Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_07-cv-00321/USCOURTS-caed-1_07-cv-00321-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 510
Nature of Suit: Prisoner Petitions - Vacate Sentence
Cause of Action: 28:2255 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus (Federal)

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

VICTOR SANCHEZ SEPULVEDA, )

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Petitioner, )

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vs. )

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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, )

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Respondent. )

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No. CV-F-07-321 OWW

(No. CR-F-02-5408 OWW) 

ORDER DENYING PETITIONER’S

MOTION TO VACATE, SET ASIDE

OR CORRECT SENTENCE PURSUANT

TO 28 U.S.C. § 2255 (Doc.

367) AND DIRECTING CLERK OF

COURT TO ENTER JUDGMENT FOR

RESPONDENT 

Petitioner Victor Sanchez Sepulveda, proceeding in pro per,

has timely filed a motion to vacate, set aside or correct

sentence pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255.

Petitioner was convicted following jury trial of conspiracy

to aid and abet the manufacture of methamphetamine and to possess

pseudoephedrine, a listed chemical, knowing or having reasonable

cause to know that it would be used to manufacture

methamphetamine, a controlled substance in violation of 21 U.S.C.

§§ 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A), 841(c) and 846; of attempted

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possession of pseudoephedrine, a listed chemical, intending to

manufacture methamphetamine in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(c)(2

and 846 and of 18 U.S.C. §; of unlawful use of a communication

facility to facilitate a felony narcotic offense in violation of

21 U.S.C. § 843(b) and 18 U.S.C. § 2; and criminal forfeiture

pursuant to 21 U.S.C. § 853. Petitioner was sentenced to 292

months as to Count 1, 240 months as to Count 2, and 48 months as

to Count 4, all to be served concurrently.

Petitioner appealed to the Ninth Circuit. The Ninth Circuit

affirmed Petitioner’s conviction and sentence.

Petitioner asserts four grounds for relief in his Section

2255 motion:

Ground One: “The Federal Government lacked federal

legislative, territorial or admiralty jurisdiction in over the

locus quo [sic]”.

Ground Two: “The Federal Government Charging Instruments are

fatally defective”. 

Ground Three: “The Federal Government failed to establish

federal interstate commerce nexus”.

Ground Four: “Title 18 or 21 are unconstitutional causing

imprisonment to be false”.

All of these grounds are based on petitioner’s contention

that the United States is required to charge and prove a nexus

with interstate commerce. 

The grounds asserted for relief are frivolous. Petitioner’s

contention that the indictment was deficient because it failed to

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plead a nexus between the alleged conspiracy and interstate

commerce is without merit. The Ninth Circuit has long held that

no proof of an interstate nexus is required to establish

jurisdiction of the subject matter for prosecutions under 21

U.S.C. § 841(a). See United States v. Fernandez, 388 F.3d 1199,

1219 (9 Cir.2004); United States v. Tisor, 96 F.3d 370, 374-375 th

(9 Cir.1996). Because Ninth Circuit precedent rejects the th

notion that an interstate nexus constitutes an element of

offenses in the drug trafficking context, the Government is not

required to plead such a nexus in the indictment. Fernandez, id.

ACCORDINGLY, as set forth above:

1. Petitioner Victor Sanchez Sepulveda’s motion to vacate,

set aside or correct sentence pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255 is

DENIED;

2. The Clerk of the Court is directed to enter judgment for

Respondent. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: March 20, 2007 /s/ Oliver W. Wanger 

emm0d6 UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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