UNITED STATES of America, v. Jonathan SANTANA, Appellant, 133 F. App'x 828

OPINION SHAPIRO, District Judge. Jonathan Santana (“Santana”) pled guilty to distribution of crack cocaine base and was sentenced to 70 months imprisonment. Santana now appeals his sentence. I. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY On October 9, 2001, Santana was indicted on three counts of distribution of more than five grams of crack cocaine in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and (b)(l)(B)(iii). He pled guilty to Count II of the indictment, and Counts I and III were dismissed. In the plea agreement, Mr. Santana admitted distributing approximately 28 grams of crack cocaine.

He also stipulated that the total amount of crack cocaine attributable for sentencing was over 50 but less than 150 grams. The presentence report set his base offense under the Sentencing Guidelines (“Guidelines”) at level 32 for his distribution of 77.98 grams, but recommended downward adjustments resulting in a final offense level of 27 with criminal history category I. The District Court sentenced Mr. Santana within the Guidelines range to 70 months imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and a $100.00 special assessment. After Mr. Santana was sentenced, the Supreme Court decided Blakely v.

Washington, 542 U.S. 296, 124 S.Ct. 2531, 159 L.Ed.2d 403 (2004), striking down the State of Washington’s sentencing guidelines laws as violative of the Sixth Amendment under Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466, 120 S.Ct. 2348, 147 L.Ed.2d 435 (2000) (any fact raising the sentence beyond the prescribed statutory maximum must be submitted to a jury and proved beyond a reasonable doubt). Santana brought this appeal arguing the Guidelines are unconstitutional under Blakely and Apprendi. After Santana submitted his appeal, the Supreme Court decided United States v.

Booker, — U.S.-, 125 S.Ct. 738, 160 L.Ed.2d 621 (2005), holding the Guidelines unconstitutional unless advisory only. This court requested and received additional briefing from the parties regarding the effect of Booker on this appeal. II. JURISDICTION AND STANDARD OF REVIEW The District Court had subject matter jurisdiction under 18 U.S.C. § 3231. This Court has appellate jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. Santana did not object to his sentence in the District Court.

Under the plain error test of Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 52(b), where there is an error that is plain, and affects substantial rights, an appellate court may correct an error not raised at trial, but only if the error seriously affects the fairness, integrity, or public reputation of judicial proceedings. United States v. Cotton, 535 U.S. 625, 122 S.Ct. 1781, 152 L.Ed.2d 860 (2002); Johnson v. United States, 520 U.S. 461, 466-467, 117 S.Ct. 1544, 137 L.Ed.2d 718 (1997). III. DISCUSSION Because this appeal was pending on direct review when Booker was decided, we apply the ruling of that case.

Under Booker and Apprendi, a sentence may be based on facts admitted by the defendant. Booker, 125 S.Ct. at 756. Because Santana’s sentence was based on facts admitted by him in the plea agreement, his sentence was not in violation of the Sixth Amendment. See United States v. Murdock, 398 F.3d 491, 501-502 (6th Cir.2005). However, Booker also held that mandatory application of the Guidelines is unconstitutional. Id. The District Court’s mandatory application of the guidelines was therefore in error. From the record, we cannot determine whether that error had a substantial effect in determining the sentence.

In light of the determination of the judges of this Court that the sentencing issue is best determined by the District Court in the first instance, we vacate the sentence and remand for resentencing in accordance with Booker. United States v. Davis, 397 F.3d 173, 183 (3d Cir.2005); United States v. Ordaz, 398 F.3d 236, 239 (3d Cir.2005). IV. CONCLUSION For the reasons set forth above, we VACATE the judgment of sentence and REMAND this case for resentencing.