UNI'I'EI) SI'ATES 01: AMERICA 

.,, , ,, , . . , 

I.JNITCD S.I.A.I.I'S (:oiZs.s GIAICD 

Corupi 'tbmni 

VS. 

TRACEY (LEE I'IIAHAh' 

iles~iondcni. 

, , , , . , - . . -- ... , 

nitckci Numhcr: C(i S&K Of-U 149 

ci; C;,sc No. '%XOZd(r 

ORDER (;KAN'I'IN<; MOTION FOR SUMMARY DE<:ISiON 

tloti. Parlcn L. :Mclic~ina, Presiding 

Prcliniiaarv Slatemcnt 

'llic: I ,rriietl Stntcs <'onst Guard (Cloast Gunrd) initiated tllis aclt~.rinistr:itivc rtcriorr seckins 

rcvc~catiorl of l,icci,se Numhcr Oh?() 16 issued to "i'r:~cey i.,cc Trahaii (licspc~ndcnt). 'I'his ilclio~t is 

brought pursuant to tlic legal authority aintiiinetl in 46 U.S.C. 77U4 and its underlying 

se&wiations codified at 46 CFR Part 5. 

Oil April 4. 2007. tlie C'oast Cjizard issiicd o Complaint cit~u.ging Respondent wit11 one (I ) 

. - spec.+. t i,~~~lly. .. the Coilst Guard allcgcs l<usuoncicn( was convicteti of Attempted Possession af 

C'. .. ' t>b:ilric in Excess of 300 <ii-:ui~s hy ihc Srntc of 1,ouisiana on March 28. 2005. In tcsponxe, itn 

il 10. 2007. Rc<pontlcnt tiled 11 lcrlcr lttletl Rcqucsl fiir ltcvic:~ by thc ('h~efi\dni~il~straitvc 

Law iiidgc (1211swcr). 111 tile Ai~swcr. Re.ii.tontlcni atitnits to tilt :iileged conviction, howevcr 
Iicspoiidc~tt asserts be "was wrongly coiivictcd in ttint trial" :iilci is appealing lhc tri:ii ccmrl's 

rtiling, Rcspondax rccjtiests tha~ he m>~intain pnssession of hi3 liccilse wllilc Iris conviction is nil 

nly>cal 

On April 50, 1007, the C'o:~st: (;u;ird filed a Marion lo Atrlcliti (:ornpl:iinl. In l'irc 

,\ii~cnded C:o~i-ipIaint. thc Coast Guard cl~argcs tlcspclndcnt with ai~ additinrial hctuitl allegdtion. 

Viol~ttiou of Law or Regulation. The C:oast Guard alleges Respondent mastered ail Ihinspccicd 

'Iowii~jj: Vessel witllout illc proper tnariner credential. a violation of 46 CFR 15.610. Rtspoiiiicnt 

did no! file 1111 Allswcr ndclrcssing the new allegation. On May 1. 2007. lhis case was assigtkecl it1 

this judgc for ncljuciicnlio~i, 

On May 7. 7007, the Coilst Cwilrfl filed a Motion for Sutnm:iry i>ecision. In riiis Motion., 

thc C'oast C;u:lrtl moves fi~r summary ctecision on the grouiltls t1r:ll there arc no gcnuine issues of 

it~atcriiii hcl coircerning tl~cllatrge oSCunvic~ion of a Dangerous DN~ Law Violri~ion. Tile 

C'0;i~i Cjiiard witlicirew tlie Violation of Law or Kcg~~lation cliargc. C)n June IS. 2007. 

licsf)ilniicnl lilctl :I llcsponse to the Coast Guard's Motion fbr Summary D~.cision. I11 ihat 

rcsl?oi~sc, Respoiiticnt stales his ;~ttorj~cy "fonxi;illy appcrilcd irly cortviciion <in aticrnptcd 

possession" and tirat revoc:~tion of his licctisc woiiitl 'Ibc a miscarriage of'j~is~i~c" arid would 

tlc~~y hiiii ";I iivcliilooil to adequately suppoi-r" his family. 

