Source: http://pa.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20100224_0000163.WPA.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2018-02-25 04:13:13
Document Index: 458467968

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 2241', '§ 2113', '§ 924', '§ 2241', '§ 924', '§ 2254', '§ 2255', '§ 2241', '§ 2255', '§ 2241', '§ 2241', '§ 2241', '§ 2255', '§ 2255', '§ 2255', '§ 2255']

MIKEAL LEE THOMAS, PETITIONER
Petitioner Mikeal Lee Thomas, a federal prisoner formerly incarcerated at the United States Penitentiary at Hazelton ("USP-Hazelton") in Preston County, West Virginia, brings this petition for writ of habeas corpus under 28 U.S.C. § 2241, challenging his federal conviction and sentence.*fn1
On September 5, 2001, following a guilty plea, the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania sentenced Petitioner to a term of 71 months' imprisonment for the Use of a Dangerous Weapon in Connection with a Bank Robbery in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2113(d), and a term of 84 months' imprisonment for Use of a Firearm in Relation to a Crime of Violence in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1). The sentences were ordered to be served consecutively and are to be followed by five years of supervised release. (See Document # 13, Response to Petition, Exhibit 1).
Petitioner filed the instant habeas petition pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241 on March 12, 2009, arguing that his firearms conviction under 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1) is invalid and should be vacated because: (i) as a first time offender, he should have only been sentenced to a maximum term of five years imprisonment; and (ii) the imposition of a term of supervised release violated the section's prohibition of any parole or probation. The instant petition was filed by Petitioner while he was incarcerated at USP-Hazelton. Petitioner was subsequently transferred to USP-Florence on or about March 23, 2009. (See Document # 13, Response to Petition, Exhibit 2). Assuming that he receives all good conduct time available, Petitioner's projected release date is December 12, 2012. (Id.).
On June 10, 2009, Respondent filed a response seeking dismissal of Petitioner's habeas petition for lack of personal and/or subject matter jurisdiction. [Document # 13]. Two days later, Petitioner filed a motion for summary judgment [Document # 14] seeking the entry of an order granting the relief he requests, as a matter of law. This matter is now ripe for consideration.
B. Claims Generally Cognizable in Federal Habeas Corpus Proceedings
A prisoner may seek federal habeas relief only if he is in custody in violation of the Constitution or federal law. 28 U.S.C. § 2254(a); Smith v. Phillips, 455 U.S. 209 (1982); Geschwendt v. Ryan, 967 F.2d 877 (3d Cir.), cert. denied, 506 U.S. 977 (1992); Zettlemoyer v. Fulcomer, 923 F.2d 284 (3d Cir.), cert. denied, 502 U.S. 902 (1991). The purpose of a writ of habeas corpus is to challenge the legal authority under which a prisoner is held in custody. Heck v. Humphrey, 512 U.S. 477 (1994); Allen v. McCurry, 449 U.S. 90 (1980)(the unique purpose of habeas corpus is to release the applicant for the writ from unlawful confinement); Wolff v. McDonnell, 418 U.S. 539 (1974) (basic purpose of the writ is to enable those unlawfully incarcerated to obtain their freedom); Preiser v. Rodriguez, 411 U.S. 475 (1973); United States v. Hollis, 569 F.2d 199, 205 (3d Cir. 1977). The writ supplies the mechanism by which prisoners may challenge the length of their custodial term. Fields v. Keohane, 954 F.2d 945, 949 (3d Cir. 1992); Barden v. Keohane, 921 F.2d 476 (3d Cir. 1991). The remedy is to free an inmate from unlawful custody.
As a general proposition "only matters concerning the conditions of confinement or the execution of a sentence are within the subject matter jurisdiction of the court presiding in the district in which a prisoner is incarcerated." DeSimone v. Lacy, 805 F.2d 321, 323 (8th Cir. 1986) citing Lee v. United States, 501 F.2d 494, 500 (8th Cir. 1974). Challenges to the validity of a federal prisoner's conviction or sentence should be presented to the sentencing court. Miller v. United States, 564 F.2d 103, 105 (1st Cir. 1977), cert. denied, 435 U.S. 931 (1978). "As a general rule, a § 2255 motion 'supersedes habeas corpus and provides the exclusive remedy' to one in custody pursuant to a federal court conviction." Brown v. Mendez, 167 F.Supp.2d 723, 726 (M.D. Pa. 2001) quoting Strollo v. Alldredge, 463 F.2d 1194, 1195 (3d Cir.), cert. denied, 409 U.S. 1046 (1972). A habeas corpus petition pursuant to § 2241 "'is not an additional, alternative or supplemental remedy to 28 U.S.C. § 2255.'" Id., quoting Myers v. Booker, 232 F.3d 902, 2000 WL 159967 at *1 (10th Cir. 2000).
Because Petitioner's claims challenge the imposition of his sentence, rather than the execution of his sentence, a habeas corpus petition filed under § 2241 is not the appropriate vehicle. When a petitioner attempts to seek relief from the imposition of sentence under 28 U.S.C. § 2241, the habeas petition is usually dismissed for lack of subject matter jurisdiction.
Here, Petitioner was convicted and sentenced by District Judge Sean J. McLaughlin in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. Thus, under § 2241 jurisprudence, the issues raised in the instant petition are not within the jurisdiction of this Court. See Lee v. United States, 501 F.2d 494, 500 (8th Cir. 1974); Miller v. United States, 564 F.2d 103, 105 (1st Cir. 1977), cert. denied, 435 U.S. 931 (1978) (challenge to the validity of a federal prisoner's conviction or sentence should be presented to the sentencing court). This petition represents a collateral attack upon the legality of the sentence as imposed by District Judge McLaughlin. Such an attack is properly reserved for a petition filed pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255 in the sentencing court.
C. The Savings Clause of 28 U.S.C. § 2255
Title 28 U.S.C. § 2255 provides, in pertinent part: an application for a writ of habeas corpus in behalf of a prisoner who is authorized to apply for relief by motion pursuant to [section 2255], shall not be entertained if it appears that the applicant has failed to apply for relief by motion [to vacate sentence pursuant to section 2255], to the court which sentenced him, or that such court has denied him relief, unless it appears that the remedy by motion is inadequate or ineffective to test the legality of his detention.
The italicized portion of the statutory language is commonly referred to as § 2255's "savings ...