Opinion
No. CR07-0103-LRR.
March 23, 2009
ORDER
This matter is before the court pursuant to the defendant's motion to reduce sentence under 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(2) (docket no. 37). The defendant filed such motion on March 19, 2009. In her motion, the defendant contends a reduction is warranted in light of the recent amendment to the criminal history guidelines.
In relevant part, 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c) provides:
The court may not modify a term of imprisonment once it has been imposed except that . . . 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 pursuant to 28 U.S.C. [§] 994(o), upon motion of the defendant or the Director of the Bureau of Prisons, or on its own motion, the court may reduce the term of imprisonment, after considering the factors set forth in [ 18 U.S.C. §] 3553(a) to the extent that they are applicable, if such a reduction is consistent with applicable policy statements issued by the Sentencing Commission.18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(2); see also United States v. Auman, 8 F.3d 1268, 1271 (8th Cir. 1993) ("Section 3582(c)(2) is a provision that permits a district court to reduce a term of imprisonment if the sentencing range upon which the term was based is subsequently lowered by the Sentencing Commission."). Additionally, USSG § 1B1.10 states:
In a case in which a defendant is serving a term of imprisonment, and the guideline range applicable to that defendant has subsequently been lowered as a result of an amendment to the Guidelines Manual listed in subsection (c) below, the court may reduce the defendant's term of imprisonment as provided by 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(2). As required by 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(2), any such reduction in the defendant's term of imprisonment shall be consistent with this policy statement.
USSG § 1B1.10(a)(1); see also USSG § 1B1.10, comment. (n. 1) ("Eligibility for consideration under 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(2) is triggered only by an amendment listed in subsection (c) that lowers the applicable guideline range."). The defendant does not identify an amendment that pertains to a defendant's criminal history and is listed in subsection (c). Amendment 709, which amends USSG § 4A1.1, USSG § 4A1.2 and the corresponding commentary to both sections, is not included within subsection (c). Accordingly, the court concludes that a reduction under 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(2) and USSG § 1B1.10 is not warranted. The defendant's motion to reduce sentence under 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(2) is denied.