DONETTA W. AMBROSE, Senior District Judge.
In this action, Defendant pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute oxycodone. He was subsequently sentenced to a term of imprisonment of 60 months. Defendant did not file an appeal. His sentence was later reduced pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(2). Before the Court is Defendant's Motion to Vacate his sentence, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255.
Relief is available under Section 2255 only under exceptional circumstances, when the claimed errors of law are "a fundamental defect which inherently results in a complete miscarriage of justice," or "an omission inconsistent with the rudimentary demands of fair procedure."
Defendant's Section 2255 Motion must be denied, on various grounds. Defendant argues that he had been sentenced in state court when the federal writ in this case was issued. He contends that the time frame covered in the federal indictment was the same time frame as that covered by his conviction in state court. Thus, he seeks relief under 18 U.S.C. § 3584, and an adjustment of his sentence, seeking credit for time served under his state sentence.
He does not claim that the alleged error arose due to ineffective assistance of counsel; indeed, it appears that counsel argued this matter before the District Court. To the extent that Defendant raises an argument already rejected, therefore, I reject that argument on the same grounds as did Judge Cercone in his Memorandum Order dated July 8, 2014. There, Judge Cercone determined that Defendant's sentence in the Court of Common Pleas of Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, should be considered a prior sentence under the guidelines. He reasoned that cocaine was at issue in state court, and oxycodone at issue in this Court; and that Defendant had already served his state court sentence prior to the federal indictment.
Further, I note that a movant procedurally defaults claims that he neglects to raise on appeal.
Under 28 U.S.C.§ 2253(c)(2), a "certificate of appealability may issue only if the applicant has made a substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right." When a district court denies a § 2255 motion on a procedural ground, without reaching the underlying constitutional claim, a certificate of appealability should issue only if (1) jurists of reason would find the district court's procedural ruling debatable, and (2) the petition states a valid claim that constitutional rights were denied.
AND NOW, this 17th day of March, 2016, IT IS SO ORDERED.