United States v. Pertuz-Pertuz
2012 U.S. App. LEXIS 9609
| 11th Cir. | 2012Background
- Pertuz-Pertuz pleaded guilty to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute five or more kilograms of cocaine aboard a U.S. vessel.
- Pertuz-Pertuz also pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting possession with intent to distribute five or more kilograms of cocaine aboard a U.S. vessel.
- The district court imposed concurrent 120-month sentences under a mandatory minimum from 21 U.S.C. § 960(b)(1)(B)(ii).
- Defense urged safety-valve relief under 18 U.S.C. § 3553(f) to sentence below the minimum.
- Guidelines calculations included two-level and three-level reductions for acceptance of responsibility and timely notice.
- Court remanded for correction of typographical errors in the judgment.
Issues
| Issue | Plaintiff's Argument | Defendant's Argument | Held |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whether safety-valve relief applies to Title 46 offenses. | United States: safety valve not available for Title 46 offenses. | Pertuz-Pertuz: safety valve should apply via § 3553(f). | No safety-valve relief; offenses not listed in § 3553(f). |
Key Cases Cited
- Conn. Nat'l Bank v. Germain, 503 U.S. 249 (1992) (plain-text statutory meaning governs)
- United States v. Anderson, 200 F.3d 1344 (11th Cir. 2000) (safety valve applicability limited to listed offenses)
- United States v. Steele, 147 F.3d 1316 (11th Cir. 1998) (en banc; statutory interpretation controls)
- United States v. Gamboa-Cardenas, 508 F.3d 491 (9th Cir. 2007) (predecessor to § 3553(f) safety-valve not applicable here)