United States v. Roberto Davila

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
United States v. Roberto Davila, 450 F. App'x 390 (5th Cir. 2011)

United States v. Roberto Davila

Opinion

PER CURIAM: *

Following a jury trial, Roberto Antonio Davila, federal prisoner # 55777-098, was convicted of conspiring to possess marijuana with intent to distribute as well as distributing marijuana; he was sentenced to serve life in prison and a three-year term of supervised release. This court is now presented with his request to proceed *391 in forma pauperis (IFP) in an appeal from the district court’s dismissal of his motion for a writ of audita querela, which sought relief based on United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220, 125 S.Ct. 738, 160 L.Ed.2d 621 (2005), and its progeny.

By moving for leave to proceed IFP on appeal, Davila attacks the district court’s certification that his appeal is not taken in good faith because it presents no nonfrivo-lous issues. See Baugh v. Taylor, 117 F.3d 197, 202 (5th Cir. 1997). Davila maintains that the writ of audita querela is available to him because Booker was unavailable when he was sentenced and because he would receive a significantly less harsh sentence if the principles enunciated in Booker were applied to his case. The writ of audita querela is not the proper procedural vehicle for this claim because redress is available under 28 U.S.C. § 2255. See United States v. Miller, 599 F.3d 484, 488 (5th Cir. 2010); United States v. Banda, 1 F.3d 354, 356 (5th Cir. 1993). Moreover, Davila’s inability to meet the requirements for bringing a successive § 2255 motion does not render the § 2255 remedy unavailable. See Tolliver v. Dobre, 211 F.3d 876, 878 (5th Cir. 2000).

This appeal is without arguable merit and is thus frivolous. See Howard v. King, 707 F.2d 215, 219-20 (5th Cir. 1983). Consequently, Davila’s request for leave to proceed IFP is denied, and the appeal is dismissed. See 5th CiR. R. 42.2.

IFP MOTION DENIED; APPEAL DISMISSED.

*

Pursuant to 5th Cir. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5th Cir. R. 47.5.4.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
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee v. Roberto Antonio DAVILA, Also Known as Robert Davila, Defendant-Appellant
Status
Unpublished