Johnson v. USA-2255, No. 1:2018cv02892 - Document 2 (D. Md. 2019)
Court Description: MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Judge Richard D. Bennett on 11/26/2019. (kw2s, Deputy Clerk)
Download PDF
<![CDATA[
Johnson v. USA-2255 Doc. 2 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF MARYLAND * BRIAN JOHNSON Petitioner, * Civil Action No. RDB-18-2892 v. * Criminal Action No. RDB-12-0159 UNITED * STATES OF Aiv!ERICA, * Respondent. * * * * * * * MEMORANDUM * * * * * OPINION On March 28, 2012 Petitioner Brian Johnson ("Petitioner" or 'Johnson") pled guilty in this Court to (1) conspiracy to commit Hobbs l\ct Robbery, in violation of 18 U.S.C ~ 1951; and (2) conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute narcotics, in violation of21 U.S.C ~ 846. On June 26, 2012 this Court sentenced Petitioner to a term of imprisonment of two hundred and forty (240) months followed by five years of supervised release pursuant to the United States Sentencing found that Petitioner's Guidelines for career offenders. During sentencing, criminal history included a 1992 l'vlaryland conviction murder and a 2007 l'vlaryland conviction for possession necessary support a career offender enhancement for first degree with intent to distribute pursuant this Court narcotics to the United States Sentencing Guidelines l'vlanual ~ 4B1.1. On July 10, 2018, following a petition for coram nobis filed by the Petitioner, the Baltimore l\laryland drug conviction, City Circuit Court vacated and dismissed finding Petitioner's Petitioner's 2007 initial guilty plea to be involuntary because he did not know the elements of the crime. On September 17, 2018, Petitioner f1led the currently pending Motion to Vacate, Set Aside, or Correct Sentence (ECF No. 39) pursuant to 28 U.S.C 1 Dockets.Justia.com ~ 2255, asserting that he is entitled to relief because the vacatur of his 2007 drug conviction entitles him to resentencing without the label as a career offender. The parties' submissions have been reviewed and no hearing is necessary. See Local Rule 105.6 (D.l\Id. 2018). For the reasons stated below, Petitioner Brian Johnson's Vacate, Set Aside, or Correct Sentence GRANTED, and Petitioner's (ECF No. 39) pursuant sentence will be VACATED Motion to to 28 U.S.c. ~ 2255 is subject to re-sentencing. BACKGROUND On March 28, 2012, the Go,'ernment filed an Amended Information which charged Johnson with conspiring to commit several robberies in Baltimore City between December 18 and 30, 2009. (ECF No.4.) The Amended Information brought two Counts against Johnson: conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbety in violation of 18 U.S.c. ~ 1951 (Count I), and conspiracy to distribute with intent to distribute controlled substances, in violation of 21 U.S.c. ~ 846 (Count II). (Id.) Petitioner pled guilty to these charges. Oudgment, ECF No. 15.) On June 26, 2012, this Court sentenced Petitioner followed by a five-year term of supervised release. sentence was informed by a presentence States Probation Office. to 240 months of imprisonment a udgment, ECF No. 15.) The imposed investigation report ("PSR") prepared by the United The Report indicated that Petitioner qualified as a career offender under the United States Sentencing Guidelines based on a prior 1992 Maryland first degree murder conviction conviction 206010010). (Baltimore for possession See United Circuit Court Case No. 191364008) and a 2007 Maryland with intent to distribute States Sentencing Guidelines 2 heroin (Baltimore City Case No. Manual ~ 4B 1.1 (U.S. Sentencing Comm'n 2018) (U.S.S.G.); (presentence Report at 11.) The career offender enhancement would have resulted in a guideline range of 262 to 327 months imprisonment, to an offense level of 34 and a criminal history category of VI. permissible for Petitioner's U.S.S.G. ~ 5Gl.l(a). imprisonment, The maximum sentence drug offense fell below the guideline range and did not permit a sentence exceeding 240 months. months. corresponding ,\ccordingly, the applicable guideline sentence became 240 Ultimately, this Court sentenced Johnson a term which represented the statutory maximum. to 240 months of 0udgment, ECF No. 15.) Prior to his sentencing in this Court, Petitioner launched a series of challenges