Source: http://pa.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20070516_0000595.MPA.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2017-11-22 17:01:12
Document Index: 331666924

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 2255', '§ 846', '§ 846', '§ 841', '§ 2255', '§ 2255', '§ 2255']

LASHAWN BROWN, MOVANT,
Before the court is Lashawn Brown's (hereinafter "Movant") motion under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 to vacate, set aside or correct sentence. For the reasons that follow, we will deny the motion.
Movant is a prisoner at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn, New York. The FBI arrested Movant on July 29, 2004, on a criminal complaint alleging conspiracy to distribute in excess of fifty grams of cocaine base, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846. Movant appeared before Magistrate Judge Thomas M. Blewitt on July 30, 2004, and was temporarily detained. (See Order of Temporary Detention, Doc. 7). Counsel, Michael Kostelaba, was appointed to represent Movant. (See CJA Appointment, Doc. 12). On August 2, 2004, Movant was granted conditional release pending trial. (Doc.16). On August 17, 2004, a federal grand jury indicted Movant on two counts, conspiracy to distribute in excess of fifty grams of cocaine base, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846, and possession with intent to distribute cocaine base, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1).
On November 29, 2004, Movant entered a guilty plea to Count 1 of the indictment, conspiracy to distribute cocaine base. (See Plea Agreement, Doc. 51, ¶ 1). In the plea agreement, Movant acknowledged that due to the amount of cocaine involved, the maximum sentence Movant faced under Count 1 of the indictment was forty (40) years imprisonment, a $2,000,000.00 fine, and lifetime supervised release. Id. He further acknowledged that the offense carried a mandatory minimum sentence of five (5) years of incarceration. Id. at ¶ 3. Movant agreed to provide the government "substantial assistance" in exchange for a recommendation that the court depart from the applicable guideline range and mandatory minimum sentence.
The United States Probation Office prepared a pretrial services report and filed same with this court on August 19, 2004. The report indicated that Movant had been convicted of disorderly conduct in Brooklyn, New York. The report indicated that the conviction arose from a June 13, 2003, arrest. The Probation Office subsequently filed a presentence investigation report on March 21, 2005. That report noted that the arrest date for the disorderly conduct was June 2, 2002.*fn1 In actuality, the arrest date for the disorderly conduct charge was June 27, 2003. (See Exhibit to defendant's reply brief, Doc. 81).
Pursuant to the terms of the plea agreement, the government filed a motion for downward departure from the sentencing guidelines. On September 1, 2005, the court granted the government's motion and sentenced Movant to thirty-six (36) months in prison, a four-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Movant did not file a direct appeal.
Movant filed the instant motion under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 to vacate, set aside or correct sentence on January 29, 2007. The sole ground for appeal provided by Movant is as follows: "May the District Court Correct the defendant's sentence based upon circumstances that were not clear at the time of sentencing?" (Doc. 77, p. 5). Movant alleges that the "past criminal history report," relied upon by the court in determining Movant's sentence, included a conviction for "depositing fraudulent checks." Id. He contends that he was never convicted of the fraudulent check charge. Movant attached a letter from the Kings County, New York District Attorney's Office noting that it had declined prosecution on an arrest of June 2, 2002. (See Exhibit to Motion, Doc. 77). Movant explains that he did not pursue a direct appeal of his sentence because his attorney advised him that "there was no grounds for appeal." (Doc. 77, p. 4).
The government suggests that Movant is under the belief that the criminal history section of the presentence investigation report includes a conviction for depositing fraudulent checks. (See Reply, Doc. 81). Movant's apparent confusion stems from the erroneous arrest date listed for the conviction for disorderly conduct, June 2, 2002. The government acknowledges the error regarding the disorderly conduct arrest date on the presentence investigation report. The government has provided a certificate of disposition from the New York court showing that Movant pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct charge arising from a June 27, 2003, arrest. (See Certificate of Disposition, attached to Doc. 81).
The government's chief assertion is that Movant's § 2255 motion is untimely. Specifically, the government contends that Movant failed to file the motion within the one-year limitation period governing motions for collateral relief under the Anti-Terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 (AEDPA), 28 U.S.C. § 2255. Under the AEDPA, the one-year limitations period is calculated from the occurrence of one of four specified events:
(2) the date on which the impediment to making a motion created by governmental action in violation of the Constitution or laws of the United States is removed if the movant was prevented ...