United States v. Washington

SEYMOUR, Circuit Judge.

Petitioner Patrick E. Washington requests reversal of the district court’s denial of his 28 U.S.C. § 2255 motion to vacate, correct, or set aside his sentence, claiming the district court erred in not holding his counsel’s performance constitutionally deficient. We conclude that counsel’s failure to understand the basic mechanics of the sentencing guidelines and, in particular, his failure to advise Mr. Washington regarding the impact of relevant conduct on his potential sentence prior to meeting with the probation officer, amounted to constitutionally deficient…