Court Opinion

ID: 802467
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2012-06-18 23:31:53+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:00:04.345438
License: Public Domain

Case: 12-10076     Document: 00511890420         Page: 1     Date Filed: 06/18/2012

           IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                    FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT  United States Court of Appeals
                                                    Fifth Circuit

                                                                            FILED
                                                                           June 18, 2012
                                     No. 12-10076
                                   Summary Calendar                        Lyle W. Cayce
                                                                                Clerk

VINCENT JOHN BAZEMORE, JR.,

                                                  Petitioner-Appellant

v.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                  Respondent-Appellee

                   Appeal from the United States District Court
                        for the Northern District of Texas
                             USDC No. 3:11-CV-2049

Before KING, JOLLY, and GRAVES, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*
        Vincent John Bazemore, Jr., federal prisoner # 37160-177, moves for leave
to proceed in forma pauperis (IFP) on appeal from the district court’s denial of
his petition for a writ of audita querela challenging the restitution order imposed
in connection with his 2009 conviction for securities fraud. Bazemore contends
that the district court lacked the authority to impose restitution in connection
with his conviction, but that assuming the court had such authority, the
determination as to the amount of restitution was improper. Because the

       *
         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 R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not
be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR.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.
   Case: 12-10076   Document: 00511890420      Page: 2   Date Filed: 06/18/2012

                                  No. 12-10076

amended judgment which included the restitution order was entered three
months after the original judgment, Bazemore contends his argument presents
a legal defense arising after the judgment and was therefore properly brought
in a petition for a writ of audita querela. Further, Bazemore argues that he has
no other adequate remedy for relief and that it would be a miscarriage of justice
to refuse to consider his claim. Additionally, he contends that the district court
erred by not liberally construing his petition as a petition for a writ of
mandamus.
      By moving for leave to proceed IFP on appeal, Bazemore is challenging the
district court’s certification that his appeal presents no nonfrivolous issues and
is not taken in good faith. See Baugh v. Taylor, 117 F.3d 197, 202 (5th Cir.
1997). Bazemore’s attack on the authority of the district court to impose
restitution and his challenge to the amount of restitution ordered are not legal
defenses that arose after the judgment. See United States v. Miller, 599 F.3d
484, 487 (5th Cir. 2010). Additionally, equitable grounds will not justify a writ
of audita querela. Id. Therefore, the district court correctly denied Bazemore’s
petition. Bazemore’s argument regarding the request for mandamus relief was
not raised in the district court and will not be considered on appeal. See
Leverette v. Louisville Ladder Co., 183 F.3d 339, 342 (5th Cir. 1999)
      In light of the foregoing, Bazemore’s IFP motion fails to show error in the
district court’s certification decision and fails to show that he will raise a
nonfrivolous issue on appeal. See Baugh, 117 F.3d at 202; Howard v. King, 707
F.2d 215, 220 (5th Cir. 1983). Therefore, Bazemore’s motion for leave to proceed
IFP on appeal is denied and his appeal is dismissed as frivolous. See Baugh, 117
F.3d at 202 & n.24; 5TH CIR. R. 42.2.
      IFP DENIED; APPEAL DISMISSED.

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