USA v. Kelvin Pace

[DO NOT PUBLISH]
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
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No. 16-16427
Non-Argument Calendar
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D.C. Docket No. 1:03-cr-20102-CMA-1
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff-Appellant,
versus
KELVIN PACE,
Defendant-Appellee.
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No. 16-16429
Non-Argument Calendar
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D.C. Docket Nos. 1:16-cv-21794-CMA,
1:03-cr-20102-CMA-1
KELVIN PACE,
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2
Petitioner-Appellee,
versus
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Respondent-Appellant.
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Appeals from the United States District Court
for the Southern District of Florida
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(September 29, 2017)
Before TJOFLAT, WILLIAM PRYOR and BLACK, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:
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.
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).
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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.
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