USA v. Armean Knox, No. 06-4101 (7th Cir. 2011)

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This opinion or order relates to an opinion or order originally issued on July 20, 2009.

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NONPRECEDENTIAL DISPOSITION To be cited only in accordance with Fed. R. App. P. 32.1 United States Court of Appeals ForȱtheȱSeventhȱCircuit Chicago,ȱIllinoisȱȱ60604 Marchȱ4,ȱ2011 Before FRANKȱH.ȱEASTERBROOK,ȱChiefȱJudge DIANEȱS.ȱSYKES,ȱCircuitȱJudge JOHNȱDANIELȱTINDER,ȱCircuitȱJudge No.ȱ06Ȭ4101 UNITEDȱSTATESȱOFȱAMERICA, PlaintiffȬAppellee, AppealȱfromȱtheȱUnitedȱStatesȱDistrict CourtȱforȱtheȱNorthernȱDistrictȱofȱIllinois, EasternȱDivision v. No.ȱ04ȬCRȬ818 ARMEANȱKNOX, DefendantȬAppellant. AmyȱJ.ȱSt.ȱEve,ȱ Judge. OȱRȱDȱEȱR Thisȱmatterȱisȱbeforeȱtheȱcourtȱforȱtheȱsecondȱtime.ȱInȱtheȱoriginalȱappeal,ȱweȱheldȱthat Armeanȱ Knoxȱ (whoȱ weȱ continueȱ toȱ referȱ toȱ asȱ Armeanȱ forȱ clarity;ȱ Anthonyȱ Knoxȱ isȱ aȱ coȬ defendant)ȱwasȱ entitledȱtoȱaȱlimitedȱremand,ȱallowingȱtheȱdistrictȱcourtȱtoȱindicateȱwhether itȱwouldȱhaveȱselectedȱaȱdifferentȱsentenceȱhadȱitȱknownȱofȱitsȱdiscretionȱunderȱKimbroughȱ[v. UnitedȱStates,ȱ522ȱU.S.ȱ85ȱ(2007)]. ȱUnitedȱStatesȱv.ȱKnox,ȱ573ȱF.3dȱ441,ȱ447ȱ(7thȱCir.ȱ2009)ȱ(citing UnitedȱStatesȱv.ȱTaylor,ȱ520ȱF.3dȱ746,ȱ747Ȭ49ȱ(7thȱCir.ȱ2008)).ȱWeȱalsoȱstatedȱthatȱ thisȱappealȱis notȱtheȱproperȱvehicleȱforȱArmeanȱtoȱraiseȱ[his]ȱclaimȱ[forȱaȱreducedȱsentenceȱunderȱtheȱ2007 amendmentȱtoȱU.S.S.G.ȱ§È±2D1.1]ȱinȱtheȱfirstȱinstance;ȱrather,ȱArmeanȱshouldȱmoveȱforȱaȱreduced sentenceȱinȱtheȱdistrictȱcourtȱunderȱ18ȱU.S.C.ȱ§È±3582(c)(2). ȱId.ȱatȱ451.ȱWeȱconcludedȱbyȱordering aȱlimitedȱremandȱ soȱthatȱtheȱdistrictȱcourtȱmayȱfollowȱtheȱprocedureȱdescribedȱinȱUnitedȱStates v.ȱTaylor,ȱ520ȱF.3dȱ746,ȱ748Ȭ49ȱ(7thȱCir.ȱ2008),ȱtoȱaddressȱtheȱeffectȱofȱbothȱtheȱ2007ȱAmendment No.ȱ06Ȭ4101 Pageȱ2 toȱ§È±2D1.1ȱandȱKimbroughȱonȱArmean sȱsentence. ȱId.ȱatȱ454.ȱWeȱinstructedȱtheȱdistrictȱcourt [a]fterȱresolvingȱanyȱmotionȱforȱaȱreducedȱsentenceȱunderȱ18ȱU.S.C.ȱ§È±3582(c)(2)ȱbasedȱonȱthe Amendment, ȱ toȱ indicateȱ whetherȱ itȱ isȱ inclinedȱ toȱ reduceȱ Armean sȱ sentenceȱ under Kimbrough. ȱId. InȱTaylor,ȱweȱadoptedȱaȱlimitedȬremandȱprocedureȱforȱforfeitedȱKimbroughȬtypeȱarguments toȱpermitȱtheȱdistrictȱcourtȱtoȱadviseȱusȱofȱitsȱinclinationȱtoȱimposeȱaȱdifferentȱsentenceȱinȱlight ofȱKimbrough.ȱWeȱexplained: Theȱdistrictȱjudgeȱshouldȱholdȱoffȱonȱtellingȱusȱwhetherȱsheȱisȱmindedȱtoȱresentence theȱdefendantȱunderȱKimbroughȱuntilȱsheȱdecidesȱwhetherȱtoȱactȱfavorablyȱonȱthe defendantÈ sȱ motionȱ (ifȱ heȱ makesȱ one,ȱ orȱ onȱ theȱ judgeÈ sȱ ownȱ initiative,ȱ ifȱ the defendantȱ doesȱ not)ȱ forȱ reliefȱ underȱ theȱ CommissionÈ sȱ newȱ crackȱ regime.ȱ Ifȱ she decidesȱ toȱ imposeȱ theȱ sameȱ sentenceȱ underȱ theȱ newȱ guideline,ȱ orȱ ifȱ thoughȱ she lowersȱtheȱsentenceȱtheȱdefendantȱbelievesȱthatȱ18ȱU.S.C.ȱ§È±3553(a)ȱwouldȱwarrant aȱstillȬlowerȱsentence,ȱorȱifȱheȱdoesȱnotȱmakeȱaȱproperȱmotionȱforȱreliefȱunderȱthe newȱȱguidelineȱandȱsheȱisȱnotȱmindedȱtoȱgrantȱsuchȱreliefȱonȱherȱownȱinitiative,ȱshe willȱthenȱhaveȱtoȱadviseȱusȱwhetherȱsheȱwouldȱbeȱinclinedȱtoȱreduceȱhisȱsentence underȱtheȱdispensationȱgrantedȱsentencingȱjudgesȱbyȱKimbrough. 520ȱF.3dȱatȱ748Ȭ49.ȱTaylorȱremandsȱareȱpremisedȱonȱtheȱnotionȱthatȱweȱcannotȱdetermineȱfrom theȱrecordȱwhetherȱtheȱdistrictȱcourtȱwouldȱhaveȱsentencedȱaȱdefendantȱdifferentlyȱhadȱitȱbeen awareȱofȱitsȱdiscretionȱtoȱconsiderȱtheȱguidelinesÈ È±disparateȱtreatmentȱofȱcrackȱandȱpowder cocaine.ȱ Ifȱ theȱ districtȱ courtȱ isȱ inclinedȱ toȱ reȬsentence,ȱ thenȱ weȱ willȱ vacateȱ theȱ defendant s sentenceȱandȱremandȱforȱaȱfullȱresentencing.ȱUnitedȱStatesȱv.ȱBillian,ȱ600ȱF.3dȱ791,ȱ795ȱ(7thȱCir. 2010).ȱWeȱretainȱ jurisdictionȱinȱorderȱtoȱcompleteȱourȱplainȱerrorȱreviewȱuponȱreceivingȱthe viewsȱofȱtheȱdistrictȱcourtȱasȱtoȱwhetherȱitȱwasȱdisposedȱtoȱreȬsentence. ȱUnitedȱStatesȱv.ȱDuncan, 427ȱF.3dȱ464,ȱ465ȱ(7thȱCir.ȱ2005)ȱ(perȱcuriam).ȱ Armeanȱfiledȱaȱmotionȱinȱtheȱdistrictȱcourtȱrequestingȱaȱreductionȱinȱhisȱsentenceȱpursuant toȱ18ȱU.S.C.ȱ§È±3582(c)ȱandȱtheȱFairȱSentencingȱActȱ(FSA).ȱTheȱdistrictȱcourtȱheldȱaȱhearingȱand grantedȱtheȱparties ȱagreedȱmotionȱforȱreductionȱofȱsentence,ȱpursuantȱtoȱ18ȱU.S.C.ȱ§È±3582(c)(2), basedȱ onȱ amendmentȱ 706ȱ toȱ theȱ Sentencingȱ Guidelines.ȱ Theȱ courtȱ enteredȱ anȱ Amended JudgmentȱreducingȱArmean sȱsentenceȱonȱCountȱSixȱ(conspiracyȱtoȱdistributeȱmoreȱthanȱ50 gramsȱofȱcrack)ȱtoȱ130ȱmonths ȱimprisonmentȱȬȱtheȱmiddleȱofȱtheȱnewȱguidelineȱrange.ȱThe districtȱcourtȱstatedȱthatȱtheȱreducedȱsentenceȱreflectedȱitsȱconsiderationȱofȱnotȱonlyȱtheȱnewly amendedȱguidelineȱrange,ȱbutȱalsoȱitsȱconsiderationȱofȱKimbrough.ȱ Weȱinvitedȱtheȱpartiesȱtoȱsubmitȱargumentsȱconcerningȱtheȱappropriateȱdispositionȱofȱthis appealȱinȱlightȱofȱtheȱdistrictȱcourt sȱresponseȱtoȱtheȱlimitedȱremand.ȱArmeanȱnowȱarguesȱthat theȱ districtȱcourt sȱsentenceȱwasȱunreasonableȱinȱlightȱofȱtheȱFairȱSentencingȱActȱreducingȱthe No.ȱ06Ȭ4101 Pageȱ3 disparityȱbetweenȱcrackȱcocaineȱandȱpowderȱcocaineȱtoȱ18:1ȱandȱtheȱSentencingȱCommission s Novemberȱ1,ȱ2010ȱamendmentȱtoȱU.S.S.G.ȱ§È±2D1.1ȱimplementingȱtheȱreducedȱdisparityȱbetween crackȱcocaineȱandȱpowderȱcocaine. TheȱdistrictȱcourtȱdidȱnotȱfollowȱtheȱprocedureȱsetȱforthȱinȱTaylorȱonȱremand.