Opinion
No. 5:07-CR-190-F-1 No. 5:12-CV-442-F
04-20-2015
TRAVIS LAMONT SPEIGHT, Petitioner, v. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Respondent.
MEMORANDUM AND RECOMMENDATION
This matter comes before the court on the motion of Travis Lamont Speight ("Petitioner") under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 to vacate, set aside, or correct his sentence [DE-39] and the Government's motion to dismiss [DE-42]. Petitioner has filed a reply [DE-43] and a supplemental memorandum in support [DE-46], and the Government has filed a response in opposition to Petitioner's supplemental memorandum. [DE-51]. All briefing is now complete, and the motions are ripe for review. The motions were referred to the undersigned and are considered here as a recommendation to the district court. See 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B); Fed. R. Crim. P. 59(b)(1). For the reasons stated below, it is recommended that the Government's motion to dismiss [DE-42] be allowed and Petitioner's § 2255 motion [DE-39] be denied.
I. BACKGROUND
On August 2, 2007, the grand jury charged Petitioner in a two-count indictment with distribution of cocaine in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), Count One, and felon in possession of a firearm in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1) and 924, Count Two. [DE-1]. On October 16, 2007, Petitioner pleaded guilty, pursuant to a plea agreement, to Count Two of the indictment, felon in possession of a firearm. [DE-16, -17]. The plea agreement provided in relevant part that Petitioner agreed to
waive knowingly and expressly [t]he right to appeal whatever sentence is imposed on any ground . . . and further to waive any right to contest the conviction or the sentence in any post-conviction proceeding, including any proceeding under 28 U.S.C. § 2255, excepting an appeal or motion based upon grounds of ineffective assistance of counsel or prosecutorial misconduct not known to the Defendant at the time of the Defendant's guilty plea.Mem. of Plea Agreement ¶ 2(c). On January 23, 2008, the court sentenced Petitioner to a term of 115 months' imprisonment, three years supervised release, and a $5,400.00 fine. [DE-18]. Petitioner did not appeal his conviction or sentence.
On January 30, 2009, Petitioner filed pro se his first motion to vacate pursuant to § 2255 [DE-22], which was subsequently resubmitted at the direction of the court on the correct form [DE-25]. Petitioner claimed that his offense level should not have been increased by two levels for possession of a stolen firearm under United States Sentencing Guidelines ("U.S.S.G.") § 2K2.1(b)(4)(a). [DE-25] at 4; [DE-33] at 2. The court dismissed Petitioner's claim as barred by the appeal waiver in his plea agreement and on the merits. [DE-33] at 2-4. Petitioner did not appeal the court's order.
On July 17, 2012, Petitioner, represented by counsel, filed the instant motion to vacate pursuant to § 2255. [DE-39]. Petitioner claims that, in light of United States v. Simmons, 649 F.3d 237 (4th Cir. 2011) (en banc), one of the two predicate offenses justifying his sentencing base offense level of 24 is no longer a qualifying felony. Pet'r's Mot. [DE-39] at 5. Petitioner contends that he should be resentenced utilizing a base-offense level of 20, in accordance with U.S.S.G. 2K2.1(a)(4)(A), which would result in a guideline range of 63 to 78 months. Pet'r's Mem. [DE-39-2] at 2-3.
