Case ID: f-appx_518/html/0065-01.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

Michael RINALDI, Appellant v. Warden BLEDSOE.
    No. 13-1360.
    United States Court of Appeals, Third Circuit.
    Submitted for Possible Dismissal Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B) or Summary Action Pursuant to Third Circuit LAR 27.4 and I.O.P. 10.6 April 18, 2013.
    Opinion Filed May 2, 2013.
    
      Michael Rinaldi, White Deer, PA, pro se.
    Mark E. Morrison, Esq., Office of United States Attorney, Harrisburg, PA, for Warden Bledsoe.
    Before: RENDELL, JORDAN and VAN ANTWERPEN, Circuit Judges.
   OPINION

PER CURIAM.

Michael Rinaldi, a federal inmate proceeding pro se, appeals from the District Court’s dismissal of his habeas petition pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241 for lack of jurisdiction. There being no substantial question presented in this appeal, we will summarily affirm the District Court’s judgment. See 3d Cir. L.A.R. 27.4; I.O.P. 10.6.

I.

In 1999, Rinaldi was convicted of various drug trafficking and firearm charges. The District Court sentenced him to a total of 248 months’ incarceration. We affirmed Rinaldi’s judgment on direct appeal. See United States v. Rinaldi, 248 F.3d 1131 (3d Cir.2000). In his § 2241 petition, Ri-naldi asserts that he should be released because the Bureau of Prisons (“BOP”) lacks personal jurisdiction over him. He also claims that 18 U.S.C. § 4081, which provides guidelines for the classification and treatment of prisoners, is unconstitutional because it was not passed by a quorum of both houses of Congress. The District Court interpreted his petition as challenging his placement and confinement in the Special Management Unit (“SMU”) and dismissed it without prejudice to his right to file an action pursuant to Bivens v. Six Unknown Named Agents of Fed. Bur. of Narcotics, 403 U.S. 388, 91 S.Ct. 1999, 29 L.Ed.2d 619 (1971). It then denied Rinaldi’s motion for reconsideration pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 59(e). This appeal followed.

II.

We have jurisdiction over both the District Court’s dismissal of Rinaldi’s underlying habeas petition and its denial of his motion for reconsideration pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1291 and 2253(a). We exercise plenary review over the denial of Rinaldi’s § 2241 petition. See Vega v. United States, 493 F.3d 310, 314 (3d Cir.2007). However, we review the denial of the motion for reconsideration for abuse of discretion. See Lazaridis v. Wehmer, 591 F.3d 666, 669 (3d Cir.2010). We may summarily affirm on any basis supported by the record. Murray v. Bledsoe, 650 F.3d 246, 247 (3d Cir.2011) (per curiam).

III.

We have previously held that § 2241 “confers habeas jurisdiction to hear the petition of a federal prisoner who is challenging not the validity but the execution of his sentence.” Woodall v. Fed. Bureau of Prisons, 432 F.3d 235, 241 (3d Cir.2005) (quoting Coady v. Vaughn, 251 F.3d 480, 485 (3d Cir.2001)). While “the precise meaning of ‘execution of the sentence’ is hazy,” id. at 242, we have defined execution to mean “to put into effect’ or carryout,’ ” id. at 243 (citation omitted). To the extent that Rinaldi challenges the BOP’s jurisdiction over him altogether, we construe his claim to be a challenge to the execution of his sentence. Nevertheless, his claim lacks merit, as the BOP has been responsible for implementing and executing his sentence ever since it was imposed. See 18 U.S.C. § 3621(a) (“A person who has been sentenced to a term of imprisonment ... shall be committed to the custody of the Bureau of Prisons .... ”). Furthermore, Rinaldi’s argument that 18 U.S.C. § 4081 is unconstitutional is simply frivolous. See United States v. Collins, 510 F.3d 697, 698 (7th Cir.2007) (argument “that Title 18 — the federal criminal code— is unconstitutional because of supposed irregularities in its enactment” is “ ‘unbelievably frivolous’ ”).

Furthermore, the District Court did not abuse its discretion in denying Rinaldi’s motion for reconsideration, as his motion did not identify any of the three grounds required for reconsideration. Lazaridis, 591 F.3d at 669.

IV.

For the foregoing reasons, we will affirm the District Court’s judgment. See 3d Cir. L.A.R. 27.4; I.O.P. 10.6. 
      
      . A certificate of appealability is not required to appeal the dismissal of a § 2241 petition. See Burkey v. Marberry, 556 F.3d 142, 146 (3d Cir.2009).
     
      
      . In his argument supporting his appeal, Ri-naldi asserts that the District Court misconstrued his claims by construing them as a challenge to his placement and confinement in the SMU. However, to the extent that Rinaldi wishes to challenge such placement and confinement, the District Court correctly determined that his claims should be brought pursuant to Bivens because it does not allege that the BOP's conduct was inconsistent with any express "command or recommendation in [his] sentencing judgment.” See Cardona v. Bledsoe, 681 F.3d 533, 537 (3d Cir.2012) (alteration in original). We express no opinion as to the merits, if any, of any civil rights claim Rinaldi may choose to file.