to his 2007 l\laryland conviction for possession with intent to distribute heroin. Lettau, ECF No. 47-3.) On June 10,2010, Johnson (Affidavit of lnitia filed a pro se post-conviction the Circuit Court of Baltimore City challenging the validity of his conviction. of Baltimore Case Inquiry No. 206010010, ECF No. 47-1.) assigned to his case filed a motion to withdraw Johnson's and modify the petition's arguments. Subsequently, the attorney Due to staffing changes, the on September 8, 2011, Johnson filed another relief for his 2007 conviction. Id. Again, Johnson's pro se petition for post-conviction was withdrawn by the assigned attorney to refine the arguments. was never re-filed on Johnson's (Criminal Court motion without prejudice to refine (ECF Nos. 47-1; 47-3.) new motion was never filed, and consequently, petition in motion Id. Once more, the motion behalf before his arrest and appearance in this Court in l\larch 2012. Id. After federal sentencing, on July 15, 2014, Johnson filed a petition for coram nobis in Baltimore Ciry Circuit Court seeking to vacate his 2007 l\laryland conviction with intent to distribute heroin. (Circuit Court for Baltimore 3 for possession City Case No. 206010010 Docket, ECF No. 39-1.) Specifically, Johnson claimed his guilty plea in 2007 was involuntary because he was not aware of all the clements of the crime at the time of his plea. (jobflsofl v. State ojMarylafld, No. 206010010 (Cir. Ct. BaIt. City July 10, 2018), ECr No. 39-2.) Initially, on February 8, 2016, the Circuit Court denied his petition without a hearing. (ECr No. 39- 1.) Subsequently, Johnson appealed to the Court of Special Appeals of Maryland which found that the Circuit Court erroneously deprived Johnson of a hearing, vacated the Circuit Court's judgment, and remanded. Jobflsofl v. State, No. 271, Sept. Term, 2016, 2018 WL 833081 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. Feb. 8, 2018) (unpublished). Johnson's possession On July 10, 2018, the Circuit Court granted coram nobis petition and vacated and dismissed his 2007 Maryland conviction with intent to distribute heroin, finding Johnson's for initial guilty plea to be involuntary because he did not know the elements of the crime. (ECr No. 39-2.) On September 17, 2018, Petitioner filed the instant l\lotion to Correct Sentence Under 28 U.S.C ~ 2255. In his Motion, Petitioner asserts that he is entitled to resentencing because he no longer qualifies as a career offender after the vacatur of his 2007 heroin conviction under U.S.S.G. ~ 4B1.1. (Ecr No. 39.) The Government opposes the Motion. (ECF No. 42.) STANDARD OF REVIEW Under 28 U.S.C ~ 2255, a prisoner in custody may seek to vacate, set aside or correct his sentence where: (1) "the sentence was imposed in violation of the Constitution the United States," (2) the court lacked "jurisdiction to impose the sentence, ... or laws of [(3)] the sentence was in excess of the maximum authorized by law, or [(4) the sentence] is otherwise subject to a collateral attack." 28 U.S.C ~ 2255(a). "If the court finds ... imposed was not authorized that the sentence by law or otherwise open to collateral attack, or that there has 4 been such a denial or infringement of the constitutional rights of the prisoner as to render the judgment vulnerable to collateral attack, the court shall vacate and set the judgment aside and shall discharge the prisoner or resentence him or grant a new trial or correct the sentence as may appear appropriate." 28 U.S.C ~ 2255(b). The scope of a ~ 2255 collateral attack is far narrower than an appeal, and a "'collateral challenge may not do service for an appeal.'" Foster v. Cbatman, 136 S.Ct. 1737, 1758 (2016) (quoting United Statu consideration IJ. Frarfy, 456 U.S. 152, 165 (1982». Thus, procedural default will bar under ~ 2255 of any matters that "could have been but were not pursued on direct appeal, [unless] the movant ... showls] cause and actual prejudice resulting from the errors of which he complains." United States v. Mikaltljilllas, United States v. Pettiford, 612 F.3d 270, 280 (4th Cir. 2010) (citing 186 F.3d 490, 492-93 (4th Cir. 1999». ANALYSIS Petitioner contends that he is entitled to relief under 28 U.S.C ~ 2255 because his current sentence is erroneous conviction for possession in light of the subsequent with intent to distribute vacatur of his 2007 Maryland state heroin. (l)et.'s Mot., ECF No. 39.) Specifically, Petitioner argues: (1) his federal sentence is otherwise subject to collateral attack pursuant to 28 U.S.C ~ 2255(a) because the vacatur of his Maryland conviction negates his career offender status; and (2) his current sentence violates due process because it is predicated on a prior conviction which was found to violate his due process rights. (Id.) In its response, the Government Petitioner's contends the petition should be denied on three procedural grounds: (1) claim is not timely under ~ 2255(f) for failure to exercise due diligence in seeking the vacatur of his state conviction; (2) Petitioner procedurally defaulted his claim by not raising 5 the instant motion on direct appeal; and (3) Petitioner's claim is not cognizable under collateral review pursuant to ~ 2255(a). (Gov't Resp., ECF No. 42.) For the reasons state herein, Petitioner is entitled to resentencing. I. Petitioner exercised state possession requirements the requisite due diligence with intent to distribute in seeking the vacatur heroin conviction of his to meet the of 28 U.S.C. ~ 2255(1)(4). The Goyernment first contends that Petitioner's l\!otion to Correct untimely because he failed to exercise the due diligence required, pursuant 2255(£)(4), in seeking a vacatur of his 2007 Maryland drug conviction. Pursuant to 28 U.S.c. ~ 2255(£)(4), a one-year period oflimitations Sentence is to 28 U.s.c. ~ (ECF No. 42 at 5-8.) applies to all motions under ~ 2255 and may run from "the date on which the facts supporting the claim or claims presented could have been discovered through the exercise of due diligence." 28 U.s.c. ~ 2255(£)(4). In Jobnson v. United States, the Supreme Court held that a vacatur of a prior state conviction used to enhance a federal sentence constitutes a matter of "fact" that triggers tolling of the one- year limitation under ~ 2255(£)(4). 544 U.S. 295, 319,125 S. Ct. 1571 (2005). Thus, the one- year period for ~ 2255 review begins running when the state court orders the vacatur. Id. at 307, 125 S. Ct. at 1580. Vacatur alone is not enough to trigger tolling under ~ 2255(£)(4); a petitioner must act with due diligence in seeking the vacatur of his prior conviction to be eligible for tolling of the one-year limitation. Id. at 308,125 S.Cr. at 1580. Accordingly, a court will look to "the date of judgment as the moment to activate due diligence" in seeking a vacatur of a previous state sentence used for enhancement. Id at 309,125 S.Ct. at 1581. Applying this rule, the Court in Jobnson held that a petitioner who waited twenty one months after judgment to attack his state 6 conviction and offered no explanation for the delay did not act with due diligence, thereby precluding triggering of~ 2255(1)(4). Id. at 311,125 S. Ct. at 1582. Additionally, the johnson court notes its opinion does not always require immediate Id. at 310 n.8, 125 S.Ct. at 1582. Rather, the facts action by a recently sentenced defendant. underlying the state-court federal judgment, discoverable.Id. conviction might themselves not be discoverable in which case the diligence period facts become Further, the Court notes any delay in state proceedings that is not attributable to the petitioner will not bar relief. Id. Followingjohmon, L. Hollander begins once those until after the of this Court held a Petitioner's in United States I'. ThomaJ, Judge Ellen vacatur of a state conviction was pursued diligently when Petitioner waited nine years after his state conviction to seek coram nobis relief because the vacatur was sought prior to federal sentencing. 2904652, at *10 (D. Md. July 5, 2019). Importantly, No. ELH-I0-082, Judge Hollander observed 2019 WL the "legal process is not always a quick one" and stated the "delays that ensued during the State litigation do not reflect a lack of diligence" on the part of petitioner. Id.. The Baltimore City Circuit Court vacated Petitioner's on July 10, 2018 and Petitioner 2007 Maryland drug conviction filed the instant motion on September 17, 2018, well within the one year period set forth in jobmon, making the instant motion indisputably ECF No. 39-2) Importantly, state conviction. I\S the Petitioner also acted diligently in seeking the vacatur of his the Government accurately emphasizes, Petitioner did not file a successful coram nobis petition until July 15, 2014. Petitioner here continuously has proffered timely. (See (Id.) Yet, unlike the Petitioner in johnson, the sought review of the relevant state conviction since 2010, and he a reasonable cause for delay. On June 10, 2010 Petitioner 7 filed a pro Je post- conviction petition in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City. (ECF Nos. 47-1; 47-3.) Petitioner's case was assigned to Jodie Louer in the Collateral Review Division of the Office of the Public Defender of rvlaryland, who, after consulting with Petitioner, filed a motion to \\;thdraw the petition \v;thout prejudice to refine and modify the arguments. (Id.) However, Ms. Louer left the Collateral Review Division in 2011 without refiling petitioner's motion. (Id.) Therefore, on September 8, 2011, Petitioner diligently filed a second pro Je petition for post-conviction relief for his 2007 heroin conviction. (Id.) The petition was assigned to Scott Whitney who similarly moved to \v;thdraw the petition without prejudice \v;th the intention of modifying and refining the arguments. (Id.) The court granted the withdrawal request on February 14,2012. However, no further progress occurred prior to federal conviction (Id.) by this Court in March 2012. (Id.) Ultimately, in July 2014, 25 months after federal sentencing, Petitioner finally filed a successful coram nobis petition. (ECF No. 39-1.) The Government dismissed petitioners points to several cases where the Fourth Circuit and this Court have for lack of the requisite diligence under ~ 2255(f)(4). (ECF No. 42 at 6- 8.) Specifically, the courts have dismissed petitions when petitioners waited between twentyone and forty-two months after federal sentencing to challenge his or her state sentence. (Id. at 7 (citing United States v. Willim!JJ, 162 Fed. App", 254,260 States, No. DKC-20-0729, (4th Cir. 2006); Blake v. United 2018 WL 4679861 (D. Md. Sept. 28,2018); FreeJnan t'. United Statu, No. DKC 03-0194, 2012 WL 4480724 (D. Md. September 27,2012).) In contrast Government to the instant case, none of the petitioners in the cases cited by the challenged his or her state conviction prior to federal sentencing. In United States v. If:/illiaJns,the Fourth Circuit determined that, for a federal defendant seeking the vacatur of 8 a state sentence, the latest the due diligence clock can begin running is the date the district court files judgment. Petitioner's 162 Fed . .t\ppx. 254, 259 (4th Cir. 2006). This is not at issue here; claim does not necessitate the diligence clock starting later because he began challenging his state court conviction long before his federal sentencing. (See ECF Nos. 47 -1; 47-3.) These circumstances are never addressed in WilliamJ. Similarly, the government points to a pair of cases from this Court in which petitioners were found to lack diligence in seeking vacarur of their state court conviction, WilliamJ, neither petitioner challenged his or her state conviction prior to federal sentencing. Blake, 2018 WL 4679861, at *3 (holding petitioner federal sentencing and, as in lacked diligence for waiting five years after to challenge his state conviction rreemall, 2012 WL 4480724 at *4 (holding petitioner used in career offender designation); lacked diligence for waiting three years and nine months to challenge his state conviction after federal sentencing with no explanation for the delay).! In contrast, the Petitioner in the instant case began challenging his state conviction two years before federal sentencing and again two years after. (See ECF Nos. 47-1; 47-3.) Therefore, Petitioner diligently sought vacarur of his state conviction and is entitled to tolling of the statute of limitations pursuant to 28 U.S.c. ~ 2255 (£)(4). II. Petitioner's failure to raise the issue on direct appeal does not preclude the claim because Petitioner adequately demonstrated both cause and prejudice. Second, the Government he procedurally argues the Petitioner is not entitled to resentencing defaulted his resentencing because claim by failing to raise the issue on direct appeal Notably, the petitioner in Freeman and the Petitioner here argue the same rvhryland state procedural bar as a reason for waiting to ftle a coram nobis petition after federal sentencing. However, the petitioner's case in Freeman entirely rested on delaying the start of the due diligence clock because of his inaction prior to federal sentencing. In contrast, the Petitioner here began his attack on his state sentence two years prior to federal sentencing, thereby making the alleged state procedural bar a moot issue. (See Eel' Nos. 47-1; 47-3.) 