United States v. Rodriguez

The Third Circuit affirmed denial of a sentencing reduction while rejecting the government’s “novel” challenge to its jurisdiction. The court concluded that the denial was a final order under 28 U.S.C. 1291 and that 18 U.S.C. 3742(a)(1)does not bar review for reasonableness. In 2012, Rodriguez pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine, 21 U.S.C. 846, and conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking, 18 U.S.C. 924(o). The drug quantity was more than 15 and less than 50 kilograms of cocaine. Rodriguez was also responsible for multiple drug-related robberies. His sentencing range was 120-150 months; he was sentenced to 123 months’ imprisonment. In 2016, Rodriguez sought a sentencing reduction under 18 U.S.C. 3582(c)(2), based on Amendment 782 of the Sentencing Guidelines, which retroactively reduced by two the offense levels for drug quantities that trigger a mandatory minimum sentence. The district court found Rodriguez eligible for an Amendment 782 sentencing reduction, but denied relief in the exercise of its discretion, stating that Rodriguez had engaged in “an unyielding and escalating pattern of drug-related and violent behavior which has been undeterred by prior and substantial terms of imprisonment.” The courts rejected an argument that the sentence was substantively unreasonable, based on the 18 U.S.C. 3553(a) factors. View "United States v. Rodriguez" on Justia Law