Source: http://nc.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20150401_0000327.ENC.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2018-06-24 07:32:05
Document Index: 427646692

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 2255', '§ 2255', '§ 1951', '§ 924', '§ 2255', '§ 2255', '§ 2255', '§ 283', '§ 283', '§ 283', '§ 924']

This matter is before the court on the government's motion to dismiss [D. E. # 54] petitioner's motion to vacate pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255 [D.E. 47]. Following a referral order, United States Magistrate Judge Kimberly A. Swank reviewed the case and filed a Memorandum and Recommendation (hereinafter "M&R") on November 12, 2013. [D.E. # 60]. On December 2, 2013, petitioner filed objections to the M&R [D.E. # 61] and a motion for leave to file an amended 28 U.S.C. § 2255 petition, attaching the proposed amended petition [D.E. # 62]. This matter is ripe for adjudication.
On January 4, 2012, petitioner pled guilty, pursuant to a written plea agreement, to four counts of interference with commerce by robbery in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1951 and one count of using and carrying a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924 (c) (1) (A). [D.E. ## 32, 34].On May 9, 2012, the court sentenced petitioner to a term of imprisonment of 228 months. Petitioner did not appeal his sentence. On November 19, 2012, petitioner filed a motion to vacate his sentence pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255. [D.E. # 47].
The government filed a motion to dismiss petitioner's motion to vacate. [D. E. # 54]. Petitioner responded [D. E. # 57], and the government replied [D.E. # 58]. This case was referred to United States Magistrate Judge Kimberly A. Swank for entry of an M&R. Magistrate Judge Swank filed an M&R on November 12, 2013. [D. E. # 60]. On December 2, 2013, Petitioner filed belated objections to the M&R [D.E. # 61] and a motion for leave to file an amended petition pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255 [D.E. # 62]. Petitioner's proposed amended petition was attached to his motion to amend. [D.E. # 62-1].
Petitioner asserts two claims in his original motion to vacate pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255. First, he claims his trial counsel was ineffective insofar as he failed to file a notice of appeal pursuant to petitioner's instruction. Second, petitioner claims the court erred in calculating his sentencing level for the purpose of establishing his sentencing guideline range. Petitioner asserts a third claim in his response to the government's motion to dismiss alleging his trial counsel was further ineffective insofar as he failed to object to the advisory guideline range established by the court. Petitioner admits he "does not present new information or arguments..." in his proposed amended petition [D. E. # 62 at 3]; however, the court has reviewed both his motion to amend and the attached proposed amended petition before making its decision.
In reviewing ineffective assistance of counsel claims, the court must make "every effort... to eliminate the distorting effects of hindsight, " Id. at 689, and to evaluate an attorney's performance "from counsel's perspective at the time of the alleged error and in light of all the circumstances, " United States v. Roane, 378 F.3d 382, 410 (4th Cir. 2004) (citing Kimmelman v. Morrison, 477 U.S. 365, 381 (1986)). "Because of the difficulties inherent in making the evaluation, a court must indulge a strong presumption that counsel's conduct falls within the wide range of reasonable professional assistance..." Strickland, 466 U.S. at 689.
a. Counsel's Alleged Failure to File Appeal
Petitioner first claims trial counsel was ineffective insofar as he failed to file notice of appeal as petitioner instructed. Although a criminal defense attorney's failure to file a notice of appeal after receiving instruction to do so by his client "deprives the defendant of his Sixth Amendment right to assistance of counsel..., " United States v. Peak, 992 F.2d 39, 42 (4th Cir. 1993), petitioner admits he signed a written statement advising his attorney that he did not want to appeal his sentence after initially requesting counsel to file a notice of appeal. Petitioner does not claim he later reconsidered his decision and requested counsel to file a notice of appeal after informing counsel he did not want to seek appeal in his written statement. Therefore the court agrees with the M&R that petitioner has not demonstrated his attorney failed to file a notice of appeal in contravention of petitioner's instructions and in violation of his Sixth Amendment right.
b. Counsel's Alleged Failure to Object to Sentencing Enhancements
Secondly, petitioner claims trial counsel was ineffective insofar as he failed to object to the court's calculation of his sentencing factors and establishment of his advisory guideline range. [D. E. # 62-1 at 10]. At petitioner's sentencing hearing, the court applied a 7-level enhancement pursuant to USSG § 283. 1 (b) (2) (A) to counts five and seven because it found that petitioner had discharged a firearm in connection to those offenses. The court applied a six-level enhancement pursuant to USSG § 283.1 (b) (2) (B) to count three because it found that petitioner otherwise used a firearm in connection to that offense. Lastly, the court refused to apply a 7-level enhancement pursuant to USSG § 283. 1 (b) (2) (A) to count one because petitioner was separately charged in count two under 18 U.S.C. § 924(c) in ...