United States v. Hickman

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
United States v. Hickman, 400 F. App'x 898 (5th Cir. 2010)

United States v. Hickman

Opinion

PER CURIAM: *

Steve Ray Hickman, federal prisoner # 23249-077, pleaded guilty in 1993 to distributing less than five grams of cocaine base (crack cocaine) within 1,000 feet of an elementary school and was sentenced to 200 months of imprisonment. This court is now presented with Hickman’s appeal from the district court’s denial of his motion for reduction of sentence pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(2). He argues that the denial was improper because the dis *899 trict court erroneously believed that it was prevented from giving Hickman the benefit of the amended guidelines based on the fact that he was sentenced as a career offender. Hickman also challenges the validity of the career offender guidelines.

Hickman “was not sentenced based on a sentencing range that was subsequently lowered by the Sentencing Commission.” United States v. Anderson, 591 F.3d 789, 791 & n. 8 (5th Cir. 2009) (internal quotations and citation omitted). The district court was correct in concluding that Hickman was not eligible for a reduction under § 3582(c)(2). See id. at 790-92. The instant § 3582 motion is not a proper vehicle for Hickman’s argument regarding the career offender guidelines. See United States v. Whitebird, 55 F.3d 1007, 1011 (5th Cir. 1995).

The judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED. The Government’s motion for summary affirmance is GRANTED, and its alternate request for an extension of time in which to file a brief is DENIED. Hickman’s motion for appointment of counsel is also DENIED.

*

Pursuant to 5th Cir R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5th Cir. R. 47.5.4.

Reference

Full Case Name
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee v. Steve Ray HICKMAN, Defendant-Appellant
Status
Unpublished