M. CASEY RODGERS, Chief District Judge.
This case is before the court on Defendant's Motion for Reconsideration Due to Manifest Error of Law, Supplemental Motion for Reconsideration, and Memorandum in Support (ECF No. 125, 135, 147). Defendant contends that the court erred in denying his motion pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255 and that his sentence must be vacated in light of
Defendant pleaded guilty to the offense of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). (ECF Nos. 30-33). The Court found Mr. Proch to be an armed career criminal after adopting the findings of the Presentence Investigation Report that he had two prior Florida burglary convictions and one conviction for resisting a law enforcement officer with violence. (ECF No. 145, PSR ¶¶ 59, 63, 64, 65). Pursuant to the Armed Career Criminal Act, ("ACCA"), a person who has three previous convictions for a violent felony, a serious drug offense, or both is subject to a mandatory minimum fifteen-year sentence. 18 U.S.C. § 924(e)(1). The statutory definition of a violent felony under the ACCA is an offense that either "(i) has as an element the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force against the person of another [known as the elements clause] or (ii) is burglary, arson, or extortion, involves the use of explosives [known as the enumerated offenses clause] or otherwise involves conduct that presents a serious potential risk of physical injury to another [known as the residual clause]." 18 U.S.C. § 924(e)(2)(B)(i) and (ii). An individual subject to ACCA's enhanced penalties also is subject to a greater guidelines range pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 4B1.4. Mr. Proch was sentenced to a term of 190 months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release. Absent the application of the ACCA enhancement, Mr. Proch would have faced a maximum sentence of ten years imprisonment. See 18 U.S.C. § 924(a)(2).
In
The Final PSR, on which the Government relies for its sentencing argument, does not accurately reflect all of the Court's rulings. (See ECF Nos. 43, 60, 145). At sentencing, the Court sustained a defense objection to a four level enhancement pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1(b)(6) for possession of a firearm with "reason to believe that it would be used or possessed in connection with another felony offense." This change is not reflected in the PSR, although it was made part of the Statement of Reasons. (Compare ECF No. 145, PSR ¶ 53 and ECF No. 43 at 1). As noted at sentencing, absent the ACCA enhancement, with a total offense level of 19 and a criminal history category of III, the applicable guidelines range would have been 37 to 46 months. (See ECF No. 60 at 61-62). The Government urges that the court consider the seriousness of the charges in imposing sentence. (ECF No. 148 at 3).
The Court has conducted a de novo review of the entire record to determine an appropriate sentence in this case. In doing so, the undersigned has considered the seriousness of Mr. Proch's crime and his criminal history and finds, pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 4A1.3, that an upward departure from the applicable guidelines range is appropriate. Mr. Proch's criminal history category substantially underrepresents the likelihood that Mr. Proch will commit other crimes, and further, a variance is warranted based on the seriousness of the crime he committed, to wit planning armed bank robbery. In light of this, the Court finds that an appropriate sentence would be calculated by doubling the top of the applicable guidelines range, for a total term of 92 months imprisonment.
Before the Court formally imposes this sentence, the parties will have the opportunity to object. If either party wishes to be heard with respect to the proposed sentence at a formal resentencing hearing, the Court will schedule same. Absent such an objection, the Court will enter an amended Judgment reducing Mr. Proch's sentence from
Accordingly it is