| Keyword | Case | Docket | Date: Filed / Added |     (14083 bytes)     (9845 bytes)

In 1996, Defendant-Appellant Ike McCloud was convicted of two counts of distribution of cocaine in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1). He was sentenced to two terms of 360 months in prison to be served concurrently, and he appealed. Our court affirmed the convictions and sentence. United States v. McCloud, 127 F.3d 1284 (10th Cir. 1997).

McCloud then filed in the district court a motion under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 to vacate or correct his sentence. He asserted that his sentence was illegal because it was based in part on a calculation of drug quantity that was not made by the jury, and he relied on Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466 (2000). The district court denied relief, concluding that the rule of Apprendi is not applicable in an initial proceeding for collateral review. The judge issued a Certificate of Appealability as to the Apprendi issue. On appeal from the district court's denial of relief, Mr. McCloud filed a pro se brief, and then we appointed counsel who filed an additional brief.⁽¹⁾

A panel of this court recently held that the rule of Apprendi will not be applied on an initial application for collateral review. United States v. Mora, 293 F.3d 1213, 1217-19 (10th Cir. 2002) pet. for cert. filed, 8/30/02 (no. 02-6125).⁽²⁾ Thus, the ruling made by Judge Saffels in the instant case is now the rule of this circuit. This precedent requires us to reject Mr. McCloud's argument in this appeal.

Two additional issues have been raised in the briefs, but like the primary issue they are based on the premise that Apprendi should be applied in this collateral proceeding. Accordingly, neither of these issues support Mr. McCloud's claim for relief. In his pro se brief, Mr. McCloud asserts that his sentence was unlawfully calculated because his offense level was increased by two points for possession of a firearm in the course of his criminal activity (see United States v. McCloud, 127 F.3d at 1291), when that fact was not pleaded in the indictment. In the brief submitted by appointed counsel, an argument is made that greater penalties should not be imposed in cases involving crack cocaine unless the indictment specifically charges the defendant with a crime involving that form of the drug.

The district court did not grant a Certificate of Appealability on these issues, and we decline to do so because Mr. McCloud has not made the required "substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right." See 28 U.S.C. § 2253 (c)(2); United States v. Gordon, 172 F.3d 753, 754 (10th Cir. 1999). Mr. McCloud's arguments on these points depend on retroactive application of Apprendi which is impermissible.

Accordingly the order denying relief under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 is

AFFIRMED.

ENTERED FOR THE COURT

William J. Holloway, Jr.

Circuit Judge

^*.This order and judgment is not binding precedent, except under the doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, and collateral estoppel. This court generally disfavors the citation of orders and judgments; nevertheless, an order and judgment may be cited under the terms and conditions of 10th Cir. R. 36.3.

^**.The Honorable Ruggero J. Aldisert, Senior United States Circuit Judge for the Third Circuit, sitting by designation.

^1.Defendant-Appellant in his pro se brief requested oral argument. However, after examining the briefs and appellate record, this panel has determined unanimously that oral argument would not materially assist in the determination of this appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 34 (a)(2); 10th Cir. R. 34.1(G). This cause is therefore ordered submitted without oral argument.

^2.We earlier held that the Apprendi rule will not be applied in a successive application for collateral review. Browning v. United States, 241 F.3d 1262, 1265 (10th Cir. 2001).

| Keyword | Case | Docket | Date: Filed / Added |     (14083 bytes)     (9845 bytes)