Court Opinion

ID: 47460
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-25 23:22:36+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:18:02.726524
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[DO NOT PUBLISH]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
                                                                         MARCH 6, 2006
                                      No. 05-10064
                                                                       THOMAS K. KAHN
                                Non-Argument Calendar
                                                                            CLERK
                         --------------------------------------------

                   D.C. Docket No. 98-00065-CR-ORL-22-JGG

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                          Plaintiff-Appellee,

                                           versus

CORNELL DEVON ATWELL, a. k. a.
Banji,

                                                          Defendant-Appellant.

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                    Appeal from the United States District Court
                          for the Middle District of Florida
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                                   (March 6, 2006)

Before EDMONDSON, Chief Judge, CARNES and PRYOR, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:

      Defendant-Appellant Cornell Devon Atwell, a federal prisoner appealing

pro se, appeals the district court’s denial of his section 18 U.S.C. §3582(c)(2)
motion seeking modification of his term of imprisonment. No reversible error has

been shown; we affirm.

      Defendant was convicted in June 1998 of five counts: (1) conspiracy to

possess marijuana with intent to distribute, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §846; (2)

possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, in violation of 21 U.S.C.

§841(a)(1) and 18 U.S.C. §2; (3) conspiracy to use and carry a firearm during and

in relation to a drug trafficking offense, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(o); (4)

using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking offense, in

violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c)(1) and (2); and (5) possession of a firearm by a

convicted felon, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1) and 924(e). The PSI first

calculated a total offense level of 26: the base offense level was 24 pursuant to

U.S.S.G. §§ 3D1.3(a) and 2K2.1, plus a two-level increase was imposed under §

2K2.1(b)(4) because the firearm with which Defendant was found was stolen. But

the PSI also determined that the career offender and armed career offender

provisions in U.S.S.G. §§4B1.2 and 4B1.4(b)(2), applied; under the career

offender provisions, the PSI recommended an enhanced offense level of 37, a

criminal history category of VI, and a guideline range of 360 months to life.

      The district court determined that scoring under the career offender

provisions was proper but concluded that Defendant’s criminal history was over-

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represented. The district court decided to depart downward to a base offense level

of 30. Defendant was sentenced to a total of 270 months’ imprisonment.

      Defendant moved pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 3582(c)(2) for a reduction of

sentence arguing that Amendment 599 to U.S.S.G. § 2K2.4 applied retroactively

to preclude his possession of a firearm from contributing to his sentence

calculation under more than one guideline section. The district court denied

Defendant’s motion without opinion.

      We review denial of a motion to reduce sentence under 18 U.S.C. §

3582(c)(2) for abuse of discretion. See United States v. Brown, 332 F.3d 1341,

1343 (11th Cir. 2003). Under certain circumstances, a court may, after

consideration of sentencing factors set out in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a), reduce the term

of imprisonment based on a later lowering of the sentencing range by the

Sentencing Commission “if such a reduction is consistent with applicable policy

statements issued by the Sentencing Commission.” 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(2).

      Amendment 599 altered § 2K2.4 and clarified the circumstances under

which a court may impose a weapons enhancement on a defendant convicted of a

firearms offense under 18 U.S.C. § 924(c). See 2000 Federal Sentencing

Guidelines Manual, Appendix C; see also United States v. Pringle, 350 F.3d 1172,

1176 (11th Cir. 2003). But Defendant’s first sentence calculation that included

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scoring under § 2K2.4 was trumped by the greater sentence applicable to a career

offender under Chapter Four; § 2K2.4 had no effect on the sentence actually

imposed. Because Defendant was not sentenced under § 2K2.4 (the section

addressed by Amendment 599), Amendment 599 is inapposite. See United States

v. Sanders, 372 F.3d 1183, 1186 (10th Cir. 2004) (“Amendment 599 has nothing to

do with § 4B1.4 but instead applies to § 2K2.4 of the Guidelines.”). Amendment

599 can support no reduction in Defendant’s sentence. See United States v.

Armstrong, 347 F.3d 905, 907 (11th Cir. 2003) (Amendment 599 has no

application when a defendant’s sentence was not increased because of his

possession of a firearm). No abuse of discretion has been shown.1

       AFFIRMED.

  1
    Defendant also argues that a reduction is due under Amendment 600. Amendment 600 revised
§ 2K2.4 to prohibit the use of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c) convictions “either to trigger application of the
career offender guideline, U.S.S.G. § 4B1.1, or to determine the appropriate offense level under that
guideline.” U.S.S.G. Manual Supp. to App. C (Nov. 1, 2002). Even assuming arguendo that this
issue is properly preserved on appeal -- Amendment 600 was not cited in Defendant’s motion --
Amendment 600 offers Defendant no relief. Retroactive application of a guidelines amendment is
consistent with Sentencing Commission policy only if the amendment is listed in U.S.S.G.§
1B1.10(c). See Armstrong, 347 F.3d at 907. Amendment 600 is not listed in U.S.S.G. § 1B1.10(c).
The district court’s failure to apply Amendment 600 retroactively to modify Defendant’s sentence
supports no abuse of discretion claim. Id.

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