United States v. Lashawn Dante Troup

[DO NOT PUBLISH]
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT FILED
________________________ U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
No. 08-13291 APRIL 28, 2009
Non-Argument Calendar THOMAS K. KAHN
CLERK
________________________
D. C. Docket No. 06-00134-CR-FTM-29-DNF
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
versus
LASHAWN DANTE TROUP,
Defendant-Appellant.
________________________
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Middle District of Florida
_________________________
(April 28, 2009)
Before BIRCH, HULL and FAY, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:
Lashawn Dante Troup, through counsel, appeals the sentence imposed by
the district court following its grant of his pro se motion for a reduced sentence,
pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(2) and Amendment 706. On appeal, Troup argues,
through counsel, that the district court erred by finding that it could not reduce his
sentence below the amended guideline range, as (1) United States v. Booker, 543
U.S. 220, 125 S. Ct. 738, 160 L. Ed. 2d 621 (2005), and Kimbrough v. United States,
552 U.S. ___, 128 S. Ct. 558, 169 L. Ed. 2d 481 (2007) apply at resentencing
proceedings under § 3582(c)(2), (2) § 3582(c)(2) is ambiguous as to which policy
statements it refers, and (3) when read to mean that a district court cannot sentence
below the amended guideline range, § 1B1.10 presents separation of powers
concerns and violates Kimbrough and 28 U.S.C. § 991(b)(1), which requires the
Sentencing Commission establish policies that assure that the purposes of
sentencing listed in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a)(2) are met.
In response, the government moves for us to dismiss the appeal due to a
valid appeal waiver contained in Troup’s plea agreement.
“We review de novo a district court’s conclusions about the scope of its
legal authority under 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(2).” United States v. James, 548 F.3d
983, 984 (11th Cir. 2008). A district court may modify a term of imprisonment in
the case of a defendant who was sentenced to a term of imprisonment based on a
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sentencing range that has subsequently been lowered by the Sentencing
Commission. 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(2). Any reduction, however, must be
“consistent with applicable policy statements issued by the Sentencing
Commission.” Id. The applicable policy statements, found in § 1B1.10, state that
“the court shall not reduce the defendant’s term of imprisonment under 18 U.S.C.
§ 3582(c)(2) and this policy statement to a term that is less than the minimum of
the amended guideline range.” U.S.S.G. § 1B1.10(b)(2)(A).
We review sentencing issues not raised before the district court for plain
error. United States v. Camacho-Ibarquen, 410 F.3d 1307, 1315 (11th Cir. 2005).
For us to correct an error under plain error review, there must be “(1) an error,
(2) that is plain, (3) that affects substantial rights (which usually means that the
error was prejudicial), and (4) that seriously affects the fairness, integrity, or public
reputation of judicial proceedings.” United States v. Mangaroo, 504 F.3d 1350,
1353 (11th Cir. 2007). An error is not “plain” if the explicit language of a statute
or rule does not resolve the issue, and neither the Supreme Court nor we have
precedent directly resolving the issue. United States v. Chau, 426 F.3d 1318, 1322
(11th Cir. 2005).
Upon review of the record and the parties’ briefs, we discern no reversible
error.
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The government’s motion to dismiss this appeal due to a valid appeal waiver
contained in Troup’s plea agreement is DENIED.
The district court did not err in finding that Booker and Kimbrough did not
authorize it to sentence Troup below the amended guidelines. See United States v.
Melvin, No. 08-13497, man. op. at 7 (11th Cir. Feb. 3, 2009) (holding that Booker
and Kimbrough do not apply at resentencing proceedings under § 3582(c)(2)).
Additionally, the district court did not plainly err by not sua sponte finding
§ 3582(c)(2) ambiguous, or by not declaring § 1B1.10 invalid, as neither we nor
the Supreme Court have held § 3582(c)(2) ambiguous or declared § 1B1.10
invalid. See Chau, 426 F.3d at 1322. Accordingly, we affirm.
AFFIRMED.
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