Tyrone K. Harris v. United States

OPINION

DAVID A. NELSON, Circuit Judge.

Tyrone Harris was sentenced to imprisonment for 87 months after he pleaded guilty to a charge of possessing more than 500 grams of cocaine with intent to distribute it, a violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(B)(ii). On the advice of counsel, Mr. Harris voluntarily dismissed an appeal of his sentence. He later had a change of heart (and a change of lawyers), which led to the filing of a motion to vacate the sentence pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255.

The § 2255 motion rested on the proposition that Mr. Harris was denied effective assistance of…