Source: http://nc.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20191018_0003570.WNC.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2020-08-09 17:37:32
Document Index: 60699732

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

FindACase™ | Houser v. United States
Houser v. United States
KYLE DEAN HOUSER, Petitioner,
THIS MATTER is before the Court on Petitioner's pro se Motion to Vacate Sentence pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255, arguing that his conviction for violating 18 U.S.C. § 924(c) is invalid under United States v. Davis, 139 S.Ct. 2319 (2019). (Doc. No. 1).
Petitioner was charged by Bill of Information[1] with: Count (1), conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute at least 500 grams of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine (21 U.S.C. §§ 841(b)(1)(A), 841(a)(1), 846); and Count (2), possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, i.e., the drug conspiracy charged in Count (1) (18 U.S.C. § 924(c)). (3:18-cr-122, Doc. No. 14). Petitioner pled guilty to both charges and admitted his guilt. (Id., Doc. No. 15) (Plea Agreement); see also (Id., Doc. No. 16) (Factual Basis).
The Presentence Investigation Report (“PSR”) scored the base offense level for Count (1) as 32 because the offense involved at least 1.5 kilograms, but less than 5 kilograms, of methamphetamine as stipulated by the parties. (Id., Doc. No. 28 at ¶ 17). Two levels were added because Petitioner maintained premises for the purposes of manufacturing or distributing a controlled substance. (Id., Doc. No. 28 at ¶ 19). Three levels were deducted for acceptance of responsibility, resulting in a total offense level of 31 for Count (1). (Id., Doc. No. 28 at ¶¶ 25, 27). Petitioner had 10 criminal history points and a criminal history category of V. (Id., Doc. No. 28 at ¶¶ 46-47). The resulting guideline range for Count (1) was 168 to 210 months' imprisonment plus the five-year consecutive sentence required by statute for Count (2). (Id., Doc. No. 28 at ¶ 28, 97-98).
The Court granted a downward variance and reduced the offense level to 28, resulting in a revised advisory guideline range of 130 to 162 months' imprisonment. See (Id., Doc. No. 35). In a Judgment entered on November 2, 2018, the Court sentenced Petitioner to 132 months' imprisonment for Count (1) and 60 months, consecutive, for Count (2) for a total sentence of 192 months' imprisonment. (Id., Doc. No. 34). Petitioner did not appeal.
Petitioner timely filed the instant § 2255 Motion to Vacate on September 26, 2019. Liberally construing the pro se claims, [2] Petitioner appears to argue that his § 924(c) conviction and sentence should be vacated because § 924(c) is unconstitutional pursuant to Davis.
Section 924(c) prohibits using or carrying a firearm “during and in relation to any crime of violence or drug trafficking crime….” 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1). A “drug trafficking crime” is “any felony punishable under the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 801 et seq.), the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act (21 U.S.C. 951 et seq.), or chapter 705 of title 46.” 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(2).
A “crime of violence” is defined as an offense that is a felony and: