Court Opinion

ID: 2662245
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-04-03 12:09:23.862482+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:21:53.490935
License: Public Domain

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
                              FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

____________________________________
                                    )
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA            )
                                    )
      v.                            )                 Criminal No. 96-0210 (PLF)
                                    )
NORLAN FRANCISCO JIRON,             )
                                    )
            Defendant.              )
____________________________________)

                            MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER

                 This matter is before the Court on the motion of the defendant, Norlan Francisco

Jiron, to reduce his sentence. Mot. at 1.1 Mr. Jiron’s motion will be denied for two independent

reasons: (1) he was sentenced according to a statutory mandatory minimum rather than a

Guidelines sentencing range; and (2) the Fair Sentencing Act (“FSA”) does not apply to

defendants sentenced before its enactment.

                                          I. BACKGROUND

                 On December 21, 2004, Mr. Jiron was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment

for violations of 21 U.S.C. § 846 and § 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(A). Judgment at 2. Under

21 U.S.C. § 841(b)(1)(A), a sentence of 120 months was the mandatory minimum sentence that

could be imposed. See 21 U.S.C. 841(b)(1)(A).

       1
           The papers reviewed in connection with the pending motion include: the defendant’s
motion for reduction of sentence (“Mot.”) [Dkt. No. 36]; the judgment (“Judgment”) [Dkt. No.
19]; a memorandum opinion and order denying motion [31] (“Memorandum Opinion and Order
of June 21, 2010") [Dkt. No. 33]; an order denying motions [27] and [28] (“Order of Mar. 19,
2009") [Dkt. No. 29]; and an order denying motion [34] (“Order of June 2, 2011") [Dkt. No. 35].
               Mr. Jiron filed a pro se motion for reduction of sentence on October 31, 2011, and

sent a follow-up letter dated January 13, 2012. He argues that an amendment to the United States

Sentencing Guidelines that reduced the Guidelines sentencing ranges should apply to his

sentence and that the FSA is retroactive.

                                        II. DISCUSSION

                                      A. 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(2)

               Under 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(2), the Court may modify a sentence when the

defendant was sentenced to a term of imprisonment based on a sentencing range that

subsequently has been lowered. Dillon v. United States, – U.S. –, 130 S. Ct. 2683, 2687 (2010).

But the Court may only modify a sentence when the defendant was sentenced to a term of

imprisonment that was “‘based on a sentencing range that has subsequently been lowered by the

Sentencing Commission’” and “‘if such a reduction is consistent with’ applicable Commission

policy statements.’” Id. at 2687 (quoting 18 U.S.C § 3582(c)(2)); see also United States v.

Cook, 594 F.3d 883, 885-86 (D.C. Cir. 2010).

               As the Court has explained in prior opinions and orders, see, e.g.,Order of June 2,

2011; Memorandum Opinion and Order of June 21, 2010; Order of Mar. 19, 2009, Mr. Jiron was

not sentenced “based on a sentencing range that has subsequently been lowered by the

Sentencing Commission.” 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(2). Rather, he was sentenced pursuant to the

mandatory minimum sentence prescribed by statute. Memorandum Opinion and Order of June

21, 2010. This circuit has said that “where a defendant is sentenced to a statutory mandatory

minimum sentence, relief under section 3582(c)(2) is unavailable because the sentence is no

                                                2
longer ‘based on’ a sentencing range.” United States v. Cook, 594 F.3d at 886. Mr. Jiron is

therefore ineligible for Section 3582(c)(2) relief.

                                      B. The Fair Sentencing Act

               Mr. Jiron also argues that the Fair Sentencing Act, which increased the amount of

crack cocaine necessary to trigger mandatory minimum sentences, applies retroactively to

persons who, like him, were sentenced before the effective date of the Act. Mot. at 2. Mr. Jiron

was sentenced in 2004, and the FSA was passed in 2010. This circuit recently ruled that the FSA

does not apply retroactively to a defendant whose conviction and original sentence had become

final before the FSA was passed. United States v. Bigesby, — F.3d —, 2012 WL 2362583, at *5

(D.C. Cir. June 22, 2012). In concluding that the FSA does not apply to defendants sentenced

before its enactment, the D.C. Circuit aligned itself with the clear weight of authority. See id.;

United States v. Baptist, 646 F.3d 1225, 1229 (9th Cir. 2011) (per curium) (citing decisions from

every circuit except the D.C. Circuit and the Federal Circuit). Accordingly, it is hereby

               ORDERED that Mr. Jiron’s motion to reduce sentence [Dkt. Nos. 36, 37] is

DENIED.

               SO ORDERED.

                                                              /s/___________________________
                                                              PAUL L. FRIEDMAN
   DATE: June 25, 2012                                        United States District Judge

                                                  3