United States v. McKneely, 10th Cir. (2014)
United States v. McKneely, 10th Cir. (2014)
Elisabeth A. Shumaker
Clerk of Court
No. 14-1291
(D.C. No. 1:93-CR-00308-MSK-1)
(D. Colo.)
v.
DRACY LAMONT MCKNEELY,
Defendant Appellant.
Dracy McKneely appeals following the district courts denial of his motion to
reduce his sentence pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 3582. Exercising jurisdiction under 28
After examining appellants brief and the appellate record, this panel has
determined unanimously that oral argument would not materially assist the determination
of this appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2) and 10th Cir. R. 34.1(G). The case is
therefore ordered submitted without oral argument. This order and judgment is not
binding precedent, except under the doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, and
collateral estoppel. It may be cited, however, for its persuasive value consistent with Fed.
R. App. P. 32.1 and 10th Cir. R. 32.1.
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II
We generally review a district courts denial of a 3582(c)(2) motion for abuse of
discretion. See United States v. Sharkey, 543 F.3d 1236, 1238 (10th Cir. 2008). But we
review a district courts conclusion that it lacked authority to grant a 3582(c)(2) motion
de novo. See United States v. Williams, 575 F.3d 1075, 1076 (10th Cir. 2009).
Federal courts generally may not modify a term of imprisonment once it has been
imposed. Dillon v. United States, 560 U.S. 817, 819 (2010) (quotation omitted).
However, a district court may reduce the sentence of a defendant who has been
sentenced to a term of imprisonment based on a sentencing range that has subsequently
been lowered by the Sentencing Commission . . . if such a reduction is consistent with
applicable policy statements issued by the Sentencing Commission. 3582(c)(2). The
Sentencing Commission has issued a policy statement barring a sentence reduction if a
retroactive Guideline amendment does not have the effect of lowering the defendants
applicable guideline range. U.S.S.G. 1B1.10(a)(2)(B).
Under Amendments 750 and 759 to the Guidelines, U.S.S.G. app. C, amends. 750
& 759, McKneelys base offense level would drop from 38 to 36. Compare U.S.S.G.
v. Ceballos-Martinez, 387 F.3d 1140, 1143 (10th Cir. 2004) (describing prison mailbox
rule and noting that a prisoner may comply with the rule after the notice of appeal is
filed).
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2D1.1(c)(1) (1994) with U.S.S.G. 2D1.1(c)(2) (2013). His total offense level would
accordingly drop from 42 to 40. However, with a criminal history category of IV,
McKneelys Guidelines range would be 360 months to life regardless of this change. See
U.S.S.G. ch. 5, pt. A (Sentencing Table). Accordingly, lowering McKneelys sentence
would be inconsistent with the policy statement contained in U.S.S.G. 1B1.10(a)(2)(B)
and is thus prohibited by the plain text of 18 U.S.C. 3582(c)(2).
In his briefing on appeal, McKneely argues that his offense level and criminal
history category were miscalculated. Although a court considering a 3582(c)(2) motion
must determine the amended guideline range that would have been applicable to the
defendant under the retroactive amendments, it shall leave all other guideline
application decisions unaffected. U.S.S.G. 1B1.10(b)(1). We rejected McKneelys
sentencing arguments on direct appeal. See McKneely, 69 F.3d at 1078-79. The district
court lacked authority to reconsider these issues under 3582(c)(2). See United States v.
Washington, 759 F.3d 1175, 1182 (10th Cir. 2014) (stating that district courts cannot
recalculate aspects of a sentence that are unaffected by a retroactively applicable
amendment to the Guidelines).
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III
For the foregoing reasons, we AFFIRM. McKneelys motion to proceed in forma
pauperis is GRANTED.
Carlos F. Lucero
Circuit Judge
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