Court Opinion

ID: 150193
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-07-07 20:12:35+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:05:07.286240
License: Public Domain

DLD-230                                                       NOT PRECEDENTIAL

                       UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                            FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT
                                 ___________

                                      No. 10-1706
                                      ___________

                           UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

                                            v.

                               JAIME SATIZABAL,
                                                Appellant
                      ____________________________________

                    On Appeal from the United States District Court
                             for the District of New Jersey
                         (D.C. Criminal No. 06-cr-00007-05)
                     District Judge: Honorable William H. Walls
                     ____________________________________

                        Submitted for Possible Summary Action
                   Pursuant to Third Circuit LAR 27.4 and I.O.P. 10.6
                                     June 24, 2010

            Before: FUENTES, JORDAN and HARDIMAN, Circuit Judges

                                  (filed: July 7, 2010 )
                                       _________

                                       OPINION
                                       _________

PER CURIAM

      Jaime Satizabal pleaded guilty to conspiracy to launder narcotics proceeds in

violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1956(h). In January 2009, the District Court sentenced him to a

term of imprisonment of 46 months. In November 2009, Satizabal filed a “Motion for
Reduction of Sentence pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3585.2 and U.S.S.G. § 5K2.2.” He argued

that he was entitled to credit against his sentence and a downward departure under the

Sentencing Guidelines for the time he served in harsh conditions in a Colombian prison

pending his extradition to the United States. He requested a credit of 1.5 days for every

day served between January 30, 2007, and January 22, 2008.

       The Government responded to Satizabal’s motion by letter. In the letter, an

Assistant United States Attorney (“AUSA”) stated that Satizabal’s attorney asked the

District Court at sentencing to reduce the sentence based on the harsh conditions in the

Colombian jail. The AUSA also explained that the Government informed the District

Court at that time that Satizabal would receive credit from the Bureau of Prisons

(“BOP”). The AUSA stated that the BOP had given Satizabal credit for the time he

served elsewhere from January 13, 2007, until January 11, 2009 (the day before Satizabal

was taken into BOP custody). Citing and attaching the letter to its order, the District

Court denied Satizabal’s motion, noting that the time Satizabal had served in Colombia

had already been credited toward his sentence.

       Satizabal appeals. We have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We review

the District Court’s decision to deny Satizabal’s motion to reduce his sentence pursuant to

§ 3582 for abuse of discretion. See United States v. Mateo, 560 F.3d 152, 154 (3d Cir.

2009). Because we conclude that there is no substantial question presented on appeal, we

will affirm the District Court’s order. See L.A.R. 27.4; I.O.P. 10.6.

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       Generally, a court may not modify a term of imprisonment. See 18 U.S.C. § 3582.

However, a modification is possible in some cases in which the BOP seeks a reduction of

the term, in cases where the modification is expressly permitted by statute or by Rule 35

of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, and in some cases in which a defendant has

been sentenced to a term of imprisonment based on a sentencing range that has

subsequently been lowered by the Sentencing Commission pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 994(o).

See id. The BOP did not move for a reduction of Satizabal’s sentence, and Satizabal’s

reason for the requested modification of his sentence is not among the reasons set forth in

18 U.S.C. § 3582.1 Accordingly, the District Court did not abuse its discretion in denying

Satizabal’s motion.

   1
     The District Court further explained to Satizabal, through its reliance on the AUSA’s
letter, that it had considered and rejected Satizabal’s argument previously, and that the
BOP had awarded credit for the time Satizabal spent in a Colombian prison.

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