II. LEGAL STANDARDS
A. Rule 12(b)(6)
The purpose of a motion to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(6) is to test the legal sufficiency of the complaint, not to resolve conflicts of fact or to decide the merits of the action. Edwards v. City of Goldsboro, 178 F.3d 231, 243-44 (4th Cir. 1999). However, the "'[f]actual allegations must be enough to raise a right to relief above the speculative level' and have 'enough facts to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.'" Wahi v. Charleston Area Med. Ctr., Inc., 562 F.3d 599, 616 n.26 (4th Cir. 2009) (quoting Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007)); see also Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 679 (2009) ("While legal conclusions can provide the framework of a complaint, they must be supported by factual allegations."). "[A] plaintiff's obligation to provide the 'grounds' of his 'entitle[ment] to relief' requires more than labels and conclusions, and a formulaic recitation of a cause of action's elements will not do." Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555. In considering a motion to dismiss, the court assumes the truth of all facts alleged in the complaint and the existence of any fact that can be proved, consistent with the complaint's allegations. Erickson v. Pardus, 551 U.S. 89, 94 (2007). "The issue is not whether a plaintiff will ultimately prevail but whether the claimant is entitled to offer evidence to support the claims." Revene v. Charles Cnty. Comm'rs, 882 F.2d 870, 872 (4th Cir. 1989) (quoting Scheuer v. Rhodes, 416 U.S. 232,236 (1974) (internal quotation marks omitted)). Moreover, a court "need not accept the legal conclusions drawn from the facts" nor "accept as true unwarranted inferences, unreasonable conclusions, or arguments." E. Shore Mkts., Inc. v. J.D. Assocs. Ltd. P'ship, 213 F.3d 175, 180 (4th Cir. 2000).
B. 28 U.S.C. § 2255
After conviction and exhaustion or waiver of any right to appeal, courts and the public can presume that a defendant stands fairly and finally convicted. See United States v. Frady, 456 U.S. 152, 164-65 (1982). However, prisoners in federal custody may attack the validity of their convictions pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255. Section 2255 provides a means for a defendant convicted of a federal offense to collaterally attack a conviction or sentence on four grounds: (1) the sentence was imposed in violation of the Constitution or the laws of the United States; (2) the court was without jurisdiction to impose the sentence; (3) the sentence was in excess of the maximum authorized by law; or (4) the sentence is otherwise subject to collateral attack. 28 U.S.C. § 2255(a). "[T]hus § 2255 relief is not limited to constitutional error in a conviction or sentence." United States v. Mikalajunas, 186 F.3d 490, 495 (4th Cir. 1999). Where a petition seeks relief from a nonconstitutional error, "the scope of review . . . is more limited than that of constitutional error; a nonconstitutional error does not provide a basis for collateral attack unless it involves a fundamental defect which inherently results in a complete miscarriage of justice, or is inconsistent with the rudimentary demands of fair procedure." Id. (internal quotation marks and citations omitted). "In a § 2255 proceeding, the burden of proof is on petitioner to establish his claim by a preponderance of the evidence." Toribio-Ascencio v. United States, Nos. 7:05-CR-00097-FL, 7:08-CV-211-FL, 2010 WL 4484447, at *1 (E.D.N.C. Oct. 25, 2010) (unpublished) (citing Miller v. United States, 261 F.2d 546, 547 (4th Cir. 1958)).
III. DISCUSSION
Petitioner's sole claim is that, based on Simmons, one of the two predicate offenses justifying his sentencing base offense level of 24 is no longer a qualifying felony. Pet'r's Mot. [DE-39] at 5. Specifically, Petitioner argues that at sentencing his guideline range was calculated to be from 92 to 115 months, arising from a base offense level of 24 and a criminal history category of VI. Pet'r's Mot. [DE-39-2] at 2. Petitioner received a base offense level of 24 because the court found that he '"committed any part of the instant offense subsequent to sustaining at least two felony convictions of either a crime of violence or a controlled substance offense.'" Id. (quoting U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1(a)(2)). The court's finding was predicated on Petitioner's prior violent felony conviction of voluntary manslaughter and prior controlled substance felony of possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana. Id. Petitioner contends that because the maximum term of imprisonment he could have possibly received for his prior conviction for possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana was eight months, he has not been convicted of a controlled substance offense punishable for a term exceeding one year as defined by Simmons. Thus, Petitioner concludes that he in fact had only one violent felony, resulting in a base offense level of 20, in accordance with U.S.S.G. 2K2.1(a)(4)(A), which would render a guideline range of 63-78 months. Id. at 3. With respect to the procedural posture of his claim, Petitioner argues that his motion is not second or successive and his motion is timely or, alternatively, equitable tolling is appropriate. Id. at 4-9. The Government contends that dismissal is warranted because Petitioner waived his right to collaterally attack his sentence, Petitioner procedurally defaulted his claim by not raising it on direct appeal, and Petitioner's claim is untimely with no basis for equitable tolling. Gov't's Mot. [DE-42] at 2-11. The undersigned concludes that Petitioner's claim should be dismissed as it was untimely filed and equitable tolling is not appropriate.
