Case ID: f-appx_104/html/0429-02.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "PER CURIAM: \n    ", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Nhan Khiem TRAN, also known as Tony Tran, also known as Larry Tran, Petitioner-Appellant, v. Suzanne HASTINGS, Warden, Respondent-Appellee.
    No. 03-41272.
    Conference Calendar.
    United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.
    Decided Aug. 17, 2004.
    Nhan Kiem Tran, #48684-079, Texar-kana, TX, pro se.
    Allen Harvey Hurst, Assistant U.S. Attorney, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Tyler, TX, for Respondent-Appellee.
    
      Before HIGGINBOTHAM, DAVIS, and PICKERING, Circuit Judges.
   PER CURIAM:

Nhan Khiem Tran, federal prisoner # 48684-079, appeals the district court’s denial of his 28 U.S.C. § 2241 habeas petition challenging his conviction for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 3,4 methylenedioxy amphetamine (“MDA”), possession with intent to distribute MDA, and attempted possession with intent to distribute MDA. Relying on United States v. Doggett, 230 F.3d 160 (5th Cir.2000), Tran argues that his indictment contained a jurisdictional defect because it did not charge the drug quantity involved in the offense. He argues that he has no remedy under 28 U.S.C. § 2255, and therefore he is entitled to seek relief under 28 U.S.C. § 2241 pursuant to the savings clause of 28 U.S.C. § 2255.

A federal prisoner may use 28 U.S.C. § 2241 to challenge the legality of his conviction or sentence if he can satisfy the mandate of the savings clause of 28 U.S.C. § 2255.

[T]he savings clause of § 2255 applies to a claim (i) that is based on a retroactively applicable Supreme Court decision which establishes that the petitioner may have been convicted of a nonexistent offense and (ii) that was foreclosed by circuit law at the time when the claim should have been raised in the petitioner’s trial, appeal, or first § 2255 motion.

Reyes-Requena v. United States, 243 F.3d 893, 904 (5th Cir.2001).

Although Tran’s appeal focuses on our decision in Doggett, in the district court he relied on the Supreme Court’s decision in Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466, 120 S.Ct. 2348, 147 L.Ed.2d 435 (2000), which was the basis for our Doggett decision. Apprendi does not apply retroactively to cases on collateral review, and an Apprendi claim does not satisfy the requirements for filing a 28 U.S.C. § 2241 petition under the savings clause. See Wesson v. U.S. Penitentiary, Beaumont, TX, 305 F.3d 343, 347-48 (5th Cir.2002), cert. denied, 537 U.S. 1241, 123 S.Ct. 1374, 155 L.Ed.2d 212 (2003). Therefore, Tran’s claims do not fall within the savings clause of 28 U.S.C. § 2255.

AFFIRMED. 
      
       Pursuant to 5th Cir. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5th Cir. R. 47.5.4.