Opinion
14-CR-20071-01-JAR
09-16-2024
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff, v. JESUS OCTAVIO VALDEZ-AGUIRRE, Defendant.
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
JULIE A. ROBINSON UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
This matter is before the Court on Defendant Jesus Octavio Valdez-Aguirre's pro se Motion for Reduction of Sentence Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(2) and Amendment 821 to the Federal Sentencing Guidelines (Doc. 453). The motion is fully briefed, and the Court is prepared to rule. For the reasons discussed below, the Court dismisses Defendant's motion.
I. Facts
On July 28, 2015, Defendant pled guilty to Count One of the Superseding Indictment; namely, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A)(viii), and 846.
Doc. 182.
The Presentence Investigation Report calculated a criminal history score of zero which established a criminal history category of I. On October 26, 2015, the Court sentenced Defendant to 360 months' imprisonment.
See PSR, Doc. 218 ¶¶ 60-61.
Doc. 230.
Defendant appealed his sentence, and on July 25, 2017, the Tenth Circuit issued its mandate which affirmed the Court's sentence and judgment.
Doc. 380.
On July 29, 2024, Defendant filed the instant motion seeking a reduction in his sentence based on the fact that he is a “Zero-Point Offender.”
Doc. 453.
II. Standard
“A district court does not have inherent authority to modify a previously imposed sentence; it may do so only pursuant to statutory authorization.” Section 3582 allows for a possible sentence reduction for 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.”
United States v. Mendoza, 118 F.3d 707, 709 (10th Cir. 1997).
Additionally, the Sentencing Commission amended the United States Sentencing Guidelines effective November 1, 2023. Part A of Amendment 821 limits the criminal history impact of “status points,” and Subpart 1 of Part B of Amendment 821 creates a new guideline, § 4C1.1, that provides for a decrease of two offense levels for “Zero-Point Offenders.” With respect to the guideline for Zero-Point Offenders, a defendant is eligible for a two-level reduction in his offense level if he or she meets all the following criteria:
U.S. Sent'g Guidelines Manual (U.S. Sent'g Comm'n 2023).
U.S. Sent'g Guidelines Manual app. C Supp., amend. 821 (U.S. Sent'g Comm'n 2023).
(1) the defendant did not receive any criminal history points from Chapter Four, Part A;
(2) the defendant did not receive an adjustment under § 3A1.4 (Terrorism);
(3) the defendant did not use violence or credible threats of violence in connection with the offense;
(4) the offense did not result in death or serious bodily injury;
(5) the instant offense of conviction is not a sex offense;
(6) the defendant did not personally cause substantial financial hardship;
(7) the defendant did not possess, receive, purchase, transport, transfer, sell, or otherwise dispose of a firearm or other dangerous weapon (or induce another participant to do so) in connection with the offense;
(8) the instant offense of conviction is not covered by § 2H1.1 (Offenses Involving Individual Rights);
(9) the defendant did not receive an adjustment under § 3A1.1 (Hate Crime Motivation or Vulnerable Victim) or § 3A1.5 (Serious Human Rights Offense); and
(10) the defendant did not receive an adjustment under § 3B1.1 (Aggravating Role) and was not engaged in a continuing criminal enterprise, as defined in 21 U.S.C. § 848 ....”
See U.S.S.G. § 4C1.1(a).
III. Discussion
Defendant's motion, construed liberally, seeks a reduction in sentence based on Amendment 821 to the United States Sentencing Guidelines pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(2). As noted, Defendant maintains that he was assigned no criminal history points and that, accordingly, he is a Zero-Point Offender entitled to a decrease of two offense levels. However, as the government correctly argues, Defendant fails to meet Amendment 821's eligibility requirements.
Defendant fails to qualify for a retroactive reduction under U.S.S.G. § 4C1.1 because he received an adjustment under U.S.S.G. § 3B1.1(b) for being a manager or supervisor in the charged drug conspiracy. Indeed, Defendant received a three-level enhancement for his role in the offense.
See PSR, Doc. 218 ¶ 49.
Id.
Thus, the changes to the United States Sentencing Guidelines based on Amendment 821 are inapplicable to Defendant. Because the sentence reduction is not authorized, the Court lacks jurisdiction to reduce Defendant's sentence.
See United States v. White, 765 F.3d 1240, 1242 (10th Cir. 2014).
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED BY THE COURT that Defendant's Motion for Reduction of Sentence Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(2) and Amendment 821 to the Federal Sentencing Guidelines (Doc. 453) is dismissed.
IT IS SO ORDERED.