F I L E D
United States Court of Appeals
Tenth Circuit
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FEB 12 2003
TENTH CIRCUIT
PATRICK FISHER
Clerk
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff - Appellee,
No. 02-2169
v.
D.C. No. CR-01-991-JP
(D. New Mexico)
JESUS ANTONIO RUIZ-
DOMINGUEZ,
Defendant - Appellant.
ORDER AND JUDGMENT *
Before KELLY, McKAY, and MURPHY, Circuit Judges.
After examining the briefs and appellate record, this court has determined
unanimously that oral argument would not materially assist the determination of
this appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2); 10th Cir. R. 34.1(G). The case is
therefore ordered submitted without oral argument.
*
This order and judgment is not binding precedent, except under the
doctrines of law of the case, res judicata and collateral estoppel. The court
generally disfavors the citation of orders and judgments; nevertheless, an order
and judgment may be cited under the terms and conditions of 10th Cir. R. 36.3.
Defendant Jesus Antonio Ruiz-Dominguez (“Ruiz-Dominguez”) appeals the
district court’s denial of his motion to modify his sentence pursuant to 18 U.S.C.
§ 3582(c)(2). Ruiz-Dominguez pleaded guilty to unlawful reentry of a deported
alien in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326(a) & (b)(2). On October 30, 2001, the
district court sentenced Ruiz-Dominguez to 80 months in prison in accordance
with U.S.S.G. § 2L1.2, which mandated a sixteen-level increase in the base
offense level if the defendant had previously been deported after an aggravated
felony conviction. The United States Sentencing Commission amended § 2L1.2
on November 1, 2001 by adopting Amendment 632. The amended version of §
2L1.2 provides for graduated increases in a defendant’s base offense level of
four, eight, twelve, or sixteen levels depending on the type of misdemeanor or
felony for which the defendant had previously been convicted. Ruiz-Dominguez
argues that his sentence should be modified according to the amended version of
§ 2L1.2.
A defendant is not entitled to a retroactive modification in his term of
imprisonment under 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(2) based on an amendment to the
sentencing guidelines unless the amendment is listed in U.S.S.G. § 1B1.10(c).
See U.S.S.G. § 1B1.10(a); United States v. Avila, 997 F.2d 767, 768 (10th Cir.
1993). Amendment 632 is not listed in § 1B1.10(c). Ruiz-Dominguez also
argues, however, that he is entitled to a retroactive modification in his sentence
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because Amendment 632 was merely a clarification of § 2L1.2 and was not a
substantive amendment. See United States v. Kissick, 69 F.3d 1048, 1052 (10th
Cir. 1995) (holding that “even if an amendment is not listed in USSG § 1B1.10,
sentencing and reviewing courts may still give retroactive effect to amendments
that are clarifying as opposed to substantive” (quotation omitted)). Amendment
632 altered the entire text of § 2L1.2 providing for a new graduated sentencing
scheme. Further, Amendment 632 altered the Sentencing Commission’s pre-
amendment interpretation of § 2L1.2. Accordingly, Amendment 632 is a
substantive amendment. See Kissick, 69 F.3d at 1052-53.
Because Amendment 632 is not listed in § 1B1.10 and is a substantive
amendment, Ruiz-Dominguez is not entitled to a reduction in his sentence. The
district court’s denial of Ruiz-Dominguez’s motion to modify his sentence under
18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(2) is affirmed.
ENTERED FOR THE COURT
Michael R. Murphy
Circuit Judge
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