UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. KELVIN PACE (2017)

The Government appeals the district court's grant of Kelvin Pace's motion to vacate sentence, 28 U.S.C. § 2255. Pace had been sentenced to 235 months' imprisonment under the Armed Career Criminal Act (ACCA), 18 U.S.C. § 924(e). The Government asserts the district court erred by concluding Pace lacked a sufficient number of predicate “violent felonies” in light of Johnson v. United States, 135 S. Ct. 2551 (2015). After review,¹ we reverse and remand to the district court.

Pace contends the cases cited by the Government are unpersuasive. We do not agree. Following close review, we conclude our binding precedent counsels in favor of reversal and remand because, in light of his convictions for Florida robbery pursuant to Florida Statue § 812.13, Pace has a sufficient number of predicate “violent felonies” to support an armed career criminal designation under the ACCA. See United States v. Fritts, 841 F.3d 937 (11th Cir. 2016); United States v. Lockley, 632 F.3d 1238 (11th Cir. 2011); United States v. Dowd, 451 F.3d 1244 (11th Cir. 2006). The district court's amended judgment is VACATED. The district court's order granting Pace's motion to vacate sentence is REVERSED. We REMAND to the district court for reinstatement of its original judgment and further action consistent with this opinion.

FOOTNOTES

1.   In a 28 U.S.C. § 2255 proceeding we review a district court's findings of fact for clear error, and its legal conclusions de novo. Garcia v. United States, 278 F.3d 1210, 1212 (11th Cir. 2002).

PER CURIAM: