United States v. Razz
United States v. Razz
Opinion of the Court
THIS CAUSE is before the Court on Defendant Ronald Razz's Motion to Reduce Sentence under the First Step Act *1310and Motion for Appointment as Counsel, ("Motion," D.E. 158), filed through counsel on April 18, 2019. The Government filed a Response on May 3, 2019. ("Response," D.E. 161.) At the Court's request, the United States Probation Office also filed a Response with the Court which has been provided to both Parties but has not been filed on the docket. ("Prob. Resp.") On May 9, 2019, Defendant filed a single Reply the Government and the Probation Office's Responses. ("Reply," D.E. 164). Upon review of the Motion, Responses, Reply, and the record, the Court finds as follows.
I. Background
Defendant was charged by Second Superseding Indictment with maintaining a place for the manufacture, distribution, and use of crack cocaine, in violation of
On January 30, 2006, the Government filed and served upon Defendant an Information pursuant to
On February 1, 2006, a jury found Defendant guilty of Counts One, Two, and Three. (See Jury Verdict, D.E. 110; Trial Tr., Feb. 1, 2006 at 601:10-21.)
Prior to sentencing, the United States Probation Office prepared a revised Presentence *1311Investigation Report ("PSR") finding that Defendant's offenses involved 142.2 grams of crack cocaine. (PSR ¶¶ 15, 23.) Relevant here, the PSR found that the offense charged in Count Two involved 100.2 grams of crack cocaine, (id. ¶¶ 10-11), and the offense charged in Count Three involved 10 grams of crack cocaine, (id. ¶ 9). Based on the 142.2 grams of crack cocaine, Defendant's base offense level was 32 pursuant to the drug quantity tables in United States Sentencing Guideline ("U.S.S.G.") 2D1.1(a)(3) (2005), which provides that an offense involving at least 50 grams but less than 150 grams of cocaine base has an offense level of 32. (Id. ¶ 23.)
The PSR further found that because Defendant was over eighteen years old and had at least two prior convictions for controlled substance offenses,
However, as to Count Two, Defendant was subject to a statutory mandatory minimum life sentence based upon the Section 851 enhancement. (See
On April 14, 2006, Judge Ryskamp adopted the revised PSR and imposed a sentence of life imprisonment, consisting of concurrent terms of 240 months as to Count One, life imprisonment as to Count Two, and 360 months as to Count Three. (See Sentencing Hr'g Tr. at 8:1, 10:9-23; Judgment, D.E. 119 at 2.) Judge Ryskamp also imposed a total term of ten years' supervised release, consisting of concurrent terms of three years as to Count One, ten years as to Count Two, and eight years as to Count Three. (Judgment at 3.)
Defendant appealed his convictions asserting arguments not relevant here.
Defendant moved to vacate, set aside, or correct his sentence under
On July 22, 2011, Defendant filed a Motion for Modification of Sentence under
Defendant filed an application for executive clemency, which President Barack Obama granted on October 6, 2016. (D.E. 152.) The Clemency Order commuted Defendant's sentence to a total of 360 months' imprisonment, leaving intact the terms of supervised release and all other conditions imposed by Judge Ryskamp. (Id. at 3; see also Am. Judgment, D.E. 153.)
On November 18, 2016, Defendant filed a pro se Motion for Modification of Sentence Pursuant to
On April 18, 2019, Defendant filed the instant Motion to Reduce Sentence under the First Step Act and Motion for Appointment as Counsel. (D.E. 158.) He seeks a reduced sentence pursuant to Section 404 of the First Step Act of 2018, and the appointment of the Federal Public Defender.
