Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_18-cv-01059/USCOURTS-casd-3_18-cv-01059-0/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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08cr3134-LAB, 18cv1059-LAB

12cr527-RBM and 18cv1052-RBM

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Plaintiff,

v.

VERONICA G. BALDERAMAAGUILAR,

Defendant.

Case No.: 08cr3134-LAB, 

18cv1059-LAB

12cr527-RBM and 18cv1052-

RBM

ORDER CONSTRUING 

SECTION 2255 MOTIONS AS 

CORAM NOBIS PETITIONS; 

ORDER GRANTING CORAM 

NOBIS PETITIONS; AND

ORDER REQUIRING 

LODGMENT OF PROPOSED 

ORDER

Defendant Veronica Balderama-Aguilar pled guilty to violation of 8 U.S.C. 

' 1326(a), being a deported alien found in the United States, and was sentenced 

to five years’ supervised release. After that term expired, she discovered she is 

and has always been a United States citizen, making it impossible for her to have 

committed this offense.

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Case 3:18-cv-01059-LAB Document 2 Filed 09/18/18 PageID.<pageID> Page 1 of 3
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08cr3134-LAB, 18cv1059-LAB

12cr527-RBM and 18cv1052-RBM

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She filed a 28 U.S.C. ' 2255 motion, because her conviction in this case 

might affect her sentencing in another case. The sentencing hearing in that case 

was originally September 17, but was moved and is now set for October 15.

The Court issued an order (Docket no. 50) pointing out that because 

Balderama-Aguilar is no longer in custody, relief under ' 2255 is unavailable. But 

the Court proposed to construe the motion as a petition for writ of coram nobis. 

Both Balderama-Aguilar and the government were ordered to file responses giving 

their positions on this proposal, as well as whether coram nobis relief should be 

granted. Both have now done so, and both agree that the petition should be so 

construed. Balderama-Aguilar proposes that the petition be granted. The 

government has waived any defense of laches, and does not oppose the granting 

of the petition.

The Court construes the ' 2255 motion as a coram nobis petition. So 

construed, and for good cause shown, the petition is GRANTED. BalderamaAguilar’s conviction in this case is VACATED.

Case 12cr527-RBM, United States v. Aguilar-Balderama, is related and the 

government’s response treats it as related. The issues and briefing in that case 

are essentially the same as in this case, which the Court will also treat as related. 

The Court construes Aguilar-Balderama’s ' 2255 motion as a coram nobis petition. 

So construed, and for good cause shown, the petition is GRANTED. Aguilar’s 

conviction in that case is VACATED.

Attorney Melissa Lubin’s as filed ex parte motion for appointment as counsel 

(Docket no. 54), which the Court is inclined to grant. But she must submit a usable 

proposed order as required by this District’s Electronic Case Filing Administrative 

Policies and Procedures Manual. Her payment will be subject to this District’s CJA 

limits.

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08cr3134-LAB, 18cv1059-LAB

12cr527-RBM and 18cv1052-RBM

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Any other matters on which an order is required should be requested by joint 

motion, and the parties should lodge a proposed order in editable electronic format.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: September 18, 2018

Hon. Larry Alan Burns

United States District Judge

Case 3:18-cv-01059-LAB Document 2 Filed 09/18/18 PageID.<pageID> Page 3 of 3