Opinion ID: 899522
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Richard Roe

Text: In April 2008, Roe entered into a cooperation plea agreement with the government and pled guilty to two counts of distribution of five grams or more of crack cocaine and two counts of distribution of 50 grams or more of crack cocaine, all in violation of § 841(a)(1). As part of the plea agreement, he stipulated that his offense involved 189.6 grams of crack cocaine. At that time, the base offense level for that amount of crack cocaine was 32, see § 2D1.1(c) (Nov. 2007); Roe then received a three-level reduction for acceptance of responsibility, yielding a final offense level of 29. With this offense level and his criminal history category of V, Roe’s initial guideline sentencing range was 140-175 months’ imprisonment. See § 5A. However, due to a prior drug conviction, Roe was subject to a statutory mandatory 8 minimum sentence of 240 months. See 21 U.S.C. § 841(b)(1)(B); § 1B1.1(h) (Nov. 2007). Because the mandatory minimum sentence exceeded the initial guideline sentencing range, the mandatory minimum became the guideline sentence. See § 5G1.1. Roe’s plea agreement also contained a provision that if he provided substantial assistance to the government, it might move for a sentence below the statutory mandatory minimum. At Roe’s April 2008 sentencing, the government moved under § 5K1.1 and § 3553(e) for a reduction of Roe’s sentence. The District Court granted the government’s motion and sentenced Roe to 96 months’ imprisonment.