United States v. Juan A. Flores, 616 F.2d 840 (5th Cir. 1980). · Go Syfert
United States v. Juan A. Flores, 616 F.2d 840 (5th Cir. 1980). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
151 citation events (127 in the last 25 years) across 36 distinct courts.
Strongest positive: Presiliano Yanez-Villegas v. Warden Mr. Birkholz (cacd, 2025-08-28)
Treatment trajectory · 1982 → 2026 · click a year to view as-of
1982 2004 2026
Top citers, strongest first. 50 distinct citers. How cited ↗
discussed Cited as authority (verbatim quote) Presiliano Yanez-Villegas v. Warden Mr. Birkholz
C.D. Cal. · 2025 · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
federal sentence cannot commence prior to the date it is pronounced, even if made concurrent with a sentence already being served.
discussed Cited as authority (verbatim quote) GLENN v. WARDEN
D.N.J. · 2025 · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
federal sentence cannot commence prior to the date it is pronounced, even if made concurrent with a sentence already being served.
discussed Cited as authority (verbatim quote) Terrell v. Entzel
E.D. Ky. · 2025 · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
a federal sentence cannot commence prior to the date it is pronounced, even if made concurrent with a sentence already being served.
discussed Cited as authority (verbatim quote) Ussery v. Dunbar
D.S.C. · 2023 · signal: see also · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
federal sentence cannot commence prior to the date it is pronounced, even if made concurrent with a sentence already being served.
discussed Cited as authority (verbatim quote) Lenze v. Swaney
E.D. Ky. · 2023 · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
federal sentence cannot commence prior to the date it is pronounced, even if made concurrent with a sentence already being served.
discussed Cited as authority (verbatim quote) (HC) Jimenez v. Rex
E.D. Cal. · 2023 · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
14 federal sentence cannot commence prior to the date it is pronounced, even if made concurrent 15 with a sentence already being served.
discussed Cited as authority (verbatim quote) Dixon v. United States
S.D. Ga. · 2022 · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
appropriate remedy is under 2255, not 28 u.s.c. 2241 , since the alleged errors occurred at or prior to sentencing.
discussed Cited as authority (verbatim quote) Middleton v. Ormond
E.D. Ky. · 2022 · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
federal sentence cannot commence prior to the date it is pronounced, even if made concurrent with a sentence already being served.
discussed Cited as authority (verbatim quote) Coleman v. Garrett
S.D. Ga. · 2020 · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
appropriate remedy is under 2255, not 28 u.s.c. 2241 , since the alleged errors occurred at or prior to sentencing.
discussed Cited as authority (verbatim quote) Melvin v. United States
S.D. Ga. · 2020 · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
appropriate remedy is under 2255, not 28 u.s.c. 2241 , since the alleged errors occurred at or prior to sentencing.
discussed Cited as authority (verbatim quote) Coleman v. Garrett
S.D. Ga. · 2020 · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
appropriate remedy is under 2255, not 28 u.s.c. 2241 , since the alleged errors occurred at or prior to sentencing.
discussed Cited as authority (verbatim quote) Bartko v. Geter
S.D. Ga. · 2020 · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
appropriate remedy is under 2255, not 28 u.s.c. 2241 , since the alleged errors occurred at or prior to sentencing.
discussed Cited as authority (verbatim quote) Trinh v. United States
S.D. Ga. · 2020 · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
appropriate remedy is under 2255, not 28 u.s.c. 2241 , since the alleged errors occurred at or prior to sentencing.
discussed Cited as authority (verbatim quote) Alvarez v. Edge
S.D. Ga. · 2020 · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
appropriate remedy is under 2255, not 28 u.s.c. 2241 , since the alleged errors occurred at or prior to sentencing.
discussed Cited as authority (verbatim quote) Porter v. Edge
S.D. Ga. · 2020 · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
appropriate remedy is under 2255, not 28 u.s.c. 2241 , since the alleged errors occurred at or prior to sentencing.
examined Cited as authority (verbatim quote) Sadler v. Baltazar
D. Ariz. · 2019 · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
the sentences could not be 10 concurrent in the sense of having the same starting date because a federal sentence cannot 11 commence prior to the date it is pronounced, even if made concurrent with a sentence already 12 being served.
discussed Cited as authority (verbatim quote) Dan Carmichael McCarthan v. Director of Goodwill Industries-Suncoast, Inc. (2×) also: Cited as authority (rule)
11th Cir. · 2017 · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
appropriate remedy is under 2255, not 28 u.s.c. 2241 , since the alleged errors occurred at or prior to sentencing.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Trevor Bryant Burns v. Warden, FCI-Texarkana
E.D. Tex. · 2026 · confidence medium
Id. (citing Warren v. Miles, 230 F. App’x 688 , 694 (5th Cir. 2000) (citing Solsona v. Warden, F.C.I., 821 F.2d 1129, 1132 (5th Cir. 1987)); United States v. Flores, 616 F.2d 840, 842 (5th Cir. 1980); Lane v. Hanberry, 601 F.2d 805, 806 (5th Cir. 1979)).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Galvez v. United States
N.D. Tex. · 2025 · confidence medium
Detention Ctr, 911 F.2d 1111, 1113 (Sth Cir. 1990) (“Relief under [§ 2255] is warranted for any error that ‘occurred at or prior to sentencing.’”) (quoting United States v. Flores, 616 F.2d 840, 842 (Sth Cir. 1980)).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) SWONTEK v. WARDEN THOMPSON, FCI FORT DIX
D.N.J. · 2025 · confidence medium
“This is the earliest possible date that [Petitioner’s] sentence could have commenced because a sentence cannot start earlier than the day it was imposed.” Howard v. Longley, 532 F. App’x 116, 117 (3d Cir. 2013) (per curiam) (citing United States v. Flores, 616 F.2d 840, 841 (5th Cir. 1980)). 5 The BOP’s “responsibility includes the calculation of prior custody credit pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3585 (b).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Grant v. United States
N.D. Tex. · 2025 · confidence medium
Ctr., 911 F.2d 1111, 1113 (5th Cir. 1990) (“Relief under [§ 2255] is warranted for any error that ‘occurred at or prior to sentencing.’” (quoting United States v. Flores, 616 F.2d 840, 842 (5th Cir. 1980))).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Tanniehill v. Colbert
S.D. Miss. · 2024 · confidence medium
Moreover, Tanniehill was sentenced in August 2018, more than 15 months after he was transferred to federal custody. “[A] federal sentence cannot commence prior to the date it is pronounced, even if made concurrent with a sentence already being served.” Coloma v. Holder, 445 F.3d 1282, 1284 (11th Cir. 2006) (quoting United States v. Flores, 616 F.2d 840, 841 (5th Cir. 1980)).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Ray v. Garrett
E.D. Ark. · 2024 · confidence medium
However, when a federal sentencing court orders that a sentence run concurrently with a previously imposed sentence, “it does not mean that the two sentences ‘have the same starting date because a federal sentence cannot commence prior to the date it is pronounced, even if made concurrent with a sentence already being served.’” Coloma v. Holder, 445 F.3d 1282, 1284 (11th Cir. 2006) (cleaned up) (quoting United States v. Flores, 616 F.2d 840, 841 (5th Cir.1980)).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Bass v. Garrett
E.D. Ark. · 2023 · confidence medium
(Id.) However, as the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit has opined, concurrent “sentences could not be concurrent in the sense of having the same starting date because a federal sentence cannot commence prior to the date it is pronounced, even if made concurrent with a sentence already being served.” U.S. v. Flores, 616 F.2d 840, 841 (5th Cir. 1980).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Bates v. Jacquez
D. Or. · 2023 · confidence medium
Schleining, 642 F.3d at 1244 , 1248 n.8 (quoting United States v. Flores, 616 F.2d 840, 841 (5th Cir. 1980); Indeed, the BOP correctly accounted for the federal sentencing court’s order of concurrency by calculating Petitioner’s federal sentence from the date he was sentenced rather than the date on which the State paroled him to primary federal custody.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) (HC) Nelson v. Trate
E.D. Cal. · 2023 · confidence medium
Grady v. United States, 929 F.2d 468, 470 (9th Cir.1991); Tripati, 843 F.2d at 1162 ; 20 see also United States v. Flores, 616 F.2d 840, 842 (5th Cir.1980). 21 In contrast, a prisoner challenging the manner, location, or conditions of that sentence's 22 execution must bring a petition for writ of habeas corpus under 28 U.S.C. § 2241 in the district where 23 the petitioner is in custody.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Price v. Hudson
D. Kan. · 2023 · confidence medium
First, as the sentencing court conceded, it had no power to order petitioner’s sentence to run before the date of sentencing, see Demartino v. Thompson, 1997 WL 362260, at *2 (10th Cir. July 1, 1997) (unpub. op.) (citing United States v. Flores, 616 F.2d 840, 841 (5th Cir. 1980)), and petitioner has not disputed that fact or argued otherwise.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) (HC) Drew v. Trate
E.D. Cal. · 2023 · confidence medium
