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United States of America v. Baisden, CR597-003. (2018)

Court: District Court, S.D. Georgia Number: infdco20180205529 Visitors: 10
Filed: Jan. 23, 2018
Latest Update: Jan. 23, 2018
Summary: ORDER WILLIAM T. MOORE, JR. , District Judge . Before the Court is Defendant Ricky Mitchell's Motion to Reduce Sentence (Doc. 2190), Motion to Appoint Counsel (Doc. 2191), and Motion for Relief (Doc. 2199). In his Motion to Reduce Sentence, Defendant argues that he is entitled to a two-point reduction in his offense level based on the "Drug Minus Two Amendment" to the guidelines. (Doc. 2190 at 2.) Previously, this Court sua sponte denied Defendant a sentence reduction. (Doc. 2154.) The Cou
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ORDER

Before the Court is Defendant Ricky Mitchell's Motion to Reduce Sentence (Doc. 2190), Motion to Appoint Counsel (Doc. 2191), and Motion for Relief (Doc. 2199). In his Motion to Reduce Sentence, Defendant argues that he is entitled to a two-point reduction in his offense level based on the "Drug Minus Two Amendment" to the guidelines. (Doc. 2190 at 2.) Previously, this Court sua sponte denied Defendant a sentence reduction. (Doc. 2154.) The Court determined that the "Drug Minus Two Amendment" had no effect on Defendant's sentence because he was sentenced as a career offender. (Id. at 2); see United States v. Lawson, 686 F.3d 1317, 1321 (11th Cir. 2012); United States v. Moore, 541 F.3d 1323, 1327-30 (11th Cir. 2008).

Subsequent to that denial, the President of the United States granted Defendant's clemency application and commuted his sentence from life to 360-months imprisonment. (Doc. 2186.) In his Motion to Reduce, Defendant generally contends that he is now entitled to the two-point reduction because he is no longer serving a career-offender sentence. (Doc. 2190 at 1-2.) However, this Court determines that Defendant remains ineligible for a sentence reduction under 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(2) because he is not serving "a term of imprisonment based on a sentencing range that has subsequently been lowered by the Sentencing Commission." Defendant's current sentence is not based on a guideline range, but on the President's constitutional authority "to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States." U.S. Const. art. II, § 2, cl. 1. Accordingly, Defendant's Motion to Reduce Sentence (Doc. 2190) and Motion for Relief (Doc. 2199) are both DENIED. In addition, Defendant's Motion to Appoint Counsel (Doc. 2191) is also DENIED. See United States v. Webb, 565 F.3d 789, 794-95 (11th Cir. 2009) (holding that Fifth Amendment does not provide mandatory right to counsel for motions to reduce sentence based on § 3582(c)(2)).

SO ORDERED.

Source:  Leagle

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