Source: https://www.leagle.com/decision/infdco20170810776
Timestamp: 2017-08-22 09:20:02
Document Index: 341410399

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 922', '§ 2', '§ 922', '§ 5845', '§ 4', '§ 924', '§ 2255', '§ 2255', '§ 5845']

HEMINGWAY v. U.S. | Crim. No. 4:13-cr-00448-RBH... | Leagle.com
HEMINGWAY v. U.S.
Crim. No. 4:13-cr-00448-RBH-1, Civil Action No. 4:16-cv-01956-RBH.
William Edward Hemingway, Petitioner, v. United States of America, Respondent.
On May 30, 2017, the government filed a response and motion for summary judgment arguing Petitioner's Johnson claim of misapplication of the Sentencing Guidelines is not cognizable on collateral review. The government also argues that Petitioner's claim is procedurally defaulted and that Hobbs Act Robbery remains a crime of violence following Johnson. On July 1, 2016, Petitioner, through counsel, filed a response to the government's motion for summary judgment. For the reasons stated below, the Court grants the government's motion for summary judgment, dismisses Petitioner's motion to vacate, and dismisses this case with prejudice.1
On August 26, 2013, Petitioner pled guilty to felon in possession of a firearm in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). The presentence investigation report ("PSR") prepared by the U.S. Probation Office determined that Petitioner's total offense level of 23 and criminal history category of IV produced an advisory guideline range of 70 to 87 months in prison.
Petitioner contends that his base offense level of 22 was incorrectly determined because his prior conviction for Hobbs Act Robbery is no longer a crime of violence following Johnson. United States Sentencing Guideline § 2K2.1(a)(3) calls for a base offense level of 22 for a conviction under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) if the offense involved a firearm described in 26 U.S.C. § 5845(a)2 and "the defendant committed any part of the instant offense subsequent to sustaining one felony conviction of either a crime of violence or a controlled substance offense." Petitioner contends that Hobbs Act Robbery is no longer a crime of violence after Johnson. However, Petitioner's claim of misapplication of the Sentencing Guidelines is not cognizable on collateral review and Johnson is not applicable to the Sentencing Guidelines.
Also, as the Supreme Court held in Beckles v. United States, 137 S.Ct. 886 (2017), the Sentencing Guidelines are not subject to a vagueness challenge under the Due Process Clause and the residual clause found in former § 4B1.2(a)(2) of the Sentencing Guidelines is not void-forvagueness. Beckles, 137 S. Ct. at 895 Accordingly, Petitioner's reliance on Johnson, which dealt with the Armed Career Criminal Act ("ACCA"), 18 U.S.C. § 924(e), is misplaced and his challenge to his sentencing enhancement under the United States Sentencing Guidelines fails.
The Court also finds that Petitioner's claim is procedurally defaulted as Petitioner has failed to demonstrate cause and prejudice for his failure to raise the issue in the district court or on direct appeal.
For the foregoing reasons, Petitioner's motion to vacate under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 is due to be dismissed.
For the reasons stated above, the government's [ECF No. 53] motion for summary judgment is GRANTED and Petitioner's [ECF No. 49] motion to vacate pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255 is DISMISSED with prejudice.
2. Title 26 U.S.C. § 5845 defines firearm as "(1) a shotgun having a barrel or barrels of less than 18 inches in length; (2) a weapon made from a shotgun if such weapon as modified has an overall length of less than 26 inches or a barrel or barrels of less than 18 inches in length; (3) a rifle having a barrel or barrels of less than 16 inches in length; (4) a weapon made from a rifle if such weapon as modified has an overall length of less than 26 inches or a barrel or barrels of less than 16 inches in length; (5) any other weapon, as defined in subsection (e); (6) a machinegun; (7) any silencer (as defined in section 921 of Title 18, United States Code); and (8) a destructive device." According to the PSR, the firearm involved in the instant case was a sawed-off shotgun.