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    United States v. Smiti Liberse, 11th Cir. (2012)

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    This document is a court case regarding an appeal of the denial of a motion to reduce a sentence based on retroactive amendments to the sentencing guidelines. The appellant, Smiti Liberse, was originally sentenced to 121 months in prison based on a guidelines range of 121-151 months for a crack cocaine offense, above the applicable 10-year (120 month) statutory minimum. Amendments to the guidelines would reduce Liberse's range. The court must determine if it has authority to reduce the sentence, as the district court believed it did not, though the amendments would lower Liberse's guidelines range since it was above the statutory minimum.

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    United States v. Smiti Liberse, 11th Cir. (2012)

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    28 views12 pages
    This document is a court case regarding an appeal of the denial of a motion to reduce a sentence based on retroactive amendments to the sentencing guidelines. The appellant, Smiti Liberse, was originally sentenced to 121 months in prison based on a guidelines range of 121-151 months for a crack cocaine offense, above the applicable 10-year (120 month) statutory minimum. Amendments to the guidelines would reduce Liberse's range. The court must determine if it has authority to reduce the sentence, as the district court believed it did not, though the amendments would lower Liberse's guidelines range since it was above the statutory minimum.

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    Filed: 2012-07-30 Precedential Status: Precedential Docket: 12-10243

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    This document is a court case regarding an appeal of the denial of a motion to reduce a sentence based on retroactive amendments to the sentencing guidelines. The appellant, Smiti Liberse, was originally sentenced to 121 months in prison based on a guidelines range of 121-151 months for a crack cocaine offense, above the applicable 10-year (120 month) statutory minimum. Amendments to the guidelines would reduce Liberse's range. The court must determine if it has authority to reduce the sentence, as the district court believed it did not, though the amendments would lower Liberse's guidelines range since it was above the statutory minimum.

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    Download as pdf
    28 views12 pages

    United States v. Smiti Liberse, 11th Cir. (2012)

    Uploaded by

    Scribd Government Docs
    This document is a court case regarding an appeal of the denial of a motion to reduce a sentence based on retroactive amendments to the sentencing guidelines. The appellant, Smiti Liberse, was originally sentenced to 121 months in prison based on a guidelines range of 121-151 months for a crack cocaine offense, above the applicable 10-year (120 month) statutory minimum. Amendments to the guidelines would reduce Liberse's range. The court must determine if it has authority to reduce the sentence, as the district court believed it did not, though the amendments would lower Liberse's guidelines range since it was above the statutory minimum.

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    of 12

    Case: 12-10243

    Date Filed: 07/30/2012

    Page: 1 of 12

    [PUBLISH]

    IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS


    FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
    ________________________
    No. 12-10243
    Non-Argument Calendar
    ________________________
    D.C. Docket No. 0:05-cr-60311-JIC-1

    UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,


    llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll

    Plaintiff-Appellee,
    versus

    SMITI LIBERSE,
    a.k.a. Smiti Liberisther,
    llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll

    Defendant-Appellant.

    ________________________
    Appeal from the United States District Court
    for the Southern District of Florida
    ________________________
    (July 30, 2012)

    Before CARNES, HULL, and MARTIN, Circuit Judges.

    Case: 12-10243

    Date Filed: 07/30/2012

    Page: 2 of 12

    CARNES, Circuit Judge:


    This is the third decision we have issued in the past month concerning the
    application of Amendments 750 and 759 to the sentencing guidelines and the
    scope of a district courts authority to reduce a defendants sentence under 18
    U.S.C. 3582(c)(2). In the first two decisions, we held that those amendments did
    not authorize a court to reduce a sentence under 3582(c)(2) if the defendants
    guidelines range remained the statutory mandatory minimum after the amendments
    or if the guidelines range was otherwise not affected by the amendments. See
    United States v. Glover, F.3d , No. 12-10580, 2012 WL 2814303, at *34
    (11th Cir. July 11, 2012) (statutory mandatory minimum); United States v.
    Lawson, F.3d , No. 11-15912, 2012 WL 2866265, at *23 (11th Cir. July 13,
    2012) (otherwise unchanged guidelines range). Our decisions in Glover and
    Lawson establish that a court cannot use an amendment to reduce a sentence in a
    particular case unless that amendment actually lowers the guidelines range in that
    case. Glover, 2012 WL 2814303, at *3.
    This appeal raises a different issue because the pro se appellants original
    guidelines range of 121 to 151 months was above, and thus not affected by, the
    applicable statutory mandatory minimum of 120 months. As a result,
    Amendments 750 and 759 would reduce his guidelines range. For those reasons,
    2

