United States District Court, D. South Carolina, Florence Division
ORDER
R.
Bryan Harwell Chief United States District Judge.
This
matter is before the Court on Petitioner Antonio Jamal
Crawford's (“Petitioner”) pro se
[ECF No. 61] motion to vacate, set aside, or correct sentence
(“motion to vacate”) pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §
2255. Also pending is the government's [ECF No. 70]
motion for summary judgment. For the reasons stated below,
the Court grants Respondent's motion for summary
judgment, dismisses Petitioner's motion to vacate, and
dismisses this case with prejudice.
Procedural
History and Factual Background
Petitioner
was indicted on June 27, 2017, in a three count indictment
for violations of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1),
924(c)(1)(A), and 21 U.S.C. § 841(b)(1)(D). [ECF No.
18].
On
November 13, 2017, Petitioner signed a plea agreement wherein
he agreed to plead guilty to count three of the indictment,
which alleged felon in possession of a firearm in violation
of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). [ECF No. 43]. The plea
agreement provided for a stipulated sentence of 72 months in
prison pursuant to Fed. R. Crim. P. 11(c)(1)(C). Petitioner
entered his guilty plea the same day.
A
presentence investigation report (“PSR”) dated
January 16, 2017, was prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.
The PSR found that Petitioner's advisory guideline range
was 110 to 120 months, based on a total offense level of 25
and criminal history category of VI.
On
April 25, 2018, Petitioner was sentenced to 72 months in
prison pursuant to the Rule 11(c)(1)(C) plea agreement.
Petitioner did not file a direct appeal.
Petitioner
filed the instant pro se motion to vacate pursuant to 28
U.S.C. § 2255 on March 27, 2019. [ECF No. 61]. The
government filed a response to Petitioner's motion to
vacate and a motion for summary judgment on April 17, 2019.
[ECF No. 70]. Petitioner did not file a response to the
government's motion for summary judgment.
Applicable
Law
Prisoners
in federal custody may attack the validity of their sentences
pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255. In order to move the court
to vacate, set aside, or correct a sentence under §
2255, a petitioner must prove that one of the following
occurred: (1) a sentence was imposed in violation of the
Constitution or laws of the United States; (2) the court was
without jurisdiction to impose such a sentence; (3) the
sentence was in excess of the maximum authorized by law; or
(4) the sentence is otherwise subject to collateral attack.
28 U.S.C. § 2255(a). Nonconstitutional claims may be
brought pursuant to § 2255, but will not provide a basis
for collateral attack unless the error involves a
“fundamental defect which inherently results in a
complete miscarriage of justice.” United States v.
Addonizio, 442 U.S. 178, 185, 99 S.Ct., 2235, 2240
(1979); United States v. Morrow, 914 F.2d 608, 613
(4th Cir. 1990).
A
petitioner cannot ordinarily bring a collateral attack on the
basis of issues litigated on direct appeal. United States
v. Dyess, 730 F.3d 354, 360 (4th Cir. 2013) (stating
petitioner “cannot ‘circumvent a proper ruling .
. . on direct appeal by re-raising the same challenge in a
§ 2255 motion'”); United States v.
Linder, 552 F.3d 391, 396 (4th Cir. 2009);
Boeckenhaupt v. United States, 537 F.2d 1182, 1183 (4th
Cir.), cert denied, 429 U.S. 863, 97 S.Ct. 169 (1976). An
exception occurs where there has been an intervening change
in the law. Davis v. United States, 417 U.S. 333,
342, 94 S.Ct. 2298, 2302 (1974). Additionally, where a
defendant could have raised a claim on direct appeal but
fails to do so, the claim may only be raised in a federal
habeas proceeding if the defendant can show both cause for
and actual prejudice from the default, see Murray v.
Carrier, 477 U.S. 478, 485, 106 S.Ct. 2639, 91 L.Ed.2d
397 (1986), or that she is actually innocent, see Smith
v. Murray, 477 U.S. 527, 537, 106 S.Ct. 2661, 91 L.Ed.2d
434 (1986).
In
deciding a motion to vacate, the court may summarily dismiss
the motion “[i]f it plainly appears from the motion,
any attached exhibits, and the record of prior proceedings
that the moving party is not entitled to relief.” Rules
Governing Section 2255 Proceedings 4(b); see 28
U.S.C. § 2255(b) (a hearing is not required on a §
2255 motion if the record of the case conclusively shows that
petitioner is entitled to no relief). An evidentiary hearing
“is required when a movant presents a colorable [ ]
claim showing disputed material facts and a credibility
determination is necessary to resolve the issue.”
United States v. Coon, 205 Fed.Appx. 972, 973 (4th
Cir. 2006) (citing United States v. Witherspoon, 231
F.3d 923, 925-27 (4th Cir. 2000)). However, a hearing is not
required unless the claim shows “disputed facts
involving inconsistencies beyond the record.”
United States v. Robinson, 238 Fed.Appx. 954, 955
(4th Cir. 2007). Conclusory allegations contained within
affidavits do not require a hearing. Strong v.
Johnson, 495 F.3d 134, 139-40 (4th Cir. 2007).
“Thus, no hearing is required if the petitioner's
allegations ‘cannot be accepted as true because they
are contradicted by the record, inherently incredible, or
conclusions rather than statement of fact.' ”
Arredondo v. United States, 178 F.3d 778, 782 (6th
Cir. 1999) (quoting Engelen v. United States, 68
F.3d 238, 240 (8th Cir. 1995)).
Petitioner's
motion to vacate alleges ineffective assistance of counsel.
Claims of ineffective assistance of counsel are
constitutional in nature and therefore are properly asserted
under § 2255. The Sixth Amendment provides: “In
all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right
. . . to have the assistance of counsel for his
defense.” U.S. Constitution. amend VI. The United
States Supreme Court has interpreted the Sixth Amendment to
require that counsel be effective. Strickland v.
Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 686, (1984) (quoting
McMann v. Richardson, 397 U.S. 759, 771, n.14
(1970)). In order to prevail on an ineffective assistance
claim, petitioner must satisfy the two-prong test of
Strickland that (1) his “counsel's
representation fell below an objective standard of
reasonableness, ” id. at 688; and (2) that
“there is a reasonable probability that, but for
counsel's unprofessional errors, the result of the
proceeding would have been different.” Id. at
694. A reasonable probability is a probability sufficient to
undermine confidence in the outcome. Id. In the
context of a guilty plea, Petitioner must show "that
there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel's
errors, she would not have pleaded guilty and would have
insisted on going to trial. Hill v. Lockhart, 474
U.S. 52, 59 (1985).
A court
applying the Strickland test may apply either prong
first and does not need to analyze both prongs of the test if
petitioner makes “an ...