Source: http://nc.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20190923_0003232.WNC.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2020-08-10 08:51:51
Document Index: 362906787

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 2255', '§ 1951', '§ 924', '§ 922', '§ 1951', '§ 924', '§ 924', '§ 2255', '§ 924', '§ 2255', '§ 2255', '§ 2255', '§ 2255']

FindACase™ | Seigle v. United States
Seigle v. United States
ROBERT HIKEEN SEIGLE, Petitioner,
THIS MATTER is before the Court on the Petitioner’s Motion to Vacate Sentence under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 [CV Doc. 1][1] and the Government’s Motion to Dismiss Petitioner’s Motion to Vacate [CV Doc. 7]. The Petitioner is represented by Ann Hester of the Federal Defenders of Western North Carolina.
On February 15, 2011, Petitioner Robert Hikeen Seigle (“Petitioner”) was charged in a Bill of Indictment with two counts of Hobbs Act robbery, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1951 (Counts One and Three); two counts of possessing and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a “crime of violence, ” that is Hobbs Act robbery, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A) (Counts Two and Four); and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) (Count Five). [CR Doc. 1: Indictment]. On October 24, 2011, Petitioner and the Government entered into a Plea Agreement, pursuant to which Petitioner agreed to plead guilty to Counts Three and Four, and the Government agreed to dismiss Counts One, Two, and Five. [CR Doc. 14 at 1: Plea Agreement]. The Petitioner faced a maximum term of twenty 20 years’ imprisonment for Count Three, see 18 U.S.C. §§ 1951, and a mandatory consecutive sentence of not less than 7 years to life for Count Four, see 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A).
On October 25, 2011, Petitioner pleaded guilty to Counts Three and Four. [CR Doc. 15: Acceptance and Entry of Guilty Plea]. In preparation for sentencing, a probation officer prepared a Presentence Report (PSR). In the PSR, the probation officer noted the mandatory 7 years to life consecutive sentence for Petitioner’s § 924(c) conviction. [CR Doc. 21 at ¶ 71]. The probation officer found the Total Offense Level (TOL) for Count Three to be 19 and the Criminal History Category to be IV. This yielded a Guidelines Range calling for a term of imprisonment for Count Three between 46 and 57 months, followed by a mandatory consecutive sentence of not less than 7 years for Count Four. [Id. at 6, 9, 14].
The Petitioner’s sentencing hearing was held on August 26, 2013. At the hearing, the Court adopted the PSR and sentenced Petitioner to a term of imprisonment of 52 months on Count Three and 84 months on Count Four, to be served consecutively to the term imposed on Count Three, for a total term of 136 months’ imprisonment. [CR Doc. 26 at 2: Judgment]. Judgment on this conviction was entered on September 17, 2013. [Id.]. Petitioner did not file a direct appeal from this Judgment.
On May 13, 2016, Petitioner filed motion to vacate sentence under 28 U.S.C. § 2255, arguing that his conviction under 18 U.S.C. § 924(c) is invalid under Johnson v. United States, 135 S.Ct. 2551 (2015). [CV Doc. 1]. After conducting an initial review of Petitioner’s § 2255 motion to vacate, the Court ordered the Government to respond. [CV Doc. 2].
Then, upon the request of the Government, this matter was stayed pending the Fourth Circuit’s decision in United States v. Ali, No. 15-4433, or United States v. Simms, No. 15-4640. The Fourth Circuit then ordered that Ali would be held in abeyance pending the Supreme Court’s decision in United States v. Davis, No. 18-431. On the Government’s request, this matter was in turn stayed pending Davis. The Court ordered that the Government would have 60 days to respond to Petitioner’s motion once the Supreme Court issued its ruling in Davis. [Doc. 6]. The Supreme Court decided Davis on June 24, 2019. The Government timely filed a motion to dismiss Petitioner’s § 2255 motion to vacate. [CV Doc. 7]. The Petitioner, despite being represented by counsel, did not respond.
Under 28 U.S.C. § 2255, a petitioner is entitled to relief when his original sentence “was imposed in violation of the Constitution or laws of the United States, or [when] the court was without jurisdiction to impose such sentence.” 28 U.S.C. § 2255(a). The Petitioner claims argues he is entitled to relief on these grounds because, under Johnson, his conviction on Count Four was imposed in violation of the Constitution and laws of the United States. [CV Doc. 1 at 2].
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In Johnson, the Supreme Court struck down the Armed Career Criminal Act&rsquo;s (ACCA) residual clause, 18 U.S.C. &sect; 924(e)(2)(B)(ii), as unconstitutionally vague and held that enhancing a sentence under the ACCA&rsquo;s residual clause violates due process. Johnson, 135 S.Ct. at 2563. The ACCA residual clause defined a &ldquo;violent felony&rdquo; to include any crime punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year that &ldquo;otherwise involves conduct that presents a serious potential risk of physical injury to another.&rdquo; 18 U.S.C. &sect; 924(e)(2)(B). Accordingly, under Johnson, a defendant who was sentenced to a statutory mandatory minimum term of imprisonment based on a prior conviction that satisfies only the residual clause of the “violent felony” ...