1 9 and by failing to show cause and prejudice or actual innocence. Procedural default will bar consideration but were not pursued (ECF No. 42 at 8-11.) under ~ 2255 of any matters that "could have been on direct appeal, [unless] the movant prejudice resulting from the errors of which he complains." ... show[s] cause and actual United States v. Peffiford, 612 F.3d 270, 280 (4th Cir. 2010) (citing United Statu I'. l'vlikalajllnas, 186 F.3d 490, 492-93 (4th Cir. 1999». A petitioner "something must show that the failure to raise the issue on appeal resulted from external to the defense, such as the novelty of the claim or a denial of effective assistance of counsel." Mikala;ill1as, 186 F.3d at 493. Cause does not exist when a reasonably diligent search would have revealed the facts underlying the claim. Rose v. Lee, 252 F.3d 676, 687 (4th Cir. 2001). However, procedural default does not preclude development." claims that "could not be presented Pettiford, 612 F.3d at 279. l\dditionally, in conjunction without further factual with cause, a petitioner must show "actual prejudice resulting from the errors of which he complains." Jd. (quoting Milkala;ill1as, 186 F.3d at 492-93). Put differently, the alleged error cannot simply result in the "possibility of prejudice," substantial disadvantage, rather a petitioner must prove the error caused an "actual and infecting his entire trial with error of constitutional United States v. Frady, 456 U.S. 152, 165 (1982); see also Sinani 00119,2019 \\lL2772509 (D.l\ld.)uly I'. dimensions." United States, No. ELH-16- 1,2019). Petitioner asserts cause by arguing the delayed vacatur of his 2007 drug offense mllsed petitioner to delay challenging his career offender designation. (ECF No. 47 at 9-12.) Petitioner accurately points again to lollmon, where the Supreme Court concluded the vacatur of a prior state conviction constitutes a new fact previously unavailable to a defendant. 10 (Jd. at 10 (citing 544 U.S. 295, 302).) Therefore, Petitioner argues the absence of this "fact" at sentencing prevented his counsel from bringing a good faith claim on direct appeal, and caused him to wait until the vacatur was final to challenge his federal sentence. (Id.) Conversely, the Government 2007 guilty plea, and therefore contends Petitioner knew of the issues surrounding Petitioner should have brought his those issues to his defense counsel's attention prior to federal sentencing in 2012. (ECF No. 42 at 9.) The Government cites BaJden v. Lee, 290 F.3d 602 (4th Cir. 2002) to support the assertion that a petitioner may not establish cause "by pointing to evidence that the petitioner discovered through a reasonable investigation." 290 F. 3d at 618. This assertion is misplaced; in BaJden, the court concluded that Basden's presentment cause to overcome a procedural knew about or could have of "new facts" could not establish default of ineffective assistance claims because the facts consisted of certain personal details about Basden that counsel could easily discover through a basic investigation. Id. Basden unsuccessfully tried to show that his counsel's lack of knowledge of these easily attainable, personal facts resulted in his counsel's inability to bring a claim on direct appeal. Id. In contrast, the fact in this case, the vacatur of Petitioner's 2007 conviction, was not in existence at the time Petitioner was sentenced as a career offender, and therefore was undiscoverable. Additionally, Accordingly, the Government's the Government argument here fails. argues the facts underlying the cause of Petitioner's vacatur were available at the time of sentencing, and therefore, he should have directly attacked his 2007 drug conviction Government's at sentencing or on direct appeal. (ECF No. 42 at 10.) The argument is again without merit. In CIIJtiJ v. United StateJ, the Supreme Court held that a defendant in a federal sentencing proceeding does not have a right to "collaterally 11 attack the validity of previous state convictions that are used to enhance his sentence."2 511 U.S. 485, 487 (1994) (further mentioning that public policy discourages sentencing courts from using resources to "rummage through frequently nonexistent or difficult to obtain state-court transcripts"). Cmtis also holds, after a successful attack of a state conviction, a petitioner may then apply for a reopening of any federal sentence enhanced by the vacated state sentence. Id. at 497; see a/so Daniels v. United Statu, 532 U.S. 374, 382 (2001) (upholding "the presumption Custis and noting of validity that attached to the prior conviction at the time of sentencing is conclusive, and the defendant may not collaterally attack his prior conviction through a motion under ~ 2255"). The fourth Circuit adopted concluded that "if a defendant this policy in United Statu v. Pettiford, when the Court 'succeeds in a future collateral proceeding in overturning his [state] conviction, federal law enables him to then seek review of any federal sentence that was enhanced due to his state conviction.''' 612 F.3d 270, 276 (4th Cir. 2010) (quoting United States v. Bacon, 94 F.3d 158, 161 n.3 (4th Cir. 1996); see also United States v. DorsO', 611 Fed. Appx. 767, 769 (holding convictions sentence enhancements may be reconsidered under the advisory by federal sentencing Squire, the Fourth Circuit held a defendant guidelines based on vacated court). Similarly, in United States I'. could not collaterally attack his state conviction used to enhance his sentence at federal sentencing unless the prior convictions had been "reversed, vacated or invalidated" in a state case prior to sentencing. 716 Fed. l\ppX. 156,160 (4th Cir. 2017). For these reasons, the court dismissed the defendant's claim that his state em/is, Daniels and Johnson apply "whether the sentence enhancement was imposed because of the ACCA or because of the Sentencing Guidelines." United SlaW v. GadJ",. 332 F.3d 224, 228 n. 3 (4th Cir. 2003). 2 12 guilty plea was made involuntarily. collaterally attacking [d. In this case, as in Squire, Petitioner was barred from his state conviction, which had not yet been reversed, invalidated, at federal sentencing. The vacatur of his 2007 state conviction vacated, or after sentencing caused petitioner to lawfully withhold the instant issue from direct appeal or at sentencing. Finally, the Government proffers that even if Petitioner can show cause, the Petitioner has not shown actual prejudice, but only the possibility of prejudice from the use of his state conviction at federal sentencing. (ECF No. 42 at 10-11.) In order to establish actual prejudice to preclude procedural default, a petitioner must show the alleged error worked to his genuine and substantial disadvantage at trial. United States v. rrady, 456 U.S. 152, 170 (1982); see also Henry v. Foxwell, RDB-18-164, 2018 WL 1525705, at *3 (D. Md. Mar. 28, 2018). A Petitioner needs to show "there is a reasonable probability" that, without the error, sentencing would have been different. Sti,Her v. Greene, 527 U.S. 263,289 (1999). Although the Federal Sentencing Guidelines are not mandatory, "district courts 11l11st begin their analysis with the [Sentencing] Guidelines and remain cognizant of them throughout their sentencing process." Peugh v. United States, 569 U.S. 530, 541, 133 S. Ct. 2072, 2083 (2017) (quoting Gall 1765,1775 I'. United States, 552 U.S. 38, 50 n.6 (2007»; see also Htlghes I'. (2018) (noting the sentencing guidelines are the "foundation decisions"). Therefore, not the defendant's United States, 138 S.Ct. of federal sentencing a defendant who is sentenced under the incorrect range, "whether or ultimate sentence falls within the correct range," is particularly serious and usually sufficient to show a reasonable probability of a different outcome at sentencing. MolinaMartinez v. United States, 136 S. Ct. 1338, 1345 (2016); see also United States v. Winbush, 922 f. 3d 227, 231 (4th Cir. 2019) (holding the advisory nature of the guidelines does not preclude a 13 finding of prejudice when applied incorrectly at sentencing). Ullited States v. Thomas, No. ELH-I0-0082, As Judge Hollander found in 2019 \'\IL 2904652 (D. l\fd. July 5, 2019) "actual prejudice is obvious" when a subsequent vacatur delayed a petitioner's ability to challenge his career offender designation and resulted in an ultimately incorrect sentence enhancement federal sentencing. Thomas, 2019 WL 2904652 at * at 11. Here, the Petitioner was sentenced as a career offender predicated upon his 2007 state drug conviction. (presentence Report at 11.) Without this state drug conviction, Petitioner does not qualify as a career offender, thereby making it reasonably probable that his sentence would be different without the predicate conviction. Therefore, like in Thomas, actual prejudice resulted from the delayed vacatur of Petitioner's 2007 state conviction, prohibiting Petitioner from raising this issue at federal sentencing or on direct appeal. Consequently, Petitioner'claim is not procedurally barred.3 III. Petitioner's claim is cognizable on collateral review because the vacatur of his 2007 conviction nullifies his career offender designation and therefore entitles him to resentencing. finally, Petitioner's the government contends Petitioner's claim fails on the merits because challenge to his career offender designation is not cognizable on collateral review. (ECf No. 42 at 11-18.) Pursuant to 28 U.S.c. ~ 2255(a), a prisoner in custody under sentence of a federal court may move to correct a sentence that is "otherwise attack." 28 U.S.c. ~ 2255(a). The Supreme Court has interpreted this provision district court may review a sentencing error that is neither constitutional is a "fundamental subject to collateral to mean a nor jurisdictional if it defect which inherently results in the complete miscarriage of justice." DaV1J' 3 Since Petitioner adequately demonstrated cause and prejudice, the issue of actual innocence is moot. 14 v. United States, 417 U.S. 333, 546, 94 S. Ct. 2298, 2305 (1974); Jee also United States v. Foote, 784 F.3d 931, 932 (4th Cir. 2015) (adopting Supreme Court's assertion in Davis). In United States v. Dorsry, the Fourth Circuit held that a Guideline calculation that is not erroneous at the time of sentencing, but which is predicated on a later vacated state conviction is cognizable in a ~ 2255 claim fot resentencing. 611 Fed. Appx. 767, 770 (4th Cir. 2015). Vacaturs of state convictions that result in altered sentencing exceptional circumstances requirements or otherwise unlawful sentences create the necessary to make a petitioner's ~ 2255 claim cognizable. See Cuevas v. United States, 778 F.3d 267, 275 (1st Cir. 2015) (post-Booker, granting relief under the fourth prong of ~ 2255 when vacaturs reduced petitioner's criminal history points, therefore reducing his criminal history category); see also Dorsry, 611 Fed. Appx. at *770 (post-Booker, for re-sentencing remanding when vacatur of state conviction placed petitioner in lower criminal history category). However, the vacatur of a particular state conviction must affect the petitioner's sentence to warrant relief under ~ 2255. See Pelliford, 612 F.3d at 278 (holding petitioner's ~ 2255 claim failed because his vacated convictions did not render his Armed Career Criminal 1\ct sentence invalid because of the existence of additional, sufficient predicate convictions); As this Court previously held Beads v. United States, RDB-14-3061, 2015 \\IL 3853186, at *6 (0. Md. June 19,2015), "[v]acaturs of state convictions that do not, however, affect petitioners' sentences are not sufficiently exceptional to warrant relief under the fourth prong of ~ 2255." The Beads case is clearly distinguishable from this case. As discussed above, in Thomas, this Court found the vacatur of one of two predicate offenses "stripped" a petitioner of his career offender status, thereby making his claim cognizable for collateral attack. 