Gates v. United States of America

Filing 4

ORDER denying 1 Pro Se Motion to Vacate/Set Aside/Correct Sentence (2255) (Criminal Action 07-cr-15) and denying 2 Pro Se Motion to Amend/Correct 2255 motion by Plaintiff Michael Anthony Gates. A certificate of appealability under 28 U.S.C. § 2253 will not issue. Signed by Judge Linda R Reade on 07/13/2017. (copy w/NEF mailed to Pltf) (jjh)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF IOWA
CEDAR RAPIDS DIVISION

MICHAEL ANTHONY GATES,
Movant,

No. C16-0010-LRR
No. CR07-0015-LRR

vs.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

ORDER

This matter appears before the court on the movant’s motion to vacate, set aside or
correct sentence pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255 (civil docket no. 1). The clerk’s office filed
such motion on January 13, 2016. Additionally, the movant filed a motion to amend (civil
docket no. 2) on February 21, 2017.
The movant’s motion to vacate, set aside or correct sentence pursuant to 28 U.S.C.
§ 2255 and motion to amend are untimely. See generally 28 U.S.C. § 2255(f). Moreover,
relief is unavailable in light of the law. More specifically, the United States Supreme
Court held that the residual clause of the Armed Career Criminal Act (“ACCA”) defining
“violent felony” was unconstitutionally vague. See Johnson v. United States, ___ U.S.
___, ___, 135 S. Ct. 2551, 2557 (2015). In Welch v. United States, ___ U.S. ___, 136
S. Ct. 1257 (2016), the United States Supreme Court made Johnson’s holding retroactive
to cases on collateral review. Here, however, the court did not sentence the movant under
the ACCA. Instead, the court relied on the United States Sentencing Guidelines when
sentencing the movant. And, on March 6, 2017, the United States Supreme Court
concluded that the United States Sentencing Guidelines are not subject to a void for
vagueness challenge under the Fifth Amendment’s Due Process Clause. See Beckles v.

United States, ___ U.S. ___, ___, ___ S. Ct. ___, ___, 2017 WL 855781, at *6 (Mar. 6,
2017). Therefore, the movant’s motion to vacate, set aside or correct sentence pursuant
to 28 U.S.C. § 2255 (civil docket no. 1) and motion to amend (civil docket no. 2) are
denied.1 As for a certificate of appealability, the movant has not made the requisite
showing. See 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(2). Accordingly, a certificate of appealability under

1

The court notes that the movant’s reliance on Mathis v. United States, ___ U.S.
___, 136 S. Ct. 2243 (2016), which reiterated the methodology for determining whether
a prior conviction qualifies as a violent felony for purposes of the ACCA, is unavailing
because the Supreme Court did not recognize a new right that is retroactively applicable
on collateral review. Cf. Headbird v. United States, 813 F.3d 1092, 1097 (8th Cir. 2016)
(upholding dismissal under § 2255(f) because Descamps v. United States, ___ U.S. ___,
133 S. Ct. 2276 (2013), did not involve “newly recognized” right). Additionally, United
States v. Hinkle, 832 F.3d 569 (5th Cir. 2016), has no bearing on this case because (1) the
Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals addressed the defendant’s direct appeal claims, not claims
raised in collateral proceedings under 28 U.S.C. § 2255, and (2) the court is required to
apply the law as stated by the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court, not
the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. The court also notes that it properly relied on 21
U.S.C. § 851 when sentencing the movant. See generally 21 U.S.C. § 802(44) (defining
“felony drug offense” as “an offense that is punishable by imprisonment for more than one
year under any law that prohibits or restricts conduct relating to narcotic drugs . . .”);
United States v. Figueroa-Alvarez, 795 F.3d 892, 894-95 (8th Cir. 2015) (discussing
meaning of “felony”); United States v. Jones, 559 F.3d 831, 837 (8th Cir. 2009) (rejecting
argument that prior drug conviction could not be used to enhance sentence under 21
U.S.C. §§ 841(b)(1)(A) and 851); United States v. Postley, 449 F.3d 831, 832 (8th Cir.
2006) (explaining that “felony offense” for sentencing purposes includes any federal, state
or local offense punishable by death or a term of imprisonment exceeding one year,
regardless of the actual sentence imposed).
2

28 U.S.C. § 2253 will not issue.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
DATED this 13th day of July, 2017.

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