ȱInstead,ȱthe courtȱproceededȱtoȱreȬsentenceȱtheȱdefendantȱandȱenteredȱanȱamendedȱjudgmentȱtoȱthatȱeffect; theȱcourtȱwasȱwithoutȱjurisdictionȱtoȱdoȱso.ȱTheȱdistrictȱcourtȱwasȱtoȱresolveȱtheȱdefendant sȱ§ 3582(c)(2)ȱmotion,ȱandȱthenȱinformȱusȱwhetherȱitȱisȱinclinedȱtoȱreduceȱtheȱdefendant sȱsentence furtherȱ underȱtheȱdispensationȱgrantedȱsentencingȱjudgesȱbyȱKimbrough. ȱTaylor,ȱ520ȱF.3dȱat 749;ȱ seeȱ alsoȱ Unitedȱ Statesȱ v.ȱ Martin,ȱ 618ȱ F.3dȱ 705,ȱ 739ȱ (7thȱ Cir.ȱ 2010)ȱ ( Afterȱ resolvingȱ any motionȱforȱaȱreducedȱsentenceȱunderȱ18ȱU.S.C.ȱ§È±3582(c)(2)ȱbasedȱonȱtheȱAmendment,ȱtheȱcourt shouldȱ indicateȱ whetherȱ itȱ isȱ inclinedȱ toȱ reduceȱ furtherȱ [theȱ defendant s]ȱ sentence[]ȱ under Kimbrough. ).ȱ Ourȱlimitedȱremandȱtoȱtheȱdistrictȱcourtȱwasȱsolelyȱtoȱascertainȱwhetherȱitȱwas inclinedȱtoȱreȬsentenceȱifȱweȱlaterȱremandedȱtheȱcaseȱtoȱtheȱdistrictȱcourt. ȱȱDuncan,ȱ427ȱF.3dȱat 465.ȱ Becauseȱ theȱ districtȱ courtȱ wasȱ withoutȱ jurisdictionȱ toȱ enterȱ theȱ Amendedȱ Judgmentȱ of Novemberȱ9,ȱ2010,ȱtheȱjudgmentȱisȱvacated.ȱWeȱconsiderȱtheȱdistrictȱcourt sȱamendedȱjudgment asȱanȱindicationȱthatȱitȱisȱdisposedȱtoȱreȬsentenceȱandȱtherefore,ȱweȱconcludeȱthisȱappealȱby remandingȱthisȱcaseȱforȱthatȱpurpose.ȱ Asȱ noted,ȱ Armeanȱ alsoȱ raisesȱ anȱ argumentȱ thatȱ hisȱ sentenceȱ shouldȱ beȱ reducedȱ in accordanceȱwithȱtheȱFSA.ȱTheȱFSAȱwasȱsignedȱintoȱlawȱonȱAugustȱ3,ȱ2010ȱandȱincreasesȱthe quantitiesȱ ofȱ crackȱ cocaineȱ neededȱ toȱ triggerȱ mandatoryȱ minimumȱ sentences.ȱ Armean s argumentȱthatȱtheȱFSAȱappliesȱretroactivelyȱtoȱreduceȱhisȱsentenceȱhasȱbeenȱdecidedȱadversely toȱhimȱinȱUnitedȱStatesȱv.ȱBell,ȱ624ȱF.3dȱ803,ȱ814ȱ(7thȱCir.ȱ2010).ȱArmeanȱpleadedȱguilty,ȱwas sentenced,ȱandȱhadȱalreadyȱappealedȱthatȱsentenceȱwhenȱtheȱFSAȱwasȱsignedȱintoȱlaw.ȱThe generalȱfederalȱsavingsȱstatute,ȱ1ȱU.S.C.ȱ§È±109,ȱoperatesȱtoȱbarȱretroactiveȱapplicationȱofȱtheȱFSA. Id.ȱAsȱweȱstatedȱinȱBell,ȱ [s]inceȱtheȱFSAȱdoesȱnotȱcontainȱsoȱmuchȱasȱaȱhintȱthatȱCongress intendedȱitȱtoȱapplyȱretroactively,ȱitȱcannotȱhelpȱ[Armean]ȱhere. ȱId. Accordingly,ȱtheȱamendedȱjudgmentȱofȱtheȱdistrictȱcourtȱenteredȱasȱtoȱArmeanȱKnoxȱon Novemberȱ9,ȱ2010ȱisȱVACATEDȱbecauseȱtheȱdistrictȱcourtȱwasȱwithoutȱjurisdictionȱtoȱenter suchȱaȱjudgment.ȱTheȱcaseȱisȱREMANDEDȱinȱorderȱtoȱpermitȱtheȱdistrictȱcourtȱtoȱreȬsentence theȱ defendant.ȱ Anyȱ challengeȱ toȱ aȱ sentenceȱ imposedȱ subsequentȱ toȱ thisȱ remandȱ mustȱ be initiatedȱbyȱtheȱfilingȱofȱaȱnewȱnoticeȱofȱappeal.

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