United States v. Solomon Simtob

MEMORANDUM

Solomon Bitton Simtob appeals from the district court’s order denying his motion for sentence reduction under 1, 8 U.S.C. § 3582 (c)(2). We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291 . We may affirm on any ground supported by the record, United States v. Nichols, 464 F.3d 1117, 1122 (9th Cir. 2006), and we affirm.

Simtob contends that, in light of the 18 U.S.C. § 3553 (a) sentencing factors, the district court abused its discretion by denying his motion for a sentence reduction. We do not reach this claim because, reviewing de novo, we agree with the government that Simtob was ineligible for a reduction. See United States v. Leniear, 574 F.3d 668, 672 (9th Cir. 2009).

As Simtob concedes, and the presen-tence report reflects, the applicable guideline range in his case is the statutory mandatory minimum of 120 months. See U.S.S.G. § 5G1.1(b) (where a mandatory minimum sentence is greater than the maximum of the applicable guideline range, the mandatory minimum “shall be the guideline sentence”). Thus, Amendment 782 to the Sentencing Guidelines did not have the effect of lowering Simtob’s guideline range and the district court had no authority to lower his sentence. See…