Source: http://md.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20150325_0000499.DMD.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2017-04-24 17:08:29
Document Index: 326577509

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 841', '§ 924', '§ 922', '§ 2255', '§ 2255', '§ 2255', '§ 2255', '§ 2255', '§ 2255', '§ 2255']

LARRY JOHNSON, Petitionerv.UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Respondent Related Crim. RDB-07-153
On September 7, 2007, a jury found Petitioner Larry Johnson guilty on all three counts of his indictment. ECF No. 57. These three counts included: (1) possession with intent to distribute cocaine and heroine in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1); (2) possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c); and (3) possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). On November 29, 2007, this Court sentenced Petitioner to a total term of 360 months, as well as three years of supervised release and an assessment of $300. ECF No. 60.
On October 6, 2011, Larry Johnson filed a Motion to Vacate pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255 (ECF No. 90) alleging, as amended (ECF No. 100), (1) that this Court’s conclusions were unsupported by fact; (2) that the federal prosecution was a sham prosecution; (3) that this case warranted a retroactive application of Arizona v. Gant, 556 U.S. 332 (2009); (4) that Petitioner’s counsel rendered ineffective assistance; and (5) that the Government’s actions regarding some of the evidence violated Petitioner’s rights under Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83 (1963). On August 2, 2013, the Court denied the Motion. ECF 115 & 116.
On July 31, 2014, Petitioner filed a “Motion for Relief Pursuant to Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 60(b)(3)(4) and (6). ECF 127. He thereafter filed a Memorandum in Support of the Motion. ECF 130. Petitioner alleges that in dismissing his § 2255 petition the Court failed to properly distinguish his “fraud allegation (Ineffective Assistance of counsel for failing to investigate ta the pre-trial stage regarding ‘Project Exile’s’ involvement with the state and federal plea offers.” ECF 127, p. 4. Petitioner notes that the Court in fact addressed this claim, but argues that the Court failed to do so adequately and “committed fraud” in finding no prejudice in trial counsel not seeking additional discovery. Id., p. 8-9. Petitioner also advances arguments countering the Court’s findings regarding the constitutionality of the Project Exile program and generally restates his claims regarding ineffective assistance of counsel in that regard. Id., p. 11-16.
Next, Petitioner alleges it was “fraud” for the Court to begin his sentence on April 30, 2007, noting that he had been in custody since his arrest on September 14, 2006. Id., p. 16-17. Petitioner notes that the Court properly advised the parties that prior custody credit for time Petitioner served in state custody prior to being “brought over” for the federal charge was a matter left to the discretion of the Bureau of Prisons.[1] Id., p. 17.
Petitioner further argues that he is entitled to relief under Rule 60(b)(3) in that the U.S. Attorney and State’s Attorneys Offices “deliberately committed misconduct by not disclosing required release Project Exile criteria...” Id., p. 22. Here, Petitioner reiterates his claim that he was not advised during his state court proceedings that if he rejected the state plea offer his case would be taken to federal court. Id., p. 25.
Petitioner next alleges that the court lacked subject matter jurisdiction to hear his case because the case was transferred from the state to federal court due to his rejection of the state plea offer. Id., p. 29. He reiterates his claim raised at pretrial, trial, and in his § 2255 Motion that failure to advise him that he would be tried federally if he rejected the state plea offer violated his due process rights. He alleges the failure to disclose the impending federal indictment violated his rights under Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83 (1963) and maintains that failure to disclose this information to him deprived the court of subject matter jurisdiction. Id., p. 33. Lastly, Petitioner argues that he is entitled to relief under 60(b)6) as his case is of extraordinary circumstances demanding relief. Id. p. 34.
In dismissing Petitioner’s Motion to Vacate, the Court addressed Petitioner’s claims that his federal prosecution was improper due to his state charges being nolle prosed and his being federally indicted through the Project Exile program, as well as his claims that he was denied effective assistance of counsel in challenging the “transfer” of jurisdiction and the Project Exile program. ECF 115, p. 7 (denying Petitioner’s “Sham Prosecution Claim”), p. 11 denying Petitioner’s ineffective assistance of counsel claims regarding failure to file a motion for discovery and inspection and failure to file a motion to dismiss the indictment based on a constitutional challenge to the Project Exile program.)
Although Defendant may have chosen to characterize the instant Motion as brought pursuant to Fed R. Civ P. 60(b), this Motion is, in essence, an attempt to collaterally attack his criminal conviction and sentence, and it will be construed for this reason as a 28 U.S.C. § 2255 Motion to Vacate Sentence. Regardless of the label used in the Motion, it is the subject matter, not its title, which determines its status. See e.g., Calderon v. Thompson, 523 U.S. 538, 554 (1998); Buchanan v. Gilmore, 139 F.3d 982, 983-84 (4th Cir. 1998).
In United States v. Weinstock, 340 F.3d 200, 206-07 (4th Cir 2003), the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit distinguished between a Rule 60(b) motion and a 28 U.S.C. § 2255 motion to vacate, set aside or correct sentence. The Fourth Circuit explained that Aa motion directly attacking the prisoner's conviction or sentence will usually amount to a successive application, while a motion seeking a remedy for some defect in the collateral review process will generally be deemed a proper motion to reconsider." Id. at 207. Where, as here, a prisoner attacks his conviction, not the underlying collateral review process, the motion is more properly construed as a ' 2255 motion to correct sentence. As such, this Motion represents Defendant's second or successive Motion for collateral relief under 28 U.S.C.§ 2255. A second or successive § 2255 petition may not be filed absent authorization to do so from the Court of Appeals.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit has set forth instructions for the filing of a motion to obtain the aforementioned authorization Order. The procedural requirements and deadlines for filing the motion are extensive. Consequently, this Court has attached hereto a packet of instructions promulgated by the Fourth Circuit which addresses the comprehensive procedure to be followed should Petitioner wish to seek authorization to file a successive petition with the appellate court. It is to be emphasized that Petitioner must file the ...