Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_16-cv-01701/USCOURTS-casd-3_16-cv-01701-0/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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 15CR1732-JLS 

 16CV1701-JLS 

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 

Plaintiff,

v. 

RAMON FLORES-BELTRAN, 

Defendant.

 Case Nos.: 15CR1732-JLS 

 16CV1701-JLS 

 

ORDER DENYING DEFENDANT’S 

MOTION UNDER 28 U.S.C. § 2255 TO 

VACATE, SET ASIDE OR CORRECT 

SENTENCE and DENYING CERTIFICATE 

OF APPEALABILITY

 Presently before the Court is Defendant’s Motion under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 to 

Vacate, Set Aside, or Correct Sentence by a Person in Federal Custody (ECF No. 42). 

The Court has considered Defendant’s motion and the record in this case and, for the 

reasons set forth below, will deny Defendant’s motion. 

Background

 Defendant Ramon Flores-Beltran pled guilty to the offense of possession of 

methamphetamine with intent to distribute in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and, on 

February 19, 2016, was sentenced to a term of 87 months’ imprisonment. Defendant’s 

Presentence Report listed a prior conviction for assault with a deadly weapon, but, due to 

the age of the conviction, the conviction did not score any criminal history points. ECF 

No. 27 at 9. 

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Analysis

 In the instant motion under 28 U.S.C. § 2255, Defendant contends that the Court 

improperly enhanced his sentence because his prior conviction for assault with a deadly 

weapon does not constitute a crime of violence under Johnson v. United States, 576 U.S. 

___, 135 S.Ct. 2551 (2015). However, Defendant’s assault with a deadly weapon 

conviction was not used in any manner to enhance his sentence – it did not even score in 

the criminal history calculation. The Court applied the following guideline calculations 

at sentencing: a base offense level of 34 pursuant to USSG § 2D1.1(a)(5)(A) and (B)(iii); 

a 2-level reduction for minor role, a 2-level enhancement for reckless endangerment 

during flight, a 3-level reduction for acceptance of responsibility, and a 4-level reduction 

for fast track. This resulted in a total offense level of 27, which, at a criminal history 

category of III, resulted in a guideline sentencing range of 87-108 months. Defendant 

was sentenced to the low end of this range. 

The prior assault conviction played no part in Defendant’s sentence, but even if it 

had, Defendant’s claim would be foreclosed by the Supreme Court’s decision in Beckles 

v. United States, 137 S.Ct. 886 (2017). In Beckles, the court held that the Sentencing 

Guidelines are not subject to vagueness challenges under the Due Process Clause and that 

Johnson is not applicable to the advisory Guidelines. 

Conclusion 

The Court finds that Defendant’s motion and the files and records of this case 

conclusively show that Defendant is entitled to no relief. Accordingly, Defendant’s 

Motion Under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 to Vacate, Set Aside, or Correct Sentence by a Person in 

Federal Custody is DENIED. Additionally, the Court DENIES Defendant a certificate of 

appealability, as Defendant has not made a substantial showing that he has been denied a 

constitutional right. See 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(2) (providing that a certificate shall issue 

/ / / 

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/ / / 

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“only if the applicant has made a substantial showing of a denial of a constitutional 

right”). The Clerk’s Office shall enter judgment accordingly.

 IT IS SO ORDERED. 

Dated: September 17, 2018 

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