Armstrong v. United States

CourtDistrict Court, W.D. North Carolina
DecidedJuly 10, 2023
Docket3:22-cv-00631
StatusUnknown

This text of Armstrong v. United States (Armstrong v. United States) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. North Carolina primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Armstrong v. United States, (W.D.N.C. 2023).

Opinion

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT WESTERN DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA CHARLOTTE DIVISION 3:22-cv-631-KDB 3:20-cr-447-KDB-DCK-1

DONTAY LAFON ARMSTRONG, ) ) Petitioner, ) ) vs. ) ) ORDER UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ) ) Respondent. ) ____________________________________)

THIS MATTER is before the Court on Petitioner’s pro se Motion Under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 to Vacate, Set Aside, or Correct Sentence [Doc. 1]. Also pending is a Letter that is construed as a Motion to Appoint Counsel1 [Doc. 6]. I. BACKGROUND Petitioner was charged in the underlying criminal case with: crack cocaine trafficking conspiracy in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 846 (Count One); eight counts of distribution of, and possession with intent to distribute, crack cocaine in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(B) (Counts Two through Nine); possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c) (Count Ten); and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) (Count Eleven). [3:20-cr-447 (“CR”) Doc. 34]. The Government filed an Information pursuant to 21 U.S.C. §§ 841 and 851 setting forth Petitioner’s previous convictions for serious drug felonies, i.e., York County, South Carolina Case

1 Petitioner is cautioned that, in future, he must request relief from the Court in a “Motion.” Letters and other filings will not receive a response. Nos. 04GS4600871, 04GS4600872, 04GS4600873, 04GS4600874, 04GS4600877, 04GS4600868, 04GS4600869, and 04GS4600870. [CR Doc. 40]. Petitioner pleaded guilty to Counts One, Two, Nine, and Eleven pursuant to a written Plea Agreement in exchange for the United States’ agreement to dismiss the remaining counts. [CR Doc. 39 at ¶¶ 1-2]. Petitioner admitted that he is, in fact, guilty as charged in Counts One, Two,

Nine, and Eleven. [Id. at ¶ 1]. The Plea Agreement explains Petitioner’s minimum and maximum sentences as follows: for Count One, not less than 10 years’ imprisonment no more than life, and at least five years of supervised release; for Counts Two and Nine not less than five years nor more than 40 years’ imprisonment, and at least four years of supervised release; and for Count Eleven a maximum term of imprisonment of ten years and no more than three years of supervised release, or, if Petitioner has three previous convictions for a violent felony or serious drug offense, a minimum term of 15 years’ imprisonment and a maximum of life. [Id. at ¶ 5]. The Plea Agreement notes that an Information pursuant to § 851 has been filed, and that the Petitioner’s sentencing exposure accordingly increased: for Count One, to a mandatory minimum of 15 years, nor more

than life; and for Counts Two and Nine, to a mandatory minimum of not less than 10 years nor more than life. [Id.]. “HOWEVER, if the Defendant complies with each and every provision of the Plea Agreement, the United States will withdraw such Section 851 information at the time of sentencing….” [Id.]. The Plea Agreement provides that Petitioner’s breach of the agreement would “permit the United States to proceed on any dismissed, pending, superseding or additional charges and, if applicable, any Information pursuant to 21 U.S.C. § 851.” [Id. at ¶ 4]. The parties agreed to jointly recommend that: the amount of cocaine base that was known to or reasonably foreseeable by Petitioner was “in excess of eight hundred and forty (840) grams but less than twenty five thousand two hundred (25,200) grams” but the parties reserved the right to advocate the specific drug amount and whether the base offense level should be 32, 34, or 36; the career offender (U.S.S.G. § 4B1.1) or the armed career criminal (U.S.S.G. § 4B1.4) provision of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines may be used in determining the sentence, if applicable; the parties may argue their respective positions regarding other specific offense characteristics, cross- references, special instructions, reductions, enhancements, adjustments, and departures or

