Case ID: f-appx_475/html/0813-01.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

UNITED STATES of America v. Wilson A. GARCIA, Appellant.
    No. 12-1210.
    United States Court of Appeals, Third Circuit.
    Submitted for Possible Summary Action Pursuant to Third Circuit LAR 27.4 and I.O.P. 10.6 March 15, 2012.
    Opinion filed: April 13, 2012.
    David L. Axelrod, Esq., Francis C. Bar-bieri, Jr., Esq., Office of United States Attorney, Philadelphia, PA, for Appellee.
    Wilson A. Garcia, Winton, NC, pro se.
    Before: SCIRICA, SMITH and CHAGARES, Circuit Judges.
   OPINION

PER CURIAM.

Wilson Garcia appeals the District Court’s order dismissing his petition for a writ of audita querela. For the reasons below, we will summarily affirm the District Court’s order.

In 2005, Garcia was convicted of distribution of cocaine and distribution of cocaine near a school in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 860. Because Garcia had a prior drug conviction, he faced a maximum sentence of life in prison and a mandatory minimum of 120 months in prison. Garcia was subsequently sentenced to 120 months in prison. We affirmed his conviction and sentence on appeal. Garcia then filed an unsuccessful motion pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255. This Court denied Garcia’s request for a certificate of appealability.

In December 2011, Garcia filed a petition for a writ of audita querela. He argued that the Supreme Court’s decision in Carachuri-Rosendo v. Holder, — U.S. -, 130 S.Ct. 2577, 177 L.Ed.2d 68 (2010), undermines the use of his prior conviction to enhance his sentence. The District Court dismissed the petition without prejudice to Garcia requesting permission to file a second or successive motion pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255. Garcia filed a notice of appeal.

We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. The writ of audita querela is available as residual post-conviction relief “to the extent that it fills in gaps in the current system of post-conviction relief.” Massey v. United States, 581 F.3d 172, 174 (3d Cir.2009). Thus, relief via a petition for a writ of audita querela is not available where a specific statute addresses the issue at hand. Id. A motion pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255 is the proper vehicle for collaterally challenging a federal conviction or sentence. Id. The restrictions in § 2255 on filing successive habeas motions do not create a gap which may be filled by the writ of audita querela. Accordingly, the District Court did not err in dismissing Garcia’s petition.

■ Summary action is appropriate if there is no substantial question presented in the appeal. See Third Circuit LAR 27.4. For the above reasons, as well as those set forth by the District Court, we will summarily affirm the District Court’s order. See Third Circuit I.O.P. 10.6.