Court Opinion

ID: 3055039
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-13 23:59:35.963016+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:49:59.399116
License: Public Domain

Case: 11-16079   Date Filed: 06/28/2013   Page: 1 of 23

                                                        [DO NOT PUBLISH]

          IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

                   FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
                     ________________________

                           No. 11-16079
                       Non-Argument Calendar
                     ________________________

             D.C. Docket No. 6:98-cr-00206-GKS-KRS-3

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                          Plaintiff-Appellee,

                                versus

MARKEITH LOYD,

                                                        Defendant-Appellant.

                     ________________________

                           No. 12-10470
                       Non-Argument Calendar
                     ________________________

                 D.C. Docket No. 8:99-cr-00377-SCB-1

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                          Plaintiff-Appellee,
         Case: 11-16079   Date Filed: 06/28/2013   Page: 2 of 23

                                versus

DERRICK BRADSHAW INGRAM,
a.k.a. Chico,
a.k.a. Delji Tyson,

                                                        Defendant-Appellant.

                     ________________________

                           No. 12-10471
                       Non-Argument Calendar
                     ________________________

             D.C. Docket No. 8:06-cr-00075-SCB-TBM-1

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                          Plaintiff-Appellee,

                                versus

JEREMIAH NATHAN WATERS,

                                                        Defendant-Appellant.

                     ________________________

                           No. 12-10476
                       Non-Argument Calendar
                     ________________________

             D.C. Docket No. 8:09-cr-00558-SCB-TGW-1

                                   2
         Case: 11-16079   Date Filed: 06/28/2013   Page: 3 of 23

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                          Plaintiff-Appellee,

                                versus

RYAN LAWRENCE,

                                                        Defendant-Appellant.

                     ________________________

                           No. 12-10501
                       Non-Argument Calendar
                     ________________________

             D.C. Docket No. 8:09-cr-00198-SCB-TGW-1

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                          Plaintiff-Appellee,

                                versus

LEEOTIS WILSON,

                                                        Defendant-Appellant.

                     ________________________

                           No. 12-10547
                       Non-Argument Calendar
                     ________________________

             D.C. Docket No. 8:05-cr-00157-RAL-MAP-1

                                   3
         Case: 11-16079   Date Filed: 06/28/2013   Page: 4 of 23

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                          Plaintiff-Appellee,

                                versus

MICHAEL C. DEASE,

                                                        Defendant-Appellant.

                     ________________________

                           No. 12-10570
                       Non-Argument Calendar
                     ________________________

             D.C. Docket No. 8:09-cr-00304-SCB-MAP-3

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                          Plaintiff-Appellee,

                                versus

GREGORY ANTHONY GOMES,

                                                        Defendant-Appellant.

                     ________________________

                           No. 12-10690
                       Non-Argument Calendar
                     ________________________

             D.C. Docket No. 6:06-cr-00187-GAP-GJK-2

                                   4
         Case: 11-16079   Date Filed: 06/28/2013   Page: 5 of 23

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                          Plaintiff-Appellee,

                                versus

EDDIE JERALD BROOKS,
a.k.a. Rod,

                                                        Defendant-Appellant.

                     ________________________

                           No. 12-10691
                       Non-Argument Calendar
                     ________________________

             D.C. Docket No. 6:08-cr-00198-GAP-GJK-1

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                          Plaintiff-Appellee,

                                versus

ANTWAIN DEVON MITCHELL,
a.k.a. Baby Jesus,
a.k.a. Water,

                                                        Defendant-Appellant.

                                   5
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                     ________________________

                           No. 12-10692
                       Non-Argument Calendar
                     ________________________

             D.C. Docket No. 6:07-cr-00213-GAP-KRS-3

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                          Plaintiff-Appellee,

                                versus

TODD EDGAR WARTHEN,

                                                        Defendant-Appellant.

                     ________________________

                           No. 12-10726
                       Non-Argument Calendar
                     ________________________

             D.C. Docket No. 6:11-cr-00344-GAP-DAB-1

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                          Plaintiff-Appellee,

                                versus

RODERICK FINNMARK HADLEY,

                                                        Defendant-Appellant.
                                   6
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                     ________________________

                           No. 12-10804
                       Non-Argument Calendar
                     ________________________

             D.C. Docket No. 6:08-cr-00269-GKS-KRS-1

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                          Plaintiff-Appellee,

                                versus

NATHANIEL BARNETT, JR.,
a.k.a. "G",

                                                        Defendant-Appellant.

                     ________________________

                           No. 12-10918
                       Non-Argument Calendar
                     ________________________

             D.C. Docket No. 6:08-cr-00213-GKS-DAB-1

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                          Plaintiff-Appellee,

                                versus

RAYNANDO GARCIA,

                                   7
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                                                        Defendant-Appellant.

                     ________________________

                           No. 12-10946
                       Non-Argument Calendar
                     ________________________

            D.C. Docket No. 8:09-cr-00448-VMC-TGW-1

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                          Plaintiff-Appellee,

                                versus

VINCENT EDWARD UNDERWOOD,

                                                        Defendant-Appellant.

                     ________________________

                           No. 12-10950
                       Non-Argument Calendar
                     ________________________

             D.C. Docket No. 8:09-cr-00399-SCB-AEP-2

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                          Plaintiff-Appellee,

                                versus
                                   8
          Case: 11-16079    Date Filed: 06/28/2013   Page: 9 of 23

DARRYL WILLIAMS,

                                                          Defendant-Appellant.

                        ________________________

                              No. 12-10951
                          Non-Argument Calendar
                        ________________________

               D.C. Docket No. 8:09-cr-00088-SCB-EAJ-1

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                            Plaintiff-Appellee,

                                  versus

JIMMIE LEE FORD, JR.,
a.k.a. Hood,

                                                          Defendant-Appellant.

                        ________________________

                              No. 12-10952
                          Non-Argument Calendar
                        ________________________

              D.C. Docket No. 8:08-cr-00195-SCB-MAP-2

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                     9
         Case: 11-16079   Date Filed: 06/28/2013   Page: 10 of 23

                                                           Plaintiff-Appellee,

                                 versus

FRANKIE SEGARRA,

                                                        Defendant-Appellant.

                     ________________________

                           No. 12-10985
                       Non-Argument Calendar
                     ________________________

                D.C. Docket No. 8:93-cr-00228-SCB-1

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                           Plaintiff-Appellee,

                                 versus

OMAR ANTONIO ANCHICO-MOSQUERA,
a.k.a. Willie Willie,

                                                        Defendant-Appellant.

                     ________________________

                           No. 12-11053
                       Non-Argument Calendar
                     ________________________

              D.C. Docket No. 8:04-cr-00165-SCB-MSS-1

                                   10
         Case: 11-16079   Date Filed: 06/28/2013   Page: 11 of 23

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                           Plaintiff-Appellee,

                                 versus

DARIN UNDERWOOD,
a.k.a. Buck,

                                                        Defendant-Appellant.

                     ________________________

                           No. 12-11576
                       Non-Argument Calendar
                     ________________________

             D.C. Docket No. 8:07-cr-00365-SDM-TBM-1

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                           Plaintiff-Appellee,

                                 versus

TABBIEAN BELLAMY,

                                                        Defendant-Appellant.

                     ________________________

                           No. 12-11765
                       Non-Argument Calendar
                     ________________________

                D.C. Docket No. 8:01-cr-00253-SCB-1
                                   11
         Case: 11-16079   Date Filed: 06/28/2013   Page: 12 of 23

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                           Plaintiff-Appellee,

                                 versus

CHRISTOPHER MICHAEL LEIGH,

                                                        Defendant-Appellant.

                     ________________________

                           No. 12-12365
                       Non-Argument Calendar
                     ________________________

               D.C. Docket No. 6:08-cr-00263-JA-GJK-1

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                           Plaintiff-Appellee,

                                 versus

DAVID JEROME HOLLIMON,
agent of Bubba,

                                                        Defendant-Appellant.

                     ________________________

                           No. 12-12472
                       Non-Argument Calendar
                     ________________________
                                   12
         Case: 11-16079   Date Filed: 06/28/2013   Page: 13 of 23

                D.C. Docket No. 8:93-cr-00003-SCB-2

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                           Plaintiff-Appellee,

                                 versus

GUILLERMO IBARRA-MARTINEZ,
a.k.a. William Hidalgo,
a.k.a. Wilson Herrera,

                                                        Defendant-Appellant.

                     ________________________

                           No. 12-12494
                       Non-Argument Calendar
                     ________________________

               D.C. Docket No. 6:08-cr-00199-JA-DAB-1

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                           Plaintiff-Appellee,

                                 versus

TRACY PEREZ,

                                                        Defendant-Appellant.

                                   13
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                     ________________________

                           No. 12-12498
                       Non-Argument Calendar
                     ________________________

              D.C. Docket No. 8:04-cr-00352-SCB-MSS-1

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                           Plaintiff-Appellee,

                                 versus

WANDA BARTON,
a.k.a. Tiny,

                                                        Defendant-Appellant.

