United States v. Bradford Cannon
Opinion
SUMMARY ORDER
On June 21, 1996, defendant-appellant Bradford Cannon (“Cannon”), now incarcerated and pursuing this appeal pro se, pleaded guilty to one count of participating in the conduct of the affairs of an enterprise through a pattern of racketeering activity, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1962(c), and one count of conspiring to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams and more of cocaine base in the form of “crack,” in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846. On June 2,1998, the District Court sentenced Cannon principally to a term of 240 months’ imprisonment. On September 6, 2000, the District Court issued an amended judgment revising Cannon’s sentence to 213 months’ imprisonment in order properly to reflect time served by Cannon prior to the imposition of the original 240 month sentence. On December 23, 2008, Cannon filed a motion requesting a sentence reduction, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(2), based on a 2007 amendment to U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1, the Guidelines section related to crack-cocaine offenses. By order entered May 5, 2009, the District Court denied Cannon’s motion. We assume the parties’ familiarity with the remaining factual and procedural history of the case.
We review de novo a district court’s determination that a defendant is ineligible for relief under § 3582(c)(2). See United States v. Martinez, 572 F.3d 82, 84 (2d Cir. 2009). On appeal, Cannon argues, inter alia, that the District Court improperly denied his motion for a sentence reduction because the amendment to the crack-cocaine Guidelines lowered his Guidelines range. He is mistaken. The District Court determined Cannon’s base offense level pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 2A1.1, the Guidelines section applicable to first degree murder, not pursuant to § 2D1.1, the Guidelines section applicable to crack-cocaine offenses. Section 2D1.1 and the amendments thereto in no way affected Cannon’s offense level or his resulting sentencing range; accordingly, he is not eligible for a sentence reduction based on the amendments to that section. See Martinez, 572 F.3d at 84-86.
CONCLUSION
We have considered each of Cannon’s claims on appeal and find them to be without merit. The judgment of the District Court is AFFIRMED.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- UNITED STATES of America, Appellee, v. Bradford CANNON, Defendant-Appellant
- Status
- Unpublished