Opinion ID: 3059058
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Rolon’s Sentence

Text: Rolon’s Presentence Investigation Report (“Rolon’s PSI”) showed that he had these Florida convictions: (1) four separate convictions in 1990 for aggravated battery (CR89-212), robbery with a deadly weapon (CR89-1901), grand theft in the third-degree of a motor vehicle, possession of burglary tools (89CF12435-O), 4 The district court grouped together Counts 1, 2, 5, and 8 pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 3D1.2(c). These counts were also grouped with Counts 3 and 4. Id. In sentencing Ortiz and Rolon to life imprisonment on Count 5 the district court exceeded the statutory maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment under 18 U.S.C. § 924(o). On remand, the district court must correct Ortiz’s and Rolon’s sentences on Count 5. 5 Pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 2K2.4 and § 3D1.1(b), Count 6 was excluded from the grouping rules because the statute governing that offense requires that the term of imprisonment run consecutively to any other term of imprisonment. See 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(D)(ii). 8 and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon (89CF12688-O); (2) 1997 convictions for attempted second-degree murder, possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon (CR974069); (3) 2000 convictions for attempted first-degree murder, attempted armed kidnapping, shooting into an occupied vehicle, and use of a firearm during a felony (97-10535); and (4) a 2000 conviction for aggravated battery with a deadly weapon (98-26377). These convictions yielded 12 criminal history points, corresponding to a criminal history category of V. In addition, because Rolon’s 1990, 1997, and 2000 convictions included at least two “crime[s] of violence,” Rolon was a career offender under the guidelines, which raised his criminal history category to VI. See U.S.S.G. § 4B1.1(a). Rolon’s base offense level was 34. Because Rolon’s offense statutory maximum was life imprisonment on Counts 1 and 2, Rolon’s career offender status raised his offense level from 36 to 37, yielding a guidelines range of 360 months’ to life imprisonment. Id. § 4B1.1(b)(A).6 Rolon’s conviction on Count 6, for violating § 924(c)(1)(A), carried a consecutive sentence of not less than five 6 The PSI noted that Rolon also met the guidelines definition of an armed career criminal because he was subject to an enhanced sentence under 18 U.S.C. § 924(e). See U.S.S.G. § 4B1.4(a). Consistent with the armed career criminal guidelines, Rolon was sentenced according to his career offender offense level of 37. See id. § 4B1.4(b)(2). Unlike Ortiz, Rolon did not receive a two-level increase for obstruction of justice. 9 years’ imprisonment. 18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c)(1)(A)(i), (c)(1)(D)(ii). This Count 6 conviction also raised Rolon’s guidelines calculation to 420 months’ to life imprisonment. See U.S.S.G. § 4B1.1(c)(2)(A). Rolon’s Count 6 conviction not only triggered a consecutive sentence under § 924(c)(1)(D)(ii), but also mandatory life imprisonment under 18 U.S.C. § 3559(c). Rolon’s Count 6 conviction was for using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence and a drug trafficking crime and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and a drug trafficking crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A). Under 18 U.S.C. § 3559(c), a person convicted of a “serious violent felony” who has two prior “serious violent felony” convictions is subject to a mandatory life sentence.7 Section 3559(c) defines “serious violent felony” as “a Federal or State offense, by whatever designation . . . consisting of murder . . . assault with intent to commit murder . . . kidnapping . . . robbery . . . firearms use; firearms possession (as described in 7 18 U.S.C. § 3559(c)(1) mandates a life sentence for a person convicted of a “serious violent felony” if: (A) the person has been convicted . . . on separate prior occasions . . . of --
(ii) one or more serious violent felonies and one or more serious drug offenses; and (B) each serious violent felony or serious drug offense . . . other than the first, was committed after the defendant’s conviction of the preceding serious violent felony or serious drug offense. 10 section 924(c)); or attempt, conspiracy, or solicitation to commit any of the above offenses,” 18 U.S.C. § 3559(c)(2)(F)(i) (emphasis added), or “any other offense punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years or more that has as an element the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force . . . or that . . . involves a substantial risk that physical force against the person of another . . . may be used . . . .” Id. § 3559(c)(2)(F)(ii). Rolon’s conviction on Count 6, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(i), qualified as a “serious violent felony” under the explicit terms of § 3559(c)(2)(F)(i). Because Rolon’s 1990, 1997, and 2000 convictions included “serious violent felon[ies]” under § 3559(c), Rolon was subject to a mandatory life sentence on Count 6.8 In addition, because the sentence for an offense under § 924(c)(1)(A) must be consecutive to any other sentence, the district court sentenced Rolon to a consecutive term of life imprisonment on Count 6. Id. § 924(c)(1)(D)(ii).