United States v. Wilson Thomas

MEMORANDUM

Wilson Thomas appeals pro se from the district court’s order denying his 18 U.S.C. § 3582 (c)(2) motion for reduction of sentence. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291 . We review de novo whether the district court had authority to modify a defendant’s sentence under section 3582(c)(2), see United States v. Austin, 676 F.3d 924, 926 (9th Cir.2012), and we affirm.

Thomas contends that he is entitled to a sentence reduction based on the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010 (“FSA”) and subsequent amendments to the Sentencing Guidelines. The government argues that Thomas’s motion is barred by the law of the case. Because the government did not argue law of the case in the district court, that argument is waived. See United States v. Trujillo, 713 F.3d 1003, 1007-08 (9th Cir.2013). Nevertheless, the district court properly denied Thomas’s motion.

Thomas was sentenced to 120 months, the statutory mandatory minimum at the time of his sentencing. See 21 U.S.C. § 841 (b)(1)(A) (1999). Although Thomas correctly observes that he would be subject to a lower statutory minimum were he sentenced today, the FSA does not apply to defendants sentenced before its effective date. See…