Cotton v. Werlich
Filing
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ORDER DISMISSING CASE with prejudice. Signed by Judge David R. Herndon on 11/30/2017. (tjk)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS
SHANNON L. COTTON,
No. 14735-026,
Petitioner,
vs.
Case No. 17-cv-1140-DRH
T.G. WERLICH,
Respondent.
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
HERNDON, District Judge:
Petitioner, currently incarcerated in the FCI-Greenville, brings this habeas
corpus action pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241 to challenge the constitutionality of
his confinement. He asserts that in light of Mathis v. United States, –– U.S. ––,
136 S. Ct. 2243, 2250 (2016), and United States v. Hinkle, 832 F.3d 569 (5th Cir.
2016), he should not have been subject to the career-offender enhancement under
the United States Sentencing Guidelines (“USSG”) based on his 2 previous Illinois
drug-related convictions. (Doc. 1).
This case is now before the Court for a preliminary review of the Petition
pursuant to Rule 4 of the Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases in United States
District Courts. Rule 4 provides that upon preliminary consideration by the
district court judge, “[i]f it plainly appears from the petition and any attached
exhibits that the petitioner is not entitled to relief in the district court, the judge
must dismiss the petition and direct the clerk to notify the petitioner.” Rule 1(b)
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of those Rules gives this Court the authority to apply the rules to other habeas
corpus cases, such as this action under 28 U.S.C. § 2241.
After carefully
reviewing the Petition, the Court concludes that this action is subject to dismissal.
The Petition
On November 20, 2007, in the Central District of Illinois, Petitioner pled
guilty to distributing 5 grams or more of cocaine base, and to possession of 5
grams or more of cocaine base with intent to distribute (21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and
(b)(1)(B)). (Doc. 1, pp. 1-2); United States v. Cotton, Case No. 07-cr-20019 (C.D.
Ill.). He was sentenced to 262 months, under the career offender enhancement
found in the United States Sentencing Guidelines (“USSG”), § 4B1.1 and
§ 4B1.2(b), because he had 2 prior state felony convictions for controlled
substance offenses.
(Doc. 1, pp. 4-5); see also Cotton, Case No. 07-cr-20019
(C.D. Ill.), Doc. 11.
In 1998, Petitioner had been convicted in Champaign County, Illinois (Case
No. 98-CF-345), of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, in
violation of 720 ILCS 570/401(c)(1).
(Doc. 1, p. 5).
He also had a prior
conviction for unlawful delivery of a controlled substance (Champaign County
Case No. 00-CF-1559), in violation of 720 ILCS 570/407(b)(2). 1 (Doc. 1, p. 5);
Cotton, Case No. 07-cr-20019 (C.D. Ill.), Doc. 11. The Illinois statute provides
that it is “unlawful . . . to manufacture or deliver, or possess with intent to
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720 ILCS 570/407(b)(2) provides for an enhanced penalty for a violation of 720 ILCS 570/401(c) on
premises including schools, public parks, and public housing facilities.
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manufacture or deliver, a controlled substance[.]” 720 ILCS 570/401; (Doc. 1, p.
5).
Petitioner references the federal sentencing guideline definitions at USSG §
4B1.2(b), which state that a “controlled substance offense” is one “that prohibits
the manufacture, . . . distribution, or dispensing of a controlled substance . . . or
the possession of a controlled substance . . . with intent to . . . distribute or
dispense.” A person who has 2 convictions for a controlled substance offense (or
a crime of violence) is subject to an enhanced sentence as a “career offender.”
USSG § 4B1.1(a).
Petitioner argues that his 2 Illinois drug-related convictions were
improperly used to enhance his federal sentence, because the wording of the
Illinois statute is different from the wording found in § 4B1.2(b). He asserts that
the Illinois offense of “delivering” a controlled substance is materially different
from “distributing” or “dispensing” a controlled substance, as provided in the
federal guidelines for application of the career-offender enhancement. (Doc. 1, p.
5). Relying on Mathis v. United States, –– U.S. ––, 136 S. Ct. 2243 (2016), and
United States v. Hinkle, 832 F.3d 569 (5th Cir. 2016), Petitioner urges the Court
to agree that the career offender guidelines were “improperly broadened” when his
prior Illinois drug offenses were used to enhance his sentence. (Doc. 1, p. 5).
Discussion
As a general matter, “28 U.S.C. § 2241 and 28 U.S.C. § 2255 provide
federal prisoners with distinct forms of collateral relief. Section 2255 applies to
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challenges to the validity of convictions and sentences, whereas § 2241 applies to
challenges to the fact or duration of confinement.” Hill v. Werlinger, 695 F.3d
644, 645 (7th Cir. 2012) (citing Walker v. O'Brien, 216 F.3d 626, 629 (7th Cir.
2000). See also Brown v. Rios, 696 F.3d 638, 640 (7th Cir. 2012); Valona v.
United States, 138 F.3d 693, 694 (7th Cir. 1998). Here, Petitioner is attacking
his conviction and sentence, which points to § 2255 as the proper avenue for
relief.
Under very limited circumstances, a prisoner may employ § 2241 to
challenge his federal conviction or sentence.
