UNITED STATES v. BROWN (2019)

Kenyatte Brown appeals the district court's order denying his motion for a sentence reduction pursuant to § 404 of the First Step Act, Pub. L. No. 115-391, 132 Stat. 5194, 5222 (2018), which permits a district court to impose a reduced sentence on a defendant convicted of a covered offense as if certain provisions of the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010, Pub. L. No. 111-2220, 124 Stat. 2372, 2372 (2012), were in effect at the time the defendant committed the covered offense. Section 404(b) of the First Step Act defines a covered offense as “a violation of a Federal criminal statute, the statutory penalties for which were modified by section 2 or 3 of the Fair Sentencing Act.” Brown was convicted of possessing with intent to distribute five grams or less of crack cocaine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(C) (2012). Because the Fair Sentencing Act did not modify the statutory penalties for that offense, Brown's offense is not a covered offense and the district court correctly denied Brown's motion to reduce his sentence pursuant to § 404 of the First Step Act.

We therefore affirm the district court's order. We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before this court and argument would not aid the decisional process.

AFFIRMED

PER CURIAM:

Affirmed by unpublished per curiam opinion. Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.