Source: http://nc.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20170517_0001412.WNC.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2018-01-21 02:46:50
Document Index: 282707804

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 841', '§ 924', '§ 924', '§ 924', '§ 2255', '§ 2255', '§ 2255', '§ 2255', '§ 2255', '§ 2255', '§ 2255', '§ 2255', '§ 2244', '§ 2255', '§ 2255', '§ 2255']

DANIEL LEE FOSTER, Defendant.
BEFORE THE COURT is Defendant's Pro Se Motion to Vacate Enhanced Sentence (Doc. 447). In 2014, Defendant pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute, possess with the intent to distribute, and manufacture methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(b)(1)(A), 846 (Count 1), and to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c) (Count 7). (Doc. 372 at 1). In March 2015, this Court imposed a 180-month sentence, consisting of a 120-month sentence on Count 1 and a consecutive, sixty-month sentence on Count 7. Id. at 2. Defendant did not appeal his conviction and sentence.
In the instant Motion (Doc. 447), Defendant refers to the United States Supreme Court's decision in Johnson v. United States, which held that the residual clause in the definition of “violent felony” in the Armed Career Criminal Act of 1984, 18 U.S.C. § 924(e)(2)(B) was unconstitutionally void-for-vagueness. Johnson v. United States, 135 S.Ct. 2551, 2563 (2015). Defendant claims that the holding in Johnson entitles him to a reduction in sentence, as he alleges his sentence enhancement or conviction under 18 U.S.C. § 924(c) is no longer constitutional. (Doc. 447 at 1-2).
A person in custody may move the Court to vacate a sentence imposed in violation of the Constitution or laws of the United States under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 (2012). A document filed pro se is to be “liberally construed, ” and cannot be held to the same standards as a document filed by an attorney. Erickson v. Pardus, 551 U.S. 89, 94 (2007) (quoting Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 106 (1976)). While Defendant's Motion makes no mention of 28 U.S.C. § 2255, it appears to be a motion to vacate, set aside, or correct the sentence imposed by this Court in March 2015. Where a defendant seeks relief that would be proper under § 2255 but does not specifically file his motion pursuant to § 2255, a court is required to allow the defendant the opportunity to express his intent in regard to his motion-that is, whether he intended to file under § 2255. Castro v. United States, 540 U.S. 375, 383 (2003); United States v. Blackstock, 513 F.3d 128 (4th Cir. 2008). In making this determination, Defendant should be aware that the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act (AEDPA) provides that motions under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 are subject to a one-year limitation period.[1] Defendant should be further aware that second or successive motions under § 2255 are generally prohibited and must be authorized by the appropriate court of appeals. See 28 U.S.C. § 2255(h) (2012) (requiring “second or successive motion[s]” to be based on (1) newly discovered evidence that would, by clear and convincing evidence, render the defendant's guilty verdict unreasonable or (2) a new rule or constitutional law rendered retroactive by collateral review of the Supreme Court); see also 28 U.S.C. § 2244 (discussing authorization requirement for second or successive § 2255 motion). Accordingly, this Court requires of Defendant a response stating whether Defendant intends his Pro Se Motion to Vacate Enhanced Sentence (Doc. 447) to constitute a motion to vacate, set aside, or correct his sentence under 28 U.S.C. § 2255, subject to any limitations thereto.
IT IS, THEREFORE, ORDERED THAT Defendant shall up to and including June 7, 2017 to file a document stating whether or not he wants this Court to proceed with his Motion (Doc. 447) by construing the Motion as a motion to vacate under § 2255. If Defendant fails to timely respond to this Order, the Court will dismiss Defendant's Motion (Doc. 447) without prejudice.
[1] Specifically, AEDPA provides: