Case ID: f-appx_153/html/0844-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "PER CURIAM", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Ronald CARLUCCI, Appellant v. Ronald HOLT, Warden.
    No. 05-2369.
    United States Court of Appeals, Third Circuit.
    Submitted for Possible Summary Action Under Third Circuit LAR 27.4 and I.O.P. 10.6 Oct. 14, 2005.
    Decided Nov. 3, 2005.
    Ronald Carlucci, Minersville, PA, pro se.
    Stephen R. Cerutti, II, Office of United States Attorney, Harrisburg, PA, for Appellee.
    Before RENDELL, AMBRO and BECKER, Circuit Judges.
   OPINION OF THE COURT

PER CURIAM

Ronald Carlucci appeals pro se from an order of the District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania dismissing his petition for habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241. At the time he filed his habeas petition, Carlucci was incarcerated in the Federal Correctional Institution at Schuylkill, serving a 120-month sentence for racketeering and related firearms convictions. Carlucci’s petition challenges the Bureau of Prisons’ (“BOP”) interpretation of 18 U.S.C. § 3624(b)(1), which governs the award of good time credits to prisoners. We have appellate jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291. Our review is plenary. See Ruggiano v. Reish, 307 F.3d 121, 126 (3d Cir.2002). The Clerk listed the case for possible summary action. In response, Appellee filed a motion for summary affirmance, and Carlucci filed a motion in opposition.

Section 3624(b)(1) reads, in pertinent part, as follows:

[A] prisoner who is serving a term of imprisonment of more than 1 year other than a term of imprisonment for the duration of the prisoner’s life, may receive credit towards the service of the prisoner’s sentence, beyond the time served, of up to 54 days at the end of each year of the prisoner’s term of imprisonment, beginning at the end of the first year of the term ...

18 U.S.C. § 3624(b)(1). The BOP interprets this statute to allow 54 days of “good time” credit for each year served by the prisoner. See 28 C.F.R. § 523.20. The BOP’s formula for calculating good time credit accounts for the fact that the prisoner’s sentence is incrementally shortened as good time credit is awarded each year. See White v. Scibana, 390 F.3d 997 at 1000-1001 (7th Cir.2004) (explaining the BOP’s formula), cert. denied by White v. Hobart, — U.S.-, 125 S.Ct. 2921, 162 L.Ed.2d 297 (2005).

Carlucci contends that the Bureau of Prisons’ interpretation of 18 U.S.C. § 3624(b)(1) is contrary to “the unambiguous intent of Congress” that prisoners are eligible to earn 54 days for each year of the prisoner’s sentence, because “term of imprisonment” essentially means “sentence.” Alternatively, Carlucci argues that, even if the statute is ambiguous, the “rule of lenity” should supersede any deference owed to the BOP’s interpretation under Chevron U.S.A., Inc. v. Natural Resources Def. Council, 467 U.S. 837, 844, 104 S.Ct. 2778, 81 L.Ed.2d 694 (1984). Carlucci asserts that the BOP’s interpretation of the statute deprives him of good time credit to which he is entitled, in violation of his Equal Protection and Due Process rights.

As noted in the District Court’s order, we have recently held that the phrase “term of imprisonment” in this statute is ambiguous and that the BOP’s interpretation is reasonable. See O’Donald v. Johns, 402 F.3d 172, 174 (3d Cir.2005) (per curiam), reh’g denied (order entered October 4, 2005). Therefore, we apply Chevron deference to the BOP’s interpretation of § 3624(b).

For the foregoing reasons, Carlucci’s arguments are foreclosed by our decision in O’Donald. Accordingly, we will summarily affirm the District Court’s judgment. See Third Circuit LAR 27.4 and I.O.P. 10.6. Appellee’s motion for summary affirmance is GRANTED. Appellant’s “Request for Leave For Supplemental Filing” is DENIED.