Source: http://ca.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20110927_0001575.SCA.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2017-05-25 14:35:40
Document Index: 753847780

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 2255', '§ 2255', '§ 952', '§ 2255', '§ 3553', '§ 3553', '§ 2255']

| Carlos Esteban CastaŇEda-Ramirez v. USA
Carlos Esteban CastaŇEda-Ramirez v. USA
CARLOS ESTEBAN CASTAŇEDA-RAMIREZ,PLAINTIFF,v.USA, DEFENDANTS.
ORDER DENYING PETITIONER'S MOTION TO VACATE UNDER 28 U.S.C. § 2255 [Doc. No. 32]
Carlos Esteban Castaňeda-Ramirez ("Petitioner") moves this Court to reduce his time in federal custody pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255, arguing that the 1995 United States Attorney General Memorandum offers up to two level downward departure from the applicable guideline sentencing range in return for an alien's concession of deportability and agreement to accept a final order of deportation. For the following reasons, the Court DENIES the motion.
On May 2, 2011, pursuant to a written plea agreement, Petitioner pled guilty to a single-count Information charging a violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 952 and 960, a felony. See Plea Agreement, Doc. No. 11. This Court sentenced Petitioner on September 15, 2011, to twenty-seven (27) months imprisonment, five (5) years of supervised release, and a $100 assessment - waived. See Judgment, Doc. No. 30.
A defendant may waive his right to file a § 2255 motion to challenge his sentence, but such a waiver must so expressly. United States v. Nunez, 223 F.3d 956, 959 (9th Cir. 2000). However, a defendant may not waive an ineffective assistance of counsel claim challenging the knowing and voluntary nature of the plea agreement or the voluntariness of the waiver itself. United States v. Rahman, 642 F.3d 1257, 1259 (9th Cir. 2011); United States v. Jeronimo, 398 F.3d 1149, 1156 n. 4 (9th Cir. 2005). Petitioner's plea agreement states in part:
In exchange for the Government's concessions in this plea agreement, defendant waives, to the full extent of the law, any right to appeal or to collaterally attack the guilty plea, conviction and sentence, including any restitution order, unless the Court imposes a custodial sentence above the greater of the high end of the guideline range recommended by the Government pursuant to this agreement at the time of sentencing or statutory mandatory minimum term, if applicable. ( 3:11-cr-01548-AJB, Doc. No. 11 at 10.) The Ninth Circuit approves of such waivers on public policy grounds, reasoning that finality is "perhaps the most important benefit of plea bargaining." United States v. Navarro-Botello, 912 F.2d 318, 322 (9th Cir. 1990). Courts will generally enforce a defendant's waiver of his right to appeal if: (1) "the language of the waiver encompasses the defendant's right to appeal on the grounds claimed on appeal," and (2) "the waiver is knowingly and voluntarily made." United States v. Martinez, 143 F.3d 1266, 1270-71 (9th Cir. 1998). The Court concludes that both of these requirements are met in this case. Accordingly, Petitioner's motion is barred and must be dismissed because of his plea agreement waiver.
Even if Petitioner had not waived his right to attack his conviction and sentence, Petitioner's motion would fail on the merits. Petitioner's argument that the Court could depart downward because he is a deportable alien is precluded by statute and current Ninth Circuit case law. By statute, the Court may depart downward only if there are "aggravating or mitigating circumstances . . . not adequately taken into consideration by the Sentencing Commission," 18 U.S.C. § 3553(b), and by law the Court can depart outside the Advisory Guideline System for reasons set forth in the factors of and policy reasons behind the Federal Sentencing Statute, 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a). All relevant factors were taken in to consideration at the time of Mr Castenada's sentence including placement and other options regarding his custodial sentence.. Specifically, the Ninth Circuit has held that the threat of deportation is not a factor that the district court may consider for sentencing purposes. United States v. Alvarez-Cardenas, 902 F.2d 734, 737 (9th Cir. 1990).
Based on the foregoing reasons, the Court DENIES Petitioner's Motion to Vacate Under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 [Doc. No. 31].