Source: http://openjurist.org/106/f3d/1170
Timestamp: 2015-03-30 02:33:39
Document Index: 111454637

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 924', '§ 2255', '§ 841', '§ 924', '§ 924', '§ 924', '§ 924', '§ 924', '§ 2', '§ 924', '§ 2', '§ 924']

106 F3d 1170 United States v. T Hillary | OpenJurist
106 F. 3d 1170 - United States v. T Hillary	Home106 f3d 1170 united states v. t hillary
106 F3d 1170 United States v. T Hillary 106 F.3d 1170
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellant,v.Mister T. HILLARY, Defendant-Appellee.
No. 96-7463.
Argued Jan. 30, 1997.Decided Feb. 14, 1997.
ARGUED: Brent Jefferson Gurney, Assistant United States Attorney, Greenbelt, Maryland, for Appellant. Denise Charlotte Barrett, Assistant Federal Public Defender, Baltimore, Maryland, for Appellee. ON BRIEF: Lynne A. Battaglia, United States Attorney, Greenbelt, Maryland, for Appellant. James K. Bredar, Federal Public Defender, Baltimore, Maryland, for Appellee.
Vacated and remanded by published opinion. Judge HALL wrote the opinion, in which Judge ERVIN and Senior Judge BUTZNER joined.
The United States appeals an order of the district court denying its request that the defendant be resentenced on a surviving drug conviction after being granted relief from his 18 U.S.C. § 924(c) firearms "use" conviction in light of Bailey v. United States, --- U.S. ----, 116 S.Ct. 501, 133 L.Ed.2d 472 (1995). The district court held that it lacked jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 to resentence. We disagree; hence, we vacate the judgment and remand for resentencing.
Mister T. Hillary was a crack cocaine dealer. He was arrested at his apartment; in addition to drugs and cash, the police found five handguns and seven boxes of ammunition. Hillary was charged with possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), and using or carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking offense, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c). After a jury trial in August 1991, he was convicted of both counts. He was later sentenced to 78 months on the drug count and five years consecutive for the § 924(c) conviction. Hillary appealed his convictions to this court; we affirmed them in an unpublished per curiam opinion. United States v. Hillary, No. 91-5699, 1992 WL 192677 (4th Cir. August 13, 1992).
Three years later, the Supreme Court held that this circuit, along with most others, had defined "use" of a firearm under § 924(c) too broadly. Bailey v. United States, --- U.S.----, ----, 116 S.Ct. 501, 506, 133 L.Ed.2d 472 (1995) (to prove "use," government must show that weapon was "actively employed").
Just a few months after Bailey was announced, counsel for Hillary called the Assistant United States Attorney to request consent that Hillary's § 924(c) conviction be vacated. The government contended--and still contends--that there was sufficient evidence to support a § 924(c) conviction under the "carry" prong, but conceded that the jury instructions were erroneous and that it was impossible to know beyond a reasonable doubt whether the jury reached a constitutional verdict. Hence, the government was prepared to consent to vacating the conviction. On the other hand, the government requested that defense counsel consent to resentencing on the drug count, which would give the government the opportunity to argue that Hillary's sentence should be enhanced by two levels under U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1(b)(1) for his possession of a firearm. The propriety of such an enhancement had not been adjudicated at the original sentencing, because the enhancement does not apply to possession of a weapon for which the defendant has been convicted under § 924(c). U.S.S.G. § 2K2.4 comment. (n.2 & backg'd). Defense counsel refused.
On May 2, 1996, defense counsel wrote to the district court describing the parties' positions. On May 9, under the mistaken impression that the government had no objection, the district court vacated Hillary's § 924(c) conviction. The government then moved to reconsider. The district court acknowledged its mistake, granted reconsideration, and vacated its earlier order. Further, the court suggested that Hillary file a 28 U.S.C. §