variances from the applicable guideline range; the United States will not oppose a sentence at the bottom end of the applicable guideline range; and the United States will inform the Court and the probation office of all facts pertinent to the sentencing process and will present any evidence requested by the Court. [Id. at ¶ 8]. The Plea Agreement further provides that: the Court would consider the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines in determining the sentence; the Court had not yet determined the sentence; any estimate of the likely sentence is a prediction rather than a promise; the Court would have the final discretion to impose any sentence up to the statutory maximum for each count; the Court would not be bound by the parties’ recommendations or agreements; and Petitioner would not be permitted to withdraw his plea as a result of the sentence

imposed. [Id. at ¶ 7]. The Plea Agreement provides that there is a factual basis for the guilty plea, and that Petitioner read and understood the Factual Basis filed with the Plea Agreement, which may be used by the Court, U.S. Probation Office, and United States without objection for any purpose, including to determine the applicable advisory guideline range or the appropriate sentence. [Id. at ¶ 11]. The Plea Agreement further provides that the Factual Basis does not necessarily represent all conduct relevant to sentencing, and that the Government may submit a Statement of Relevant Conduct to the Probation Office and present the Court with additional relevant facts for purposes of sentencing. [Id. at ¶ 12]. The Plea Agreement sets forth the rights Petitioner was waiving by pleading guilty, including the right: to withdraw the guilty plea once the Magistrate Judge has accepted it; to be tried by a jury; to be assisted by an attorney at trial; to confront and cross-examine witnesses; and not to be compelled to incriminate himself. [Id. at ¶¶ 13-15]. The Plea Agreement acknowledges that Petitioner had discussed with defense counsel his post-conviction and appellate rights, whether

there are potential issues relevant to an appeal or post-conviction action, and the possible impact of any such issue on the desirability of entering into the Plea Agreement. [Id. at ¶ 16]. Petitioner expressly waived the right to contest his conviction and sentence in post-conviction motions and on appeal except for claims of ineffective assistance of counsel or prosecutorial misconduct. [Id. at ¶¶ 17-18]. The Plea Agreement provides that “[t]here are no agreements, representations, or understandings between the parties in this case, other than those explicitly set forth in this Plea Agreement, or as noticed to the Court during the plea colloquy and contained in writing in a separate document signed by all parties.” [Id. at ¶ 28]. The Factual Basis that was filed along with the Plea Agreement provides in relevant part:

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Padilla v. Kentucky
559 U.S. 356 (Supreme Court, 2010)
McMann v. Richardson
397 U.S. 759 (Supreme Court, 1970)
Blackledge v. Perry
417 U.S. 21 (Supreme Court, 1974)
Blackledge v. Allison
431 U.S. 63 (Supreme Court, 1977)
Strickland v. Washington
466 U.S. 668 (Supreme Court, 1984)
Hill v. Lockhart
474 U.S. 52 (Supreme Court, 1985)
Pennsylvania v. Finley
481 U.S. 551 (Supreme Court, 1987)
Houston v. Lack
487 U.S. 266 (Supreme Court, 1988)
Slack v. McDaniel
529 U.S. 473 (Supreme Court, 2000)
Miller-El v. Cockrell
537 U.S. 322 (Supreme Court, 2003)
Harrington v. Richter
131 S. Ct. 770 (Supreme Court, 2011)
United States v. Herbert John Marin
961 F.2d 493 (Fourth Circuit, 1992)
Lafler v. Cooper
132 S. Ct. 1376 (Supreme Court, 2012)
Missouri v. Frye
132 S. Ct. 1399 (Supreme Court, 2012)
United States v. Edgar Sterling Lemaster
403 F.3d 216 (Fourth Circuit, 2005)
John Merzbacher v. Bobby Shearin
706 F.3d 356 (Fourth Circuit, 2013)
Meyer v. Branker
506 F.3d 358 (Fourth Circuit, 2007)
Bowie v. Branker
512 F.3d 112 (Fourth Circuit, 2008)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
Armstrong v. United States, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/armstrong-v-united-states-ncwd-2023.