Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-almd-2_16-cv-00337/USCOURTS-almd-2_16-cv-00337-0/pdf.json

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

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IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF THE UNITED STATES FOR THE

MIDDLE DISTRICT OF ALABAMA, NORTHERN DIVISION

BOBBY JOE SALES, )

)

 Petitioner, )

) CIVIL ACTION NO.

 v. ) 2:16cv337-MHT

) (WO)

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, )

)

 Respondent. )

OPINION

Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255, petitioner Bobby Joe 

Sales, a federal prisoner, filed this lawsuit seeking 

habeas relief. Specifically, he seeks to vacate, set 

aside, or correct the sentence imposed upon him 

pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 924(e)(1) of the Armed Career 

Criminal Act (ACCA). 

Sales was convicted of two counts of being a felon 

in possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 

§ 922(g)(1). He was then sentenced to 192 months of

imprisonment pursuant to § 924(e)(1) based in part on a 

Case 2:16-cv-00337-MHT-CSC Document 16 Filed 08/19/16 Page 1 of 2
prior conviction for third-degree burglary and a prior 

conviction for illegal sale of drugs.

Sales contends that he is entitled to habeas relief 

based on the Supreme Court's decisions in Johnson v. 

United States, 576 U.S. ___, 135 S. Ct. 2551 (2015), 

that the residual clause of § 924(e) is 

unconstitutionally vague, and Welch v. United States,

___ U.S. ___, 136 S. Ct. 1257 (2016), that the Johnson

decision is retroactive on collateral review. The 

government, in contrast, takes the position that 

petitioner is entitled to relief under Descamps v. 

United States, 133 S. Ct. 2276 (2013). In any case, 

the court need not resolve this issue because both 

parties agree that his petition for habeas relief 

should be granted.

Accordingly, the court will grant his petition, 

vacate his sentence, and resentence him.

An appropriate judgment will be entered.

DONE, this the 19th day of August, 2016.

/s/ Myron H. Thompson 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 2:16-cv-00337-MHT-CSC Document 16 Filed 08/19/16 Page 2 of 2