Case Name: Vaatausili Mark ALAIMALO, Petitioner-Appellant, v. UNITED STATES of America, Respondent-Appellee
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2008-09-23
Citations: 317 F. App'x 619
Docket Number: No. 07-56621
Parties: Vaatausili Mark ALAIMALO, Petitioner-Appellant, v. UNITED STATES of America, Respondent-Appellee.
Judges: Before: TASHIMA, SILVERMAN, and N.R. SMITH, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 317
Pages: 619–620

Head Matter:
Vaatausili Mark ALAIMALO, Petitioner-Appellant, v. UNITED STATES of America, Respondent-Appellee.
No. 07-56621.
United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.
Submitted Sept. 8, 2008.
Filed Sept. 23, 2008.
Vaatausili Mark Alaimalo, Adelanto, CA, pro se.
Rosalinda Wang, Esq., Office of the U.S. Attorney Criminal Division, Los Angeles, CA, for Respondent-Appellee.
Before: TASHIMA, SILVERMAN, and N.R. SMITH, Circuit Judges.
The panel unanimously finds this case suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed. R.App. P. 34(a)(2).

Opinion:
MEMORANDUM
Vaatausili Mark Alaimalo, a federal prisoner, appeals pro se the dismissal for lack of subject matter jurisdiction of his 28 U.S.C. § 2241 habeas corpus petition seeking to vacate the life sentence imposed following his conviction for three counts of importation of methamphetamine and three counts of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 2253, and we affirm:
Alaimalo contends that the district court erred in failing to address on the merits his claim that under United States v. Cabaccang, 332 F.3d 622 (9th Cir.2003) (en banc), he is actually innocent of importation because the methamphetamine involved in the offenses had traveled inside United States territory between California and Guam. The district court correctly concluded that 28 U.S.C. § 2255 was not an inadequate or ineffective remedy so as to allow Alaimalo to proceed under § 2241. See Harrison v. Ollison, 519 F.3d 952, 959 (9th Cir.2008) (stating that § 2255 escape hatch criteria met when petitioner claims actual innocence and has not had unobstructed procedural shot at presenting that claim). We note that, as stated in the answering brief, even if Alaimalo were successful in his actual innocence claim, his life sentence would not be affected.
Alaimalo also contends that the district court erred in referring the case to a magistrate judge for consideration of preliminary matters and the preparation of a report and recommendation. The Federal Magistrates Act authorized the district court to refer the case. See United States v. Reyna-Tapia, 328 F.3d 1114, 1118 (9th Cir.2003) (en banc).
AFFIRMED.
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9 th Cir. R. 36-3.
. Appellant's motion to supplement the record and motion for judicial notice are granted.