United States v. Vincent Edward Underwood

427 F. App'x 728

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
• Decided: May 23, 2011
• Docket: 10-13351
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

PER CURIAM:

Vincent Edward Underwood appeals his sentence of 180 months of imprisonment for possessing with intent to distribute controlled substances, 21 U.S.C. § 841(a), being a felon in possession of a firearm, 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1), and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, id. § 924(c)(1). We affirm.

Underwood pleaded guilty to drug and firearms offenses without the benefit of a plea agreement. His presentence investigation report provided a combined base offense level of 24. United States Sentencing Guidelines Manual § 2D1.1 (2009). The report stated that the Supreme Court had held in Spears v. United States, 555 U.S. 261, 129 S.Ct. 840, 172 L.Ed.2d 596 (2009), that a district court may vary from the crack cocaine guidelines, but the report stated that a variance would not affect Underwood’s sentence because he faced mandatory minimum sentences of 10 years for his drug crime, 21 U.S.C. § 841(b)(1)(B), and of 5 years for possessing a firearm, 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(i). The report also detailed Underwood’s three prior convictions for selling and possessing illegal drugs and other criminal conduct.

At his sentencing hearing, Undeiwood asked the district court to vary from the crack cocaine guidelines, but the district court rejected the request “for the reasons ... set[ ] forth” in the presentence report. After the district court sentenced Underwood, he objected and argued that his sentence was unreasonable. The district court responded “that the minimum mandatory sentences [were] appropriate and fair” based on Underwood’s criminal history.

Undeiwood argues that he is “entitled” to be sentenced according the Fair Sentencing Act, which was enacted while his appeal was pending, but this argument is foreclosed by our decision in United States v. Gomes, 621 F.3d 1343 (11th Cir.2010), cert. denied, — U.S. -, 131 S.Ct. 1833, 179 L.Ed.2d 788 (2011). In Gomes, we held that the savings statute, “1 U.S.C. § 109[,] bars the Act from affecting ... punishment” for crimes committed before its enactment. Id. at 1346. Underwood also argues that his sentence to the mandatory minimum term of imprisonment based on the 100 to 1 crack cocaine ratio violates his right to equal protection under the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitu tion, but we have held that this disparity is not unconstitutional, United States v. King, 972 F.2d 1259, 1259-60 (11th Cir.1992).

Underwood’s sentence is AFFIRMED.