United States v. Williams ( 2018 )

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
v. Criminal No. 09-0026 (PLF)
RICO RODRIGUS WILLIAl\/IS,
Defendant.
l\/IEl\/IORANDUl\/l OPINION AND ORDER
This matter is before the Court on defendant Rico Williams’ l\/lotion to Vacate,
Set Aside, or Correct Sentence Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255 [Dkt. No. 254], and the
government’s response to the motion [Dkt. No. 257]. For the reasons that follow, the Court will
grant the defendant’s motion in part and deny it in part.
On June 15, 2017, l\/lr. Williams pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in
violation of 18 U.S.C. § lllZ(a) [Dkt. No. 237]. He had previously been convicted by ajury of
obstruction of justice/tampering with a witness, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § lSlZ(b)(3). The plea
agreement stated that the maximum penalty for involuntary manslaughter was eight years. The
Court sentenced l\/lr. Williams to eight years (that is, 96 months) in prison on the manslaughter
charge and 96 months on the obstruction charge, the sentences to run concurrently. ln his
motion, the defendant now points out that all parties - l\/lr. Williams, his lawyers, the
government, the Probation Office, and the Court - overlooked the fact that at the time of the
offense in July 2005, the maximum statutory penalty for involuntary manslaughter under
18 U.S.C. § lllZ(a) was six years, not eight years. M Defendant’s l\/lotion at 2. (The statute
was amended in 2008 to increase the penalty to eight years’ imprisonment.) The defendant
therefore asks the Court to reduce the manslaughter conviction from eight years (or 96 months)
to 72 months because the earlier sentence exceeded the statutory maximum. He also asks the
Court to reduce the sentence for the obstruction count to 72 months and to again make the
sentences concurrent
The government does not oppose the defendant’s request to have the Court correct
the sentence imposed on the manslaughter charge, as the 96 month-sentence for manslaughter
exceeded the applicable statutory maximum of six years. As for the defendant’s second request
- to reduce the sentence on the witness tampering/obstruction count from 96 months to 72
months -the government defers to the Court as to whether it wishes to enter an amended and
corrected judgment as to both counts. § Gov’t Response at 2-3.
On this second question, the parties agree that the Court has discretion under
Section 2255 to fashion “an appropriate remedy,” se_e Unilcd -Slales v. Pearce, 146 F.3d 771, 775
(10th Cir. 1998), and to “resentence on all counts as may appear appropriate,” §§ Uniied S'lales
v. 'l``ownsend, 178 F.3d 558, 566-67 (D.C. Cir. 1999). The government, also citing Pearce, notes
that resentencing on the unaffected count is neither “required nor appropriate” in all cases. Gov’t
Response at 1 (quoting LlLt<-:d Statcs v. l’carcc, 146 F.3d at 775). lt points out that the maximum
statutory sentence for the obstruction charge under 18 U.S.C. § 1512(b)(3) was ten years at the
time of the offense; the Guidelines sentencing range for that offense was 41 to 51 months. w
Gov’t Response at 2.
The Court will reduce the defendant’s sentence for manslaughter under 18 U.S.C.
§ l 1 12(a) from 96 months to 72 months, the statutory maximum. Based on the evidence
presented at trial concerning the defendant’s conduct with respect to the witness
tampering/obstruction of justice charge, the Court sees no reason to reduce the 96
month-sentence on that count any further.l As noted, the statutory maximum was ten years, and
the Court sentenced the defendant below that maximum. For these reasons, the Court will grant
the defendant’s motion in part and deny it in part. lt will enter an amended judgment sentencing
the defendant to 72 months on his plea to manslaughter under 18 U.S.C. § 1112(a), and 96
months on his conviction under 18 U.S.C. § 1512(b)(3), the sentences to run concurrently.
Accordingly, it is hereby
ORDERED that the defendant’s Motion to Vacate, Set Aside, or Correct Sentence
Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255 [Dkt. No. 254] is GRANTED in PART and DENIED in PART;
it is
FURTHER ORDERED that the defendant’s sentence on his plea to involuntary
manslaughter under 18 U.S.C. § 1112(a) is reduced from 96 months to 72 months; his sentence
under 18 U.S.C. § l512(b)(3) remains unchanged; and it is
FURTHER ORDERED that all other terms of the Amended Judgment entered on
June 16, 2017 shall remain the same. A second Amended Judgment will be entered this same
day.
SO ORDERED.
621 ;%l;.a.>
P_AU_L ITERIEDMAN
United States District Judge
DATE; /,1|\\\‘7
1 The defendant has served the entire 96-month sentence.
3