JAMES S. MOODY, Jr., District Judge.
THIS CAUSE comes before the Court upon Petitioner Robert Griffin Brown's successive Motion to Vacate, Set Aside, or Correct Sentence pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255 (CV Doc. 1) filed on June 14, 2016.
On February 6, 2004, Petitioner pled guilty to (1) possession with intent to distribute fifty grams or more of cocaine base, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(b)(1)(A) (Count I), (2) possession with intent to distribute cocaine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(b)(1)(C) (Count II), (3) possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g), 924(e) (Count III), and (4) use of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c) (Count IV). (CR Docs. 54, 57-58). On May 21, 2004 Petitioner was sentenced to 248 months' imprisonment, consisting of concurrent terms of 188 months on Counts I, II, and III, and 60 months, to run consecutive to all other counts, on Count IV. (CR Doc. 61). Concurrent terms of 60 months' supervised release were imposed on each count. (Id.).
On Count III, Petitioner was sentenced pursuant to the ACCA based on three predicate offenses, which included two counts of sale and possession of cocaine and one count of carrying a concealed firearm. (PSR at ¶ 26). Carrying a concealed firearm qualified as an ACCA predicate offense under the residual clause. In light of Johnson, Petitioner no longer qualifies for an enhanced sentence under the ACCA. Consequently, Petitioner's motion should be granted.
Without the ACCA enhancement on Count III, the count carries a statutory maximum of ten years' imprisonment and three years' supervised release. See 18 U.S.C. §§ 924(a), 3583(b)(2), 3559(a)(3). At the time Petitioner was sentenced, the sentencing guidelines, without the ACCA enhancement, would provide for a total offense level of 29, criminal history category of III, and a guideline range of 108 to 135 months' imprisonment on all counts except Count IV, which carries a mandatory 60-month consecutive sentence. Count I carries a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years' imprisonment. But pursuant to the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010, the mandatory minimum was reduced to five years' imprisonment.
In contrast, the current sentencing guidelines provide for a total offense level of 21, criminal history category of III, and a guideline range of 46 to 57 months' imprisonment on all counts except Count IV, which still carries a mandatory 60-month consecutive sentence.
Petitioner has been in custody since May 16, 2003, and his current projected release date is April 30, 2021. (CV Doc. 2). The parties presently request that Petitioner's sentence be reduced by 68 months on Counts I, II, and III, resulting in a total term of imprisonment of 180 months. (Id.). The parties also request that as to Count III, Petitioner's term of supervised release be reduced to three years. (Id.). Petitioner does not request a resentencing hearing, waives his right to be present at a resentencing hearing, and consents to being resentenced without his present in accordance with the parties' agreement. (Id.).
Accordingly, it is therefore
1. Petitioner Robert Griffin Brown's Motion to Vacate, Set Aside, or Correct Sentence pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255 (CV Doc. 1) is GRANTED.
2. The sentence in case no. 8:03-cr-294-T-30AAS at Doc. 61 is VACATED.
3. Petitioner's sentence in case no. 8:03-cr-294-T-30AAS shall be reduced on Counts I, II, and III, to 120 months' imprisonment to run concurrently, and 60 months' imprisonment on Count IV, to run consecutively to the sentences imposed on Counts I, II, and III. These sentences shall be followed by five years' supervised release as to Counts I, II, and IV, and three years' supervised release as to Count III, with all terms of supervised release to run concurrently. An amended judgment shall be issued in case no. 8:03-cr-294-T-30AAS.
4. The Clerk is directed to close this case and deny any pending motions as moot.