Opinion
CRIMINAL NO. 1:12-cr-79-LG-RHW CIVIL NO. 1:16-cv-233-LG
06-21-2017
ALBERT CRAFT, JR. PETITIONER v. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA RESPONDENT
ORDER DENYING MOTION MADE PURSUANT TO 28 U.S.C. § 2255 AND DENYING AS MOOT MOTION FOR VOLUNTARY DISMISSAL
BEFORE THE COURT is the [72] Motion to Vacate, Set Aside, or Correct a Federal Sentence Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255 filed by Defendant Albert Craft, Jr. Craft was sentenced to 63 months and three years supervised release for being a felon in possession of a firearm. In his § 2255 Motion, Craft challenges the constitutionality of the United States Sentencing Guideline § 4B1.2(a)(2) and further argues that his previous Mississippi state court conviction for robbery should not be considered a "crime of violence" under § 4B1.2(a). Having reviewed the applicable law, the Court finds that Craft's Motion should be denied. Craft's Motion for Voluntary Dismissal [75] will be denied as moot.
Craft was sentenced under U.S.S.G. § 2k2.1 which expressly adopts the "crime of violence" definition stated in § 4B1.2(a) and Application Note 1 of the Commentary to § 4B1.2. Section 4B1.2(a)(2) was amended on March 10, 2017, however, the Court must analyze the text at the time of sentencing.
The Government objected to Defendant's Motion for voluntary dismissal. --------
Section 2255 provides four grounds for relief: (1) "that the sentence was imposed in violation of the Constitution or laws of the United States;" (2) "that the court was without jurisdiction to impose such sentence;" (3) "that the sentence was in excess of the maximum authorized by law;" and (4) that the sentence is otherwise "subject to collateral attack." 28 U.S.C. § 2225(a). Craft contends that: (1) the residual clause in § 4B1.2(a)(2) is unconstitutionally vague; and (2) his prior Mississippi state court conviction for robbery is not a "crime of violence" under § 4B1.2(a) because (a) robbery does not meet the physical force requirement of § 4B1.2(a)(1); and (b) robbery is not an enumerated crime under § 4B1.2(a)(2) because it is enumerated in the Commentary to § 4B1.2, but not the body of § 4B1.2(a)(2). The Court discusses each contention in turn below.
(1) "Unconstitutionally Vague"
In Johnson v. United States, 135 S. Ct. 2551 (2015), the United States Supreme Court held that the residual clause of the Armed Career Criminal Act (ACCA), 18 U.S.C. § 924(e)(2)(B), was unconstitutionally vague because "the indeterminacy of the wide-ranging inquiry required by the residual clause both denies fair notice to defendants and invites arbitrary enforcement by judges." Id. at 2557. The Johnson Court left open the question, however, of whether the identically worded residual clause contained in Sentencing Guideline § 4B1.2(a)(2) - challenged here by Craft - was constitutional.
On March 6, 2017, the Court answered that question in Beckles v. United States, 137 S. Ct. 886 (2017). Specifically the Court found that "[u]nlike the ACCA, . . . the advisory guidelines do not fix the permissible range of sentences." Id. at 892. "To the contrary, they merely guide the exercise of a court's discretion in choosing an appropriate sentence within the statutory range." Id. "Accordingly, the Guidelines are not subject to a vagueness challenge under the Due Process Clause. The residual clause in § 4B1.2(a)(2) therefore is not void for vagueness." Id. Thus, pursuant to Beckles, the Court finds that Craft is not entitled to 2255 relief based on the challenge that § 4B1.2(a)(2) is unconstitutionally vague. See, e.g., United States v. Garza, No. 2:11-CR-117-1, 2017 WL 932933, at *2 (S.D. Tex. Mar. 8, 2017).
(2) "Crime of Violence"
Craft's argument pertaining to the physical force requirement of § 4B1.2(a)(1) necessarily assumes that the residual clause is unconstitutional, which Beckles holds it is not. Because Craft has not challenged whether robbery qualifies as a "crime of violence" under the residual clause, the Court need not decide whether robbery also qualifies under the physical force clause of § 4B1.2(a)(1). See, e.g., United States v. Rodriguez, 664 F.3d 1032, 1036 (6th Cir. 2011) (explaining that a prior felony can be considered a "crime of violence" if it is one of the enumerated offenses in the Commentary; meets the elements of the "physical force" clause; or qualifies under the "residual clause"); United States v. Tibbs, No. 15-1060, 2017 WL 1314933, at *4 (6th Cir. Apr. 10, 2017) ("However, in light of Beckles, we need not parse the Michigan armed robbery statute to determine whether it satisfies the force-as-an-element clause because it qualifies as a crime of violence under the residual clause of U.S.S.G. 4B1.2(a)."). But even so, courts have ruled that the Mississippi robbery statute does meet the physical force requirement. See, e.g., United States v. Culpepper, No. 3:12-CR-00118-CWR-FKB-10, 2017 WL 658777, at *3 (S.D. Miss. Feb. 15, 2017).
Furthermore, Craft again relies on Johnson in arguing that robbery is not a "crime of violence" under § 4B1.2(a) because it is an enumerated offense under the Commentary to § 4B1.2, but not in the body of § 4B1.2(a)(2). Beckles is dispositive of this issue, as well. Because Beckles held that the residual clause in § 4B1.2(a)(2) is not void for vagueness, "[t]he residual clause therefore provides a textual hook for the Guideline commentary's list of enumerated offenses, making the commentary consistent with and an interpretation or explanation of § 4B1.2 text." United States v. Garces, No. 16-40699, 2017 WL 1382069, at *1 (5th Cir. Apr. 18, 2017). Thus, Craft's argument in this respect is likewise without merit.
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that Petitioner Albert Craft, Jr.'s [72] Motion Under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 to Vacate, Set Aside, or Correct Sentence is DENIED.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that Petitioner Albert Craft, Jr.'s [75] Motion for Voluntary Dismissal is DENIED as moot.
SO ORDERED AND ADJUDGED this the 21st day of June, 2017.
/s/_________
LOUIS GUIROLA, JR.
CHIEF U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE