United States v. Vaughn

* 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this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except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.
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT
No. 04-10049
Conference Calendar
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
versus
JOHNNY BERNARD VAUGHN,
Defendant-Appellant.
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Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Northern District of Texas
USDC No. 5:00-CR-73-1-C
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Before BARKSDALE, DeMOSS, and CLEMENT, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*
Johnny Bernard Vaughn, a federal prisoner (# 25787-177),
appeals the district court’s sua sponte denial of his motion for
reduction of sentence based on substantial assistance,
purportedly filed pursuant to FED. R. CRIM. P. 35(b).
Only the Government can file a motion for reduction of a
defendant’s sentence pursuant to Rule 35(b). United States v.
Early, 27 F.3d 140, 141 (5th Cir. 1994) (citing Rule 35(b),
historical note, 1991 amendment). Vaughn’s Rule 35(b) motion was
United States Court of Appeals
Fifth Circuit
F I L E D
June 23, 2004
Charles R. Fulbruge III
Clerk

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No. 04-10049
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“an unauthorized motion which the district court was without
jurisdiction to entertain.” Id. at 142. Vaughn failed to make a
“substantial threshold showing” of “unconstitutional motive” that
might have permitted the district court to review the
Government’s refusal to file a Rule 35(b) motion. See United
States v. Wade, 504 U.S. 181, 185-86 (1992).
The judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED.

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