United States v. Samuels, JR., 10th Cir. (2011)
United States v. Samuels, JR., 10th Cir. (2011)
v.
LAWRENCE SAMUELS, JR.,
Defendant-Appellant.
____________________________
ORDER AND JUDGMENT *
After examining the briefs and appellate record, this panel has determined
unanimously to honor the parties request for a decision on the briefs without oral
argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(f); 10th Cir. R. 34.1(G). The case is therefore
submitted without oral argument.
This order and judgment is not binding precedent except under the
doctrines of law of the case, res judicata and collateral estoppel. It may be cited,
however, for its persuasive value consistent with Fed. R. App. P. 32.1 and 10th
Cir. R. 32.1.
pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1651, which seeks to vacate his conviction and sentence.
We dismiss Mr. Samuelss appeal as frivolous.
Turning to the litigation involved in this appeal, on August 25, 2010, Mr.
Samuels filed a Motion for Writ of Error Coram Nobis requesting his
conviction and sentence be vacated based on his claim of innocence and the fact
that Brandon McFadden, a former special agent with the ATF, and two Tulsa
police officers planted the cocaine they found in his vehicle. In support of this
claim, he explained Mr. McFadden was later indicted for planting drugs in other
cases. He also claimed the cocaine found in his car should have been suppressed
based on the same grounds previously raised in his direct appeal to this court.
The district court denied Mr. Samuelss petition, explaining the issuance of
a writ of coram nobis under 28 U.S.C. 1651 is an extraordinary remedy allowed
only under compelling circumstances when 2255 motions or other forms of
relief are not available. It further explained such a writ is generally only used
when the petitioner has served his sentence completely and is no longer in
custody as required for 2255 relief. It also explained that because he remained
in custody the proper action for challenging his sentence remained under 2255,
and not a common law writ. It further denied his motion for appointment of
counsel in connection with his petition.
Mr. Samuels then filed a motion in this court seeking authorization to file a
second or successive 28 U.S.C. 2255 motion on the same grounds as set forth in
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II. Discussion
Mr. Samuels now appeals the district courts denial of his petition for a
writ of coram nobis under 28 U.S.C. 1651. In identifying the issues on appeal,
he claims the district court should have allowed him to pursue his claims against
the two police officers and Mr. McFadden in light of the minimal evidence made
available to [him] in prison, and directed a response and discovery from the
[g]overnment, including phone records of one of the officers who claimed to
have received a tip from a confidential informant that Mr. Samuels possessed
drugs. In essence, Mr. Samuels is arguing on appeal the same or similar
contentions he raised and we rejected in his direct appeal regarding his motion to
suppress. See Samuels, 493 F.3d at 1188-90. He also suggests the district court
should have granted his request for a writ of coram nobis, given Mr. McFadden
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and the others planted the drugs in his vehicle an issue we fully disposed of in
our November 2010 order concerning his request to file a second or successive
2255 motion. The government has filed notice of its intention not to file a brief
in the instant appeal.
While these are the general principles we apply in coram nobis cases, it is
apparent Mr. Samuels filed the instant appeal in an effort to skirt our prior
dispositive decisions affirming the district courts denial of his motion to suppress
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evidence in his direct appeal and denying him authorization to file a second or
successive 2255 motion, in which we considered and rejected the very same
claims he raises here. As a result, this appeal is plainly frivolous. Even if we
considered his appeal, Mr. Samuels is still serving his 210-month sentence, and
thus, he is still in custody and has not served his sentence, which is a
prerequisite for allowing one to petition for such a writ. Accordingly, we would
readily conclude the district court did not err in denying Mr. Samuelss 1651
petition for a writ of coram nobis even if his appeal was not frivolous.
caution Mr. Samuels the fact he is a pro se litigant does not prohibit the court
from imposing such sanctions against him. See Haworth v. Royal, 347 F.3d 1189,
1192 (10th Cir. 2003).
III. Conclusion
For the foregoing reasons, we DISMISS Mr. Samuelss appeal as frivolous.
(...continued)
(10th Cir. 1994); In re Winslow, 17 F.3d at 315. We may impose filing
restrictions based on our inherent power to regulate federal dockets, promote
judicial efficiency, and deter frivolous filings. See Van Sickle v. Holloway, 791
F.2d 1431, 1437 (10th Cir. 1986). Moreover, Rule 38 of the Federal Rules of
Appellate Procedure allows this court to award damages as a sanction for a
frivolous appeal.
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