II. Applicable Law
Under Section 404(b) of the First Step Act of 2018, the Court may "impose a reduced sentence as if sections 2 or 3 of the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010 ... were in effect at the time the covered offense was committed." Pub. L. No. 115-391,
Section 2 of the Fair Sentencing Act modified the statutory penalties under
shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment which may not be less than 10 years or more than life.... If any person commits a violation of this subparagraph or of section 849, 859, 860, or 861 of this title after two or more prior convictions for a felony drug offense have become final, such person shall be sentenced to a mandatory term of life imprisonment without release .... [A]ny sentence under this subparagraph shall ... if there was such a prior conviction, impose a term of supervised release of at least 10 years in addition to such term of imprisonment.
Similarly, prior to the Fair Sentencing Act-and at the time of Defendant's Sentencing- Section 841(b)(1)(B) provided, in relevant part, that any person who violates Section 841(a) in a case involving 5 grams or more of cocaine base:
shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment which may not be less than 5 years and not more than 40 years.... If any person commits such a violation after a prior conviction for a felony drug offense has become final, such person shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment which may not be less than 10 years and not more than life imprisonment.... [A]ny sentence imposed under this subparagraph shall ... if there was such a prior conviction, include a term of supervised release of at least 8 years in addition to such term of imprisonment.
Finally, prior to the Fair Sentencing Act-and at the time of Defendant's sentencing- Section 841(b)(1)(C) provided, in relevant part, that in a case involving a Schedule II controlled substance,
such person shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not more than 20 years ... If any person commits such a violation after a prior conviction for a felony drug offense has become final, such person shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not more than 30 years ... and shall, if there was such a prior conviction, impose a term of supervised release of at least 6 years in addition to such term of imprisonment.
III. Arguments
Defendant argues that he is eligible for a sentence reduction under the Section 404 of the First Step Act notwithstanding his sentence commutation. (Mot. at 4-5.) He *1314argues that as to Count 2, his statutory imprisonment range has been reduced from a mandatory term of life to a term of 10 years to life, with eight years of supervised release. (Id. at 6.) He argues that as to Count 3, his statutory imprisonment range has been reduced to 5 to 40 years (although he does not explain how he came to that statutory range), with six years of supervised release. (Id. at 6-7.) He further argues that as to Count 2, his guideline imprisonment range has been reduced from mandatory life to 360 months to life; as to Count 3, he argues that his guideline imprisonment range is now 262 to 327 months. (Id. at 7.) Finally, he argues that he has been a "model inmate," and considering the relevant factors under
The Government argues that Defendant is ineligible for sentence reduction under Section 404 of the First Step Act because he is no longer serving a sentence for an offense for which the statutory penalties were modified by the Fair Sentencing Act; rather, he is serving a commuted, "total sentence of imprisonment" of 360 months. (Resp. at 6 (quoting Executive Grant of Clemency at 3).) It argues that the First Step Act permits a court to reduce only a judicially-imposed sentence based upon the applicable statutory penalties, not a presidentially-imposed "total sentence" that commuted a statutorily mandated sentence. (Id. at 7.) It further argues that even if the Court had discretion to reduce Movant's commuted sentences in Counts Two and Three under the First Step Act, the Act does not give the Court authority to reduce the sentence for Count One because it was not based upon an offense for which the statutory penalties were modified by the Fair Sentencing Act; and because Defendant's commuted sentence of 360 months applies equally to Count One, the Court has no authority to modify the 360-month "total sentence" imposed as to that Count. (Id. at 7-8.)
Alternatively, the Government argues that Defendant is ineligible for a sentence reduction because nothing in the First Step Act alters his status as a Career Offender and, therefore, Defendant would still have faced a statutory maximum sentence of life imprisonment under Count Two if the Fair Sentencing Act had been in effect when he was sentenced. (Id. at 9.) As such, his base offense level still would have been 37 under U.S.S.G. § 4B1.1(b)(A), and his Criminal History Category would have remained at VI. (Id. ) Consequently, he would still be facing a maximum statutory penalty of life imprisonment as to Count Two, (id. (citing U.S.S.G. § 4B1.1 cmt. 2)), and his guideline sentencing range would still be 360 months to life, (id. at 9-10). Finally, the Government argues that even if Defendant would otherwise be eligible for a sentence reduction, the Court should exercise its discretion to deny one because, inter alia, Defendant has not been a "model inmate." (Id. at 10-11.) The Government attached to *1315its Response a copy of Defendant's prison disciplinary record, which reveals three violations for possessing alcohol, drugs, or intoxicants. (D.E. 161-1.)
