Court Opinion

ID: 72377
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-26 07:31:03+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:21:11.136043
License: Public Domain

Case: 09-40858     Document: 00511062102          Page: 1    Date Filed: 03/25/2010

            IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                     FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT  United States Court of Appeals
                                                     Fifth Circuit

                                                  FILED
                                                                           March 25, 2010
                                     No. 09-40858
                                   Summary Calendar                    Charles R. Fulbruge III
                                                                               Clerk

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                   Plaintiff-Appellee

v.

ROBERT EARL THOMAS, JR.,

                                                   Defendant-Appellant

                   Appeal from the United States District Court
                        for the Eastern District of Texas
                             USDC No. 1:98-CR-150-2

Before BENAVIDES, PRADO and SOUTHWICK, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*
        Robert Earl Thomas, Jr. federal prisoner # 07315-078, appeals following
the district court's denial of his motion for modification of his sentence pursuant
to 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(2), wherein he argued that the amendment of the crack
cocaine Sentencing Guidelines resulted in a lowered sentencing range for his
offense. The Government moves for summary affirmance or dismissal of the
appeal, or, alternatively, for an extension of time to file a brief.

        *
         Pursuant to 5TH CIR . R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not
be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR .
R. 47.5.4.
   Case: 09-40858   Document: 00511062102 Page: 2        Date Filed: 03/25/2010
                                No. 09-40858

      Section 3582(c)(2) permits the discretionary modification of a defendant’s
sentence “when it is based upon a sentencing range that has subsequently been
lowered by an amendment to the Guidelines, if such a reduction is consistent
with the policy statements issued by the Sentencing Commission.” United States
v. Gonzalez-Balderas, 105 F.3d 981, 982 (5th Cir. 1997). The district court’s
decision whether to reduce a sentence is reviewed for an abuse of discretion; the
court’s interpretation of the Guidelines is reviewed de novo. United States v.
Doublin, 572 F.3d 235, 237 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 130 S. Ct. 517 (2009).
      “The crack cocaine guideline amendments do not apply to prisoners
sentenced as career offenders.” United States v. Anderson, 591 F.3d 789, 791
(5th Cir. 2009). The district court thus did not abuse its discretion in denying
Thomas’s § 3582(c)(2) motion. See id. at 790. Further, the Supreme Court’s
decision in United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220 (2005), is not applicable to
§ 3582(c)(2) proceedings. Doublin, 572 F.3d at 238.
      The Government’s motion for summary affirmance is GRANTED. The
alternative motion for an extension of time is DENIED as unnecessary.
      AFFIRMED.

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