CHARLES J. KAHN, Jr., Magistrate Judge.
This case is before the court on Defendant's pleading titled "28 U.S.C. § 2255(f)(3) or construe as Request for Equitable tolling and motion for Out of Time Appeal" (doc. 80). Defendant filed this pleading in the Middle District of Florida, which transferred Defendant's submission to this court. Rule 4(b) of the Rules Governing Section 2255 Proceedings provides in part that "[i]f it plainly appears from the face of the motion and any attached exhibits and the record of prior proceedings that the moving party is not entitled to relief, the judge must dismiss the motion and direct the clerk to notify the moving party." After review of the record, it is the opinion of the undersigned that Defendant's motion should be summarily dismissed.
A jury found Defendant guilty of knowingly possessing a firearm as a convicted felon (doc. 29) and on October 28, 2003 he was sentenced to a term of 264 months imprisonment (docs. 33, 35). The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed in July of 2004, finding that the district court did not err by denying Defendant's motion to suppress, by applying the armed career criminal enhancement or by finding that he was subject to enhanced penalties under § 924(e) (doc. 60). After the Supreme Court vacated the appellate court's judgment and remanded for further consideration in light of United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220 (2005), the Eleventh Circuit again affirmed Defendant's sentence (doc. 65). The mandate issued on July 6, 2005.
Defendant filed his first § 2255 motion pursuant to the prison mailbox rule
As noted above, Defendant previously filed a § 2255 motion which was denied as untimely. Before a second or successive application for § 2255 relief is filed in the district court, the litigant must typically move in the appropriate court of appeals for an order authorizing the district court to consider the application. 28 U.S.C. § 2244(b)(3) and § 2255(h); Felker v. Turpin, 518 U.S. 651 (1996); United States v. Holt, 417 F.3d 1172, 1175 (11th Cir. 2005); Carter v. United States, 405 Fed. App'x 409 (11th Cir. 2010). Defendant has not obtained authorization from the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals to file a successive motion, and therefore, the instant motion is subject to dismissal.
The motion is also untimely. Title 28 U.S.C. § 2255(f) imposes a one-year time limitation on the filing of motions under this section. The one-year period of time runs from the latest of:
28 U.S.C. § 2255. Defendant's conviction became final over nine years before he filed the instant motion, but he asserts that the motion is timely filed pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255(f)(3), and, alternatively, that equitable tolling excuses the facially untimely filing.
Defendant relies on the Supreme Court's decision in Descamps v. United States, 133 S.Ct. 1924 (2013). The Supreme Court has not declared its decision in Descamps to be retroactively applicable on collateral review, and the undersigned has found no cases in which Descamps was held to be retroactive on collateral review, although many cases have held to the contrary.
Unless Defendant establishes his entitlement to equitable tolling, his motion is time barred. Jones v. United States, 304 F.3d 1035, 1038 (11th Cir. 2002) (citing Akins v. United States, 204 F.3d 1086, 1089 (11th Cir. 2000)). Equitable tolling is appropriate when a § 2255 motion is untimely because of "extraordinary circumstances that are both beyond [the defendant's] control and unavoidable even with diligence." Johnson v. United States, 340 F.3d 1219, 1226 (11th Cir. 2003) (citing Drew v. Dep't of Corr., 297 F.3d 1278, 1286 (11th Cir. 2002); Sandvik v. United States, 177 F.3d 1269, 1271 (11th Cir. 1999)). Otherwise stated, "a litigant seeking equitable tolling bears the burden of establishing two elements: (1) that he has been pursuing his rights diligently, and (2) that some extraordinary circumstance stood in his way." Lawrence v. Florida, 549 U.S. 327, 336 (2007) (citation omitted); Hutchinson v. Florida, 677 F.3d 1097, 1100 (11th Cir. 2012). It only applies in "truly extraordinary circumstances." Johnson, 340 F.3d at 1226 (citing Jones, 304 F.3d at 1039-40; Drew, 297 F.3d at 1286). The onus is on the moving defendant to show that he is entitled to this extraordinary relief. Johnson, 340 F.3d at 1226, Jones, 304 F.3d at 1040. The court will not relieve a petitioner who has sat upon his rights. United States v. Cicero, 214 F.3d 199, 203 (D.C. Cir. 2000) (citing Coleman v. Johnson, 184 F.3d 398, 402-03 (5th Cir. 1999)). Defendant offers no support for his claim that he is entitled to invoke the doctrine of equitable tolling. His motion should be dismissed.
Section 2255 Rule 11(a) provides that "[t]he district court must issue or deny a certificate of appealability when it enters a final order adverse to the applicant," and if a certificate is issued "the court must state the specific issue or issues that satisfy the showing required by 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(2)." A timely notice of appeal must still be filed, even if the court issues a certificate of appealability. § 2255 11(b).
After review of the record, the court finds no substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right. § 2253(c)(2); Slack v. McDaniel, 529 U.S. 473, 483-84 (2000) (explaining how to satisfy this showing) (citation omitted). Therefore, it is also recommended that the court deny a certificate of appealability in its final order.
The second sentence of Rule 11(a) provides: "Before entering the final order, the court may direct the parties to submit arguments on whether a certificate should issue." If there is an objection to this recommendation by either party, that party may bring this argument to the attention of the district judge in the objections permitted to this report and recommendation.
Based on the foregoing, it is respectfully
1. The motion to vacate, set aside, or correct sentence (doc. 80) be summarily
2. A certificate of appealability be