Plain-English summary
Court rules First Step Act applies only when prior sentence still exists; reverses for Hewitt
The Court held that the First Step Act’s reduced penalties for certain firearm offenses apply only when a defendant’s prior §924(c) sentence was still in effect (not vacated). The judgment below was reversed and remanded for further proceedings.
Why this matters
The decision limits who can get the benefit of First Step Act reductions. Defendants whose earlier §924(c) convictions were vacated before applying the Act cannot rely on the Act’s lower mandatory minimums. That affects resentencing outcomes and who qualifies for shorter federal sentences under the 2018 reform.
Who may feel it
- People federally convicted of crimes involving firearms under 18 U.S.C. §924(c)
- Defendants seeking resentencing under the First Step Act
- Federal prosecutors and defense lawyers handling resentencings
- Courts deciding eligibility for retroactive sentence reductions
Key questions
- What does it mean for a sentence to have "been imposed" under §403(b) of the First Step Act?