United States v. Pittenger
Opinion of the Court
ORDER
Kyle Pittenger, a federal prisoner, appeals the denial of his postjudgment motion to reduce sentence. Because this was his second such collateral attack, however, the district court should not have denied the motion but treated it as successive, first requiring authorization from this court to proceed. 28 U.S.C. § 2255(h). Pittenger filed a notice of appeal, which we construe as a request for a certificate of appealability. See Fed. R.App. P. 22(b)(2). We deny Pittenger a certificate of appealability and dismiss the appeal.
In 2009 Pittenger pleaded guilty to mail fraud. See 18 U.S.C. § 1341. In his plea agreement, he waived his right to appeal or collaterally attack his conviction or sentence on any basis, including deficient performance of his attorney. The court calculated a total offense level of 28, which included a 4-level increase because Pitten-ger was associated with a securities broker, see U.S.S.G. § 2B1.1(b)(18)(A)(ii), and a 2-level increase for abuse of a position of trust, see U.S.S.G. § 3B1.3, and sentenced him to 87 months’ imprisonment, the bottom of his calculated guidelines range. Despite his agreement not to collaterally attack his conviction or sentence, Pittenger filed a motion under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 to vacate, set aside, or correct his sentence, alleging violations of the Sixth Amendment and ineffective assistance of counsel. The court enforced Pittenger’s waiver and dismissed the motion.
In 2012 Pittenger filed a motion that is the subject of this appeal; he labeled it “Motion Challenging the impermissible assessment of a Two-Level ‘Abuse of Position of Trust’ enhancement, in violation of Emergency USSG Amendment 647.”
On appeal Pittenger challenges the denial of his most recent motion because his guidelines range had been miscalculated. Pittenger believes that the Supreme Court’s decisions in United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220, 125 S.Ct. 738, 160
Because Pittenger’s motion was a successive collateral attack, his appeal may not proceed without a certificate of appealability. See 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(1)(B); Fed. R.App. P. 22(b)(1); United States v. Carraway, 478 F.3d 845, 849 (7th Cir. 2007). Pittenger did not seek such a certificate in the district court, and he has not expressly sought one here, but his notice of appeal constitutes an implicit request. See Fed. R.App. P. 22(b)(2). Before a certificate of appealability may be granted, however, the petitioner must present a “substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right.” 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(2); United States v. Fleming, 676 F.3d 621, 625 (7th Cir. 2012). Pitten-ger’s challenge to the district court’s guideline calculation does not meet this demanding standard. See Hawkins v. United States, 706 F.3d 820, 823-24 (7th Cir. 2013).
Accordingly, we DENY Pittenger a certificate of appealability and DISMISS his appeal.
. Amendment 647, one of the January 2003 amendments to the guidelines, added a new subsection (now 18) to U.S.S.G. § 2B1.1, increasing the base offense level by four for offenses involving a violation of securities law. U.S.S.G. app. C (2003).
Reference
- Full Case Name
- United States v. Kyle E. PITTENGER
- Status
- Published