United States v. Miles

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
United States v. Miles, 208 F. App'x 91 (3d Cir. 2006)

United States v. Miles

Opinion

OPINION

PER CURIAM.

Philip Miles, a federal prisoner, appeals an order of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania denying his motion for modification of sentence pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(2). Because this appeal does not raise a substantial question, we will summarily affirm the order of the District Court.

In 1997, a jury found Miles guilty of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and distribution of a controlled substance in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846, 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(l)(A)(iii). The District Court sentenced Miles to 324 months in prison. This Court affirmed on direct appeal.

The District Court denied Miles’ subsequent motion to vacate his sentence pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255. This Court granted a certificate of appealability on Miles’ ineffective assistance of counsel claims, and then affirmed the denial of relief under § 2255. The United States Supreme Court denied Miles’ petition for a writ of certiorari.

*92 Miles then filed in District Court a motion for modification of sentence pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(2) claiming that he is entitled to a new sentencing hearing under United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220, 125 S.Ct. 738, 160 L.Ed.2d 621 (2005). The District Court denied the motion, and this appeal followed. We have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291.

Under 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(2), the District Court may reduce a sentence “in the case of a defendant who has been sentenced to a term of imprisonment based on a sentencing range that has subsequently been lowered by the Sentencing Commission....” As recognized by the District Court, Booker held that the provision of the federal sentencing statute that made the Sentencing Guidelines mandatory was incompatible with the Sixth Amendment. Booker, 543 U.S. at 244-45, 125 S.Ct. 738. While the effect of Booker was to make the Sentencing Guidelines advisory, id. at 245-47, 125 S.Ct. 738, Booker did not result in the amendment of any sentencing range. Thus, Booker does not provide a basis for relief under § 3582(c)(2). Cf. United States v. McBride, 283 F.3d 612, 616 (3d Cir. 2002) (holding that Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466, 120 S.Ct. 2348, 147 L.Ed.2d 435 (2000), did not provide a basis for relief under § 3582(c)(2) because it was unrelated to any change in the Sentencing Guidelines).

Accordingly, we will summarily affirm the order of the District Court. 1

1

. The District Court also noted that under Lloyd v. United States, 407 F.3d 608, 616 (3d Cir. 2005), Booker does not apply retroactively to cases on collateral review. To the extent Miles sought to collaterally challenge his sentence outside of § 3582(c)(2), he was required to obtain this Court's authorization to file a second or successive motion under § 2255. This Court, however, has held that Booker does not provide a basis for such authorization because the Supreme Court has not made Booker retroactive to cases on collateral review. In re Olopade, 403 F.3d 159, 164 (3d Cir. 2005).

Reference

Full Case Name
UNITED STATES of America v. Phillip MILES, Appellant
Status
Unpublished