Livingston-Hooker v. United States of America

Filing 3

ORDER dismissing without prejudice 1 Motion to vacate/set aside/correct sentence (2255). All pending motions are denied as moot. The Clerk is directed to close this case. The Clerk is directed to terminate from pending status the Motion found at Doc. 76 in the underlying criminal case, 8:13-cr-557-T-30AEP. Signed by Judge James S. Moody, Jr. on 2/27/2017. (LN)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
TAMPA DIVISION

EMECIO ANTONIO LIVINGSTONHOOKER,
Petitioner,
v.

Case No: 8:17-cv-424-T-30AEP
Crim. No: 8:13-cr-557-T-30AEP

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Respondent.

ORDER OF DISMISSAL
Before the Court is Petitioner's Motion to Vacate, Set Aside or Correct Sentence
pursuant to 28 U.S.C. section 2255, and his brief in support. (CV Docs. 1 and 2). Upon
review and consideration, the Court concludes the Motion must be dismissed as untimely.
BACKGROUND
On November 26, 2013, Petitioner was indicted on two counts. (CR Doc. 1) Count
I charged Petitioner with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or
more of cocaine while on board a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, and
Count II charged Petitioner with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five
kilograms or more or a mixture containing a detectable amount of cocaine while on board
a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. (CR Doc. 1). On January 27, 2014,
the Court accepted Petitioner’s guilty plea to Count I, and Count II was later dismissed.

(CR Docs. 17 and 25). On April 29, 2014, the Court entered judgment and sentenced
Petitioner to 108 months’ imprisonment followed by 5 years’ supervised release. (CR Doc.
35). Petitioner did not appeal. (CV Doc. 1).
DISCUSSSION
The Court concludes Petitioner’s Motion is untimely. Under section 2255(f)(1), a
petitioner has one year to file a motion from the date on which his judgment of conviction
becomes final. 1 Because Petitioner did not file a direct appeal, his judgment became final
when the time for filing a direct appeal expired—on May 13, 2014. See Adams v. United
States, 173 F.3d 1339, 1342 n.2 (11th Cir. 1999). That gave Petitioner until May 13, 2015,
to file his Motion. But Petitioner did not file his Motion until February 14, 2017, nearly
two years after his limitations period expired.
The only explanation Petitioner offers as to why his motion was not filed sooner is
that he “was waiting for information but did not discover that my attorney had not filed for
appeal until now.” (CV Doc. 1, p. 10). This argument is insufficient to toll the time for
filing his Motion. See United States v. Jackson, 205 F. Supp. 2d 876, 880 (W.D. Tenn.
2002); see also Staake v. United States, No. 507CV-189-OC-10GRJ, 2007 WL 2050939,
at *2 (M.D. Fla. July 16, 2007). And Petitioner’s claim is contrary to his previous

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In his Motion, Petitioner’s only argument why the time set forth in section 2255(f)(1)
should not apply is because, “I was waiting for information but did not discover that my attorney
had not filed for appeal until now.” (CV Doc. 1, p. 10). This argument is insufficient to toll the
time for filing his Motion. See United States v. Jackson, 205 F. Supp. 2d 876, 880 (W.D. Tenn.
2002); see also Staake v. United States, No. 507CV-189-OC-10GRJ, 2007 WL 2050939, at *2
(M.D. Fla. July 16, 2007).

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acknowledgement that he did not want to appeal. At sentencing, the Court directed
Petitioner as follows:
The Court: To the extent permitted by your plea agreement, you
have the right of appeal from the judgment and sentence within 14 days from
today. Failure to appeal within the 14-day period will be a waiver of your
right to appeal.
You have in front of you a form entitled "Declaration of Intent to
Appeal," together with a stamped envelope addressed to the Clerk's Office.
That form states whether you do or do not wish to file an appeal. It's written
in English on one side and in Spanish on the other. I direct you to complete
the form and mail it into the Clerk's Office at the end of the 14-day appeal
period.
If you do not return the form, I will accept that as an acknowledgement
that you do not wish to file an appeal and that that was an informed and
voluntary choice on your part.
(CR Doc. 79, 10:5–19). Petitioner never returned the Declaration of Intent to Appeal to the
Clerk’s Office, which the Court construes as Petitioner’s voluntary decision to not pursue
an appeal. Thus his argument that he did not know his attorney had not pursued an appeal
lacks merit. For these reasons, the Court concludes Petitioner’s Motion is time-barred.
ORDERED AND ADJUDGED as follows:
1.

Petitioner’s Motion (CV Doc. 1) is DISMISSED without prejudice.

2.

All pending motions are denied as moot.

3.

The Clerk is directed to close this case.

4.

The Clerk is directed to terminate from pending status the Motion found at
Doc. 76 in the underlying criminal case, 8:13-cr-557-T-30AEP.

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DONE and ORDERED in Tampa, Florida, this 27th day of February, 2017.

Copies furnished to:
Counsel/Parties of Record

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