Opinion ID: 615762
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Rivera's Sentence

Text: Rivera's offense involved approximately 3.3 kilograms of crack cocaine. The highest base offense level prescribed by the drug quantity tableLevel 38applied at the time of his sentencing to all crack offenses involving 1.5 kilograms or more of crack. U.S. Sentencing Guidelines Manual (U.S.S.G. or the Guidelines) § 2D1.1(c)(1) (1996). Thus, Rivera's base offense level was 38, to which there were no adjustments. As for criminal history, Rivera's prior convictions earned him sufficient points under U.S.S.G. § 4A1.1 to place him in Criminal History Category (CHC) IV. The applicable range under the offense guideline was therefore 324-405 months. However, the nature of Rivera's convictions subjected him to treatment as a career offender under § 4B1.1. [1] Career offender status can affect both the offense level and the CHC. With respect to the former, the career offender guideline provides that the applicable offense level is the higher of the one provided by the offense guideline and the one provided by the chart in § 4B1.1(b), which sets forth a schedule of offense levels linked to the statutory maximum sentence for the offense of conviction. Since the highest of the levels on that chart is 37, in Rivera's case the career offender guideline borrowed the offense level of 38 from the offense guideline. As for the CHC, the career offender guideline gives all career offenders a CHC of VI. U.S.S.G. § 4B1.1(b). Thus, Rivera's career offender status affected his Guidelines range by moving him from Level 38, CHC IV, with a corresponding range of 324-405 months, to Level 38, CHC VI, where the range is 360 months to life.
At the sentencing on September 10, 1996, the district court (Alan H. Nevas, J. ) departed downward from the applicable range of 360 months to life. The basis for the departure was Rivera's mental health. As the sentencing court noted, the presentence report included a history of head injuries. Rivera had undergone several psychological and neuropsychological assessments to determine his competency in connection with one of his prior prosecutions, and there were strong indications that Rivera suffered from a profound cognitive disability. As a result, the court invoked its power to depart based on Rivera's mental condition, stating as follows: [T]he court is going to depart downward three levels pursuant to [U.S.S.G. §§] 5H1.3 and 5K2.0. [2] The offense level is 35, the criminal history category is six, and the guideline range from the sentencing table is 292 to 365 months. Having departed downward to that range, the court then imposed a prison sentence equal to its lower end, 292 months.