Turner v. USA

Filing 8

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER re: 1 MOTION to Vacate, Set Aside or Correct Sentence (2255) filed by Petitioner Tommy Keith Turner; motion is DENIED. IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that movant's motion to vacate, set aside, or correct sentence is DENIED. An Order of Dismissal will be filed with this Memorandum and Order. Signed by District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh, Jr on 1/10/13. (CSG)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI
SOUTHEASTERN DIVISION
TOMMY K. TURNER,

)
)
Petitioner,
)
)
vs.
)
)
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, )
)
Respondent.
)

Case No. 1:12CV00203 SNLJ

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
This matter is before the Court on movant’s motion to vacate, set aside, or
correct sentence under 28 U.S.C. § 2255. Movant argues that he is eligible for a
sentence reduction under the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010 (the “FSA”) and Dorsey
v. United States, 132 S. Ct. 2321 (2012). The Court finds the motion to be without
merit, and therefore, the Court will summarily dismiss this action. See 28 U.S.C.
§ 2255, Rule 4.
On June 25, 2010, movant pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute
5 grams or more of cocaine base. On November 1, 2010, the Court sentenced
movant to 100 months imprisonment to run consecutive to the term of
imprisonment in Docket No. 1:02CR0031 ERW and four years of supervised
release.
Movant was sentenced under 21 U.S.C. § 841(b)(1)(B). At the time movant

was sentenced, the Court adhered to the version of § 841(b)(1)(B) that was
effective when the offense conduct occurred, i.e., January 2010. That version of
the statute mandated a minimum five-year sentence for any defendant convicted of
a crime involving five grams or more of a substance containing crack cocaine. See
21 U.S.C. § 841(b)(1)(B) (version effective April 15, 2009, to August 2, 2010).
On August 3, 2010, the FSA took effect. The FSA, among other things,
“increased the drug amounts triggering mandatory minimums for crack trafficking
offenses from 5 grams to 28 grams in respect to the 5-year minimum . . .” Dorsey ,
132 S. Ct. at 2329; see 21 U.S.C. § 841(b)(1)(B) (version effective August 3,
2010). In Dorsey, the United States Supreme Court held that the more lenient
mandatory minimum provisions of the FSA apply to defendants who committed a
crack cocaine offense before August 3, 2010, the date the FSA went into effect,
but were sentenced after that date. Dorsey , 132 S. Ct. at 2329.
Movant’s argument is not entirely coherent, but it appears he is arguing that
he is entitled to a reduced sentence because the statutory minimum under 21
U.S.C. § 841(b)(1)(B) has been eliminated. Movant is incorrect. As was stated in
Dorsey, the amount of crack cocaine necessary to invoke the five-year minimum
was increased from five to twenty-eight grams. Movant was responsible for the
distribution of 33.1 grams of cocaine base, which is above the threshold invoking
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the five-year statutory minimum sentence. As a result, movant is not entitled to
relief.
Finally, movant has failed to demonstrate that jurists of reason would find it
debatable whether he is entitled to a sentence reduction under the circumstances
presented in the motion. Thus, the Court will not issue a certificate of
appealability. See 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c).
Accordingly,
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that movant’s motion to vacate, set aside, or
correct sentence is DENIED.
An Order of Dismissal will be filed with this Memorandum and Order.
Dated this 10th day of January, 2013.

__________________________________
STEPHEN N. LIMBAUGH, JR.
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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