UNITED STATES v. WILLIAMS (2021)

United States Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit.2021-09-09No. No. 21-3082

Summary · law.co

Holding. The court affirmed the district court's denial of Williams's motion for a sentence reduction under the First Step Act, finding no abuse of discretion where the district court provided a reasoned explanation based on the defendant's violations of supervised release conditions.

Maurice Williams, a federal inmate, appealed the district court's denial of his motion for a sentence reduction under the First Step Act of 2018. Williams had been convicted in 2009 of distributing crack cocaine near a school and being a felon in possession of a firearm, receiving a sentence of 84 months. He sought a reduced sentence based on changes in sentencing law, and while the government acknowledged he was eligible for consideration, it opposed the reduction due to his multiple violations of supervised release conditions.

The appellate court reviewed whether the district court abused its discretion in denying the motion. The court found that the First Step Act gives judges complete discretion in deciding whether to reduce sentences, and the district court properly exercised that discretion by providing a reasoned explanation for its denial. The court focused on Williams's serious and repeated violations of release conditions as a legitimate basis for refusing the reduction.

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

Key issues

Whether district courts have discretion to deny sentence reductions under First Step Act § 404
Whether a defendant's violations of supervised release conditions justify denial of discretionary sentence reduction
Standard of review for district court denial of First Step Act reduction motions

Procedural posture

The defendant appealed pro se from the district court's denial of his motion for a sentence reduction under the First Step Act of 2018.

Authorities cited

No cited authorities resolved to law.co cases yet.

Opinion · public domain

ORDER AND JUDGMENT **

Defendant-Appellant Maurice Williams, a federal inmate appearing pro se, seeks an appeal from the district courts denial of his motion for a sentence reduction under § 404 of the First Step Act of 2018. See Pub. L. No. 115-391, § 404, 132 Stat. 5194, 5222 (2018). Exercising jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291, we affirm.

Background

In July 2008, Mr. Williams sold 6.7 grams of crack cocaine to an undercover police officer working at a store in Kansas City, Kansas. 1 R. 25. The following month, Mr. Williams entered that same store and sold a rifle to an undercover officer. Id. In January 2009, Mr. Williams pled guilty to distributing five grams or more of crack cocaine within 1,000 feet of a school in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a) and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g). Id. at 24. In April 2009, the district court sentenced Mr. Williams to 84 months imprisonment followed by eight years of supervised release. Id. at 31–32.

Mr. Williams subsequently filed a motion for a sentence reduction under § 404 of the First Step Act of 2018. Id. at 72. Mr. Williams argued that he is eligible for a sentence reduction under § 404(b) of the First Step Act, which allows district courts to “impose reduced sentences as if Sections 2 and 3 of the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010 were in effect at the time the covered offense was committed.” See § 404(b), 132 Stat. at 5222 (citation omitted). The government conceded that Mr. Williams is eligible for consideration of a reduced sentence under the First Step Act since Mr. Williams was sentenced before August 3, 2010, and “his sentencing exposure would indeed be different today.” 1 R. 84–85. However, the government requested that the court deny Mr. Williamss motion based on several violations of his supervised release. Id. at 87–88.

The district court denied Mr. Williamss motion. The district court reasoned that relief under the First Step Act is discretionary and a reduction in sentence is not warranted based on Mr. Williamss continual violations of his supervised release. Id. at 100.

Discussion

We review a district courts decision to deny a sentence reduction for an abuse of discretion. United States v. Piper, 839 F.3d 1261, 1265 (10th Cir. 2016). Mr. Williams argues that the district court failed to perform a holistic review of the facts and circumstances surrounding his motion for a sentence reduction. Aplt. Br. at 3. Specifically, Mr. Williams cites alleged sentencing disparities between himself and similarly situated defendants in addition to pending federal legislation as the circumstances that the district court overlooked. Id.

The district court did not abuse its discretion in denying Mr. Williamss motion for a sentence reduction as it presented a reasonably articulated basis for its conclusion. See United States v. Mannie, 971 F.3d 1145, 1158 (10th Cir. 2020). Section 404 of the First Step Act is clear: “Nothing in this section shall be construed to require a court to reduce any sentence pursuant to this section.” § 404(c), 132 Stat. at 5222. Therefore, any reduction in sentence under the First Step Act is completely discretionary. See United States v. Brown, 974 F.3d 1137, 1143–44 (10th Cir. 2020). In properly exercising its discretion, the district court relied on Mr. Williamss numerous, serious violations of his release conditions. 1. R. 100. In relying on Mr. Williamss violation report, the district court provided a reasonably articulated basis for its determination that a sentence reduction is not warranted in this case.

AFFIRMED. We GRANT the motion to proceed IFP on appeal.

Paul J. Kelly, Jr., Circuit Judge