Petitioner's base offense level was 24 pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1(a)(2), he received a two-level enhancement under U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1(b)(4)(A) because the firearm in his possession had been stolen, and he received a three-level downward adjustment for acceptance of responsibility, bringing his total offense level from 26 to 23. Presentence Investigation Report ("PSR") ¶¶ 7, 13, 47, 48, 54.
A. Timeliness
Under the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996, § 2255 claims are subject to a one-year statute of limitations, which runs from the latest of the following:
(1) the date on which the judgment of conviction becomes final;28 U.S.C. § 2255(f)(1)-(4). Here, Petitioner contends that his claim is timely because his petition was filed within one year of the Fourth Circuit's decision in Simmons, which Petitioner argues is a newly discovered "fact" within the meaning of § 2255(f)(4).
(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.
For purposes of § 2255(f)(4), "facts" may include court rulings, such as a finding that the petitioner is not guilty of an offense. See Johnson v. United States, 544 U.S. 295 (2005) (holding that vacatur of petitioner's state conviction was a "fact" supporting his § 2255 challenge for purposes of § 2255(f)(4)). However, a legal decision that does not affect the validity of the petitioner's own underlying conviction is not a "new fact" for purposes of triggering § 2255(f)(4). See Whiteside v. United States, 775 F.3d 180, 183 (4th Cir. 2014) (en banc) (holding that "Simmons represented a change of law, not fact" and Johnson, therefore, did not govern petitioner's claim under § 2255(f)(4)); Walton v. United States, No. 2:07-CR-017-F, 2013 WL 1309277 (E.D.N.C. Mar. 28, 2013) (unpublished) (citing Thaggard v. United States, No. 4:02-CR-41-H, 2013 WL 81380, at *2 (E.D.N.C. Jan. 7, 2013) (unpublished); Dailey v. United States, No. 7:06-CR-36-BO, 2012 WL 5471156, at *1 (E.D.N.C. Nov. 9, 2012) (unpublished); United States v. Hardison, No. 4:08-CR-77-FL-2, 2011 WL 6780783, at *2 (E.D.N.C. Dec. 27, 2011) (unpublished)). Because Simmons did not vacate or otherwise affect the validity of Petitioner's own conviction, it cannot serve as a "fact" within the meaning of § 2255(f)(4).
Petitioner also contends in his supplemental memorandum that the case of Whiteside v. United States, 748 F.3d 541 (4th Cir. 2014) supports his claim. Pet'r's Supplemental Mem. [DE-46] at 2-4. In Whiteside, a panel of the Fourth Circuit determined that an erroneous application of the career offender enhancement was a fundamental miscarriage of justice warranting the application of equitable tolling so that an otherwise untimely § 2255 petition could be heard on the merits. 748 F.3d at 546-48. However, the Fourth Circuit's decision in Whiteside was vacated by the grant of rehearing en banc in Whiteside v. United States, 578 F. App'x 218 (4th Cir. July 10, 2014) (unpublished). See Ebron v. United States, No. 4:11-CR-45-D, 2014 WL 6851620, at *4 (E.D.N.C. Dec. 3, 2014) (unpublished) ("[T]he panel opinion in Whiteside has been vacated.") (citing 4th Cir. R. 35(c); Richmond Med. Ctr. for Women v. Herring, 570 F.3d 165, 168 (4th Cir. 2009) (en banc)). Accordingly, Whiteside provides no basis for finding that Petitioner's claim was timely filed.
