11 Butler argues that his sentence of 290 months for conviction of conspiracy and possession of cocaine and cocaine base with intent to distribute violates his equal protection rights because the punishments relating to cocaine base under the sentencing guidelines are one hundred times greater than those relating to powdered cocaine. He argues that application of these guidelines leads to a disparate impact on blacks. This court has repeatedly rejected this argument within the past four years. See, e.g., United States v. Byse, 28 F.3d 1165 (11th Cir.1994) (holding disparate impact of sentencing guidelines on blacks was insufficient to show discriminatory intent on the part of Congress), cert. denied, 513 U.S. 1097, 115 S.Ct. 767, 130 L.Ed.2d 663 (1995); United States v. King, 972 F.2d 1259 (11th Cir.1992) (holding that even though the sentencing guidelines had a disparate impact on blacks, a rational basis existed for differentiating between cocaine base and cocaine); see also United States v. Butler, 41 F.3d 1435 (11th Cir.1995). Butler's appeal on this ground is thus without merit.