Court Opinion

ID: 4015163
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-07-13 00:00:53.231982+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:44:53.970245
License: Public Domain

Case: 16-10130      Document: 00513588361         Page: 1    Date Filed: 07/12/2016

           IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                    FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT
                                                                            United States Court of Appeals
                                                                                     Fifth Circuit
                                    No. 16-10130                                   FILED
                                  Summary Calendar                             July 12, 2016
                                                                              Lyle W. Cayce
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
                                                                                   Clerk

                                                 Plaintiff-Appellee

v.

LUIS ALONZO PENA,

                                                 Defendant-Appellant

                  Appeals from the United States District Court
                       for the Northern District of Texas
                            USDC No. 4:08-CR-118-1

Before OWEN, ELROD, and COSTA, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM: *
       Luis Alonzo Pena, federal prisoner # 36979-177, requests leave to
proceed in forma pauperis (IFP) on appeal from the denial of his motion
seeking a sentence reduction under 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(2) and the correction of
a clerical error under Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure 35(a) and 36.
Additionally, Pena asks this court to reduce his sentence.

       * 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 R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not
be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH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: 16-10130     Document: 00513588361      Page: 2   Date Filed: 07/12/2016

                                   No. 16-10130

      In the motion denied by the district court, Pena, relying on Amendment
782 to the United States Sentencing Guidelines, sought a reduction of the
sentences imposed following his convictions for conspiracy to possess with
intent to distribute a controlled substance; possession with intent to distribute
a controlled substance and aiding and abetting; and maintaining a drug-
involved premises and aiding and abetting. Pena was held accountable for
more than the quantity of marijuana that triggers the highest base offense
level under both the version of U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1(c) in effect when he was
sentenced and the retroactive, amended version. Accordingly, Amendment 782
did not change his offense level or lower his guidelines range, and the district
court did not abuse its discretion in denying him a sentence reduction under
§ 3582(c)(2). See U.S.S.G. § 1B1.10(a)(2)(B); United States v. Evans, 587 F.3d
667, 672 (5th Cir. 2009). Furthermore, Pena’s challenge to the denial of his
request for correction of a clerical error under Rules 35(a) and 36 is unavailing
because, as noted by the district court, he has never identified an error in need
of correction and filed an untimely request under Rule 35(a).
      Because Pena’s appeal lacks arguable merit and is therefore frivolous,
his motion for leave to proceed IFP on appeal is DENIED, and his appeal is
DISMISSED as frivolous. See Baugh v. Taylor, 117 F.3d 197, 202 n.24 (5th
Cir. 1997); Howard v. King, 707 F.2d 215, 220 (5th Cir. 1983); 5TH CIR. R. 42.2.
Pena’s motion for a sentence reduction is likewise DENIED.                Pena is
CAUTIONED that any future frivolous, repetitive, or otherwise abusive filings
will invite the imposition of sanctions, including dismissal, monetary
sanctions, and restrictions on his ability to file pleadings in this court and any
court subject to this court’s jurisdiction.
      MOTIONS DENIED; APPEAL DISMISSED; SANCTION WARNING
ISSUED.

                                         2