United States v. Donald Lee Dugan

United States Court of Appeals
FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT
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No. 00-2019
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United States of America, *
*
Appellant, * Appeal from the United States
* District Court for the District
v. * of Minnesota.
*
Shellie Lee Langmade, * [PUBLISHED]
*
Appellee. *
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Submitted: December 13, 2000
Filed: January 8, 2001
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Before McMILLIAN, FAGG, and MURPHY, Circuit Judges.
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PER CURIAM.
Shellie Lee Langmade pleaded guilty to conspiracy to manufacture
methamphetamine. The presentence report (PSR) assigned Langmade three criminal
history points under U.S.S.G. § 4A1.1 resulting in a criminal history category of II, but
the district court departed downward under U.S.S.G. § 4A1.3 to a criminal history
category of I, finding category II overstated the seriousness of Langmade's past
criminal conduct. Although Langmade's sentencing range was then 70-87 months, the
amount of drugs involved triggered a statutory mandatory minimum sentence of ten
years imprisonment. At sentencing, Langmade argued she was eligible for relief under

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the "safety valve," U.S.S.G. § 5C1.2, which requires a district court to sentence a
defendant within the applicable guidelines range regardless of any statutory minimum
sentence if, among other things, the defendant does not have more than one criminal
history point "as determined under the sentencing guidelines." U.S.S.G. § 5C1.2(1).
The district court decided that given its downward departure to criminal history
category I under § 4A.1.3, it could apply the safety valve in § 5C1.2. The Government
appeals. T he district court's reduction of Langmade's criminal history category under
§ 4A1.3 does not delete criminal history points for the purposes of the safety valve.
See United States v. Webb, 218 F.3d 877, 881 (8th Cir. 2000). Because Langmade
was properly charged with three criminal history points under § 4A.1.1, she does not
qualify for the safety valve reduction under § 5C1.2. See id. at 882. We thus reverse
and remand for resentencing consistent with this opinion.
A true copy.
Attest:
CLERK, U.S. COURT OF APPEALS, EIGHTH CIRCUIT.

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