I)iscussior~ 

Motion for Stttr~r~rnry Dccisiarr 

Ikrsu;~!ir ro 3.3 C'FR 20.(~01(a), "'[a jny may irtovc for s siiinlnrii-y ilccisioil in all 01. 

any pri trf'ilic proceeding on the &~ounris ihat tlicrc arc no gcrlui~~c issues of'rrt:~(cr.ial f:ici olid 

rh:jt li:c pal-iy is ciititlcd to :i dccisiim ;1s ;I ii3:ittci. nflr~~.'' An n judge mi~y gmtlr :I p:lny's inotion 

sitrninav decision '"il'tiic tilcti iilliilsvirs, thc lilci! docunicriis, th~ rr~;i!cri:il obt!iincil by 
083 14iZOO i '8' 14 FAX 

discovery or ~>tlicrwise, or maltcrs ofiiciully ncitcd sl~ow tliirt there is no gcr~liiilc issue ofrrtatc~iatl 

Iact arid that ;I pzrrty is entitled to :i summary decision as a m:irtcr of law." 33 (::f:K 20.00 10). 

l11c iiridcrsigned will coiiciuct nil cx;l~ilinnti<~n oitiic cliarpc, Conviction tbr a D:tilgcrctus Dnig 

[.,;Iw Vii>l;lti(>ri. to determine whcrhcr iherc exist a114 issues t)l'ni;~tenal lac[ so irs to mttke :, 

suirlrtlary dccisioii i1iii1ii)1.01)riatc. 

Convictio~r for n Dnrrgerous 1)rug Law Violati011 

'Jhe (:east (;ilarcI 11ns chargetl Itespondent with C'onvicrion fi~r 3 Dangerous D~ug Law 

Violatii>ri. (Coast Ciuard C'otnplnin! :1rlc1 (:o:tst Ciuard Amended Complnitit). Pursirant to 46 

0.S.C'. 7704(li): 

If it is shown ;I! a licaring itrld~r this chaptm that a iiolder of ;I 

licciisc. c~~ti1ic:tIc of i'eyistry. or merch3nl rn:~rincr's tlocumcnr 

iss~icd unciet- tliis part. witlii~i 10 ycars hefi,rc thc bcgirlnieg of ~hc 

pn)ecctiirigs. has been convictcd of violating n dangcrt)i~s dntg law 

of' the Cinitctl States 01. of a Stute, the license, ccrtificiltc. or 

duciinienr sh:~li lie supct~tled or rcvt>kcci. 

Ir. ordel- to prove its cnse. tile C'oast Guard mus~ driiionstrate th:it: (I ) Kespondent is "a iloider of 

ii licciisc. ccizilica~e ofseyistry. or 111crc11ant maliner's cicicurncnt:" imcl (2) "within I0 years 

hcli)sc the Reginning of rllc prc>cccdings. ['Rcspontlcntj has hcen convicted ol'viol:~ii~~g :I 

ti;~~igci.ous drug law ofthe kjnitcd States or of21 State," &.< 46 LI.S.C. 7704(h) 

'Jhe (:onst Guard prttpcsly macfc all rccluircd jt~sisdictional and tictun1 nilcgatiorls to 

~irovc:' violation of 30 LI.S.C'. 7704(h). 'I'lic Coast Ciuartl est;iblishud tlint Rc.;pctndcnt is n iiciitlcr 

cli':~ C'o::sl C;uard isstled liccnsc. (Motion for Su~nrnary I)ccision: Cxliibit 2). Rcspot~denl iidiiiiis 
ionvicl~on ti)r Attanptcd I'osscssion ol'Ctrc:iiric: is (111 appeal. (Ariswcr). In r~cidition, 

I Rcsl,o~iticnr priwitlcci (I cupy crf his liccsisc with his hnsu~~. (Anz\\*cr: Enclvsirrc 2) 

Tlic Coast Ciuarti also tieinotistratcd that Iicspolldent was coii\~iacd within the last ten 

(1 0) yc;ir,s of violaiir~g a i!ii~ig~~o~ts drug law oStlic Ihircd States. Iri suppurt ufthis factual 

;illegation. the Coost Guard provitlcd court records establishing that the State of Louisinrln found 

Rcsponifrjnt "gu~ltp of ;~ttnnpted po~sms~on of cocainc in excess of 400 grams afrer tnal to tile 

(?otil-i oil b$/f;irch 28. 10(!5." (Motion ibr Sulnrnary flecisii~n: i<nclosul.c I). i\ conviction hr 

;iitcmp~cd pcxsscssic~r~ oi'counir~c s;iiislics Lhc ~.cquirement ol'viol;lting a dnn~crotis drug law. S.cs 

~~!..ji~ci,~ioi~ 235') (LOMAN[)) (1087). 

Kcspondcnt ridinits to [tie 2005 conviction of onc~iipted possession of ct)caine, hut 

ntniriii~iris 11i~ innocence and is appcalirtg the conviction. (Answer). Responderr1 statcs, "[wJhilc 

I ;dinit cy>cnly to yoii in iliis lei^^^ LII;LI I \':IS '=1Avk1g~!', . . I believe I was wrongly convicled in 

I) Revocation is itlandntoi-y whcn rt rcspondciii is "convictcil fbs a violatiorl i~fthc 

ii:i~igci-uus tli'iig I;~ws. wl~ether cxr not Stinher court action is pending. 2nd such cl~arpe is found [)roved." 

.Api)er?l . . 1')ccision 25 1 I. (GIL'I'NliIO ( 1'190) (tiring 36 ('FK 5.59(b)), A '~cc~nvicli~~it is uonsi~lcrcil 'firi:rl' 

rilss I :ii c . ! I-;I rcspo~~~lcnt's license is revoked c111d ihnl 111c iindcriying 
I-!owc\~er~. prior to ;I conviction heing set aside, 3 rcspon~lenk's "collaier;~I attack crn his 

ci.im!ilal crrr~victiori . . . can 1101 be ~.;lisctl in [hesc atiministt-alive proccc~lings." S.gC id, 

Rcspondmt's convrctiiln oC;ittem~~tcii possession of cocninc is coniiderccl a vioiat~on 01'ir 

il;irrgc~.ous dtug law. whell~c~ir not the conviction is on appeal. 

The Ci~ssi Guarcl properly ~n:itie ;ill required jurisiiicfion;ll ;inti Eictual ;~llegations lo 

j>roLc ilespctridc~it vi(rii~tc(l 46 U.S.C. 7704. The Cucisi C~t:ird hris establishctl ilia1 (1 ) 

Respondent is a holder i)f l.icensc No. 0020 10 and (2) Kwlioridoit wns convicted of violatins a 

tiarlgcro~~sddrg lii\\' orlllc i!nitctl Stales, on hilarch 28. 2005. Rcspondcnl i1:rs i;tiseti $10 

rtrgut-;lciils wiiicli call illto cjucstiorl t11c clcrncnis required LO pruvc :i C~~ivictiuri lbr 3 D~II~~TOUS 

Drug Law Vicllation. ,,Is such, ns a tnnttcr ol'lawiv, the unticrsigncti lirrtls lllc ch:~rgc c~l'(-:onvietion 

li)l- ii Dnngerous Drug Law Vi~lntion. in violati011 of40 L.S.C. 7703(h) l>l.ovcd. 'l'he Motion lix 

Si1111r11:iry l>ccisio~~ is (;r;1111e(i. 

