Court Opinion

ID: 3063414
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-14 21:14:07.15574+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:38:20.180949
License: Public Domain

[DO NOT PUBLISH]

             IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

                     FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT            FILED
                       ________________________ U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
                                                          ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
                              No. 08-13291                   APRIL 28, 2009
                          Non-Argument Calendar            THOMAS K. KAHN
                                                                CLERK
                        ________________________

                D. C. Docket No. 06-00134-CR-FTM-29-DNF

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                                Plaintiff-Appellee,

                                   versus

LASHAWN DANTE TROUP,

                                                          Defendant-Appellant.

                        ________________________

                 Appeal from the United States District Court
                     for the Middle District of Florida
                      _________________________

                             (April 28, 2009)

Before BIRCH, HULL and FAY, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:
      Lashawn Dante Troup, through counsel, appeals the sentence imposed by

the district court following its grant of his pro se motion for a reduced sentence,

pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(2) and Amendment 706. On appeal, Troup argues,

through counsel, that the district court erred by finding that it could not reduce his

sentence below the amended guideline range, as (1) United States v. Booker, 543
U.S. 220, 125 S. Ct. 738, 160 L. Ed. 2d 621 (2005), and Kimbrough v. United States,

552 U.S. ___, 128 S. Ct. 558, 169 L. Ed. 2d 481 (2007) apply at resentencing

proceedings under § 3582(c)(2), (2) § 3582(c)(2) is ambiguous as to which policy

statements it refers, and (3) when read to mean that a district court cannot sentence

below the amended guideline range, § 1B1.10 presents separation of powers

concerns and violates Kimbrough and 28 U.S.C. § 991(b)(1), which requires the

Sentencing Commission establish policies that assure that the purposes of

sentencing listed in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a)(2) are met.

      In response, the government moves for us to dismiss the appeal due to a

valid appeal waiver contained in Troup’s plea agreement.

      “We review de novo a district court’s conclusions about the scope of its

legal authority under 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(2).” United States v. James, 548 F.3d
983, 984 (11th Cir. 2008). A district court may modify a term of imprisonment in

the case of a defendant who was sentenced to a term of imprisonment based on a

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sentencing range that has subsequently been lowered by the Sentencing

Commission. 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(2). Any reduction, however, must be

“consistent with applicable policy statements issued by the Sentencing

Commission.” Id. The applicable policy statements, found in § 1B1.10, state that

“the court shall not reduce the defendant’s term of imprisonment under 18 U.S.C.

§ 3582(c)(2) and this policy statement to a term that is less than the minimum of

the amended guideline range.” U.S.S.G. § 1B1.10(b)(2)(A).

         We review sentencing issues not raised before the district court for plain

error. United States v. Camacho-Ibarquen, 410 F.3d 1307, 1315 (11th Cir. 2005).

For us to correct an error under plain error review, there must be “(1) an error,

(2) that is plain, (3) that affects substantial rights (which usually means that the

error was prejudicial), and (4) that seriously affects the fairness, integrity, or public

reputation of judicial proceedings.” United States v. Mangaroo, 504 F.3d 1350,

1353 (11th Cir. 2007). An error is not “plain” if the explicit language of a statute

or rule does not resolve the issue, and neither the Supreme Court nor we have

precedent directly resolving the issue. United States v. Chau, 426 F.3d 1318, 1322

(11th Cir. 2005).

         Upon review of the record and the parties’ briefs, we discern no reversible

error.

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      The government’s motion to dismiss this appeal due to a valid appeal waiver

contained in Troup’s plea agreement is DENIED.

      The district court did not err in finding that Booker and Kimbrough did not

authorize it to sentence Troup below the amended guidelines. See United States v.

Melvin, No. 08-13497, man. op. at 7 (11th Cir. Feb. 3, 2009) (holding that Booker

and Kimbrough do not apply at resentencing proceedings under § 3582(c)(2)).

Additionally, the district court did not plainly err by not sua sponte finding

§ 3582(c)(2) ambiguous, or by not declaring § 1B1.10 invalid, as neither we nor

the Supreme Court have held § 3582(c)(2) ambiguous or declared § 1B1.10

invalid. See Chau, 426 F.3d at 1322. Accordingly, we affirm.

      AFFIRMED.

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