UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. JOSE MARQUEZ (2016)

Jose Marquez, federal prisoner # 42452-177, who was convicted of conspiracy to distribute at least 500 grams of methamphetamine and five kilograms of cocaine and conspiracy to commit money laundering, moves for leave to proceed in forma pauperis (IFP) on appeal. He seeks to challenge the denial of his 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(2) motion in which he sought a sentence reduction pursuant to Sentencing Guidelines Amendments 782 and 788, which retroactively lowered certain offense levels under U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1(c).

Marquez was responsible for more than the quantity of marijuana that triggers the highest base offense level under both the version of § 2D1.1(c) in effect when he was sentenced and the retroactive, amended version. Accordingly, Amendments 782 and 788 did not change his offense level or lower his guidelines range, and the district court did not abuse its discretion in denying him a sentence reduction under § 3582(c)(2). See U.S.S.G. § 1B1.10(a)(2)(B); United States v. Evans, 587 F.3d 667, 672 (5th Cir. 2009).

Because the appeal lacks arguable merit and is therefore frivolous, Marquez's motion for leave to proceed IFP on appeal is DENIED, and his appeal is DISMISSED as frivolous. See Baugh v. Taylor, 117 F.3d 197, 202 n.24 (5th Cir. 1997); Howard v. King, 707 F.2d 215, 220 (5th Cir. 1983); 5TH CIR. R. 42.2.

PER CURIAM:*