. , I hc C'onst Ciunrd sccks rcvacation ol'Rcspirndcn~.'s liecnse. I<espontlenl ;Irgucs that 

revoc;ltiori is nol inantiatt)ry anti ;isset.; "[tlhc 13%~ ill 46 U.S. C'otlc 5 7704(b) sirtics rt 1ice11se C~I 

dociir~~cnl may he susl~mtiet! or revoked." (Rcs~~iitlcs Rcsporlsc to llic C'o:isl Ciunril Miiiiirr~ 

k)r Sumnlnly I.)ccisioil). Kcspi~i.iticn( cites ro the ALJ decision UCG v. Savoic. 05-0008 

{i.lS<'<; A1.J June 10. 2005) to support his ;irg~tmcnt.' (1211swcr). Wllilc Kcspotlcicnt is correct 

li~ll tilt: stititilc indicaics both suspe!1sinn arid r.cvocation arc apimprial': sitictii"nshr Corlvicliori 

hi- n i)l%!igcrous iklg Law 'ifiolalion; it is clear ti~ai revocatini> is tlic otlly npkrropriatle snllcrioi: 

fi~ J,ls<-'C; v. S;~vt~ic~ O~-OOOS [L:SC,'<j ,Al,J JLIIIC 10, 2005). iiw S:o;~sr (it18scl cl~asgecl J<es~~~~i~~i~!i~t u'i111 a vinI:ili~~11 

.it. i.lSi.' 770J(h), it! thtit i;vrc. !tic jiidgc lbund file cli:iifies provc;l :~r,il si~apcn~lctl rlc rcspni~clcii~'~ trr<linriais ik 

! 4 !I i!ic Ci~zist (iuard Ihelievcci !lit: oi~ly ;~ppn!prit~tc sanclirln iv:w rcvoc;itiol~ ilnil ~tppcaicd thc dccirion. 

!'h;ii c:iic i\ siili pctliiii~l: scvicu. by i!lc Ci::nniaiid:int. "llic iir,<!ci\igrrcd :tgrws iliit~ ihc cwly itpp~~pria!~ .wncii<n~ !irr 

cir*;i iii.i%!i\c itnticr .4h ilS(' 77tM1 hj is ;i.voc:~iion: 3s cxplaiitird in :lie S-iisiinn zeciioi~ iij'lhit. <iccist<tr~. Tiic 
05/14/2001 13: 14 FAX @jOO6,'0l@ 

1 in this rnalter. U'hcn ihc C(~;rst Ciirarti irnd i.l;iriti~iie "i';;rnsj~oll;tiion Act, amended 46 ij.S.(:. 

7?04(b). it changed "shall he revoked" to "sIi;lll he suspentietl or I-evoketi." Allowing lhe Cossl 

(;unrd "tlic discrciio~i ro stispa~d n mariner's crcdcntials . . ." was intcntlcd rn "allow tlic use nf 

Si'tticincrit Agrccmenis to rcsolve cases involviny, minor drug coiivictiotis." IH.11. ('onl: Kcp. No 

i 08-6 17, ar 7S (2004). Howcucr, thc Acl did not a~~icnd 46 CfTR 5.50 which !lli~ndillcs 

re.~r!c;it~i),n ($tln~~l~hsis nddcd) ifa chargc al'C:onvic~icln lix a 13i1ngcrous Drug I.aw Vioiatioti is 

fi)vricl priwctl, Consequently. in ahsel~cc ofn settlanent agrccmcnt. if n (:onviction for. ;l 

i):~n~crot~fl~t'ug Law Viol:ttion is ii)untI proved, tiic juttjic tnust ortier rcvoccition. Since the 

rmiler.si~net1 found flint Kcsl)oriticnt violzitctl 40 I.J.S.C:. 7704(b). Collviction ihr a [):rngcrous 

