Source: http://nc.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20191001_0003306.WNC.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2020-04-05 23:47:50
Document Index: 516619452

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 1201', '§ 924', '§ 924', '§ 2255', '§ 2255', '§ 924', '§ 2255', '§ 924', '§ 924', '§ 924', '§ 924']

CHAD ERIC SIMPSON, Petitioner,
Petitioner was indicted in the underlying criminal case for: Count (1), conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute cocaine, methamphetamine, and MDMA; Count (5), aiding and abetting kidnapping (18 U.S.C. §§ 1201 and 2); and Count (6), brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, kidnapping, and aiding and abetting (18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c) and 2). (3:01-cr-189, Doc. No. 3). Plaintiff entered a straight-up guilty plea that was accepted by the Court. (Id., Doc. No. 233). The Court sentenced Petitioner to 210 months' imprisonment for Counts (1) and (5), and to 84 months, consecutive, for the § 924(c) violation in Count (6). (Id., Doc. No. 297).
On direct appeal, the Fourth Circuit remanded for further proceedings pursuant to United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220 (2005). United States v. Simpson, 138 Fed.Appx. 520 (4th Cir. 2005). The Court entered an Amended Judgment reducing the total length of imprisonment to 265 months, comprised of 181 months for Counts (1) and (5), 84 months consecutive for Count (6), followed by four years of supervised release. (3:01-cr-189, Doc. No. 321). The Fourth Circuit affirmed, United States v. Simpson, 209 Fed.Appx. 279 (4th Cir. 2006), and the United States Supreme Court denied certiorari, Simpson v. United States, 550 U.S. 923 (2007).
Petitioner filed a § 2255 Motion to Vacate that was dismissed and denied, case number 3:08-cv-197. Simpson v. United States, 2008 WL 1001811 (W.D. N.C. May 7, 2008). The Fourth Circuit dismissed Petitioner's appeal. United States v. Simpson, 300 Fed.Appx. 251 (4th Cir. 2008).
Petitioner filed the instant § 2255 Motion to Vacate through counsel on June 24, 2016, arguing that his conviction and sentence under § 924(c) violates due process under Johnson v. United States, 135 S.Ct. 2551 (2015). (Doc. No. 1); see (Doc. No. 3-1) (Fourth Circuit's order authorizing Petitioner to file a successive § 2255 petition). These proceedings were stayed for several years pending the Fourth Circuit's consideration of United States v. Ali, 15-4433 and United States v. Simms, 15-4640. (Doc. Nos. 4, 6).
Petitioner has now filed a Supplemental Memorandum, (Doc. No. 7), arguing that his § 924(c) conviction and sentence should be vacated pursuant to Simms, 914 F.3d 229 (4th Cir. 2019) (en banc) and United States v. Davis, 139 S.Ct. 2319 (June 24, 2019), because kidnapping is not a crime of violence under § 924(c)'s force clause. Petitioner asks that his § 924(c) conviction and sentence be vacated and, if the Government requests resentencing, that an expedited resentenced be conducted under the sentencing package doctrine. Petitioner alternatively asks that the Court to vacate Count (6) and amend the sentences on Counts (1) and (5) to time served.
The Government has now filed a Response, (Doc. No. 10), conceding that the § 924(c) conviction in Count (6) should be vacated. The Government asks the Court to vacate Petitioner's conviction in Count (6) and resentence Petitioner on the remaining counts under the sentencing package doctrine.