Moreover, on rehearing the Fourth Circuit held en banc that Whiteside's § 2255 petition was untimely filed and that equitable tolling did not apply. Whiteside, 775 F.3d at 183-86. The court rejected the contention that the petitioner's claim was timely under § 2255(f)(4) because Simmons qualified as a new "fact" for purposes of that provision. Whiteside, 775 F.3d at 183-86; Keel v. United States, No. 5:02-CR-271-BO-1, 2015 WL 450857, at *3 (E.D.N.C. Feb. 3, 2015) (unpublished) ("The Fourth Circuit's recent decision in Whiteside v. United States, No. 13-7152, 2014 WL 7245453 at *3 (4th Cir. Dec. 19, 2014) forecloses any argument that a subsequent court decision could qualify as new fact for purposes of motion to vacate a defendant's sentence."); Evans v. United States, No. 5:08-CR-54-FL, 2014 WL 309451, at *2 (E.D.N.C. Jan. 28, 2014) (unpublished) (concluding Miller v. United States, 735 F.3d 141 (4th Cir. 2013), did not change the conclusion that the petition was untimely and declining to apply equitable tolling based on Simmons), aff'd, 590 F. App'x 257 (4th Cir. 2015) (citing Whiteside, 775 F.3d 180). Therefore, Petitioner's argument that his petition is timely under § 2255(f)(4) lacks merit.
B. Equitable Tolling
Petitioner next argues that his claim is subject to equitable tolling because he filed his claim as soon as practicable after it arose as a result of Simmons. [DE-39-2] at 8-9. The Supreme Court has held that a petitioner is entitled to equitable tolling of the statutory limitations period if: (1) he has been pursuing his rights with "reasonable diligence" and (2) some extraordinary circumstance prevented him from timely filing. Holland v. Florida, 560 U.S. 631, 649 (2010). The Fourth Circuit has determined that "to be entitled to equitable tolling, an otherwise time-barred petitioner must present (1) extraordinary circumstances, (2) beyond his control or external to his own conduct, (3) that prevented him from filing on time." United States v. Sosa, 364 F.3d 507, 512 (4th Cir. 2004) (citation and internal quotation marks omitted). The Fourth Circuit in Whiteside foreclosed the application of equitable tolling in support of a Simmons claim. Whiteside, 775 F.3d at 186; Yarborough v. United States, No. 5:07-CR-00270-F-1, 2015 WL 1275392, at *3 (E.D.N.C. Mar. 19, 2015) (unpublished) (citing Whiteside, 775 F.3d at 186 ("Equitable tolling thus may not be applied where, as here, the only impediment to timely filing was the discouragement felt by petitioner when calculating his odds of success.")). Petitioner has presented no other facts justifying the application of equitable tolling. Accordingly, equitable tolling does not apply to save Petitioner's untimely claim. Having determined that Petitioner's claim is untimely, the Government's remaining arguments as to why Petitioner's claim should be dismissed need not be considered.
IV. CONCLUSION
Based upon the foregoing, it is RECOMMENDED that the Government's motion to dismiss [DE-42] be ALLOWED and Petitioner's motion [DE-39] be DENIED.
The Clerk shall send copies of this Memorandum and Recommendation to counsel for the respective parties, who have fourteen (14) days from the date of receipt to file written objections. Failure to file timely written objections shall bar an aggrieved party from receiving a de novo review by the District Court on an issue covered in the Memorandum and, except upon grounds of plain error, from attacking on appeal the proposed factual findings and legal conclusions not objected to, and accepted by, the District Court.
SUBMITTED, this the 20 day of April 2015.
/s/_________
Robert B. Jones, Jr.
United States Magistrate Judge