28 U.S.C. § 2255(e) contains a
“savings clause” which authorizes a federal prisoner to file a § 2241 petition
where the remedy under § 2255 is “inadequate or ineffective to test the legality of
his detention.” 28 U.S.C. § 2255(e). See Hill, 695 F.3d at 648 (“‘Inadequate or
ineffective’ means that ‘a legal theory that could not have been presented under §
2255 establishes the petitioner’s actual innocence.’”) (citing Taylor v. Gilkey, 314
F.3d 832, 835 (7th Cir. 2002). See also United States v. Prevatte, 300 F.3d 792,
798-99 (7th Cir. 2002); In re Davenport, 147 F.3d 605, 609-10 (7th Cir. 1998)
(§ 2255 limitation on filing successive motions does not render it an inadequate
remedy for a prisoner who had filed a prior § 2255 motion).
The Seventh Circuit has explained that, in order to fit within the savings
clause following Davenport, a petitioner must meet three conditions. First, he
must show that he relies on a new statutory interpretation case rather than a
constitutional case. Secondly, he must show that he relies on a decision that he
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could not have invoked in his first § 2255 motion, and that case must apply
retroactively. Lastly, he must demonstrate that there has been a “fundamental
defect” in his conviction or sentence that is grave enough to be deemed a
miscarriage of justice. Brown v. Caraway, 719 F.3d 583, 586 (7th Cir. 2013). See
also Brown v. Rios, 696 F3d 638, 640 (7th Cir. 2012).
This Court has found that a collateral attack invoking Mathis v. United
States, –– U.S. ––, 136 S. Ct. 2243, 2250 (2016), facially satisfies the three
conditions which would allow consideration in a § 2241 proceeding under the
savings clause of § 2255(e).
See e.g., Hoskins v. Werlich, No. 17-cv-652-DRH
(S.D. Ill. July 28, 2017); Wadlington v. Werlich, No. 17-cv-449-DRH (S.D. Ill. July
17, 2017); Davis v. USA, 17-cv-379-DRH (S.D. Ill. June 14, 2017); Warren v.
Werlich, No. 17-cv-84-DRH (S.D. Ill. Mar. 27, 2017).
However, the Seventh
Circuit on November 8, 2017, issued an opinion squarely rejecting the very
argument raised by Petitioner herein. United States v. Redden, 875 F.3d 374 (7th
Cir. 2017) (career offender enhancement of sentence based on Illinois controlled
substance convictions was proper, distinguishing United States v. Hinkle, 832
F.3d 569 (5th Cir. 2016)).
Under this authority, the instant Petition must be
dismissed.
The Redden court, referencing the Illinois statute’s definitions relating to
controlled substance offenses, stated:
The definition that underlies the offense established by 720 ILCS
570/401 tells us that “deliver” and “delivery” mean an “actual,
constructive or attempted transfer”. 720 ILCS 570/102(h). Any
conduct meeting the state's definition of “delivery” comes within §
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4B1.2(b) because “transfer” is just another word for distribute or
dispense.
Redden, 875 F.3d at 374. The Illinois statute does not contain the element of
“offering” a drug for sale, as did the Texas statute that led the Hinkle court to
invalidate Hinkle’s career-offender enhancement.
Given the equivalence of
“delivery” in Illinois with “distribute or dispense” under the federal definitions, the
Seventh Circuit concluded that “it would be frivolous . . . to argue that Redden is
not a career offender” based on his Illinois drug convictions. Redden, 875 F.3d at
374.
Applying the Redden court’s binding precedent, Petitioner’s Illinois
convictions for “delivery” and possession with intent to “deliver” controlled
substances were properly used as predicate convictions for his career-offender
sentence under USSG § 4B1.1, because they involved “distribution” or
“dispensing” of a controlled substance (or possession with intent) within the
meaning of USSG § 4B1.2(b). Petitioner is therefore not entitled to relief in this
action.
Disposition
To summarize, Petitioner’s claim that his Illinois drug convictions should
not be considered “controlled substance offenses” that would trigger enhanced
career-offender sentencing is frivolous under United States v. Redden, 875 F.3d at
374. Accordingly, the Petition is summarily DISMISSED with prejudice.
If Petitioner wishes to appeal this dismissal, he may file a notice of appeal
with this Court within 60 days of the entry of judgment. FED. R. APP. P. 4(a)(1)(B).
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A motion for leave to appeal in forma pauperis should set forth the issues
Petitioner plans to present on appeal. See FED. R. APP. P. 24(a)(1)(C). If Petitioner
does choose to appeal and is allowed to proceed IFP, he will be liable for a portion
of the $505.00 appellate filing fee (the amount to be determined based on his
prison trust fund account records for the past six months) irrespective of the
outcome of the appeal. See FED. R. APP. P. 3(e); 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2); Ammons
v. Gerlinger, 547 F.3d 724, 725-26 (7th Cir. 2008); Sloan v. Lesza, 181 F.3d 857,
858-59 (7th Cir. 1999); Lucien v. Jockisch, 133 F.3d 464, 467 (7th Cir. 1998). A
proper and timely motion filed pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 59(e)
may toll the 60-day appeal deadline. A Rule 59(e) motion must be filed no more
than twenty-eight (28) days after the entry of the judgment, and this 28-day
deadline cannot be extended.
It is not necessary for Petitioner to obtain a
certificate of appealability from this disposition of his § 2241 Petition. Walker v.
O’Brien, 216 F.3d 626, 638 (7th Cir. 2000).
The Clerk is DIRECTED to close this case and enter judgment accordingly.
Judge Herndon
2017.11.30
12:10:58 -06'00'
IT IS SO ORDERED.
United States District Judge
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