Llrug Law Violation, revocation of Respondent's iiccnse is tlic only lcgally npproftri:ltc .;:,netion 

i11 this ~~iiitlcr-, 

8'1' IS HKKEBY ORDERED (hcit the Coiist Guard's Motion fbr Summary Decision is 

(.;RANTED; Rcspontlent's I.icenre, and all other valid liccnscs, docurncl~tz. and a~tior.scrncnls 

issiled by Lhc Cit:~st (3unrd to 'Tsaccy 1.cc 'l'ri~lian arc KEVOmD, 

.. , , , 

~in~i~l.~i!:i!i.ci is 31or bou~:d by il~ti!itli~~:tl hillding in 115C'Ci . . . , v. !+i,voie. L.r:lihr CornmonJ:inl Ucc;~. ,..liins, ,%i.J dccisiin~; 

:i:c no! ni!klis"id anlld cnnirot br rclicii upuri us ptccer!ci?i. Sci: -ih i:l:it 5,65. . Scc . :rlco . -. i l!.i;i'. ii?!:1)(2). 

' I'ub t. :Ofi-203. Titic IV. $ lO? (.&,u$ 0. ?004). 
1)ecisiiin serves ,is ilolicc io ihc licsportdcrlt of his right io appeal, the pmccdurrs for which t11.c 

\ct fortli in 33 Cf- I< 110 100 i tii~~ough 70. I007 and :ire locatcci below in 11rt:lchment A 

-. ,., ., , ,,,,. .,..,. -- 

~-ION. P,.IRLEN L:~IC:MENN.S 

ADMIU IS'FKATTVE LAW .J[!I)CE 

ti.$. <:OAST C;I;AKI) 

Ditxic drrtcd on this 14"' Jay of August. 2007 

A l aiieda. C:A 
A7TA<'Il hlt:NT A 

NOTICE OF ADMISISTRATIVE APPEAL RlClITS 

in) Aiiy Imny irtz~y appcal the i\LJ1s decision by filing :I notice ol:appe:iI. The party 

shall iilc the noticc with tl~e LI. S. Coast Guclril Admiaistr:~tivc I..;IW .lucigc ii)ockcring 

Ccriicr: Aucntion: 1-Iearins Docket Clerk; Room 41 2: 40 S. Gay Strccr: Baliimorc, 

MI) 2 1201-4027. 'I'he palTy shall lilc ihc notice 30 days 01. lcss nftcr iss~loitce of the 

clccisictn. and sli:~II sa-vc a copy ofit on tile other party and each ii~tercstcd pcrson. 

(17) No p:wty liiay appeal cxcept it11 Lllc Iblittwing issues: 

( i ) Witelher cacli finding of fiict is supported by suhstn~ltinl evidence. 

(2) Wltcthcr each conclut;iori of law ;~ccords wit11 app1ic;ihic law. prcccdcni, and 

~,uhlic pctlicy. 

(3) W71eilic~ the AI,J ahuscci his or licr discl-erion. 

I) I'hc A I ..Ins dcriial of n nintion fiv tiisqcialificatiiii~ 

(c) No inicrcstcd pcrson mrly appeal ;I su:ruiiary decision except (111 the issue that no 

Iie;l~.iiig W;IS hcltl or that ir~ i11c iss~~ancc ul'thc dccisic~n [he ALJ iliti not co~isida' 

cvidcnce tliat that pci.si)~i w~uld 11ovc p~.cse~~tcd. 

(d) 'I'fie appcr~l must kliow the prc>ccdur;ti rcquircmv~l~s: ui'tilis si~hp:~rI. 

33 CFR 20.1 002 Rccords nn appeal. 

(a) 'i'llc rceuril ul'ilic prvcccding constitutes thc record Tor decision on ;~gpcal 

(I>) lf'thc respo~iilm~t request': ;i copy of thc ictrtscripi of'thc hearing :IS pait of the reuinl 

(~Sj~r~~cccili~ig. illen, -- 

(I ) If the Ilearing was rccordcd at Fcdcnl ~X~CIISC, ti~~ ("~as(;uor(i will provide 

tire transcript on piiymcnt oi'thc Sics prcscrihcd in 49 C'FR 7.45: but, 

(7) ll'lhc ltcarin~ was recor(1ed by :i I'ederal contractor.. the ct>n~rnctor will 

1))-ovidc thc tr;~nscript nn tlic tcrnls prcscribc~i in 4'1 CFli 7.45. 

