The opinion
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
9
EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
10
11 JABORIE BROWN, Case No. 1:21-cv-00629-EPG-HC
12 Petitioner, FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATION TO
DISMISS PETITION FOR WRIT OF
13 v. HABEAS CORPUS FOR LACK OF
JURISDICTION
14 A. CIOLLI,
ORDER DIRECTING CLERK OF COURT
15 Respondent. TO ASSIGN DISTRICT JUDGE
16
17 Petitioner Jaborie Brown is a federal prisoner proceeding pro se with a petition for writ of
18 habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241. In the instant petition, Petitioner challenges a
19 sentence imposed by the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. As this
20 Court does not have jurisdiction to entertain the instant petition pursuant to the savings clause of
21 28 U.S.C. § 2255(e), the undersigned recommends dismissal of the petition.
22 I.
23 BACKGROUND
24 Petitioner is currently incarcerated at the United States Penitentiary in Atwater,
25 California. (ECF No. 1 at 1).1 On April 15, 2021, Petitioner filed the instant federal petition for
26 writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241 challenging a sentence imposed by the
27 United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida in Case No. 03-cr-20678. (ECF
1 No. 1). Petitioner argues that his sentence imposed by the United States District Court for the
2 Southern District of Florida in Case No. 03-cr-20678 should be served concurrently with his
3 prior sentence in Case No. 1:99-cr-00927-PSR-1. (ECF No. 1 at 6, 9–11). Petitioner requests that
4 the Court order the Federal Bureau of Prisons (“BOP”) to run Petitioner’s sentence concurrently
5 with his prior sentence. (Id. at 11).
6 II.
7 DISCUSSION
8 Rule 4 of the Rules Governing Section 22542 Cases requires preliminary review of a
9 habeas petition and allows a district court to dismiss a petition before the respondent is ordered
10 to file a response if it “plainly appears from the petition and any attached exhibits that the
11 petitioner is not entitled to relief in the district court.”
12 A federal court may not entertain an action over which it has no jurisdiction. Hernandez
13 v. Campbell, 204 F.3d 861, 865 (9th Cir. 2000) (per curiam). Thus, a district court must address
14 the threshold question whether a petition was properly brought under § 2241 or § 2255 in order
15 to determine whether the district court has jurisdiction. Id. A federal prisoner may challenge the
16 execution of his sentence by filing a petition for writ of habeas corpus under 28 U.S.C. § 2241.
17 Zavala v. Ives, 785 F.3d 367, 370 n.3 (9th Cir. 2015). A federal prisoner who wishes to challenge
18 the validity or constitutionality of his federal conviction or sentence must do so by moving the
19 court that imposed the sentence to vacate, set aside, or correct the sentence under 28 U.S.C.
20 § 2255. Alaimalo v. United States, 645 F.3d 1042, 1046 (9th Cir. 2011). “The general rule is that
21 a motion under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 is the exclusive means by which a federal prisoner may test the
22 legality of his detention, and that restrictions on the availability of a § 2255 motion cannot be
23 avoided through a petition under 28 U.S.C. § 2241.” Stephens v. Herrera, 464 F.3d 895, 897 (9th
24 Cir. 2006) (citations omitted).
25 Nevertheless, a “savings clause” or “escape hatch” exists in § 2255(e) by which a federal
26 prisoner may seek relief under § 2241 if he can demonstrate the remedy available under § 2255
27
2 The Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases may apply to § 2241 habeas petitions. See Rule 1(b), Rules Governing
1 to be “inadequate or ineffective to test the validity of his detention.” Alaimalo, 645 F.3d at 1047
2 (internal quotation marks omitted) (quoting 28 U.S.C. § 2255); Harrison v. Ollison, 519 F.3d
3 952, 956 (9th Cir. 2008); Hernandez, 204 F.3d at 864–65. The Ninth Circuit has recognized that
4 it is a very narrow exception. See Ivy v. Pontesso, 328 F.3d 1057, 1059 (9th Cir. 2003). The
5 remedy under § 2255 usually will not be deemed inadequate or ineffective merely because a
6 prior § 2255 motion was denied, or because a remedy under § 2255 is procedurally barred. Id.
7 The burden is on the petitioner to show that the remedy is inadequate or ineffective. Redfield v.
8 United States, 315 F.2d 76, 83 (9th Cir. 1963). A petitioner may proceed under § 2241 pursuant
9 to the savings clause when the petitioner “(1) makes a claim of actual innocence, and (2) has not
10 had an ‘unobstructed procedural shot’ at presenting that claim.” Stephens, 464 F.3d at 898 (citing
11 Ivy, 328 F.3d at 1060).
12 Petitioner argues that his sentence imposed by the United States District Court for the
13 Southern District of Florida in Case No. 03-cr-20678 should be served concurrently with his
14 prior sentence in Case No. 1:99-cr-00927-PSR-1. Petitioner purports to contest how his sentence
15 is being carried out, calculated, or credited, and he argues that he was not given any credit for
16 time spent in official detention prior to the date his sentence commenced, in violation of 18
17 U.S.C. § 3585(b)(2). (ECF No. 1 at 1, 6, 9). However, in actuality the petition challenges the
18 validity of the consecutive sentence imposed by the United States District Court for the Southern
19 District of Florida in Case No. 03-cr-20678. (ECF No. 1 at 6, 10–11). The Court finds that
20 Petitioner cannot raise such a claim under § 2241 because he has failed to satisfy the
21 requirements to proceed pursuant to the savings clause. Petitioner does not make a claim of
22 actual innocence and does not demonstrate that he has not had an unobstructed procedural shot at
23 presenting that claim. As Petitioner challenges the validity of his sentence, he must do so by
24 moving the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida to vacate, set aside,
25 or correct the sentence under 28 U.S.C. § 2255.
26 ///
27 ///
1 Il.
2 RECOMMENDATION & ORDER
3 Based on the foregoing, the undersigned HEREBY RECOMMENDS that the petition for
4 | writ of habeas corpus be DISMISSED for lack of jurisdiction.
5 Further, the Clerk of Court is DIRECTED to randomly ASSIGN a District Court Judge to
6 | the present matter.
7 This Findings and Recommendation is submitted to the assigned United States District
8 | Court Judge, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636 (b)(1)(B) and Rule 304 of the Local
9 | Rules of Practice for the United States District Court, Eastern District of California. Within
10 | THIRTY (30) days after service of the Findings and Recommendation, Petitioner may file
11 | written objections with the court and serve a copy on all parties. Such a document should be
12 | captioned “Objections to Magistrate Judge’s Findings and Recommendation.” The assigned
13 | United States District Court Judge will then review the Magistrate Judge’s ruling pursuant to 28
14 | U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(C). The parties are advised that failure to file objections within the specified
15 | time may waive the right to appeal the District Court’s order. Wilkerson v. Wheeler, 772 F.3d
16 | 834, 839 (9th Cir. 2014) (citing Baxter v. Sullivan, 923 F.2d 1391, 1394 (9th Cir. 1991)).
17
18 IT IS SO ORDERED.
19} Dated: _ May 12, 2021 [Jee hey —
0 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28