The Probation Office submits that Defendant is not eligible for relief because "his revised offense level computations provide for an advisory guideline range equal to and potentially greater than his commuted sentence. The First Step Act of 2018 does not further reduce the guideline imprisonment range." (Prob. Resp. at 3.) It asserts that the retroactive statutory term of imprisonment is 10 years to life as to Count Two, and 0 to 30 years as to Count Three. (Id. at 2.) However, because Defendant is a Career Offender, he still has an offense level of 37 and a criminal history category of VI, which equates to a guideline imprisonment range of 360 months to life. (Id. at 3.) Because Defendant is serving a commuted sentence at the bottom of the new advisory guideline range, the Probation Office submits that Defendant is not eligible for relief. (Id. ) The Probation Office also notes that Defendant has been sanctioned three times while incarcerated for possessing intoxicants and/or using drugs/alcohol. (Id. at 4.)
IV. Discussion
"No one, not criminal defendants, not the judicial system, not society as a whole is benefited by a judgment providing a man shall tentatively go to jail today, but tomorrow and every day thereafter his continued incarceration shall be subject to fresh litigation on issues already resolved." Mackey v. United States,
*1316United States v. Phillips,
Relevant here, Section 3582(c)(1)(B) authorizes a court to "modify an imposed term of imprisonment to the extent otherwise expressly permitted by statute ...." (Emphasis added.) In this regard, Section 404(b) of the First Step Act of 2018 expressly permits the Court to "impose a reduced sentence as if sections 2 or 3 of the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010 ... were in effect at the time the covered offense was committed." Pub. L. No. 115-391,
The Parties agree that Section 2 of the Fair Sentencing Act reduced the statutory imprisonment range for Counts Two and Three, but not Count One. (See Mot. at 6-7; Resp. at 8.) The Court also agrees and finds that Defendant's convictions for Counts Two and Three are "covered offenses" for purposes of the First Step Act because: (1) the offenses were committed in January and February 2005, (see Second Superseding Indictment, D.E. 51 at 2), which is prior to August 3, 2010; and (2) the statutory penalty for the convictions for Count Two and Three are contained in
However, the Government argues that Defendant is ineligible for a sentence reduction under Section 404 of the First Step Act because he is no longer serving a sentence for Counts Two and Three (or, for that matter, Count One); according to the Government, Defendant is serving a new "total sentence" imposed by the President. (See Resp. at 6.) In support of its argument, the Government cites a concurring opinion from United States v. Surratt,
It appears that every court to have addressed the Government's argument has rejected it. See United States v. Dodd,
The quote from Judge Wilkinson's concurring opinion in Surratt contains no citation to authority supporting the proposition that a presidentially-commuted sentence constitutes a new, "presidentially-imposed" sentence. As the Pugh court observed, the President is not constitutionally authorized to impose a judicial sentence-such would violate the separation of powers doctrine.