53 CFR 20.1003 I'roccdurc\ for iippcitl. 

(ti) Fiich ~lii'ty xppcolirig thi: ALJ's decision ur i-uiinp shall file ail appellate brief with ilie 

Cominanri:i~lt nr thc followi~~g adiircss: il.S. Coast (i~uarci .kdminisiiativc JAIW .ILIO~C 

1)ockcting. C'cnicr: Allention: flearing Duckct Clerk; Roo111 412: 40 S. G:iy Street: 

Baltimore. MD 2 120 (-4022, xnd sh;til serve :I cnpy ofthe brief on every o?lier party. 

f I ) Illc :qtl>eliatc ~I.~CI'IIIUSL set Sbrth the crppcl1:mt's spccitic ul~cctions to fhc 

ticcision or ruling. The hrief ivlust sct, forth. in detail. 1i.r~ -- 
(i) B :~~is fi)~- :he appcni: 

(ii) lieastms supporting ~lic ;lppcnI: anti 

(iii) liclicf requested in ihc rippeal. 

(2) Whet1 thc appcllanl relics on materiai cont:~inccI in tlrc rccorci, ~Irc :ippcil:ilc 

hricf must specifically refer It) :he pcrtincnt p3ris of'tl~~ rccorcl. 

(3) Tlli :~pl?c\i:tie briei'must reach ?lie I>ockcting Ceriier hO days cir lcss aficr 

scrvicc ot'll?c AIJ's decision, t!nless lilcd wilhin this tiow, or wilhin crnolhcr 

rime lxxiod ai~thorizctl in %(riling by tllc 1)ockeiing Ccntcr.. ii~c hricf wiil he 

~1nti111cIy. 

(b) Any party may lile a reply b~icf with thc 1)ockain~ Ccnicr' 35 days or less aiicr 

service of tllc ikppcllaic brict: Cacl~ such prlrty sl)aIi sc~vc :t copy on cvcry oti~cr pony. 

1Stlrc party lilii~g :lie rcpiy hricl'rclies on cvidcncc cont;iinc(:ci in tlrc record ibr ihc 

apl>wl. tlic~t brici'r~i~~sr spccilic:tlly rcfir ti, thc l>e~tinenr parts oi'lhc recortl. 

(c) No plrty I~I~IY file inoro il~nt? onc appellate hricl'or reply brici: unless -- 

( I ) Ihe party hris pclitioncti ~he ('orn~~~aridnnt in writing; :trtd 

(2) ?'he C"omtn;~riclilnt iras s~i$n~cd 1c:ivc to file a11 nddcd brief, in lvirich cvcnt !he 

Comtr~:~ntlai~t willallow ;I re;~sonahl~. tirr~c for i11c party to file t1~1l hncl: 

(cl) 'She i:omm:\ntlar~t 111:iy ncccilr an a~,ticri.t. cur-icic brief froill 311y ~?CI.SOII in an i1ppc3I 01' 

tin .4LJ's Jccisic~ii. 

(a) 'I'ile c'o~nln:inda~it shall r,c\,icw ihc record on ;\ppcaI in dctenninc \vl.lcthcr :he ALJ 

co~n~~iiliccl cr1,o;. it1 ihc proccctlings. nncl wl~cthcr the Comrnailtlanl slrould al'lirm. 

modify. in. rc\ct.se ?he ALJ's decision or slrtiuld relnatid the c:~se ii)r Si~flhcr 

pr~~ccctlings. 

(11) 'She Comm:mdant shall issue a dccision on cvcq nly>eal in writing anti shi~ll save 

3 copy DI)YO~IIC decisioti 011 each parry and i~~tercsrcd person.