Source: http://in.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20190626_0000788.NIN.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2020-07-15 02:16:49
Document Index: 297119488

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

FindACase™ | Seay v. United States
Seay v. United States
RAPHAEL SEAY, Petitioner,
Raphael Seay pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). This court sentenced Mr. Seay to a term of 30 months' imprisonment and a two-year period of supervised release. As part of the plea agreement, Mr. Seay waived his right to appeal his conviction and his right to file any post-conviction proceedings under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 with the exception of an ineffective assistance of counsel claim. Mr. Seay is now requesting that the court vacate his conviction and sentence under 28 U.S.C. § 2255. [Doc. No. 32] - attacking his conviction by alleging violations of certain United States statutes and constitutionally deficient representation. For the following reasons, the court denies Mr. Seay's motion.
In January 2015 Mr. Seay, a convicted felon who was serving a term of supervised release, was arrested and charged with possessing a firearm. The State of Indiana charged Mr. Seay with resisting arrest and for violating certain provisions of his supervised release. He was sentenced in state court to a cumulative three years in imprisonment and remained in state custody.
Mr. Seay was indicted in federal court for possessing a firearm after a felony conviction. 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). Mr. Seay was taken into federal custody, but not until after he finished serving his state time. No. federal detainer had been placed on Mr. Seay before this. Mr. Seay pleaded guilty and informed the court that-as part of the signed plea agreement-he had agreed to waive his right, apart from an ineffective assistance of counsel claim, to collaterally attack his conviction under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 and his right to an appeal. Mr. Seay said he understood the plea agreement and that he knowingly and voluntarily signed it in exchange for the government's recommendation of the maximum acceptance-of-responsibility credit available. The court sentenced Mr. Seay to a term of imprisonment of 30 months and a two-year period of supervised release.
Two weeks later, Mr. Seay filed this petition under 28 U.S.C. § 2255.
Mr. Seay attacks his sentence and conviction by alleging certain statutory deficiencies and that his counsel provided ineffective assistance by allowing him to take a plea deal when meritorious claims were available to him. The rules governing petitions filed under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 provide that once a motion is filed:
Rule 4(b) of the Rules Governing Section 2255 Proceedings for the United States District Courts. After reviewing the record in this case, the court finds that Mr. Seay's petition can be resolved without a hearing. See Bruce v. United States, 256 F.3d 592, 597 (7th Cir. 2001); Daniels v. United States, 54 F.3d 290, 293 (7th Cir. 1995).
Mr. Seay can't present his statutory claims[1] unless he establishes ineffective assistance of counsel. His written plea agreement expressly waived his right to file any post-conviction proceedings on any grounds other than ineffective assistance of counsel.
(e) I understand that the law gives a convicted person the right to appeal the conviction and the sentence imposed. I also understand that no one can predict the precise sentence that will be imposed, and that the Court has jurisdiction and authority to impose any sentence within the statutory maximum set for my offense(s) as set forth in this Plea Agreement. With this understanding and in consideration of the government's entry into this plea agreement, I expressly waive my right to appeal or to contest my conviction and all components of my sentence or the manner in which my conviction or my sentence was determined or imposed, to any Court on any ground, other than a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, including any appeal under Title 18, United States Code, Section 3742, or any post-conviction proceeding, including but not limited to, a proceeding under Title 28, United States Code, Section 2255.
(Doc. No. 19-Filed Plea Agreement) (emphasis in original)
The waiver of § 2255 rights is enforceable. See United States v. Alcala, 678 F.3d 574, 577 (7th Cir.2012); Keller v. United States, 657 F.3d 675, 681 (7th Cir.2011); Jones v. United States, 167 F.3d 1142, 1145 (7th Cir. 1999). The court of appeals has held “to bar collateral review, the plea agreement must clearly state that the defendant waives his right to collaterally attack his conviction or sentence in addition to waiving his right to a direct appeal.” Keller v. United States, 657 F.3d 675, 681 (7th Cir. 2011) (emphasis in original). This waiver is enforceable if made knowingly and voluntarily, id., and if not the result of ineffective assistance of counsel. Dowell v. United States, 694 F.3d 898, 902 (7th Cir. 2012).
Mr. Seay also argues that his counsel was unconstitutionally ineffective because his attorney 1) didn't raise any issues concerning his delay in state custody or advise him of his right to a trial, and 2) didn't challenge the facts and circumstances surrounding his illegal firearm possession.
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Courts traditionally reject broad, unsupported assertions of ineffective assistance, see, e.g., Jones v. United States, 167 F.3d at 1145-1146, and &ldquo;garden variety attacks ... raise[d] in the guise of a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel.&rdquo; United States v. Joiner, 183 F.3d 635, 645 (7th Cir.1999). To successfully navigate around the waiver of appellate and post-conviction rights, Mr. Seay must argue that he entered into the plea agreement based on advice of counsel that fell below constitutional standards; that the decision was the product of ineffective assistance. Hurlow v. United States, 726 F.3d 958, 966-967 (7th Cir. 2013); United States v. ...