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UNITED STATES v. SHAW (2021)

United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit.2021-05-20No. No. 20-13103

Summary

Holding. The court affirmed the revocation of Shaw's supervised release and his 30-month imprisonment sentence, holding that the modification of supervised release based on felony association and the subsequent revocation based on new crimes did not violate double-punishment principles because they were premised on different violations.

Bryant Shaw challenged the revocation of his supervised release and the resulting 30-month prison sentence, arguing that he was being punished twice for the same conduct. The district court had first modified his supervised release conditions when Shaw associated with known felons, and later revoked his supervised release after he was found to have committed new crimes: conspiracy to distribute marijuana and possession of a firearm as a convicted felon. Shaw contended that double-punishment principles should have prevented the revocation since it stemmed from the same underlying facts.

The court rejected Shaw's argument, finding that the modification and revocation were based on distinct violations. The initial modification rested solely on Shaw's association with felons. The later revocation was grounded on new criminal conduct that was discovered during an ongoing investigation—specifically, Shaw's involvement in a drug conspiracy and his illegal possession of a firearm. Because the violations were legally separate, the modification and revocation did not constitute double punishment.

Summary generated by law.co from the public-domain opinion. The opinion text itself is public domain.

Key issues

  • Whether revocation of supervised release for new crimes violated double-jeopardy or res judicata principles when a prior modification was based on association with felons
  • Scope of supervised release conditions and violation of the requirement not to commit new crimes
  • Appropriate standard of review for revocation of supervised release

Procedural posture

Shaw appealed the district court's revocation of his supervised release and 30-month imprisonment sentence imposed following an evidentiary hearing on charges that he conspired to distribute marijuana and possessed a firearm as a felon.

Authorities cited

No cited authorities resolved to law.co cases yet.

Opinion

Bryant Shaw appeals the revocation of his supervised release and sentence of 30 months of imprisonment. 18 U.S.C. § 3583(e). The district court modified Shaws supervised release for associating with known felons, id. § 3563(b)(6), and it later revoked his supervised release for committing the new crimes of conspiring to commit a drug crime and of possessing a firearm as a felon, id. § 3563(a)(1). Shaw argues that “the principles underlying the doctrines of issue preclusion, collateral estoppel and res judicata” barred “punish[ing] [him] twice for the same violation of his supervised release.” We disagree. Because the changes to Shaws term of supervised release were based on different violations, we affirm.

One year after Shaw completed his prison sentence for conspiring to distribute at least 5 kilograms of cocaine, id. §§ 846, 841(b)(1)(A)(ii), his probation officer petitioned to revoke his supervised release, but later rescinded that petition. Shaw agreed to waive his rights to counsel and a hearing and to modify his supervised release to add 180 days of location monitoring. See id. §§ 3583(e)(4), 3563(c). The petition to modify charged Shaw for associating with two felons, Frank McCullough and Anthony Dexter Brown, on August 24, 2017. See id. § 3563(b)(6). The petition stated that federal agents searched “a residence linked to [Shaw],” discovered “firearms, marijuana packaged for distribution, possible fraudulent credit cards, and a large amount of cash,” and had “an ongoing investigation based on this evidence.”

Shaw moved for early termination of his supervised release, but the district court denied the motion. The district court ruled that early termination was “[un]warranted” because Shaw had associated with convicted felons at a site where agents discovered “firearms and marijuana packaged for distribution” and because Shaw had a “possible association with drug distribution.”

On February 13, 2020, Shaws probation officer filed a petition to revoke that charged him for committing two new crimes. See id. §§ 3583(d), 3563(a). The petition alleged that, between July 19, 2017, and August 24, 2017, Shaw conspired with F.M. and other persons to possess with intent to distribute marijuana. Id. §§ 846, 841(a)(1). The petition also alleged that, on August 24, 2017, Shaw was a felon in possession of a firearm. Id. § 922(g)(1). Shaw moved to dismiss the petition, but the district court denied the motion.

After a three-day evidentiary hearing, the district court revoked Shaws supervised release. See id. § 3583(e)(3), (g). The government requested that Shaw receive a sentence of 60 months, and Shaw sought a sentence of 366 days. The district court sentenced Shaw to 30 months of imprisonment.

We review the revocation of supervised release for abuse of discretion. United States v. Frazier, 26 F.3d 110, 112 (11th Cir. 1994).

The district court did not abuse its discretion by revoking Shaws supervised release. A defendant has an ongoing obligation to comply with the conditions and restrictions on his conduct during the unexpired term of his supervised release. 18 U.S.C. § 3583(a), (f). The district court found that Shaw violated the mandatory condition of supervised release that he “not commit another ․ crime during the term of supervision.” Id. §§ 3583(d), 3563(a). Shaw does not contest that finding or the sentence that he received.

Shaw argues that the revocation and the earlier modification of his supervised release punished the “same conduct,” but the record belies his argument. The district court modified Shaws supervised release because he associated with felons. See id. § 3563(d). Federal agents discovered evidence of crimes when they found Shaw keeping company with felons, but that evidence became part of “an ongoing investigation.” Years passed before the agents determined that Shaw had engaged in criminal activities. In the meantime, as the district court stated when denying Shaws motion for early termination, it knew of Shaws “association with known felons” and only of a “possible association with drug distribution.” After federal agents connected Shaw to criminal activities, the district court was required to “revoke the term of supervised release and require [Shaw] to serve a term of imprisonment.” See id. § 3583(g).

We AFFIRM the revocation of Shaws supervised release.

PER CURIAM: