Can a federal district judge depart below the statutory minimum sentence?

Drake argues that because this case was removed from state court, the fact that her sentence in state court would likely be much shorter than her sentence here justifies departure. ³ A district judge has no authority to impose a sentence below the statutory minimum. See United States v. Sharp, 883 F.2d 829, 831 (9th Cir.1989) (vacating sentence under 21 U.S.C. 841(b)(1)(B) which was shorter than statutory minimum); 18 U.S.C. 3553(e) (court may depart below a statutory minimum sentence only upon motion of government, where defendant provided "substantial assistance" in investigation or prosecution of another individual). Furthermore, there is no requirement that a federal sentence be harmonized with a sentence for a similar crime in state court. See United States v. Meyer, 802 F.2d 348, 352-53 (9th Cir.1986), cert. denied, 484 U.S. 817 (1987).