United States v. Mackey

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit FILED April 21, 2008 No. 07-30372 Summary Calendar Charles R. Fulbruge III Clerk UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Plaintiff-Appellee v. EVARISTUS B MACKEY, JR, also known as Reginald Fountain, also known as Reese Mackey Defendant-Appellant Appeal from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana USDC No. 2:00-CR-316-ALL Before STEWART, OWEN and SOUTHWICK, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM:* Evaristus B. Mackey, Jr., federal prisoner # 26836-034, moves to proceed in forma pauperis (IFP) to appeal from the district court’s order denying his motion for resentencing pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(2) and his motion to dismiss his indictment. The district court denied Mackey leave to proceed IFP on appeal, certifying that the appeal was not taken in good faith for the reasons stated in its order denying relief. By moving for leave to proceed IFP, Mackey * Pursuant to 5TH CIR. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR. R. 47.5.4. No. 07-30372 is challenging the district court’s certification that his appeal was not taken in good faith. See Baugh v. Taylor, 117 F.3d 197, 202 (5th Cir. 1997). In 2001, a jury found Mackey guilty of three counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1), and the district court sentenced him to a total of 327 months of imprisonment because Mackey was found to be an armed career criminal under 18 U.S.C. § 924(e). Mackey reiterates his claim that the indictment should be dismissed because the Government lacked standing and the district court lacked jurisdiction over his criminal prosecution. Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(e) specifically allow for the prosecution and enhanced punishment of persons such as Mackey who have been convicted of three violent felonies. Mackey’s arguments to the contrary are nonsensical and frivolous. Mackey repeats his claim that, under U.S.S.G. § 4B1.1 and amendment 433, he should not have been sentenced as an armed career criminal under the Guidelines and that he is entitled to resentencing under § 3582(c)(2). “Section 3582(c)(2) permits a district court to reduce a term of imprisonment when it is based upon a sentencing range that has subsequently been lowered by an amendment to the Guidelines, if such a reduction is consistent with the policy statements issued by the Sentencing Commission.” United States v. Gonzalez-Balderas, 105 F.3d 981, 982 (5th Cir. 1997). Amendment 433, which was effective on November 1, 1991, preceded Mackey’s sentencing and, therefore, cannot serve as the basis for a nonfrivolous § 3582(c)(2) motion. Mackey has not shown that the district court’s determination that his appeal would be frivolous was incorrect. Accordingly, his request for IFP is DENIED. See Baugh, 117 F.3d at 202 n.24. Because his appeal is frivolous, it is DISMISSED. 5TH CIR. R. 42.2. 2