Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_16-cv-01396/USCOURTS-casd-3_16-cv-01396-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 510
Nature of Suit: Prisoner Petitions - Vacate Sentence
Cause of Action: 28:2255 Motion to Vacate / Correct Illegal Sentence

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JOSE LUIS FRANCO-HERNANDEZ,

Petitioner,

v.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Respondent.

Case No.: 10-CR-4857 W

 16-CV-1396 W

ORDER DENYING PETITION FOR 

WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS 

[DOC. 37]

Pending before the Court is Petitioner Jose Luis Franco-Hernandez’s motion to 

vacate pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255. Petitioner is proceeding pro se. Respondent United 

States of America has not filed an opposition, despite the lapse of the July 29, 2016 

deadline. (See June 14, 2016 Order [Doc. 38] 1:22–24.) The Court decides the matter on 

the papers submitted and without oral argument. See Civil Local Rule 7.1 (d.1). For the 

reasons stated below, the Court DENIES the motion. [Doc. 37]. 

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On April 5, 2011, judgment was entered against Mr. Jose Luis Franco-Hernandez 

for illegal reentry into the United States in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326. (Judgment [Doc. 

21].) Mr. Franco-Hernandez was sentenced to 37 months in the custody of the Bureau of 

Prisons, to be followed by three years’ supervised release. (Id.) Mr. Franco-Hernandez’s

supervised release was revoked on August 31, 2015, resulting in an additional sentence of 

12 months. [Doc. 36.] 

On June 2, 2016, Mr. Franco-Hernandez filed a motion to vacate pursuant to 28 

U.S.C. § 2255. [Doc. 37.] In it, he argues that he “was given a harsh +16 points 

enhancement increase as [an] Armed Career Criminal[,]” and that his sentence should be 

vacated pursuant to the Supreme Court’s recent ruling in Johnson v. United States, 135 S. 

Ct. 2551 (2015). The Johnson Court held that to increase a defendant’s sentence pursuant 

to the residual clause of the Armed Career Criminal Act, 18 U.S.C. § 924(e)(2)(B), 

violates the Due Process Clause of the United States Constitution. See 135 S. Ct. at 

2557–58.

The petition fails for two reasons. First, Mr. Franco-Hernandez waived the right to 

collaterally attack his sentence. (See Plea Agreement [Doc. 17] 3.) Second, Mr. FrancoHernandez’s sentencing enhancement was a result of USSG §2L1.2(b)(1)(A)1—not the

residual clause of the Armed Career Criminal Act. (See Def.’s Sentencing Summary 

Chart [Doc. 18] 2; Gov.’s Sentencing Summary Chart [Doc. 19] 2.) 

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1 This provision specifically references alien smuggling, Mr. Franco-Hernandez’s prior felony 

conviction. See USSG § 2L1.2(b)(1)(A)(vii).

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The petition is DENIED. The clerk is directed to close the associated civil case.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: August 31, 2016

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