Sample v. Federal Bureau of Prisons
Opinion
Brandon Sample, federal prisoner # 33949-037, appeals the district court’s dismissal of his civil rights and Administrative Procedures Act (APA) action for failure to state a claim under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii). Sample filed suit against the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to declare its promulgation and enforcement of the Inmate Financial Responsibility Program (IFRP) as exceeding the scope of its authority, and he sought to enjoin the BOP’s enforcement of the IFRP against him and similarly situated prisoners. Sam- *822 pie was convicted of numerous counts of mail and securities fraud and, in addition to an imprisonment term, was sentenced to pay $275,000 in restitution and $1800 in special assessment.
Sample argues that the district court did not review his claim under the APA and that he is not raising a challenge to his sentence but, rather, a challenge to the BOP’s authority to promulgate and apply the IFRP.
We review a 28 U.S.C. § 1915 dismissal for failure to state a claim under the same de novo standard of review applicable to dismissals made pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6). Harris v. Hegmann, 198 F.3d 153, 156 (5th Cir. 1999). We must determine if, taking Sample’s allegations as true, no relief could be granted based on those allegations. Id.
A favorable ruling in Sample’s instant case would thwart the effectiveness of his sentence. There has been no determination that Sample’s sentence is invalid. His district court complaint is thus barred by Heck v. Humphrey, 512 U.S. 477, 486-87, 114 S.Ct. 2364, 129 L.Ed.2d 383 (1994). The dismissal of his complaint for failure to state a claim is AFFIRMED.
Pursuant to 5th Cir. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5th Cir. R. 47.5.4.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Brandon C. SAMPLE, and on Behalf of All Similarly Situated Federal Prisoners in the United States and Its Territories, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. FEDERAL BUREAU OF PRISONS, Defendant-Appellee
- Cited By
- 1 case
- Status
- Unpublished