2019 WL 2904652 15 at *13. The court observed that, while sentencing guidelines are not mandatory, the sentencing Judge "clearly enhanced Thomas's sentence based on his status as a career offender," entitling petitioner to a new sentencing. Id. In this case, the vacatur of one of Petitioner's Petitioner as a career offender Government nullifies Petitioner's two predicate offenses used to assign designation argues that the issue at hand is a misapplication as a career offender. The of the career offender guidelines. (ECF No. 42 at 14 (citing United Statu I'. roote, 784 F.3d 931 (4th Cir. 2015). [n roote, the defendant was initially sentenced as a career offender. 784 F.3d at 932. However, after United States Simmons, 649 F.3d 237 (4th Cir. 2011), one of his prior North /i. longer qualified as a career offender prerlicate under the sentencing Carolina offenses no guidelines, prompting Foote to challenge his career offender designation under ~ 2255. Id. at 936. The court in Foote concluded offender that "sentencing status Importantly, a defendant to advisory Guidelines based on a career high bar." Id. in Foote never received a vacatur of his prior convictions. !d. that is later invalidated the petitioner pursuant does not meet this remarkably Conversely, the issue here is not a mistaken application of the guidelines or a dated application of the guidelines. Rather it is a change in the criminal history of the Petitioner. Even the Foote Court made the distinction that the "federal conviction that brought [Foote] to court in the first place and the state convictions used to enhance his sentence have not been invalidated or vacated; thus, it is difficult to place Appellant's case within the ambit of those decisions" in which the Supreme Court has found a miscarriage of justice. Id. at 940. Therefore, 16 the facts and holding in Foote are inapposite to the instant case. The vacatur of one of Petitioner's 4 two predicated offenses used to assign Petitioner as a career offender means Petitioner is no longer correctly designated as a career offender and is thus entitled to resentencing.l\t was not erroneous since-vacated the time of his sentencing, Petitioner's Guideline calculation or a "misapplication of the guidelines," but rather, was predicated on a state conviction making his claim cognizable under collateral review. Following the Fourth Circuit's assertion in Pe"ifiJrd, "when reviewing sentences imposed under the career offender guideline, ... reconsidered sentence enhancements based on previous convictions should be if those convictions are later vacated." 612 F.3d at 276. On these facts, Petitioner is entitled to resentencing.s "TIleGovernment's additional reliance on United Slates II. Pelliford, 612 F.3d 270 (4th Cir. 2010) is distinguishable. (ECF No. 42 at 12.) In Pelliford. although nva of petitioner's predicate offenses were vacated after sentencing, three convictions sufficient to support his career offender designation remained on his record. ld In the instant case, \.\-ithout the Petitioner's 2007 state conviction, he docs not qualify as a career offender under the sentencing guidelines. Similarly, the Government further cites United Slales II, Afikolqill11OS, to support its position that a misapplication of the guidelines typically does not warrant relief under ~ 2255. (ECF No. 42 at 13.) ..\gain, ~Iikalajunas' challenge to his guideline sentence was predicated on an incorrect upward adjustment of an offense level by the Court, an issue not before this Court. 186 F. 3d at 496. 'I11e issue before rltis Court is not whether or not the guidelines were misapplied, but whether a particular change in fact constitutes resentencing. 4 ~ Since this Court finds Petitioner's claim cognizable on non-constitutional argument is moot. 17 grounds, Petitioner's due process CONCLUSION For the foregoing reasons, Petitioner Brian Johnson's Motion to Vacate, Set Aside, or Correct Sentence pursuant to 28 U.S.c. ~ 2255 (ECF No. 39) is GRANTED, sentence is VACATED. for Petitioner's and Petitioner's The parties should confer and contact chambers to schedule a date re-sentencing. A separate Order follows. Dated: November 26, 2019 MlJA ..'1~ Richard D. Bennett United States District Judge 18
]]>
Some case metadata and case summaries were written with the help of AI, which can produce inaccuracies. You
should read the full case before relying on it for legal research purposes.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google
Privacy Policy and
Terms of Service apply.
