Court Opinion

ID: 732940
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2012-04-17 16:50:27+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:15:30.943644
License: Public Domain

104 F.3d 364
NOTICE:  Eighth Circuit Rule 28A(k) governs citation of unpublished opinions and provides that they are not precedent and generally should not be cited unless relevant to establishing the doctrines of res judicata, collateral estoppel, the law of the case, or if the opinion has persuasive value on a material issue and no published opinion would serve as well.UNITED STATES of America, Appellee,v.Steven J. SAMPLES, Appellant.
No. 95-4043.
United States Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit.
Argued Nov. 8, 1996.Decided Nov. 15, 1996.

Before BEAM, HANSEN and MORRIS SHEPPARD ARNOLD, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM.

1
Steven J. Samples appeals the district court's1 denial of his 28 U.S.C. § 2255 motion.  Samples's double jeopardy claims are foreclosed for the reasons set forth in United States v. Ursery, 116 S.Ct. 2135, 2148-49 (1996) (holding civil forfeitures under 21 U.S.C. § 881(a)(6) and (7) are neither "punishment" nor criminal for purposes of Double Jeopardy Clause), and United States v. One 1970 36.9' Columbia Sailing Boat, 91 F.3d 1053, 1056 (8th Cir.1996) (holding Ursery applies to forfeitures under § 881(a)(4)).  Likewise, Samples's ineffective-assistance claim based on his counsel's failure to advise him of a possible double jeopardy defense is foreclosed.  Cf. Thomas v. United States, 951 F.2d 902, 904 (8th Cir.1991) (per curiam) (counsel not ineffective for failing to raise meritless issues).  The district court properly declined to address the sentencing issues Samples raises in his supplemental brief.  Samples did not demonstrate cause and prejudice forgiving his failure to raise the issues on direct appeal.  See Reid v. United States, 976 F.2d 446, 448 (8th Cir.1992), cert. denied, 507 U.S. 945 (1993).

2
Accordingly, after carefully reviewing the record, we conclude the district court correctly dismissed Samples's petition.

3
We deny Samples's request for appointment of counsel on appeal.

1
 The Honorable H. Franklin Waters, Chief Judge, United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas, adopting the report and recommendation of the Honorable Beverly R. Stites, United States Magistrate Judge for the Western District of Arkansas