The opinion
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
TAMPA DIVISION
JAMES MOORE,
Petitioner,
v. Case No. 8:22-cv-1598-WFJ-MRM
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Respondent.
/
ORDER1
Before the Court is James Moore’s (“Petitioner”) Motion for Reconsideration
(Civ. Dkt. 20) concerning the Court’s Order (Civ. Dkt. 16) denying Petitioner’s
Motion to Vacate / Set Aside / Correct Sentence (Civ. Dkt. 3). Upon careful review,
the Court declines to reverse its ruling.
BACKGROUND
Between June 14, 2019, and October 31, 2019, Petitioner participated in a
conspiracy to distribute cocaine and heroin in the Middle District of Florida. Cr. Dkt.
S-390 at 6. He was ultimately charged with three counts in an eleven count
1 In this civil case, citations to the civil docket will be denoted as “Civ. Dkt. [document number].”
Citations to Petitioner’s prior criminal case, 8:20-cr-220-WFJ-MRM-5, will be denoted as “Cr.
Dkt. [document number].”
indictment lodged against all the conspirators: Count I—conspiracy to distribute and
possess with intent to distribute controlled substances in violation of the Controlled
Substance Act (the “CSA”), 21 U.S.C §§ 846(b)(1)(A) and 841(b)(1)(B); and Counts
IX & X—distributing a controlled substance containing a detectable amount of
cocaine in violation of §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C). Cr. Dkt. 1 at 1–7.
On August 3, 2021, Petitioner pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and
possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of a mixture and substance
containing cocaine in violation of section 846. Cr. Dkt. 271 at 1. The Court held a
change-of-plea hearing two days later. Cr. Dkt. 461. After a series of questioning—
during which Petitioner admitted to the facts underlying his plea agreement,
expressed his understanding of the rights he was waiving, and stated his satisfaction
with counsel—the Court found that Petitioner was entering into his guilty plea both
freely and voluntarily with the advice of counsel. Id. at 9–19. The Court accepted
the plea.
Prior to sentencing, the United States Probation Office produced a
Presentence Investigation Report (“PSR”). Cr. Dkt. S-390. The PSR established a
thirty point base offense level. Id. at 13. Petitioner was then given: (1) a seven point
career offender enhancement pursuant to U.S.S.G. §4B1.1 due to Petitioner’s prior
adult state felony convictions for controlled substance offenses, and instant
controlled substance offense; and (2) a three point deduction due to Petitioner’s
acceptance of responsibility. Id. at 13–14. With a total offense level of thirty-four
points and a criminal history category of IV, the PSR calculated Petitioner’s advisory
guidelines at a range of 262 to 327 months’ imprisonment. Id. at 33.
On March 3, 2022, the Court held a sentencing hearing. Cr. Dkt. 462. Neither
Petitioner nor Respondent objected to the PSR’s findings. Id. at 3–4. Taking
Petitioner’s age and medical condition into account, the Court sentenced Petitioner
to 212 months’ imprisonment—a 50-month downward variance from the bottom of
the guidelines. Id. at 11. Petitioner did not appeal.
On July 18, 2022, Petitioner filed a motion for postconviction relief. Civ. Dkt.
3. Petitioner averred that his counsel was ineffective for failing to argue that: (I)
sections 841 and 846 violate the Fifth Amendment’s Due Process Clause as being
unconstitutionally vague; (II) Petitioner’s convictions under section 841 and Fla.
Stat. § 893.13 do not qualify as controlled substance offenses under section 4B1.2;
and (III) section 846 does not qualify as a controlled substance offense under the
same. Civ. Dkt. 3-1. On October 20, 2022, Respondent filed its opposition. Civ. Dkt.
10.
On May 5, 2023, Petitioner filed a supplement to his motion for
postconviction relief. Civ. Dkt. 11-1. Petitioner noted that, under United States v.
Dupree, 57 F.4th 1269, 1271 (11th Cir. 2023), section 846 is no longer a controlled
substance offense within the meaning of the career offender guideline. Petitioner
consequently argued that he should not have received the career offender
enhancement.
On August 1, 2023, the Court denied Petitioner’s motion for postconviction
relief. Civ. Dkt. 16. The Court found that Petitioner’s ineffective assistance of
counsel claims were meritless. The Court also found that, while “Petitioner would
not have received the career offender enhancement had Dupree been decided at the
time of his sentencing[,]” “[i]t does not apply retroactively to Petitioner.” Id. at 5.
On August 24, Petitioner filed the instant Motion for Reconsideration. Civ.
Dkt. 20. Petitioner essentially recycles the arguments made in his initial motion for
postconviction relief.
DISCUSSION
“Reconsideration of a prior order is an extraordinary remedy to be used
sparingly.” Drew v. Ocwen Loan Servicing, LLC, No. 8:14-CV-369-T-26TGW,
2014 WL 10504424, at *1 (M.D. Fla. Apr. 29, 2014). “[C]ourts have delineated three
major grounds justifying reconsideration: (1) an intervening change in controlling
law; (2) the availability of new evidence; (3) the need to correct clear error or prevent
manifest injustice.” Sussman v. Salem, Saxon & Nielsen, P.A., 153 F.R.D. 689, 694
(M.D. Fla. 1994) (citations omitted). Litigants who assert clear error and manifest
injustice should consider “whether what may seem to be a clear error is in fact simply
a point of disagreement between the Court and the litigant.” Lamar Advert. of
Mobile, Inc. v. City of Lakeland, Fla., 189 F.R.D. 480, 489 (M.D. Fla. 1999).
Petitioner presents no reason to utilize the extraordinary remedy of
reconsideration here. There has been no intervening change in controlling law, nor
has any new evidence become available. What is more, the “error” Petitioner
complains of clearly represents a disagreement between the Court and Petitioner
concerning the import of caselaw the Court discussed in its previous ruling.
CONCLUSION
Accordingly, it is hereby ORDERED and ADJUDGED:
(1) Petitioner’s Motion for Reconsideration (Civ. Dkt. 20) is DENIED.
DONE AND ORDERED at Tampa, Florida, on August 31, 2023.
/s/ William F. Jung
WILLIAM F. JUNG
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
COPIES FURNISHED TO:
Counsel of Record
Petitioner, pro se