Opinion
05-cr-101.
August 7, 2008
DECISION and ORDER
On November 27, 2006, Petitioner Jason Shellard pled guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and Distribution of Cocaine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846, 841(b)(1)(B) and 851(b). Petitioner admitted his prior drug felony conviction, Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree to commit the offense of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, in violation of New York Penal Laws §§ 105.10(1) and 220.39. Petitioner now moves pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255, seeking to vacate his 57-month sentence issued on April 17, 2007.
Petitioner argues that: (1) the prior state conviction used to enhance his federal sentence was unconstitutional; (2) that his counsel failed to investigate the unconstitutionality of his prior conviction; (3) the Court should apply Booker and its progeny retroactively; and (4) his prosecution was "diverted" from state to federal court, subjecting him to harsher penalties.
I. PRIOR STATE CONVICTION
Petitioner first claim is that the state-court conviction used to enhance his federal sentence was unconstitutional. Defendant may not collaterally attack a prior state felony conviction during a federal sentencing hearing unless the defendant was deprived of counsel in the state-court proceedings. United States v. Custis, 511 U.S. 485, 496-97 (1994). Thus, Defendant may not collaterally attack the state conviction for the purposes of determining the applicable Guidelines sentence and/or any statutory scheme for sentence enhancements. United States v. Jones, 27 F.3d 50, 52 (2d Cir. 1994), cert. denied 115 S.Ct. 377 (1994).
II. INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL
III. CHANGES IN SENTENCING LAW
Strickland v. Washington466 U.S. 668693-94 United States v. Booker See543 U.S. 220see also Rita v. United States127 S.Ct. 2456Cunningham v. California549 U.S. 270
It is well-settled that Booker does not apply retroactively.Guzman v. United States, 404 F.3d 139, 140 (2d Cir. 2005). The Supreme Court decided Rita on June 21, 2007. This is the only one of the three cases cited by Petitioner that was decided after Petitioner's sentencing. Rita, and the others cited by Petitioner, are not relevant to his sentence. Petitioner was subject to a statutory minimum term of imprisonment. Looking to the Guidelines calculation, Petitioner's base offense level was 30 (U.S.S.G. 2D1.1(c)(5)) and his four Criminal History Points put him in Criminal History Category III. See Petitioner's Sentencing Memorandum, at 2-4 (March 24, 2007). Under the Guidelines, the Court could have sentenced Petitioner to 135 to 168 months imprisonment. However, the Court granted the motions for downward departure and sentenced Petitioner well below the new Guidelines range. Therefore, the cases cited by Petitioner are irrelevant to his sentence.
IV. FEDERAL VS. STATE PROSECUTION
Finally, Petitioner argues that the "Project Safe Neighborhoods" and/or "Weed and Seed" Programs "diverted" his prosecution from state to federal court, subjecting Petitioner to harsher penalties. In essence, Petitioner is making a due process claim because of allegedly harsher federal Sentencing Guidelines than state court rules.
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) administers both of the above-referenced programs. See www.psn.gov; www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ccdo/ws/welcome.html. The United States Attorney has exclusive discretionary authority over whether to file a charge in federal court. United States v. Davis, 906 F.2d 829, 834 (2d Cir. 1990). Due process is not violated unless Petitioner can show that a "decision to drop state charges and initiate federal prosecution is based on suspect characteristics of the defendant or is otherwise done in bad faith." United States v. Melendez, 60 F.3d 41, 50 (2d Cir. 1995) (citations omitted). Here, Petitioner has not alleged any facts or made any showing that the U.S. Attorney's decision to prosecute was based any "suspect characteristics" or was in bad faith. Further, the Government claims that no state charges were ever contemplated.See Government's Response to Petitioner's Motion to Vacate, at 2 (May 19, 2008).
V. CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, the petition is DENIED.
IT IS SO ORDERED.