Source: http://sc.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20170823_0001912.DSC.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2017-09-21 14:14:29
Document Index: 294834296

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 2255', '§ 924', '§ 2255', '§ 2244', '§ 2255', '§ 2255', '§ 2255', '§ 2255', '§ 2255']

Reginald Devon Graham, PETITIONER
United States of America, RESPONDENT C/A No. 4:16-cv-01716-TLW
This matter comes before the Court for consideration of the pro se petition to vacate, set aside, or correct a sentence pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255 filed by Petitioner Reginald Devon Graham. For the reasons stated below, the Court grants the petition.
Petitioner was convicted at trial of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, and the Court sentenced him to 204 months (17 years) incarceration on May 9, 2005. ECF No. 35. He was sentenced as an armed career criminal under the Armed Career Criminal Act (ACCA), which imposes a mandatory minimum fifteen-year sentence on a felon who possesses a firearm and who has three or more prior convictions for committing certain drug crimes or “violent felon[ies].” 18 U.S.C. § 924(e)(1).[1] His ACCA predicates were convictions for (1) South Carolina Burglary 3rd (January 21, 1997 (offense date November 22, 1995)); (2) South Carolina Burglary 3rd (January 21, 1997 (offense date November 4, 1995)); and (3) North Carolina Breaking and Entering (December 13, 2002). See Revised PSR ¶¶ 35, 36, 38. He filed a direct appeal, but the Fourth Circuit summarily affirmed his conviction and sentence. United States v. Graham, No. 05-4580 (4th Cir.), ECF No. 64. He filed a petition for a writ of certiorari, which the Supreme Court denied. Graham v. United States, 549 U.S. 984 (2006).
On October 3, 2007, Petitioner filed a pro se petition under 28 U.S.C. § 2255, which this Court dismissed on the merits after briefing. ECF Nos. 50, 65. He did not file a direct appeal.
On or about May 10, 2016, as required by 28 U.S.C. § 2244, Petitioner filed a pro se motion in the Fourth Circuit requesting authorization to file a successive § 2255 petition to seek resentencing in light of Johnson v. United States, 135 S.Ct. 2551 (2015). In re Graham, No. 16-660 (4th Cir.), ECF No. 2. On May 27, 2016, the Fourth Circuit granted his motion, authorizing him to file a successive § 2255 petition. Id., ECF No. 6-2. His § 2255 petition was docketed in this Court that day. ECF No. 78.
In Petitioner's pro se § 2255 petition, he seeks to be resentenced without the ACCA enhancement in light of Johnson. Id. The Government initially filed a response in support, stating that he is no longer an armed career criminal and is entitled to be resentenced. ECF No. 82. The Court then directed the U.S. Probation Office to prepare a revised PSR, which it did. ECF Nos. 84, 85. The Court then directed the parties to brief the question of the retroactivity of Mathis v. United States, 136 S.Ct. 2243 (2016) and to address the impact of 28 U.S.C. § 2255(h)(2) on this successive petition.[2] ECF No. 87.
The Government then changed its position, filing a response in opposition based on its assertion that Petitioner is not entitled to relief because the Court cannot consider this successive petition. ECF No. 92. After the parties filed their briefs, but prior to the Court holding a hearing on the matter, the Fourth Circuit issued its opinion in United States v. Winston, 850 F.3d 677 (4th Cir. 2017), which resulted in another round of briefing, ECF Nos. 94, 97, 98. With briefing finally complete, the Court held a hearing on the matter and took it under advisement.