United States v. Diogenes Palacios

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
United States v. Diogenes Palacios, 224 F. App'x 874 (11th Cir. 2007)

United States v. Diogenes Palacios

Opinion

PER CURIAM:

On June 4, 2001, we affirmed appellant’s convictions and sentences for conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to distribute and the substantive possession offense. United States v. Palacios, 263 F.3d 168 (11th Cir. 2001) (not published). The following year, appellant moved the district court to vacate his sentences under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 on the ground that in determining his sentence range under the Guidelines, the court miscalculated his criminal history points. The court denied his motion. Appellant twice thereafter challenged the validity of his sentences in motions addressed to the district court. The court construed these challenges as second or successive § 2255 motions and denied them.

In March 2006, appellant, proceeding under 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(2), once again challenged his sentences on the ground that the court miscalculated his criminal history points. He contended that the court miscalculated his criminal history points by assessing points for three prior misdemeanor convictions that did not meet the minimum sentencing requirements under U.S.S.G. § 4Al.l(c)(l), and asked to be re-sentenced. The court denied his motion, concluding that it lacked jurisdiction to entertain it.

Section 3582(c)(2) permits a district court to modify a defendant’s sentence if the sentence range subsequently has been lowered by the Sentencing Commission pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 994(o). 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(2). The problem appellant faces is that the alleged miscalculation of his criminal history points is not premised upon a subsequent, retroactive Guidelines amendment by the Sentencing Commission. Hence, the district court correctly determined that it lacked jurisdiction to entertain his § 3582(c) motion. In that there is no other legal basis for granting appellant the relief he seeks, the district court’s decision is

AFFIRMÍED.

Reference

Full Case Name
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Diogenes PALACIOS, Defendant-Appellant
Status
Unpublished