United States v. Simmon

153 F. Supp. 3d 617, 2015 WL 9480039
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. New York
DecidedDecember 28, 2015
Docket13 Cr. 855 (PGG)
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 153 F. Supp. 3d 617 (United States v. Simmon) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Simmon, 153 F. Supp. 3d 617, 2015 WL 9480039 (S.D.N.Y. 2015).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION & ORDER

Paul G. Gardephe, United States District Judge

Defendant Servino Simmon — who pleaded guilty to a felon in possession charge, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 922(g) — is scheduled for sentencing on December 29, 2015. In a July 28, 2015 Order, this Court ruled on a number of issues relating to the proper application of the Sentencing Guidelines.1 (Dkt. No. 99) On October 30, 2015— at the Defendant’s request — this Court conducted a Fatico hearing. In a post-hearing submission, Defendant contends that (1) he should not receive a four-level enhancement under the Sentencing Guidelines for using a firearm in connection with the New York state felony of Coercion in the First Degree; and (2) his 2005 New York state conviction for second degree robbery does not constitute a “crime of violence” under the Guidelines. (Def. Supp. Sent. Br. (Dkt. No. 111)) For the reasons stated below, this Court concludes that a four-level enhancement is appropriate, and that Defendant’s second degree robbery conviction constitutes a “crime of violence” under the'Sentencing Guidelines.

BACKGROUND

I. THE TRIAL

Indictment 13 Cr. 855 (PGG) charges Defendant with (1) Hobbs Act robbery, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1951; (2) using a firearm in connection with a crime of violence, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(l)(A)(ii), and (3) felon in possession, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). (See Indictment (Dkt. No. 6))

The Government alleged that. Simmon used a firearm in attempting to rob a livery car driver at about 5:00 a.m. on October 19, 2013, at East 137th Street and St. Ann’s Avenue in the South Bronx. (Cmplt. ¶ 5(a); Indictment (Dkt. No. 6)) The case proceeded to trial on June 2, 2014. This Court bifurcated the felon in possession count from the Hobbs Act robbery and Section 924(c) charges. (Dkt. No. 18) After several hours of deliberation, the jury returned a verdict acquitting the Defendant on the Hobbs Act robbery and Section 924(c) counts. (Trial Tr. (Dkt. No. 62) at 510)

After accepting the verdict, this Court informed the jury, for tlje first time, that there would be a second stage of the trial, in which they would consider another charge against the Defendant. (Id. at 511) Both sides gave opening statements concerning the felon in possession charge. (Id. at 51244) Additional evidence was then received concerning this, charge. (Id. at 515-21), After the parties’ closing arguments, this Court instructed the jury as to the felon in possession count. (Id. at 526-30) The jury could not reach a verdict on the felon in possession count, however. Accordingly, this Court declared a mistrial. (Trial Tr. (Dkt. No. 64) at 547-48)

[620]*620II. GUILTY PLEA AND PLEA AGREEMENT

On August 8, 2014, Defendant pleaded guilty to Count Three — the felon in possession charge — before Magistrate Judge Netburn. (Plea Tr. (Dkt. No. 71)) This Court signed an order accepting the plea on August 11, 2014. (Dkt. No. 70)

Defendant pleaded guilty pursuant to a plea agreement that contains a number of stipulations regarding the application of the Sentencing Guidelines, both as to offense level and as to criminal history. As to Defendant’s offense level, the plea agreement stipulates that, pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1(a)(4)(A), the base offense level is 20, “because the defendant committed the instant offense subsequent to sustaining a felony conviction for a crime of violence, to wit, a conviction on or about April 15, 2005 in New York County Supreme Court of Robbery in the Second Degree.” (Plea Agmt. (Dkt.No. 95) at 2)

III. SENTENCING ISSUES

On September 15, 2014, this Court issued an order directing the parties to address five potential Sentencing Guidelines enhancements that are not discussed in any fashion in the plea agreement. (Dkt. No. 73) On October 27, 2014, Defendant filed a sentencing brief containing a motion to withdraw his guilty plea. (Oct. 27, 2014 Def. Sent. Mem. (Dkt. No. 96) at 2-11) This Court denied that application in a November 10,2014 bench ruling. (See Dkt. No. 78) This Court again ordered the parties to brief the applicability of the Sentencing Guidelines enhancements listed in its September 15, 2014 Order. (Nov. 10, 2014 Conf. Tr. (Dkt. No. 84) at 20-22) The parties addressed these potential enhancements in submissions filed on November 17, 2014, March 17, 2015, and April 24, 2015. (Dkt. Nos. 81, 82, 87, 90)

On July 28, 2015, this Court issued a memorandum opinion and order concluding that the Defendant’s Guidelines range is 100-125 months’ imprisonment.2 (Dkt. No. 99) On August 14, 2015, Defendant renewed his motion to withdraw his guilty plea, arguing that he is entitled to withdraw his plea because this Court had concluded that he is subject to a higher Guidelines range than the plea agreement contemplates. (Dkt. No. 102) In the alternative, Defendant requested that a Fatico hearing be conducted regarding the factual basis for one of the Sentencing Guidelines enhancements, and that this Court recuse itself. (Id.) In a September 9, 2015 order, this Court denied Defendant’s motion to withdraw his guilty plea and recusal request, but agreed to conduct a Fatico hearing concerning the issue of whether the Defendant had used a firearm to commit the New York state felony of Coercion in the First Degree. (Dkt. No. 106)

The Fatico hearing took place on October 30, 2015. The Government chose to rely on the testimony at trial, and did not offer additional evidence. (Dkt. No. 107) Defendant called the alleged victim, Laye Kromah, a livery car driver. (Dkt. No. 109)

On November 20, 2015, Defendant filed a supplemental sentencing memorandum. (Dkt. No. 111) Defendant argues that (1) he did not commit the state crime of coercion, and therefore the four-level enhancement for using and possessing a firearm in connection with the commission of a felony should not be imposed; and (2) this Court erred in concluding that Defendant’s 2005 second degree robbery conviction is a “crime of violence” under the Sentencing [621]*621Guidelines, and improperly increased Defendant’s base offense level by four levels. (Id.) In a December 12, 2015 letter, the Government argues that Defendant’s 2005 robbery conviction constitutes a “crime of violence” under the Sentencing Guidelines. (Dkt. No. 114)

DISCUSSION

I. DEFENDANT’S USE OF A FIREARM TO COMMIT FIRST DEGREE COERCION

Under U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1(b)(6)(B), a defendant convicted of unlawful possession of a firearm is subject to a four-level increase if the defendant “used or possessed any firearm or ammunition in connection with another felony offense .... ” In its September 15, 2014 Order, this Court directed the parties to address, inter alia, “whether Defendant used or possessed a firearm in connection with another felony offense under U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1(b)(6)(B) & cmt. n.14” and, in particular, “whether the evidence adduced at trial demonstrated that Defendant committed the 'crime[ ] of Coercion in the First Degree — in violation of N.Y.

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Bluebook (online)
153 F. Supp. 3d 617, 2015 WL 9480039, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-simmon-nysd-2015.