Court Opinion

ID: 2982665
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-22 20:30:23.494629+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:24:18.323929
License: Public Domain

NOT RECOMMENDED FOR FULL-TEXT PUBLICATION
                           File Name: 14a0864n.06

                                          No. 14-5227
                                                                                     FILED
                          UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS                         Nov 14, 2014
                               FOR THE SIXTH CIRCUIT                       DEBORAH S. HUNT, Clerk

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,                              )
                                                       )
       Plaintiff-Appellee,                             )
                                                       )   ON APPEAL FROM THE UNITED
v.                                                     )   STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR
                                                       )   THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF
DERRICK J. SIMMONS,                                    )   KENTUCKY
                                                       )
       Defendant-Appellant.                            )

       BEFORE: MERRITT, GIBBONS, and DONALD, Circuit Judges.

       PER CURIAM. Derrick J. Simmons, a federal prisoner, appeals through counsel a

district court order denying a motion to reduce his sentence pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(2).

       Simmons entered a guilty plea in 2005 to three counts of possession with intent to

distribute cocaine.   Due to previous controlled substance convictions, he was subject to a

mandatory minimum sentence of twenty years, which was the sentence he received. In this

motion to reduce his sentence, Simmons argued that the Fair Sentencing Act, which reduced the

mandatory minimum sentence applicable to his offenses, should entitle him to resentencing. The

district court determined that it was not authorized to reduce the sentence on that basis and

denied the motion. Simmons reasserts his argument before this court and also argues that his

sentence is unconstitutional.
No. 14-5227
United States v. Simmons

        We review de novo a district court’s determination that it lacks authority to reduce a

sentence pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(2). United States v. Johnson, 569 F.3d 619, 623 (6th

Cir. 2009).

        Unfortunately for Simmons, § 3582(c)(2) is a narrow remedy available only where a

sentencing range has been lowered retroactively by the Sentencing Commission. United States

v. Blewett, 746 F.3d 647, 656 (6th Cir. 2013) (en banc), cert. denied, 134 S. Ct. 1779 (2014). A

reduction in the mandatory minimum sentences by Congress is not a basis for a § 3582(c)(2)

motion. See United States v. Johnson, 564 F.3d 419, 423 (6th Cir. 2009). Constitutional

arguments also are not properly raised in a motion under § 3582(c)(2). United States v. Martin,

367 F. App’x 584, 585 (6th Cir. 2010). Moreover, we have rejected the constitutional arguments

Simmons raises. Blewett, 746 F.3d at 658-60.1

        Accordingly, the district court’s order denying a sentence reduction is affirmed.

        1
           However, the Sentencing Commission has now authorized the federal courts to review crack cocaine
sentences retroactively under § 3582(c)(2) and the revised sentencing guidelines beginning in November 2015. See
United States Sentencing Commission: Amendment to the Sentencing Guidelines (Preliminary) (July 18, 2014)
http://www.ussc.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/amendment-process/reader-friendly-
amendments/20140718_RFP_Amendments_Retroactivity.pdf. This makes Amendment 782 retroactive.

                                                     -2-