Opinion
Civil Action No.:5:19cv244
10-17-2019
ANTONIO STEELE, Petitioner, v. R. HUGGINS Respondent.
(Judge Stamp)
REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION
I. INTRODUCTION
On August 16, 2019, Antonio Steele, acting pro se, filed a Petition for Habeas Corpus Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241 [ECF No. 1] (the "Petition"). Petitioner is a federal inmate housed at FCI Gilmer and is challenging the validity of his conviction from the Southern District of Ohio. The matter is currently pending before the undersigned for a Report and Recommendation pursuant to LR PL P 2. For the reasons set forth below, the undersigned recommends that the petition be dismissed for lack of jurisdiction.
II. BACKGROUND
Unless otherwise noted, the information in this section is taken from the Petitioner's criminal docket available on PACER and all ECF numbers are from that case. See United States v. Steele, 1:16-cr-00113-SJD. Philips v. Pitt Cnty. Mem. Hosp., 572 F. 3d 176, 180 (4th Cir. 2009) (courts "may properly take judicial notice of public record); Colonial Penn. Ins. Co. v. Coil, 887 F.2d 1236, 21239 (4th Cir. 1989) ("We note that 'the most frequent use of judicial notice is in noticing the contents of court records.'"). --------
On December 21, 2016, Petitioner was charged in a one count Indictment with Possession by a Prohibited Person in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1), 924(a)(2), and (2). ECF No. 1. On May 8, 2017, Petitioner entered into a written plea agreement by which he agreed to plead guilty to the indictment. As set forth in the plea agreement, the elements of the offense to which Petitioner agreed to plead guilty were as follows:
(Count 1) (Possession by a Prohibited Person)ECF No. 17 at p.1. The plea hearing was conducted on May 8, 2018 by Judge Susan J. Dlott, who accepted the plea. The sentencing hearing was conducted on October 31, 2017. Judgment was entered on November 16, 2017 which committed Petitioner to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prison to be imprisoned for a total term of 60 months to be followed by a three year term of supervised released. ECF No. 31. Petitioner did not file a direct appeal or a motion to vacate pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255. According to the BOP inmate locator, Petitioner's projected release date is March 22, 2021.
a) That the defendant has been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for more than one year;
b) That the defendant, following his conviction, knowingly possessed the firearm and ammunition specified in the indictment; and
c) That the specified firearm and ammunition crossed a state line prior to the alleged possession.
III. STANDARD OF REVIEW
A. Review of Petitions for Relief
Pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B) and this Court's local rules, the undersigned is authorized to review such petitions for relief and submit findings and recommendations to the District Court. This Court is charged with screening the Petitioner's case to determine if "it plainly appears from the petition and any attached exhibits that the petitioner is not entitled to relief in the district court." Rule 4, Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases in the U.S. District Courts (2014); see also Rule 1(b) Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases in the U.S. District Courts (2014) (a district court may apply these rules to a habeas corpus petition not filed pursuant to § 2254).
B. Pro Se Litigants
As a pro se litigant, the Petitioner's pleadings are accorded liberal construction and held to less stringent standard than formal pleadings drafted by attorneys. See Erickson v. Pardus, 551 U.S. 89, 93-94 (2007) (per curiam). However, even under this less stringent standard, the petition in this case is subject to summary dismissal. The requirement of liberal construction does not mean that the Court can ignore a clear failure to allege facts which set forth a claim cognizable in a federal district court. See Weller v. Dep't of Social Servs., 901 F.2d 387 (4th Cir. 1990). As discussed more fully below, Petitioner clearly is not entitled to relief under 28 U.S.C. § 2241, and therefore, no response has been required of the Respondent.
IV. CLAIMS OF THE PETITION
Petitioner requests that this Court vacate his conviction and discharge him from custody. In support of this request, Petitioner relies on the recent decision in Rehaif v. United States, 139 S.Ct. 2191 (2019). More specifically, Petitioner argues that Rehaif, modified the elements of the offense for which he was convicted to the point that the facts stipulated to in his plea agreement no longer constitute a violation of federal law.
V. ANALYSIS
Title 28, United States Code, Sections 2241 and 2255 each create a mechanism by which a federal prisoner may challenge his or her detention. However, the two sections are not interchangeable. Prisoners seeking to challenge the validity of their convictions or their sentences are required to proceed under section 2255 in the district court of conviction. Rice v. Rivera, 617 F.3d 802, 807 (4th Cir. 2000); In re Vial. 115 F.3d 1192, 1194 (4th Cir. 1997).
Under § 2255, a prisoner may move the sentencing court "to vacate, set aside or correct" his sentence if he claims it "was imposed in violation of the Constitution or laws of the United States, or that the court was without jurisdiction to impose such sentence, or that the sentence was in excess of the maximum authorized by law, or is otherwise subject to collateral attack." 28 U.S.C. § 2255(a). Second or successive petitions pursuant to § 2255 must be certified by the appropriate court of appeals. Id. § 2255(h). Courts of appeals grant such requests only if newly discovered evidence establishes "by clear and convincing evidence that no reasonable factfinder would have found the movant guilty" or that a previously unavailable "new rule of constitutional law' has been "made retroactive to cases on collateral review by the Supreme Court." Id.
A petition for writ of habeas corpus pursuant to § 2241, on the other hand, is intended to address the execution of a sentence, rather than its validity, and is to be filed in the district where the prisoner is incarcerated. Examples of an appropriate use of § 2241 include "actions challenging the computation of parole, computation of good time or jail credits, prison disciplinary actions, or imprisonment allegedly beyond the expiration of a sentence." Anderson v. Pettiford, 2007 WL 15777676 (D.S.C. May 31, 2007) (internal citations omitted).
