Jaramillo-Echeverria v. United States

CourtDistrict Court, N.D. Alabama
DecidedMay 28, 2020
Docket2:16-cv-08110
StatusUnknown

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

Bluebook
Jaramillo-Echeverria v. United States, (N.D. Ala. 2020).

Opinion

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ALABAMA SOUTHERN DIVISION

SERAFIN JARAMILLO- } ECHEVERRIA, } } Plaintiff, } } Case Numbers: v. } 2:16-cv-08110-MHH; } 2:15-cr-00146-MHH-TMP UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, } } Defendant. }

MEMORANDUM OPINION

Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255, Serafin Jaramillo-Echeverria has challenged his convictions for federal drug and firearms offenses. (Docs. 1, 3; Doc. 34 in 2:15-cr-00146). In his original motion to vacate, Mr. Jaramillo-Echeverria challenged only his conviction for knowingly carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A). (Doc. 1). Mr. Jaramillo-Echeverria then filed a motion to amend, adding as grounds for relief his contention that his attorney was ineffective. (Doc. 3, pp. 1–2). Mr. Jaramillo-Echeverria also has asked the Court to modify his sentence pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(2). (Doc. 17; Doc. 35 in 2:15-cr-00146). Because the factual background for Mr. Jaramillo-Echeverria’s § 2255 motion and for his § 3582(c)(2) motion is the same, the Court will resolve both motions in this opinion, evaluating each motion under its relevant statutory framework. The Court will enter this opinion in Cases 2:15-cr-00146 and 2:16-cv-08110.

I. Background On July 15, 2015, Mr. Jaramillo-Echeverria, with the assistance of a Spanish interpreter, pleaded guilty to all counts in a five-count indictment. Mr.

Jaramillo-Echeverria pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of methamphetamine, a violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C), Count I; two counts of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine a violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and

(b)(1)(A), Counts II and IV; one count of knowingly carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A), Count III; and one count of being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm, a violation of

18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(5), Count V. (Doc. 17 in 2:15-cr-00146). There was no written plea agreement, so Mr. Jaramillo-Echeverria did not waive his right to file a post-judgment motion or an appeal. During the plea hearing and the subsequent sentencing hearing, the Federal Public Defender represented Mr.

Jaramillo-Echeverria. Based on his sworn answers to the Court during his change of plea hearing, the Court determined that Mr. Jaramillo-Echeverria was acting voluntarily, and the Court accepted Mr. Jaramillo-Echeverria’s guilty pleas. (July

15, 2015 minute entry). Mr. Jaramillo-Echeverria’s convictions stem from two incidents in which Mr. Jaramillo-Echeverria sold methamphetamine to a DEA task force confidential

source – a CS.1 On April 8, 2015, Mr. Jaramillo-Echeverria sold a “sample” of methamphetamine to the CS and agreed to sell the CS more methamphetamine in the future. (Doc. 27, p. 6, ¶ 11 in 2:15-cr-00146).2 During the second sale on April

10, 2015, task force officers arrested Mr. Jaramillo-Echeverria and recovered a loaded Hi-Point .45 caliber semi-automatic weapon from his waistband. Agents also recovered a gift bag containing 525.5 net grams of methamphetamine, which converts to 505.2 grams of pure methamphetamine. (Doc. 27, p. 6, ¶ 13 in

2:15-cr-00146).3 After officers advised Mr. Jaramillo-Echeverria of his Miranda rights in Spanish, Mr. Jaramillo-Echeverria directed the agents to his home, gave verbal and written consent to a search, and revealed a hidden compartment in the

wall containing five plastic bags containing 123.7 net grams of methamphetamine and a digital scale. (Doc. 27, p. 7, ¶¶ 14–15 in 2:15-cr-00146).4

1 These facts were set out in the Presentence Investigation Report, (Doc. 27 in 2:15-cr-00146), and the Court adopted these facts without change during sentencing. (Doc. 30 in 2:15-cr-00146).

2 DEA Chemical analysis showed the sample to be 3.4 net grams of methamphetamine at 94% purity, resulting in 3.1 grams of pure methamphetamine. (Doc. 27, p. 7, ¶ 16 in 2:15-cr-00146).

3 DEA Chemical analysis showed the 525.5 net grams of methamphetamine was 96.2% pure, resulting in 505.2 grams of pure methamphetamine. (Doc. 27, p. 7, ¶ 16 in 2:15-cr-00146).

4 DEA Chemical analysis of the substance in the baggies revealed 123.7 net grams of methamphetamine that was 91.1% pure, resulting in 112.6 grams of pure substance. (Doc. 27, p. 7, ¶ 16 in 2:15-cr-00146). Both Mr. Jaramillo-Echeverria’s statement of his willingness to sell methamphetamine to the CS again and the volume of the methamphetamine that Mr.

Jaramillo-Echeverria possessed evidence his intent to distribute the illegal substance. The statutory maximum term of imprisonment for possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine is life, and the mandatory

minimum is 10 years. 21 U.S.C. § 841(b)(1)(A). The maximum term for carrying a firearm during and in relation to drug trafficking is life, and the mandatory minimum is five years imprisonment. 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A). A sentence for carrying a firearm during and in relation to drug trafficking must run consecutive to

sentences for other convictions, including the underlying crime. 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(D)(ii). The statutory maximum for being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm is 10 years. 18 U.S.C. § 924(a)(2).

Based on Mr. Jaramillo-Echeverria’s total offense level and criminal history, the United States Probation Office calculated a guideline imprisonment range for him of 108 months to 135 months for the drug and alien in possession of a firearm charges, which converted to a range of 120 to 135 months after application of the

mandatory 10-year minimum under 21 U.S.C. § 841(b)(1)(A). The guideline range for carrying a firearm during and in relation to drug trafficking was 60 consecutive months. (Doc. 27, p. 15, ¶¶ 62–64 in 2:15-cr-00146). The Court adopted the

calculated guideline range and sentenced Mr. Jaramillo-Echeverria to 120 months on Counts I, II, IV, and V, and 60 consecutive months on Count III for carrying a firearm during and in relation to drug trafficking. (Doc. 29, p. 2 in 2:15-cr-00146).

Because Mr. Jaramillo-Echeverria did not appeal his conviction or sentence, his conviction became final on March 9, 2016, fourteen days after the Court entered judgment against him. Murphy v. United States, 634 F.3d 1303, 1307 (11th Cir.

2011) (“[W]hen a defendant does not appeal his conviction or sentence, the judgment of conviction becomes final when the time for seeking that review expires.”); Fed. R. App. P.

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