Source: http://mi.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20150310_0000301.WMI.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2017-05-01 04:22:25
Document Index: 342219039

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 2255', '§ 2255', '§ 2255', '§ 2255', '§ 922', '§ 843', '§ 2255', '§ 2255', '§ 2255', '§ 2255', '§ 2255', '§ 2255', '§ 2255', '§ 2255', '§ 2255', '§ 2255', '§ 922', '§ 922', '§ 922']

| McMiller v. United States
McMiller v. United States
LIBREN LIQUICE McMILLER Movant,v.UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Respondent.
Pending before this Court is Movant Libren Liquice McMiller's pro se motion under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 to vacate, set aside, or correct the sentence imposed upon him (ECF No. 1). Rule 4(b) of the Rules Governing Section 2255 Proceedings provides that if it plainly appears from the face of the § 2255 motion, exhibits and prior proceedings that the petitioner is not entitled to relief, the judge must dismiss the motion. Because upon initial consideration of this motion, it plainly appears that Movant is not entitled to relief, the government was not ordered to file a response to this motion. For the reasons that follow, the Court denies the § 2255 motion and issues this Opinion, Final Order, and Judgment. See Rules Governing § 2255 Cases, Rule 11 (referring to the order disposing of a habeas petition as a "final order").
On May 19, 2011, Movant pled guilty to Counts One and Four of a federal indictment, which included one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2), and one count of use of the mail to commit a drug offense, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 843(b) and 843(d).
On September 4, 2014, Movant filed his § 2255 motion, alleging actual innocence of being a felon in possession because, he alleges, his prior convictions do not constitute eligible felonies.
For the reasons that follow, Movant's argument lacks merit, and his motion under § 2255 is properly denied. The Court also holds that a certificate of appealability will not issue.
A prisoner who moves to vacate his sentence under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 must show that the sentence was imposed in violation of the Constitution or laws of the United States, that the court was without jurisdiction to impose such sentence, that the sentence was in excess of the maximum authorized by law, or that it is otherwise subject to collateral attack. 28 U.S.C. § 2255(a). To prevail on a § 2255 motion, the movant must demonstrate "the existence of an error of constitutional magnitude which had a substantial and injurious effect or influence on the guilty plea or the jury's verdict." Humphress v. United States, 398 F.3d 855, 858 (6th Cir. 2005) (quoting Griffin v. United States, 330 F.3d 733, 736 (6th Cir. 2003)). Non-constitutional errors are generally outside the scope of § 2255 relief. United States v. Cofield, 233 F.3d 405, 407 (6th Cir. 2000).
The general rule is that claims not raised on direct appeal may not be raised on collateral review unless the petitioner shows cause and prejudice. Massaro v. United States, 538 U.S. 500, 504 (2003). However, "[a] § 2255 motion may not be used to relitigate an issue that was raised on appeal absent highly exceptional circumstances, " DuPont v. United States, 76 F.3d 108, 110 (6th Cir. 1996) (internal citations and quotation marks omitted), or "an intervening change in the case law." Wright v. United States, 182 F.3d 458, 467 (6th Cir. 1999).
In an action to vacate or correct a sentence, a court is generally required to grant a hearing to determine the issues and make findings of fact and conclusions of law "[u]nless the motion and the files and records of the case conclusively show that the prisoner is entitled to no relief." 28 U.S.C. § 2255(b). No evidentiary hearing is required if Movant's allegations "cannot be accepted as true because they are contradicted by the record, inherently incredible, or conclusions rather than statements of fact." Valentine v. United States, 488 F.3d 325, 333 (6th Cir. 2007). "If it plainly appears from the motion, any attached exhibits, and the record of prior proceedings that the moving party is not entitled to relief, the judge must dismiss the motion." Rules Governing § 2255 Cases, Rule 4(b). The files and records in this case conclusively show that Movant is not entitled to relief under 28 U.S.C. § 2255. Accordingly, no evidentiary hearing is required to resolve the merits of the pending motion.
Movant argues that he had to have served more than one year in prison for his prior convictions in order to be adjudicated a "felon" for the purposes of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). In support, Movant points to recent news articles uncovering actual innocence of numerous federal prisoners in North Carolina in instances where particular offenses under North Carolina state law should not have been considered predicate felonies under federal sentencing criteria.
Movant's argument is inapplicable to his Michigan state felony convictions. The federal statute prohibiting felons from possessing firearms applies to one "who has been convicted in any court of, a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year." 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). The actual term of imprisonment need not exceed one year. Movant has been convicted of multiple felonies under Michigan law, including possession with intent to deliver cocaine, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and fleeing and eluding the police. (Presentence Report ¶¶ 62, 64.) These felony convictions qualify as predicate felonies under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) because they may ...