                     ________________________

                           No. 12-12553
                       Non-Argument Calendar
                     ________________________

              D.C. Docket No. 2:08-cr-00124-JES-DNF-1

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                           Plaintiff-Appellee,

                                 versus

ALVIN FREEMAN,

                                   14
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                                                        Defendant-Appellant.

                     ________________________

                           No. 12-12647
                       Non-Argument Calendar
                     ________________________

                D.C. Docket No. 8:95-cr-00307-SCB-1

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                           Plaintiff-Appellee,

                                 versus

CHARLES SPIGNER, JR.,

                                                        Defendant-Appellant.

                     ________________________

                           No. 12-12648
                       Non-Argument Calendar
                     ________________________

              D.C. Docket No. 2:07-cr-00061-JES-DNF-1

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                           Plaintiff-Appellee,

                                   15
           Case: 11-16079   Date Filed: 06/28/2013   Page: 16 of 23

                                   versus

WILLIAM BRUCE REGAN,
a.k.a. Big Man,

                                                          Defendant-Appellant.

                        ________________________

                              No. 12-12652
                          Non-Argument Calendar
                        ________________________

                D.C. Docket No. 2:06-cr-00127-JES-DNF-1

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                             Plaintiff-Appellee,

                                   versus

JATHANIEL BROOKS,
a.k.a. Reggie Brooks,

                                                          Defendant-Appellant.

                        ________________________

                              No. 12-12704
                          Non-Argument Calendar
                        ________________________

               D.C. Docket No. 8:09-cr-00014-EAK-TBM-1

                                     16
         Case: 11-16079   Date Filed: 06/28/2013   Page: 17 of 23

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                           Plaintiff-Appellee,

                                 versus

DARRELL C. LONDON,
a.k.a. D,

                                                        Defendant-Appellant.

                     ________________________

                           No. 12-13141
                       Non-Argument Calendar
                     ________________________

              D.C. Docket No. 8:04-cr-00265-SCB-MAP-1

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                           Plaintiff-Appellee,

                                 versus

ROSANNE ERON SIMPSON,
a.k.a. Kevin Smith,

                                                        Defendant-Appellant.

                     ________________________

                           No. 12-13222
                       Non-Argument Calendar
                     ________________________

                                   17
         Case: 11-16079   Date Filed: 06/28/2013   Page: 18 of 23

              D.C. Docket No. 6:11-cr-00325-CEH-GJK-1

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                           Plaintiff-Appellee,

                                 versus

ANTWAN KNEEOR BROWNLEE,

                                                        Defendant-Appellant.

                     ________________________

                           No. 12-13318
                       Non-Argument Calendar
                     ________________________

              D.C. Docket No. 6:08-cr-00271-MSS-DAB-3

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                           Plaintiff-Appellee,

                                 versus

LATAVIOUS HAZLEY,
a.k.a. Tay,
a.k.a. Big Mush,

                                                        Defendant-Appellant.

                                   18
         Case: 11-16079   Date Filed: 06/28/2013   Page: 19 of 23

                      ________________________

                            No. 12-13446
                        Non-Argument Calendar
                      ________________________

             D.C. Docket No. 2:05-cr-00071-VMC-DNF-14

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                           Plaintiff-Appellee,

                                 versus

JONATHAN E. FOSTER,

                                                        Defendant-Appellant.

                      ________________________

                            No. 12-13621
                        Non-Argument Calendar
                      ________________________

              D.C. Docket No. 8:08-cr-00342-VMC-EAJ-1

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                           Plaintiff-Appellee,

                                 versus

GREGORY ROBINSON,

                                   19
             Case: 11-16079      Date Filed: 06/28/2013    Page: 20 of 23

                                                                 Defendant-Appellant.

                            ________________________

                    Appeals from the United States District Court
                         for the Middle District of Florida
                           ________________________

                                    (June 28, 2013)

Before TJOFLAT, MARCUS and ANDERSON, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:

      In these consolidated appeals, thirty-five defendants, each convicted (via a

guilty plea or after trial) and sentenced for one or more crack-cocaine offenses, in

violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a), prior to August 3, 2010—the effective date of the

Fair Sentencing Act of 2010 (“FSA”), Pub. L. No. 111-220, 124 Stat. 2372—

appeal the partial grants or denials of their 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(2) motions to

reduce sentence based on Amendment 750 to the Sentencing Guidelines. In

twenty-nine of the cases, the District Court denied the § 3582(c)(2) motion in full,

on the ground that the defendant previously had received the minimum sentence

mandated by statute. In six of the cases, the District Court granted the defendant’s

motion in part and reduced his sentence to the mandatory minimum prison term.

In all thirty-five cases, the court denied further relief on the ground that it lacked

the authority to reduce the defendant’s sentence(s) below the mandatory minimum.

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        On appeal, each defendant advances these arguments: (1) because the FSA

“generated” Amendment 750, the FSA must be applied “in conjunction with”

Amendment 750 in a § 3582(c)(2) proceeding. Therefore, because the FSA

lowered the mandatory minimum prison term prescribed for defendant’s

conviction(s), the court was authorized to further reduce his sentence(s) and (2)

the Sentencing Commission’s 2011 definition of “applicable guideline range”—in

U.S.S.G. § 1B1.10 comment. (n.1(A))—renders defendant eligible for a sentence

reduction “in light of the FSA’s statutory and guideline changes,” which operate to

lower his “applicable guideline ranges.” We considered and rejected these

arguments in United States v. Hippolyte, 712 F.3d 535 (11th Cir. 2013), which was

decided after the appeals in these cases were briefed and controls our decision

here.

        As in these cases,

        Hippolyte’s position [was] that both Amendment 750 and the FSA
        apply in [a] § 3582(c) proceeding. He advance[d] the . . . argument
        that one of the changes made by Amendment 759 to the Sentencing
        Guidelines . . . was to add a brand-new definition of “applicable
        guideline range” to U.S.S.G. 1B1.10, and that the new definition
        significantly change[d] the way sentencing reductions work under §
        3582(c).

Id., at 538. He noted that prior to Amendment 759,

        this court had defined the ‘applicable guideline range’ as ‘the scope of
        sentences available to the district court, which could be limited by a
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             Case: 11-16079     Date Filed: 06/28/2013   Page: 22 of 23

      statutorily imposed mandatory minimum ‘guideline sentence’ . . . but
      that definition [was] obsolete because the Sentencing Commission . .
      ., in Amendment 759, defined ‘applicable guideline range’ to include
      only the offense level and criminal history category, and to exclude
      any statutory mandatory minimums.

Id. at 538-39 (citation omitted).

      we [we]re unpersuaded that Hippolyte's interpretation of Amendment
      759's new definition of applicable guideline range is correct.
      Amendment 759 defines the applicable guideline range as ‘the
      guideline range that corresponds to the offense level and criminal
      history category determined pursuant to § 1B1.1(a), which is
      determined before consideration of any departure provision in the
      Guidelines Manual or any variance.’ U.S.S.G. § 1B1.10 cmt. n. 1(A)
      (2011). Section 1B1.1(a) prescribes an eight-step procedure for
      determining the applicable guideline range. Steps one through five
      determine the defendant's offense level. Step six determines the
      defendant's criminal history category. Step seven directs use of the
      Sentencing Table to find the guideline range by cross-referencing the
      previously-determined offense level and criminal history category.
      Step eight directs use of Chapter Five Parts B through G to determine
      various sentencing requirements and options. Section 5G1.1(b)
      provides that “[w]here a statutorily required minimum sentence is
      greater than the maximum of the applicable guideline range, the
      statutorily required minimum sentence shall be the guideline
      sentence.” U.S.S.G. § 5G1.1(b). Thus, when one uses § 1B1.1(a) to
      determine the applicable guideline range, one necessarily is required
      to take into account the mandatory minimum sentences that may be
      statutorily required.

Id. at 540-541 (emphasis in original). We held that the District Court committed

no error in denying Hippolyte’s § 3582(c) for reduction of sentence.

      Section 3582(c) requires that any sentence reduction be ‘consistent
      with applicable policy statements issued by the Sentencing
      Commission.’ The Sentencing Guidelines explain that a reduction in

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      the defendant's term of imprisonment is not authorized under 18
      U.S.C. § 3582(c)(2) and is not consistent with th[e] policy statement if
      . . .an amendment . . .is applicable to a defendant but the amendment
      does not have the effect of lowering the defendant's applicable
      guideline range because of the operation of another guideline or
      statutory provision ( e.g., a statutory mandatory minimum term of
      imprisonment). United States v. Glover, 686 F.3d 1203, 1206 (11th
      Cir.2012) (emphasis in original) (quoting U.S.S.G. § 1B1.10 cmt. n.
      1(A)). Amendment 750 has no effect on Hippolyte's sentence because
      it did not alter the statutory mandatory minimum sentence Hippolyte
      received.

Id. at 541-42 (emphasis in original).

      After addressing and rejecting Hippolyte’s argument—the argument

defendants advance here—we stated that “[w]e agree[d] with every other circuit to

address the issue that there is ‘no evidence that Congress intended [the FSA] to

apply to defendants who had been sentenced prior to the August 3, 2010 date of the

Act’s enactment.’” Id. at 542.

      For the foregoing reasons, the denial of § 3582(c) relief in these cases is

      AFFIRMED.

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