    Case: 12-10243

    Date Filed: 07/30/2012

    Page: 3 of 12

    3582(c)(2) gives the district court authority to reduce the sentence in its
    discretion. Because the court believed it lacked that authority, we vacate its order
    denying the motion for resentencing and remand for the court to determine
    whether to exercise its discretion to reduce the sentence.
    I.
    In 2006, Smiti Liberse was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to
    distribute 50 grams or more of crack cocaine. Liberses presentence investigation
    report held him accountable for at least 50, but less than 150, grams of crack
    cocaine. The offense carried a statutory mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years
    (or 120 months) imprisonment under 21 U.S.C. 841(b)(1)(A) (2006). Applying
    the 2005 sentencing guidelines, the PSR set his base offense level at 32. See
    United States Sentencing Guidelines 2D1.1(c)(4) (Nov. 2005). He received a 3level reduction for acceptance of responsibility, see id. 3E1.1, making his total
    offense level 29. With a criminal history category of IV, his guidelines range was
    121 to 151 months imprisonment. Although Liberse was subject to a 120-month
    statutory mandatory minimum, that mandatory minimum did not affect the
    calculation of his guidelines range because it was less than the 121-month bottom
    of the range. See U.S.S.G. 5G1.1(b) (Where a statutorily required minimum
    sentence is greater than the maximum of the applicable guideline range, the
    3

    Case: 12-10243

    Date Filed: 07/30/2012

    Page: 4 of 12

    statutorily required minimum sentence shall be the guideline sentence.); id.


    5G1.1(c) (In any other case, the sentence may be imposed at any point within the
    applicable guideline range, provided that the sentence . . . is not less than any
    statutorily required minimum sentence.).
    The district court sentenced Liberse to 121 months imprisonment, the
    bottom of his guidelines range. The government later filed a Federal Rule of
    Criminal Procedure 35(b) motion to reduce Liberses sentence based on his
    substantial assistance to the government. The district court granted that motion
    and reduced his sentence to 97 months, below his guidelines range and below the
    statutory mandatory minimum. See 18 U.S.C. 3553(e) (Upon motion of the
    Government, the court shall have the authority to impose a sentence below a level
    established by statute as a minimum sentence so as to reflect a defendants
    substantial assistance in the investigation or prosecution of another person who
    has committed an offense.); U.S.S.G. 5K1.1 (Upon motion of the government
    stating that the defendant has provided substantial assistance in the investigation
    or prosecution of another person who has committed an offense, the court may
    depart from the guidelines.).
    In 2010, Congress passed the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010, Pub. L. 111-220,
    124 Stat. 2372, which increased the drug amounts triggering mandatory
    4

    Case: 12-10243

    Date Filed: 07/30/2012

    Page: 5 of 12

    minimums for crack trafficking offenses from 5 grams to 28 grams in respect to


    the 5-year minimum and from 50 grams to 280 grams in respect to the 10-year
    minimum, Dorsey v. United States, U.S. , 132 S.Ct. 2321, 2329 (2012); see
    21 U.S.C. 841. [T]he Fair Sentencing Act instructed the Commission to make
    such conforming amendments to the Federal sentencing guidelines as the
    Commission determines necessary to achieve consistency with other guideline
    provisions and applicable law. Dorsey, 132 S.Ct. at 2329 (quoting Fair
    Sentencing Act 8(2), 124 Stat. at 2374). The Sentencing Commission then
    promulgated Amendment 750 to the guidelines, which revised the crack cocaine
    quantity tables listed in U.S.S.G. 2D1.1(c), to comply with the Fair Sentencing
    Acts instructions. See U.S.S.G. App. C, amend. 750 (Nov. 2011). The
    Commission made Amendment 750 retroactively applicable by Amendment 759.
    See U.S.S.G. App. C, amend. 759 (Nov. 2011).
    In light of those developments, Liberse filed a pro se motion under 18
    U.S.C. 3582(c)(2) to reduce his sentence, contending that Amendment 750 to the
    sentencing guidelines had lowered his guidelines range to 70 to 87 months
    imprisonment. The district court denied the motion. The court reasoned that
    because Liberse was originally sentenced before the Fair Sentencing Act went into
    effect, he was subject to the same 120-month statutory mandatory minimum that
    5

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    Date Filed: 07/30/2012

    Page: 6 of 12

    he had been when he was originally sentenced. And because [t]he Sentencing
    Commission has no authority to alter a statutory mandatory penalty, the district
    court concluded that it lacked authority to reduce Liberses sentence. He contends
    that the district court does have authority to reduce his sentence, arguing that
    Amendment 750 lowered his guidelines range to 70 to 87 months in prison.1
    II.
    As a general rule, district courts may not modify a term of imprisonment
    once it has been imposed . . . . United States v. Williams, 549 F.3d 1337, 1339
    (11th Cir. 2008). There is an exception . . . 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. Id. (quotation marks
    omitted); accord 18 U.S.C. 3582(c)(2). When that has happened, 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. Williams, 549 F.3d at 1339 (quotation marks and alteration

    We review de novo a district courts legal conclusions about the sentencing guidelines
    and the scope of its authority under 18 U.S.C. 3582(c)(2). United States v. Davis, 587 F.3d
    1300, 1303 (11th Cir. 2009). We review only for clear error the factual findings underlying the
    district courts legal conclusions. Id.
    6

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    Date Filed: 07/30/2012

    Page: 7 of 12

    omitted); accord 18 U.S.C. 3582(c)(2).


    A court, however, cannot use an amendment to reduce a sentence in a
    particular case unless that amendment actually lowers the guidelines range in that
    case. Glover, 2012 WL 2814303, at *3. We have explained that [t]he purpose
    of 3582(c)(2) is to give a defendant the benefit of a retroactively applicable
    amendment to the guidelines. . . . But he is not to receive a lower sentence than he
    would have received if the amendment had been in effect at the time of his
    sentencing. Id. For that reason, a sentencing court lacks jurisdiction to consider
    a 3582(c)(2) motion, even when an amendment would lower the defendants
    otherwise-applicable Guidelines sentencing range, if the defendants guidelines
    range was, and remains, the statutory mandatory minimum under U.S.S.G.
    5G1.1(b) (Nov. 2011). Id. (quotation marks omitted); accord United States v.
    Mills, 613 F.3d 1070, 107778 (11th Cir. 2010); U.S.S.G. 5G1.1(b) (Where a
    statutorily required minimum sentence is greater than the maximum of the
    applicable guideline range, the statutorily required minimum sentence shall be the
    guideline sentence.).
    When a retroactively applicable guidelines amendment lowers the
    guidelines range in a case, a district court usually may not reduce a defendants
    sentence to a term below the amended guidelines range. See U.S.S.G.
    7

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    Date Filed: 07/30/2012

    Page: 8 of 12

    1B1.10(b)(2)(A) (Nov. 2011). But there is an exception. Section 1B1.10(b)(2)(B)


    of the sentencing guidelines, as revised by Amendment 759, states:
    Exception for Substantial Assistance.If the term of imprisonment
    imposed was less than the term of imprisonment provided by the
    guideline range applicable to the defendant at the time of sentencing
    pursuant to a government motion to reflect the defendants substantial
    assistance to authorities, a reduction comparably less than the
    amended guideline range determined under subdivision (1) of this
    subsection may be appropriate.
    Id. 1B1.10(b)(2)(B). Expressly included within this exception are government
    substantial assistance motions under U.S.S.G. 5K1.1 or Rule 35(b), like the one
    the government filed in Liberses case. U.S.S.G. 1B1.10 cmt. n.3.
    The government contends that Liberse was sentenced based on the 120month statutory mandatory minimum, even though he received a Rule 35(b)
    substantial assistance reduction. So, according to the government, the district
    court lacks authority to reduce Liberses sentence because Amendment 750 did not
    lower his applicable guidelines range. See id. 1B1.10(a)(2)(B); see also United
    States v. Moore, 541 F.3d 1323, 1330 (11th Cir. 2008) (Where a retroactively
    applicable guideline amendment reduces a defendants base offense level, but does
    not alter the sentencing range upon which his or her sentence was based,
    3582(c)(2) does not authorize a reduction in sentence.).
    We reject the governments contention. Liberse was sentenced to 121
    8

