Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-2_11-cv-01644/USCOURTS-azd-2_11-cv-01644-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 530
Nature of Suit: Prisoner Petitions - Habeas Corpus
Cause of Action: 28:2241 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus (Federal)

---

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

KM

WO

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

William F. Crudup, 

Petitioner, 

vs.

Dennis R. Smith,

Respondent. 

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

No. CV 11-1644-PHX-DGC (MHB)

ORDER

On August 22, 2011, Petitioner William F. Crudup, who is confined in Federal

Correctional Institution-Phoenix in Phoenix, Arizona, filed a pro se Petition under 28 U.S.C.

§ 2241 for a Writ of Habeas Corpus by a Person in Federal Custody (Doc. 1). In a September

13, 2011 Order, the Court directed Petitioner to pay the filing fee or file an Application to

Proceed In Forma Pauperis. On October 6, 2011, Petitioner paid the filing fee and filed an

Application to Proceed. Because Petitioner has now paid the filing fee, the Court will deny

the Application to Proceed as moot. The Court will dismiss the Petition for lack of

jurisdiction.

I. Petition

In his Petition, Petitioner names Warden Dennis R. Smith as the Respondent and

raises one ground for relief in which he claims that he is “actually innocent” of the

sentencing enhancement he received under the career criminal act. Petitioner claims that

simple possession offenses and simple assault offenses do not count as prior convictions for

Case 2:11-cv-01644-DGC--MHB Document 6 Filed 11/23/11 Page 1 of 4
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 2 -

the purpose of career offender sentence enhancement and could not be used to enhance his

sentence.

II. Discussion

A motion to vacate sentence pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255 is generally the appropriate

method for challenging a federally imposed conviction or sentence, including a challenge that

“the sentence was imposed in violation of the Constitution or laws of the United States, or

that the court was without jurisdiction to impose such sentence, or that the sentence was in

excess of the maximum authorized by law.” 28 U.S.C. § 2255(a); Tripati v. Henman, 843

F.2d 1160, 1162 (9th Cir.1988). A § 2241 petition for writ of habeas corpus is not a

substitute for a motion under § 2255. McGhee v. Hanberry, 604 F.2d 9, 10 (5th Cir. 1979).

The Court will not consider a § 2241 petition by a prisoner authorized to apply for

§ 2255 relief “if it appears that the applicant has failed to apply for relief, by motion, to the

court which sentenced him, or that such court has denied him relief, unless it also appears

that the remedy by motion is inadequate or ineffective to test the legality of his detention.”

28 U.S.C. § 2255(e); United States v. Pirro, 104 F.3d 297, 299 (9th Cir. 1997). This

exception is narrow. Ivy v. Pontesso, 328 F.3d 1057, 1059 (9th Cir. 2003). The burden of

coming forward with evidence affirmatively showing the inadequacy or ineffectiveness of

the § 2255 remedy rests with the petitioner. McGhee, 604 F.2d at 10; Redfield v. United

States, 315 F.2d 76, 83 (9th Cir. 1963). 

The § 2255 remedy is not inadequate or ineffective merely because the statute of

limitations bars Petitioner from filing a motion under § 2255, the sentencing court has denied

relief on the merits, or § 2255 prevents Petitioner from filing a second or successive petition.

See id.; Moore v. Reno, 185 F.3d 1054, 1055 (9th Cir. 1999); Charles v. Chandler, 180 F.3d

753, 758 (6th Cir. 1999); Tripati, 843 F.2d at 1162. The § 2255 remedy is inadequate or

ineffective “when a petitioner claims to be (1) factually innocent of the crime for which he

has been convicted; and, (2) he has never had an unobstructed procedural shot at presenting

this claim.” Ivy, 328 F.2d at 1060 (citing Lorentsen v. Hood, 223 F.3d 950, 954 (9th Cir.

2000). 

Case 2:11-cv-01644-DGC--MHB Document 6 Filed 11/23/11 Page 2 of 4
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 3 -

 Petitioner has failed to meet his burden. Petitioner must demonstrate that he is

factually innocent of the federal crimes for which he was convicted, not the sentencing

enhancement. Padilla v. United States, 416 F.3d 424, 427 (5th Cir. 2005) (Section 2241

petition did not fall within the savings clause of § 2255 where petitioner did not attack his

conviction and his claims only challenged the validity of his sentence enhancement); United

States v. Peterman, 249 F.3d 458, 462 (6th Cir. 2001) (savings clause inapplicable where

defendants “do not argue innocence, but instead challenge their sentences”); Kinder v. Purdy,

222 F.3d 209, 213-14 (5th Cir. 2000) (claim that petitioner was actually innocent of being

a career offender was insufficient to warrant application of savings clause where petitioner

did not assert he was “actually innocent of the crime for which he was convicted”); Collins

v. Ledezma , 724 F. Supp. 2d 1173, 1179-82 (W.D. Okla.), aff’d, 400 Fed. Appx. 375 (10th

Cir. 2010) (summarizing cases and concluding that “[p]etitioner’s claim that he is ‘actually

innocent’ of a sentencing enhancement does not come within the scope of § 2255’s savings

clause.”); see also Seabrook v. United States, 2010 WL 5394773, *3 (E.D. Cal. 2010)

(petitioner failed to satisfy actual innocence prong when he alleged that he was actually

innocent of being a career offender; “[p]etitioner must demonstrate that he is factually

innocent of the crime for which he has been convicted, not the sentence imposed”).

Accordingly, the Court will dismiss the § 2241 Petition and this case for lack of jurisdiction.

See 28 U.S.C. § 2255(a); Tripati, 843 F.2d at 1163. 

IT IS ORDERED:

(1) Petitioner’s October 6, 2011 Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis

(Doc. 4) is denied as moot.

 (2) Petition Under 28 U.S.C. § 2241 (Doc. 1) and this case are dismissed for lack

of jurisdiction. The Clerk of Court must enter judgment accordingly and close this case.

. . .

. . .

. . .

. . . 

Case 2:11-cv-01644-DGC--MHB Document 6 Filed 11/23/11 Page 3 of 4
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

 1Although Petitioner has brought his claims in a § 2241 petition, a certificate of

appealability is required where a § 2241 petition attacks the petitioner’s conviction or

sentence. See Porter v. Adams, 244 F.3d 1006 (9th. 2001). 

- 4 -

 (3) In the event Movant files an appeal, the Court declines to issue a certificate of

appealability because reasonable jurists would not find the Court’s procedural ruling

debatable. See Slack v. McDaniel, 529 U.S. 473, 484 (2000).1

DATED this 22nd day of November, 2011.

Case 2:11-cv-01644-DGC--MHB Document 6 Filed 11/23/11 Page 4 of 4