Severiano-Borja v. United States of America

Filing 7

ORDER by District Judge Kenneth J. Gonzales adopting 6 Magistrate Judge's Proposed Findings and Recommended Disposition; and denying 1 Motion to Vacate/Set Aside/Correct Sentence (2255 under Johnson v. USA) filed by Hector Enrique Severiano-Borja. (tah)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF NEW MEXICO

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff-Respondent,
v.

CIV 16-0418 KG/KBM
CR 14-2133 KG

HECTOR SEVERIANO-BORJA,
Defendant-Movant.

ORDER ADOPTING MAGISTRATE JUDGE’S
PROPOSED FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDED DISPOSITION
The Chief Magistrate Judge filed her Proposed Findings and Recommended Disposition
(“PFRD”) on January 30, 2017 (CV Doc. 6 & CR Doc. 94). Judge Molzen thoroughly reviewed
the record in both the criminal and civil actions and determined conclusively that Mr. SeverianoBorja is not eligible for relief pursuant to § 2255. Specifically, in the PFRD she found that
no residual clause was employed to enhance Defendant Severiano-Borja’s
sentence. Instead, the prior “aggravated felony” convictions used to enhance
Severiano-Borja’s sentence are drug trafficking crimes which are expressly
identified as aggravated felonies under 8 U.S.C. § 1101(43)(C). Thus, there
was no need to resort to the residual clause to see if the convictions otherwise
qualified as crimes of violence under 8 U.S.C. § 1101(43)(F). Similarly,
Defendant Severiano-Borja was sentenced as a career offender pursuant to
USSG § 4B1.1 based solely on controlled substance trafficking offenses and
not based on any crimes of violence. Again, no residual clause was used to
enhance his sentencing guideline range.
PFRD at 2-3. On that basis, Judge Molzen recommended that I deny the §2255 Motion.
The proposed findings notified the parties of their ability to file timely objections within
14 days of service, and that failure to do so waives review. To-date, Defendant-Movant

has not filed any objections, and there is nothing in the record indicating that the
proposed findings were not delivered.
Moreover, the Court notes that since the entry of the PFRD, the Supreme Court
entered its decision in Beckles v. United States, 580 U.S. ___, No. 15-8544, slip op
(March 6, 2017). In Beckles, the Supreme Court held that the advisory United States
Sentencing Guidelines, such as that challenged here, are not subject to a void-forvagueness challenge. Id., slip op at 5.
Wherefore,
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED AS FOLLOWS:
1.

The Chief Magistrate Judge’s Proposed Findings and Recommended Disposition
is adopted;

2.

Mr. Severiano-Borja’s motion pursuant to § 2255 is denied, and this action
will be dismissed with prejudice; and

3.

A final order will be entered concurrently herewith.

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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