While the terms of § 2255 expressly prohibit prisoners from challenging their convictions and sentences through a habeas corpus petition under § 2241, in limited circumstances, when a § 2255 is an "inadequate or ineffective remedy," § 2255's savings clause permits petitioners to bring a collateral attack pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241. In re Vial, 115 F.3d at 1194, n.5; In re Jones, 226 F.328, 333 (4th Cir. 2000.) However, "[i]t is beyond question that § 2255 is not inadequate or ineffective merely because an individual is unable to obtain relief under that provision," including because of a procedural bar. Id.
When contesting a conviction, a petitioner bears the burden of demonstrating that the § 2255 remedy is inadequate or ineffective, and the standard is an exacting one. In the Fourth Circuit, a petitioner asserting "actual innocence" may establish "that §2255 is inadequate or ineffective to test the legality of a conviction" if he can prove:
(1) at the time of conviction, settled law of this circuit or of the Supreme Court established the legality of the conviction; (2) subsequent to the prisoner's direct appeal and first § 2255 motion, the substantive law changed such that the conduct of which the prisoner was convicted is deemed not to be criminal; and (3) the prisoner cannot satisfy the gate-keeping provisions of § 2255 because the new rule is not one of constitutional law.In re Jones at 333-34 (emphasis added).
Although Petitioner has raised the savings clause, he is not entitled to its application. Even if Petitioner satisfied the first and third elements of Jones, the crime for which he was convicted remains a criminal offense, and therefore, he cannot satisfy the second element of Jones.
Although Petitioner argues that Rehaif invalidates his conviction, he misconstrues its impact on his conviction. In Rehaif, the Supreme Court held that, in a prosecution under § 922(g) and § 924(a)(1), the Government must prove both that the defendant knew he possessed a firearm and that he knew he belonged to the relevant category of persons barred from possessing a firearm. 130 S.Ct. at 2195. The Petitioner in Rehaif was an alien who entered the country on a nonimmigrant student visa to attend university. He received poor grades and the university dismissed him. The university told the Petitioner that his "immigration status" would be terminated unless he transferred to a different university or left the country. Id. at 2194. After the Government learned of the Petitioner's visit to a firing range, where he shot two firearms, the Petitioner was prosecuted for possessing firearms as an alien unlawfully in the United States in violation of § 922(g) and § 924(a)(2). The case went to trial. The judge instructed the jury, over the Petitioner's objection, that the "United States is not required to prove" that the Petitioner "knew he was illegally or unlawfully in the United States." Id. at 2194. The jury found the Petitioner guilty and he was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment. Id. At issue before the Supreme Court was whether the Government must prove that a defendant knows of his status as a person barred from possessing a firearm, which in that case was the Petitioner's status as an illegal alien. Id. at 2195. The Supreme Court held that, in possession under § 922(g) and § 924(a)(2), the Government must prove both that the defendant knew he possessed a firearm and that he knew he belonged to the relevant category of persons barred from possessing a firearm. Id.
Rehaif does not apply to Petitioner's motion. The requirement of proof by the Government that a defendant knew he belonged to the relevant category of persons barred from possessing a firearm was found in the context of a jury trial. In the instant case, Petitioner was charged with "knowingly and unlawfully" possessing a firearm and ammunition in and affecting commerce "having been previously convicted of one or more crimes punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year." He pleaded guilty to this charge in a plea agreement which set forth the elements of the offense. "A knowing, voluntary, and intelligent plea to an offense conclusively establishes the elements of the offense and the material facts necessary to support the conviction." United States v. Willis, 992 F.2d 489, 490 (4th Cir. 1993).
Consequently, because Petitioner attacks the validity of his conviction and fails to establish that he meets the Jones requirements, he is unable to satisfy the § 2255 savings clause to seek relief under § 2241. Where, as here, a federal prisoner brings a § 2241 petition that does not fall within the scope of the savings clause, the district court must dismiss the unauthorized habeas motion for lack of jurisdiction. Rice, 617 F.3d at 807.
VI. RECOMMENDATION
For the foregoing reasons, the undersigned recommends that the petition [ECF No. 1] be DENIED and DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE FOR LACK OF JURISDICTION.
The Petitioner shall have fourteen days from the date of filing of this Report and Recommendation within which to file with the Clerk of this Court, specific written objections, identifying the portions of the Report and Recommendation to which objection is made, and the basis of such objection. A copy of such objections should also be submitted to the United States District Judge. Objections shall not exceed ten (10) typewritten pages or twenty (20) handwritten pages, including exhibits, unless accompanied by a motion for leave to exceed the page limitations, consistent with LR PL P 12.
Failure to file written objections as set forth above shall constitute a waiver of de novo review by the District Court and a waiver of appellate review by the Circuit Court of Appeals. Snyder v. Ridenour, 889 F.2d 1363 (4th Cir. 1989); Thomas v. Arn, 474 U.S. 140 (1985); Wright v. Collins, 766 F.2d 841 (4th Cir. 1985); United States v. Schronce, 727 F.2d 91 (4th Cir. 1984).
This Report and Recommendation completes the referral from the district court. The Clerk is DIRECTED to terminate the Magistrate Judge's association with this case.
The Clerk of the Court is further DIRECTED to mail a copy of this Report and Recommendation to the pro se Petitioner by certified mail, return receipt requested, to his last known address as reflected on the docket sheet.
DATED: October 17, 2019
/s/_________
JAMES P. MAZZONE
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE