Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-almd-2_16-cv-00473/USCOURTS-almd-2_16-cv-00473-0/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

PAYTON LEE SYKES, )

)

 Petitioner, )

) CIVIL ACTION NO.

 v. ) 2:16cv473-MHT

) (WO)

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, )

)

 Respondent. )

OPINION

Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255, petitioner Payton Lee 

Sykes, a federal prisoner, filed this lawsuit seeking 

habeas relief. Specifically, he seeks to vacate, set 

aside, or correct the sentence this court imposed upon 

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

Career Criminal Act (ACCA). He relies 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), 

Case 2:16-cv-00473-MHT-GMB Document 11 Filed 07/15/16 Page 1 of 2
that the Johnson decision is retroactive on collateral 

review.

Sykes was convicted of one count of being a felon 

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

§ 922(g)(1). He was then sentenced to 180 months of

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

prior convictions for third-degree burglary.

The parties agree that Sykes is entitled to relief 

under Johnson and Welch. See Joint Proposal for 

Proceeding On § 2255 Motion (doc. no. 7).

Accordingly, the court will grant his petition, 

vacate his sentence, and resentence him.

An appropriate judgment will be entered.

DONE, this the 15th day of July, 2016.

/s/ Myron H. Thompson 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 2:16-cv-00473-MHT-GMB Document 11 Filed 07/15/16 Page 2 of 2