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United States v. Laprade

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA
Nov 14, 2019
CR No. 10-19 (W.D. Pa. Nov. 14, 2019)

Opinion

CR No. 10-19 CV No. 19-1022 CV No. 16-888

11-14-2019

UNITED STATES v. LAMONT LAPRADE


MEMORANDUM ORDER

In this matter, a jury convicted Defendant, who proceeded at trial pro se with appointed standby counsel, on four counts of violating 18 U.S.C. 2113(a) and (d); 18 U.S.C. § 371; and 18 U.S.C. § 924(c). Given that the background of this matter has been recited at length in previous Orders, today's Order shall remain brief.

Following authorization from the Court of Appeals to file a second or successive petition, Defendant's Motion to Vacate pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255 is before the Court. Therein, Defendant raised a challenge under Johnson v. United States, 135 S. Ct. 2251 (2015). In particular, Defendant challenges the sentencing Court's reliance on prior convictions for bank robbery and armed bank robbery to enhance his sentence under 18 U.S.C. § 924(c). This argument is foreclosed by binding case law, which holds that both bank robbery and armed bank robbery qualify as crimes of violence under the "elements" clause of Section 924(c). United States v. Johnson, 899 F. 3d 191 (3d Cir. 2018); United States v. Wilson, 880 F. 3d 80 (3d Cir. 2018).

The Court further notes the possibility that Defendant, currently a fugitive, has forfeited his right to habeas relief at present. Cf., e.g., Crawford v. Varner, No. 98-405, 2002 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 2401, at *7 (D. Del. Feb. 15, 2002). Defendant's Motion, however, is denied on substantive grounds as stated in the body of the Opinion. --------

Under 28 U.S.C.§ 2253(c)(2), a "certificate of appealability may issue only if the applicant has made a substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right." Defendant has not made such a showing in this case, and no certificate of appealability shall issue.

AND NOW, this 14th day of November, 2019, IT IS SO ORDERED.

BY THE COURT:

/s/_________

Donetta W. Ambrose

Senior Judge, U.S. District Court


Summaries of

United States v. Laprade

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA
Nov 14, 2019
CR No. 10-19 (W.D. Pa. Nov. 14, 2019)
Case details for

United States v. Laprade

Case Details

Full title:UNITED STATES v. LAMONT LAPRADE

Court:UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA

Date published: Nov 14, 2019

Citations

CR No. 10-19 (W.D. Pa. Nov. 14, 2019)