Case Name: Robert Jesse SMALLWOOD, Petitioner-Appellant v. UNITED STATES of America, Respondent-Appellee
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2007-10-24
Citations: 251 F. App'x 910
Docket Number: No. 06-40908
Parties: Robert Jesse SMALLWOOD, Petitioner-Appellant v. UNITED STATES of America, Respondent-Appellee.
Judges: Before JOLLY, BENAVIDES, and STEWART, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 251
Pages: 910–911

Head Matter:
Robert Jesse SMALLWOOD, Petitioner-Appellant v. UNITED STATES of America, Respondent-Appellee.
No. 06-40908
Conference Calendar.
United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.
Oct. 24, 2007.
Linda S. Ladymon, Law Offices of Stewart J. Alexander, San Antonio, TX, for Petitioner-Appellant.
Before JOLLY, BENAVIDES, and STEWART, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM:
Robert Jesse Smallwood, federal prisoner # 42708-080, filed this petition pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241. He argues that: (1) his sentence is unconstitutional in light of United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220, 125 S.Ct. 738, 160 L.Ed.2d 621 (2005), Blakely v. Washington, 542 U.S. 296, 124 S.Ct. 2531, 159 L.Ed.2d 403 (2004), and Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466, 120 S.Ct. 2348, 147 L.Ed.2d 435 (2000); and (2) that a 28 U.S.C. § 2255 motion is inadequate and ineffective to test the legality of his detention.
Section 2255 provides the primary means of collaterally attacking a federal sentence based on errors that occurred at or prior to sentencing. Cox v. Warden, 911 F.2d 1111, 1113 (5th Cir.1990). A § 2241 petition attacking the imposition of a federally imposed sentence may be considered only where the petitioner establishes that § 2255 is "inadequate or ineffective to test the legality of his detention." Id. (internal quotation and citations omitted). Smallwood bears the burden of showing that a § 2255 motion is an inadequate vehicle in which to bring his claims into federal court. McGhee v. Hanberry, 604 F.2d 9, 10 (5th Cir.1979). Claims based on Apprendi, Blakely, and Booker do not fall under the savings clause of § 2255. Padilla v. United States, 416 F.3d 424, 426-27 (5th Cir.2005); Wesson v. U.S. Penitentiary Beaumont, TX., 305 F.3d 343, 346-47 (5th Cir.2002). Therefore, the district court did not err in dismissing Smallwood's § 2241 petition. See Reyes-Requena v. United States, 243 F.3d 893, 904 (5th Cir.2001).
Accordingly, the judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED.
Pursuant to 5th Cir R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5th Cir. R. 47.5.4.