Opinion
Civil No.: 2:16cv307 Crim. No.: 2:02cr217-5
06-30-2017
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Respondent, v. TERRANCE SMITH, Petitioner.
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
I. INTRODUCTION
Before the Court is Terrance Smith's ("Petitioner") Motion pursuant to Title 28, United States Code, Section 2255 to Vacate Sentence by a Person in Federal Custody ("2255 Motion"). Having thoroughly reviewed the Parties' filings in this case, this Court finds this matter is ripe for judicial determination. For the reasons set forth below, Petitioner's 2255 motion is DENIED.
I. PROCEDURAL HISTORY
On July 18, 2003, a jury sitting in the Eastern District of Virginia returned a guilty verdict against Petitioner on four counts. ECF No. 39. Count one charged Petitioner with Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Cocaine, Cocaine Base and Heroin in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. § 846. Id. Counts six and fourteen charged Petitioner with Distribution of Cocaine in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. § 841. Id. Count thirty-one charged Petitioner with Distribution of Cocaine Narcotics - Sell, Distribute, or Dispense in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. § 841. Id.
At sentencing, in light of Petitioner's prior Arizona aggravated assault convictions, Petitioner was determined to be a "career offender" under the United States Sentencing Guidelines ("Guidelines"), §§ 4B1.1 and 4B1.2(a). Petitioner was sentenced to 360 months imprisonment on October 15, 2003. ECF No. 48.
On July 12, 2007, Petitioner filed his first 2255 Motion to vacate his sentence. ECF No. 174, which was subsequently dismissed on January 31, 2008. ECF No. 231. On June 18, 2012, Petitioner filed a Motion to Dismiss. ECF No. 352. Petitioner's Motion to Dismiss was construed as a 2255 Motion and was dismissed without prejudice on June 21, 2012. ECF No. 353. On July 28, 2014, Petitioner filed a successive 2255 Motion, ECF No. 385, but on August 08, 2014, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit ("Fourth Circuit") denied Petitioner authorization under 28 U.S.C. § 2244 to file a successive 2255 Motion. ECF No. 390. Consequently, this Court dismissed Petitioner's 2255 Motion for lack of jurisdiction. ECF No. 392.
On June 17, 2016, Petitioner moved the Fourth Circuit for authorization to file a successive motion under 28 U.S.C. § 2244. ECF No. 425. The Fourth Circuit granted Petitioner authorization to file a successive motion because he made a prima facie showing that the new rule of constitutional law announced in Johnson v. United States, 135 S. Ct. 2551 (2015), made retroactively applicable to cases on collateral review by Welch v. United States, 136 S. Ct. 1257 (2016), may apply to Petitioner's case. Id. On that same date, Petitioner filed the instant 2255 Motion. ECF No. 426. On March 28, 2015, Respondent filed their response. ECF No. 449. On May 01, 2017, Petitioner filed his reply. ECF. No. 455.
II. LEGAL STANDARD
When a petitioner in federal custody wishes to collaterally attack his sentence or conviction, the appropriate motion is a § 2255 motion. United States v. Winestock, 340 F.3d 200, 203 (4th Cir. 2003). Section 2255 of Title 28 of the United States Code governs post-conviction relief for federal prisoners. It provides in pertinent part:
A prisoner in custody under sentence of a court established by Act of Congress claiming the right to be released upon the ground that the sentence 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, may move the court which imposed the sentence to vacate, set aside or correct the sentence.28 U.S.C. § 2255(a).
In a proceeding to vacate a judgment of conviction, the petitioner bears the burden of proving his or her claim by a preponderance of the evidence. Miller v. United States, 261 F.2d 546, 547 (4th Cir. 1958). Motions under § 2255 "will not be allowed to do service for an appeal." Sunal v. Large, 332 U.S. 174, 178 (1947). For this reason, issues already fully litigated on direct appeal may not be raised again under the guise of a collateral attack. Boeckenhaupt v. United States, 537 F.2d 1182, 1183 (4th Cir. 1976).
When deciding a § 2255 motion, the Court must promptly grant a hearing "unless the motion and the files and records of the case conclusively show that the prisoner is entitled to no relief." 28 U.S.C. § 2255(b). Whether a hearing is mandatory for a § 2255 Motion and whether petitioner's presence is required at the hearing is within the district court's sound discretion and is reviewed for abuse of discretion. Raines v. United States, 423 F.2d 526, 529 (4th Cir. 1970) (citing Machibroda v. United States, 368 U.S. 487 (1962)).
III. DISCUSSION
Petitioner moves this court to "correct" or "vacate" his sentence pursuant to § 2255. Petitioner argues his motion is timely under § 2255 (f)(3). In its analysis, the Court will address whether Petitioner's motion is timely pursuant to § 2255(f).
Pursuant to Title 28 U.S.C. § 2255(f), a petitioner has a one-year limitation to file this motion. 28 U.S.C. § 2255(f). This one-year limitation period varies depending on the circumstances. 28 U.S.C. § 2255(f) provides:
A 1-year period of limitation shall apply to a motion under this section. The limitation period shall run from the latest of—28 U.S.C. § 2255(f) (emphasis added).
(1) the date on which the judgment of conviction becomes final;
(2) the date on which the impediment to making a motion created by governmental action in violation of the Constitution or laws of the United States is removed, if the movant was prevented from making a motion by such governmental action;
(3) the date on which the right asserted was initially recognized by the Supreme Court, if that right has been newly recognized by the Supreme Court and made retroactively applicable to cases on collateral review; or
(4) the date on which the facts supporting the claim or claims presented could have been discovered through the exercise of due diligence.
Because Petitioner only asserts his motion is timely under § 2255(f)(3), the Court need not analyze whether Petitioner is timely under § 2255(f)(1), (2), or (4).
To be timely under § 2255(f)(3), Petitioner must show that 1) the Supreme Court has recognized a new right; 2) the right has been made retroactively applicable to cases on collateral review; and 3) he filed his motion within one year of the date on which the Supreme Court recognized the right. United States v. Mathur, 685 F.3d 396, 398 (4th Cir. 2012) (quoting § 2255(f)(3)). Specifically, § 2255(f)(3)'s limitation period begins from the date the Supreme Court first recognized a new right, not from the date said right was made retroactive. Dodd v. United States, 125 S. Ct. 2478, 2481-83 (2005).
In arguing timeliness, Petitioner asserts that Johnson's newly recognized rule, retroactively made applicable by Welch, applies to § 4B1.2(a)'s residual clause. Petitioner specifically asserts that § 4B1.2(a)'s residual clause is unconstitutional because it contains identical language to the ACCA's residual clause from Johnson. This argument is unavailing.
In Johnson, the Supreme Court held the Armed Career Criminal Act of 1984's ("ACCA") residual clause under Title 18 U.S.C. § 924(e)(2)(B)(ii), was unconstitutionally vague in violation of the Fifth Amendment's Due Process Clause. 135 S. Ct. at 2556-58. The Supreme Court specifically addressed the language of the ACCA's residual clause, which read, "[a] burglary, arson, or extortion, involves use of explosives, or otherwise involves conduct that presents a serious potential risk of physical injury to another." Id. at 2555-56 (emphasis in original). The Supreme Court reasoned that the statute's language required an indeterminate wide-ranging inquiry that denied "fair notice to defendants and invites arbitrary enforcement by judges" violating the twin concerns of the Fifth Amendment. Id. at 2557. Subsequently, the Supreme Court in Welch affirmed that Johnson announced a new substantive rule that retroactively affected "cases on collateral review." Welch, 136 S. Ct. at 1265.
Two years later, the Supreme Court in Beckles v. United States, 137 S. Ct 886, 890 (2017), considered whether the rule announced in Johnson also applied to § 4B1.2(a)'s residual clause. The Court held that § 4B1.2(a)'s residual clause, which read, "a burglary of a dwelling, arson, or extortion, involves use of explosives, or otherwise involves conduct that presents a serious potential risk of physical injury to another," was constitutional and not void for vagueness. Id. at 890-92 (quoting U.S.S.G § 4B1.2(a) (emphasis in original)). The Supreme Court noted that the Guidelines were initially binding on district courts, Id. at 894, but the Court in U.S. v. Booker, 125 S. Ct. 738, 746-48 (2005), rendered the Guidelines "advisory."
In Booker the Supreme Court addressed whether the Guidelines comported with the Sixth Amendment and found that the Guidelines, as they were written, were unconstitutional. Id. 18 U.S.C. §§ 3553(b)(1) and 3742(c) were specifically problematic because they made the Guidelines mandatory and unable to comport with the Sixth Amendment. Id. As opposed to invalidating the Guidelines as wholly unconstitutional, the court opted to sever and excise just these subsections. Id. By doing so. the Court rendered the Guidelines "advisory." to comport with the Sixth Amendment. Id.
In light of Booker, the Supreme Court in Beckles reasoned that because the Guidelines merely advise a district court's decision in choosing an appropriate sentence, the Guidelines are not open to a vagueness challenge under the Due Process Clause. Beckles, 137 S. Ct. at 892.
Because Petitioner's argument rests upon the same clause at issue in Heckles, where the Supreme Court found that the Guidelines were not subject to a vagueness challenge. Johnson's new rule is inapplicable in the instant case. Stated differently. Petitioner has not cited a rule recognized by the Supreme Court and made retroactively applicable to his case. Therefore, this motion is untimely under § 2255(f)(3). For these reasons. Petitioner's motion is denied.
I. CONCLUSION
For the reasons set forth above. Petitioner's motion is DENIED.
Additionally, because Petitioner has not set forth a specific issue that demonstrates a substantial showing of a denial of a constitutional right, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(2), a Certificate of Appealability is DENIED.
IT IS SO ORDERED. Norfolk. Virginia June 30, 2017
/s/_________
Raymond A. Jackson
United States District Judge