    Case: 12-10243

    Date Filed: 07/30/2012

    Page: 9 of 12

    months based on an original guidelines range of 121 to 151 months. Amendment


    750s revisions to the crack cocaine quantity tables lowered Liberses base offense
    level from 32 to 26, making his total offense level 23 with his 3-level acceptanceof-responsibility reduction. Based on that new offense level and a criminal history
    category of IV, his amended guidelines range would be 70 to 87 months, unless
    the applicable statutory minimum is above the bottom of the amended guidelines
    range. See U.S.S.G. 5G1.1(b) (stating that the statutory minimum sentence is
    the guidelines sentence if the statutory minimum sentence exceeds the otherwise
    applicable guidelines range); id. 5G1.1(c). In light of the Fair Sentencing Act,
    however, it is not clear what Liberses statutory mandatory minimum is now.
    As we have already discussed, the Fair Sentencing Act increased the drug
    amounts triggering mandatory minimums for crack trafficking offenses from 5
    grams to 28 grams in respect to the 5-year minimum and from 50 grams to 280
    grams in respect to the 10-year minimum. Dorsey, 132 S.Ct. at 2329; see 21
    U.S.C. 841(b)(1). The Supreme Court in Dorsey held that the Fair Sentencing
    Acts lower mandatory minimums apply to defendants who committed a crack
    cocaine crime before the Act went into effect but who were not sentenced for the
    first time until after it went into effect. 132 S.Ct. at 2326. The Court did not
    decide, however, whether the Fair Sentencing Act applies to a defendant, like
    9

    Case: 12-10243

    Date Filed: 07/30/2012

    Page: 10 of 12

    Liberse, who was sentenced before the Act went into effect and who files a
    3582(c)(2) motion to reduce his sentence after the Acts effective date. And we do
    not have to decide that issue either, because it does not matter to the outcome of
    this appeal.
    Heres why. If the Fair Sentencing Act does apply in a 3582(c)(2)
    proceeding in these circumstances, Liberse would be subject to a 5-year mandatory
    minimum because he conspired to possess with intent to distribute at least 50, but
    less than 150, grams of crack cocaine. See 21 U.S.C. 841(b)(1)(B)(iii)
    (requiring a 5-year mandatory minimum for possession with intent to distribute at
    least 28 grams, but less than 280 grams, of crack cocaine). Liberses amended
    guidelines range after Amendment 750 would then be 70 to 87 months. However,
    if the Act does not apply, Liberse would be subject to the same 10-year (or 120month) mandatory minimum that he was subject to at his original sentencing. See
    21 U.S.C. 841(b)(1)(A) (2006) (requiring a 10-year mandatory minimum for
    possession with intent to distribute at least 50 grams of crack cocaine). And that
    mandatory minimum would be his amended guidelines range because it is greater
    than the top of his otherwise applicable amended guidelines range of 70 to 87
    months. See U.S.S.G. 5G1.1(b).
    So, whether the Fair Sentencing Act applies or not, Amendment 750 lowers
    10

    Case: 12-10243

    Date Filed: 07/30/2012

    Page: 11 of 12

    Liberses guidelines range. Both a guidelines range of 70 to 87 months (if the Fair
    Sentencing Act applies) and a guidelines range of 120 months (if the Fair
    Sentencing Act does not apply) are below Liberses original guidelines range of
    121 to 151 months. Because Amendment 750 does lower Liberses guidelines
    range, the district court erred by concluding that it lacked the authority to reduce
    his sentence under 3582(c)(2). See United States v. Bravo, 203 F.3d 778, 780
    (11th Cir. 2000) ([A] district court has discretion to reduce the term of
    imprisonment of an already incarcerated defendant when that defendant was
    sentenced based on a sentencing range that was subsequently lowered by the
    Sentencing Commission . . . .). Also, because Liberse received a Rule 35(b)
    substantial assistance reduction of his original sentence, a reduction comparably
    less than the amended guideline range . . . may be appropriate. U.S.S.G.
    1B1.10(b)(2)(B). For these reasons, we vacate the district courts denial of
    Liberses 3582(c)(2) motion and remand for the district court to consider the
    extent to which, if any, Liberses sentence should be reduced. We leave it to the
    district court in the first instance to decide whether, in light of Dorsey, the Fair
    Sentencing Act applies to this case.2

    The issue of whether the Fair Sentencing Act applies in a 3582(c)(2) proceeding to a
    defendant who was sentenced before the Act went into effect is presented in another case
    currently pending before this Court. An order has been issued in that case indicating it will be
    11

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    Date Filed: 07/30/2012

    Page: 12 of 12

    VACATED AND REMANDED.

    scheduled for oral argument after supplemental briefs are filed on this issue. See United States v.
    Hippolyte, No. 11-15933.
    12

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