Court Opinion

ID: 619461
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2011-12-21 17:50:11+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:50:48.752405
License: Public Domain

ALD-058                                                        NOT PRECEDENTIAL

                       UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                            FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT
                                 ___________

                                       No. 11-3720
                                       ___________

                                   GARY F. BASTIEN,
                                               Appellant

                                             v.

                                 RONNIE R. HOLT
                       ____________________________________

                     On Appeal from the United States District Court
                         for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
                              (D.C. Civil No. 11-cv-00036 )
                      District Judge: Honorable Sylvia H. Rambo
                      ____________________________________

                  Submitted for Possible Summary Action Pursuant to
                     Third Circuit LAR 27.4 and I.O.P. 10.6 and for
      Request for a Certificate of Appealability Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(1)
                                   December 15, 2011
          Before: SLOVITER, FISHER AND NYGAARD, Circuit Judges

                           (Opinion filed: December 21, 2011)
                                       _________

                                        OPINION
                                        _________

PER CURIAM

       Gary Bastien, a federal prisoner proceeding pro se, appeals an order of the United

States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania dismissing his petition for a

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writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241. For the reasons set forth below, we

will summarily affirm the District Court’s judgment. See 3d Cir. L.A.R. 27.4; I.O.P.

10.6.

                                             I.

        In May 2009, Bastien pleaded guilty in the United States District Court for the

Eastern District of New York to, inter alia, wire fraud and bank fraud, in violation of 18

U.S.C. §§ 1343 and 1344. In January 2011, Bastien filed a petition for a writ of habeas

corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241 in the United States District Court for the District of

New Jersey challenging the jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the Eastern

District of New York to entertain the charges against him.

        The Magistrate Judge assigned to the case provided Bastien with a “Notice of

Election” form that offered Bastien three alternatives. He could choose to: (1) have his

petition ruled on as filed; (2) have his petition re-characterized as a motion pursuant to 28

U.S.C. § 2255 and heard as such, but in that event he would lose his ability to file a

second or successive motion absent certification by the court of appeals; or (3) withdraw

his petition and file one all-inclusive § 2255 motion within the one-year statute of

limitations period prescribed by the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act

(“AEDPA”).

        On the “Notice of Election” form, Bastien elected to have the District Court rule

on his petition as it had been filed. Upon review of the record, the Magistrate Judge

concluded that Bastien failed to make the requisite showing that § 2255 was inadequate
                                              2
or ineffective to test the legality of his detention, and recommended that his petition be

dismissed. Upon review of Bastien’s objections to the report and recommendation, the

District Court dismissed the habeas petition for lack of jurisdiction, concluding that

Bastien’s claims are cognizable pursuant to § 2255. This appeal followed.

                                             II.

       We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. As recognized by the District

Court, “[m]otions pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255 are the presumptive means by which

federal prisoners can challenge their convictions or sentences[.]” Okereke v. United

States, 307 F.3d 117, 120 (3d Cir. 2002). A petitioner may not challenge a conviction

pursuant to § 2241 unless a § 2255 motion would be “inadequate or ineffective.” Cradle

v. United States, 290 F.3d 536, 538-39 (3d Cir. 2002) (per curiam). And a § 2255 motion

is inadequate or ineffective “only where the petitioner demonstrates that some limitation

of scope or procedure would prevent a § 2255 proceeding from affording him a full

hearing and adjudication of his wrongful detention claim.” Id. at 538.

       Bastien has not made such a showing. He contends that his claims may be raised

pursuant to § 2241 because the judgment of the United States District Court for the

Eastern District of New York is void and thus, the action is to prevent the warden where

he is imprisoned from executing on a void judgment. However, we agree with the

District Court that Bastien’s underlying argument--that the judgment is void because the

Eastern District of New York lacks jurisdiction over him--challenges the validity of his

                                             3
conviction and must be brought pursuant to § 2255. Bastien has not shown that he will

be prevented from receiving an adjudication of his claim via a § 2255 motion.

       Accordingly, because this appeal does not raise a substantial question, we will

affirm the judgment of the District Court. To the extent that a certificate of appealability

is required in this matter, it is denied. Bastien’s outstanding motions are denied.

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