Likewise, the former Fifth Circuit-whose holdings are binding on this Court
Here, the language of the Executive Grant of Clemency supports the interpretation that the commutation simply reduced the term of imprisonment rather than imposed an entirely new sentence, as it left "intact and in effect ... the term of supervised release imposed by the court with all its conditions and all other components of" the sentence. (D.E. 152 at 3.) "In other words, the commutation 'shortened an existing sentence,' it 'did not impose a new sentence' that would place it outside the reach of the First Step Act." Dodd,
Because the commutation did not impose a new sentence, but simply reduced an existing one, the Court rejects the Government's argument that Defendant is no longer serving a sentence for an offense for which the statutory penalties were modified by the Fair Sentencing Act. Dodd,
Although the Court rejects the Government's "presidentially-imposed" sentence argument, the Court must still determine whether Defendant is entitled to a sentence reduction under Section 404(b) of the First Step Act. The plain language of Section 3582(c)(1)(B) limits the Court's authority to "modify[ing] an imposed term of imprisonment to the extent otherwise expressly permitted by statute ...." In turn, pursuant to Section 404(b) of the First Step Act of 2018, the Court "may impose a reduced sentence as if sections 2 or 3 of the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010 ... were in effect at the time the covered offense was committed." Pub. L. No. 115-391,
At Defendant's sentencing, the Court made three determinations relevant to the *1319Section 3582(c) inquiry that remain unchanged. First, by adopting the PSR, the Court determined that the offense charged in Count Two involved 100.2 grams of crack cocaine, (see PSR ¶¶ 10-11), and that the offense charged in Count Three involved 10 grams of crack cocaine, (see id. ¶ 9).
Second, by adopting the PSR, the Court determined that Defendant was a Career Offender under U.S.S.G. § 4B1.1. The PSR found that "the defendant is considered a career offender because he was at least 18 years old at the time of the instant offense, the instant offense is a felony controlled substance offense, and the defendant has at least two prior felony convictions for crimes of violence and controlled substance offenses."
Third, by adopting the PSR, the Court determined that, pursuant to
The Court finds that because Defendant remains accountable for 100.2 grams of crack cocaine as to Count Two, remains a Career Offender, and remains subject to a Section 851 enhancement, he is not entitled to a sentence reduction under Section 3582(c)(1)(B). Applying Section 2 of the Fair Sentencing Act retroactively, Defendant's conviction in Count Two would now fall under Section 841(b)(1)(B) because he is accountable for 28 grams or more of crack cocaine but less than 280 grams. Based upon the Section 851 enhancement, the statutory range of imprisonment under Section 841(b)(1)(B) is 10 years to life.
Defendant's conviction in Count Three would now fall under Section 841(b)(1)(C) because Count Three involved a Schedule *1320II controlled substance, but in an insufficient quantity to trigger the Section 841(b)(1)(B) penalties. Based upon the Section 851 enhancement, the statutory range of imprisonment under Section 841(b)(1)(C) is 0 to 30 years.
The application notes to Section 4B1.1 instruct that "[i]f more than one count of conviction is of a ... controlled substance offense, use the maximum authorized term of imprisonment for the count that has the greatest offense statutory maximum." U.S.S.G. § 4B1.1 cmt. n.2 (2005). Here, Count Two carries the greatest offense statutory maximum. Because the maximum statutory term of imprisonment for Count Two remains life imprisonment, as a Career Offender the Defendant's offense level is still 37, his criminal history remains at Criminal History Category VI, resulting in the guideline range of 360 months to life imprisonment. See U.S.S.G. § 4B1.1. Because Defendant's commuted sentence of 360 months' imprisonment is at the bottom of the new guidelines range, he is not entitled to a reduced sentence under Section 3582(b)(1)(C). Cf. United States v. Randell,
Assuming arguendo that Defendant is otherwise eligible for a variance below the bottom of the guidelines and commuted sentence of 360 months, the Court exercises its discretion not to grant a variance based on his disciplinary history while incarcerated. (See D.E. 161-1; Prob. Resp. at 4.)
V. Conclusion
Accordingly, it is ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that:
1. Defendant's Motion for Appointment as Counsel is GRANTED ; and
2. Defendant's Motion to Reduce Sentence under the First Step Act (D.E. 158) is DENIED .
DONE AND ORDERED in Chambers at Miami, Florida this 22nd day of May, 2019.
Section 851 provides, in relevant part: "No person who stands convicted of an offense under this part shall be sentenced to increased punishment by reason of one or more prior convictions, unless before trial, or before entry of a plea of guilty, the United States attorney files an information with the court (and serves a copy of such information on the person or counsel for the person) stating in writing the previous convictions to be relied upon...."
The six prior convictions listed in the Information are as follows: (1) sale of cocaine, Case No. 00-5099CF A02, in the Circuit Court of the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit of Florida in and for Palm Beach County; (2) sale of cocaine, Case No. 92-5713CF A02, in the Circuit Court of the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit of Florida in and for Palm Beach County; (3) possession of marijuana with intent to sell, and possession of cocaine with intent to sell, Case No. 92-5241CF A02, in the Circuit Court of the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit of Florida in and for Palm Beach County; (4) sale of cocaine, Case No. 91-2067CF A02, in the Circuit Court of the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit of Florida in and for Palm Beach County; (5) possession of cocaine with intent to sell, Case No. 91-43775CF A02, in the Circuit Court of the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit of Florida in and for Palm Beach County; and (6) sale of cocaine, Case No. 90-15025CF A02, in the Circuit Court of the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit of Florida in and for Palm Beach County. (D.E. 101 at 1-2.)
Only the first page of the Verdict form, which contains the jury's verdict on Counts One and Two, is filed on the docket. (See D.E. 110.) However, it is clear from the trial transcript that the jury found Defendant guilty of all three counts charged in the Second Superseding Indictment. (See Trial Tr., Feb. 1, 2006 at 601:10-21.)
The PSR specifically cited the convictions in Case Nos. 90-15025CF A02, 91-2067CF A02, 92-5241CF A02, and 00-5099CF A02. (PSR ¶ 29.)
"[I]f the offense level for a career offender from the table in this subsection is greater than the offense level otherwise applicable, the offense level from the table in this subsection shall apply." U.S.S.G. § 4B1.1(b) (2005).
On appeal, Defendant argued that the Court erred by (1) denying his motion to suppress, (2) denying his motions for disclosure of the identity of a confidential informant ("CI"), and (3) admitting testimony regarding the CI's controlled buys at trial. (See Mandate, D.E. 138 at 2.)
The Motion for Appointment of Counsel is GRANTED .
Under Section 404(c), "[n]o court shall entertain a motion made under this section to reduce a sentence if the sentence was previously imposed or previously reduced in accordance with the amendments made by sections 2 and 3 of the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-220;
Section 3 of the Fair Sentencing Act eliminated the mandatory minimum sentence for simple possession of crack cocaine under
Section 3582(b) provides: "Notwithstanding the fact that a sentence to imprisonment can subsequently be-1) modified pursuant to the provisions of subsection (c); (2) corrected pursuant to the provisions of rule 35 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure and section 3742; or (3) appealed and modified, if outside the guideline range, pursuant to the provisions of section 3742; a judgment of conviction that includes such a sentence constitutes a final judgment for all other purposes."
The three circumstances in which a court may modify a sentence of imprisonment are:
(1) where the Bureau of Prisons has filed a motion and either extraordinary and compelling reasons warrant a reduction or the defendant is at least 70 years old and meets certain other requirements, see18 U.S.C. § 3582 (c)(1)(A) ; (2) where another statute or Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 35 expressly permits a sentence modification, seeid. § 3582(c)(1)(B) ; or (3) where a defendant has been sentenced to a term of imprisonment based on a sentencing range that was subsequently lowered by the Commission and certain other requirements are met, seeid. § 3582(c)(2)."
United States v. Phillips,
In Bonner v. City of Prichard,
Bravo,
Dillon,
By adopting the PSR, the Court also determined that Defendant was responsible for a total of 142.2 grams of crack cocaine. (See id. ¶ 15.)
The PSR specifically cited the convictions in Case Nos. 90-15025CF A02, 91-2067CF A02, 92-5241CF A02, and 00-5099CF A02. (PSR ¶ 29.)
Reference
- Full Case Name
- United States v. Ronald RAZZ
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- Published