Grady v. United States, 929 F.2d 468, 470 (9th Cir.1991); Tripati, 843 F.2d at 1162 ; 2 see also United States v. Flores, 616 F.2d 840, 842 (5th Cir.1980). 3 In contrast, a prisoner challenging the manner, location, or conditions of that sentence's 4 execution must bring a petition for writ of habeas corpus under 28 U.S.C. § 2241 in the district where 5 the petitioner is in custody.
cited Cited as authority (rule) Kuhn v. Hawkins
S.D. Tex. · 2023 · confidence medium
Gotay-Aviles v. Maye, 472 F. App’x 273, 273 (5th Cir. 2010) (per curiam) (citing United States v. Flores, 616 F.2d 840, 841 (5th Cir. 1980)).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) (HC) Nelson v. Trate
E.D. Cal. · 2023 · confidence medium
Grady v. United States, 929 F.2d 468, 470 (9th Cir.1991); Tripati, 843 F.2d at 1162 ; 18 see also United States v. Flores, 616 F.2d 840, 842 (5th Cir.1980). 19 In contrast, a prisoner challenging the manner, location, or conditions of that sentence's 20 execution must bring a petition for writ of habeas corpus under 28 U.S.C. § 2241 in the district where 21 the petitioner is in custody.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) (HC) Castillo-Chavez v. Trate
E.D. Cal. · 2023 · confidence medium
Grady v. United States, 929 F.2d 468, 470 (9th Cir.1991); Tripati, 843 F.2d at 1162 ; 27 see also United States v. Flores, 616 F.2d 840, 842 (5th Cir.1980). 28 1 In contrast, a prisoner challenging the manner, location, or conditions of that sentence's 2 execution must bring a petition for writ of habeas corpus under 28 U.S.C. § 2241 in the district where 3 the petitioner is in custody.
cited Cited as authority (rule) Villagomez v. Rosalez
W.D. Tex. · 2023 · confidence medium
United States v. Flores, 616 F.2d 840, 841 (5th Cir. 1980).
cited Cited as authority (rule) (HC) Agee v. Warden, FCI Mendota
E.D. Cal. · 2022 · confidence medium
Grady v. United States, 929 F.2d 468, 470 (9th Cir.1991); Tripati, 843 F.2d at 1162 ; 19 see also United States v. Flores, 616 F.2d 840, 842 (5th Cir.1980).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) (HC)Studdard v. Trate
E.D. Cal. · 2022 · confidence medium
Grady v. United States, 929 F.2d 468, 470 (9th Cir.1991); Tripati, 843 F.2d at 1162 ; 11 see also United States v. Flores, 616 F.2d 840, 842 (5th Cir.1980). 12 In contrast, a prisoner challenging the manner, location, or conditions of that sentence's 13 execution must bring a petition for writ of habeas corpus under 28 U.S.C. § 2241 in the district where 14 the petitioner is in custody.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) (HC) Griffin v. Trate
E.D. Cal. · 2022 · confidence medium
Grady v. United States, 929 F.2d 468, 470 (9th Cir.1991); Tripati, 843 F.2d at 1162 ; 9 see also United States v. Flores, 616 F.2d 840, 842 (5th Cir.1980). 10 In contrast, a prisoner challenging the manner, location, or conditions of that sentence's 11 execution must bring a petition for writ of habeas corpus under 28 U.S.C. § 2241 in the district where 12 the petitioner is in custody.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) (HC) Hall v. Warden at FCI-Mendota
E.D. Cal. · 2022 · confidence medium
Grady v. United States, 929 F.2d 468, 470 (9th Cir.1991); Tripati, 843 F.2d at 1162 ; 21 see also United States v. Flores, 616 F.2d 840, 842 (5th Cir.1980). 22 In contrast, a prisoner challenging the manner, location, or conditions of that sentence's 23 execution must bring a petition for writ of habeas corpus under 28 U.S.C. § 2241 in the district where 24 the petitioner is in custody.
cited Cited as authority (rule) (HC) Dobson v. Trate
E.D. Cal. · 2022 · confidence medium
Grady v. United States, 929 F.2d 468, 470 (9th Cir.1991); Tripati, 843 F.2d at 1162 ; 21 see also United States v. Flores, 616 F.2d 840, 842 (5th Cir.1980).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) (HC) Nelson v. Trate
E.D. Cal. · 2022 · confidence medium
Grady v. United States, 929 F.2d 468, 470 (9th Cir.1991); Tripati, 843 F.2d at 1162 ; 15 see also United States v. Flores, 616 F.2d 840, 842 (5th Cir.1980). 16 In contrast, a prisoner challenging the manner, location, or conditions of that sentence’s 17 execution must bring a petition for writ of habeas corpus under 28 U.S.C. § 2241 in the district where 18 the petitioner is in custody.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Palacios v. United States (2×)
W.D. Tex. · 2022 · confidence medium
United States v. Flores, 616 F.2d 840, 841 (5th Cir. 1980); Program State- ment 5880.28, Sentence Computation Manual, page 1-21.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Rodi v. Warden Geter/FCI Texarkana
E.D. Tex. · 2022 · confidence medium
Relying on United States v. Flores, 616 F.2d 840, 841 (5th Cir. 1980), the Magistrate Judge found that while the federal sentencing court stated the federal sentence was to be served concurrently with the state sentence, a federal court lacked the authority to run a federal sentence absolutely concurrent with another sentence.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Hammond v. United States
D.N.M. · 2022 · confidence medium
Compare United States v. Scott, 803 F.2d 1095, 1096 (10th Cir.1986)(a petition under 28 U.S.C. § 2241 attacks the execution of a sentence rather than its validity and must be filed in the district where the prisoner is confined) with United States v. Condit, 621 F.2d 1096, 1097 (10th Cir.1980)( 28 U.S.C. § 2255 motion attacks the legality of detention, and must be filed in the district that imposed the sentence); also see United States v. Flores, 616 F.2d 840, 842 (5th Cir.1980) (movant's appropriate remedy is under § 2255 and not § 2241 where alleged errors occurred at or prior to The Six…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Norman v. Carr
N.D. Tex. · 2021 · confidence medium
The BOP was required to aggregate Petitioner’s multiple sentences under § 3584(c) and correctly computed her sentence in compliance with BOP policy.5 “Concurrent” does not mean that the two sentences would have “the same starting date because a federal sentence cannot commence prior to the date it is pronounced, even if made concurrent with a sentence already being served.” United States v. Flores, 616 F.2d 840, 841 (5th Cir. 1980).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Luke v. Teller
S.D. Ga. · 2021 · confidence medium
Commencement of Petitioner’s Federal Sentence The Court starts it analysis with a determination of “the date the sentence commences.” According to 18 U.S.C. § 3585 (a), “[a] sentence to a term of imprisonment commences on the date the defendant is received in custody, awaiting transportation to . . . the official detention facility at which the sentence is to be served.” Importantly, “a federal sentence cannot begin prior to the date it is pronounced, even if made concurrent with a sentence already being served.” Coloma v. Holder, 445 F.3d 1282, 1284 (11th Cir. 2006) (quoting Un…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Chavez v. Stone
S.D. Ga. · 2021 · confidence medium
A sentence “cannot begin prior to the date it is pronounced, even if made concurrent with a sentence already being served.” Coloma v. Holder, 445 F.3d 1282, 1284 (11th Cir. 2006) (quoting United States v. Flores, 616 F.2d 840, 841 (5th Cir. 1980)).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Farris v. Warden (2×) also: Cited "see"
D. Maryland · 2021 · confidence medium
Thus, even though the federal sentence was to run concurrently in part, it did not begin to do so until that date, because a “federal sentence cannot commence prior to the date it is pronounced, even if made concurrent with a sentence already being served.” Barnes v. Masters, 733 F. App’x 93 , 96 (4th Cir. 2018) (quoting United States v. Flores, 616 F.2d 840, 841 (5th Cir. 1980)).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Farris v. United States (2×) also: Cited "see"
D. Maryland · 2021 · confidence medium
Thus, even though the federal sentence was to run concurrently in part, it did not begin to do so until that date, because a “federal sentence cannot commence prior to the date it is pronounced, even if made concurrent with a sentence already being served.” Barnes v. Masters, 733 F. App’x 93 , 96 (4th Cir. 2018) (quoting United States v. Flores, 616 F.2d 840, 841 (5th Cir. 1980)).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Ricardo v. Warden
D. Maryland · 2021 · confidence medium
Ed. 2d 357 (2018) (emphasis in original) (quoting United States v. Flores, 616 F.2d 840, 841 (5th Cir. 1980)).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Kesler v. Salmonson
E.D. Tex. · 2021 · confidence medium
United States v. Flores, 616 F.2d 840, 841 (5th Cir. 1980).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Martinez v. Lothrop
D. Ariz. · 2021 · confidence medium
The Ninth Circuit has interpreted 18 23 U.S.C. § 3585 (a) to mean that “a federal sentence cannot begin before the defendant has 24 been sentenced in federal court.” Schleining v. Thomas, 642 F.3d 1242, 1244 (9th Cir. 25 2011) (citing United States v. Gonzalez, 192 F.3d 350, 355 (2d Cir. 1999); United States v. 26 Flores, 616 F.2d 840, 841 (5th Cir. 1980).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Juan Becerra, Jr. v. United States
C.D. Cal. · 2021 · confidence medium
The court was persuaded by the 25 reasoning in United States v. Flores, 616 F.2d 840, 841 (5th Cir. 1980), which 26 involved concurrent federal sentences, that a federal sentence does not 27 commence prior to its imposition.
Retrieving the full opinion text from the archive…
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee,
v.
Juan A. FLORES, Defendant-Appellant
79-2936.
Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
May 8, 1980.
616 F.2d 840
David J. Gottlieb, University of Kansas School of Law, Lawrence, Kan., for Kansas Defender Project, amicus curiae., J. A. Canales, U. S. Atty., John M. Potter, James R. Gough, Asst. U. S. Attys., Houston, Tex., for plaintiff-appellee.
Godbold, Reavley, Anderson.
Cited by 129 opinions  |  Published
GODBOLD, Circuit Judge.

Flores was convicted of a drug offense and on February 12,1976, was sentenced to three concurrent ten-year sentences with five years special parole. Later he pleaded guilty to another drug offense and on December 13,1976, was sentenced to ten years in prison but with five years special parole “to run concurrently with the sentence imposed in [the first case].”

The sentences could not be concurrent in the sense of having the same starting date because a federal sentence cannot commence prior to the date it is pronounced, even if made concurrent with a sentence already being served. Wilson v. Henderson, 468 F.2d 582, 584 (5th Cir. 1972).

Petitioner filed several motions to vacate. First he filed one through counsel in which he alleged:

It was the understanding of this defendant, that pursuant to his plea bargaining agreement entered in this cause with the United States Attorney, and approved by the court, that the ten (10) year sentence assessed in this case would not extend or increase his period of incarceration.

Then he filed a pro se motion stating that in the second case he:

Plead guilty with a plea bargain that any time he received would run concurrently with the sentence imposed earlier . . . and he “would not have to do one more day than he already had.” (Ten years.)

Later his trial attorney filed an affidavit stating that a plea bargain was made, and that he understood that in return for dismissing the appeal in the first case and entering a plea of guilty to one count of the indictment in the second case, Flores would receive a ten-year sentence “to run fully concurrent” with the ten-year sentence already received in the first case.

The district court denied the petition on the ground that the record of the sentencing proceeding showed no mention of any agreement beyond the agreement that the second sentence would be concurrent. [1]

[*842] Flores’ appropriate remedy is under § 2255, not 28 U.S.C. § 2241, since the alleged errors occurred at or prior to sentencing. Lenhardt v. U. S., 416 F.2d 1254, 1255 (5th Cir. 1969). This being so the proceedings were properly filed in the sentencing court and not in the district court in Kansas where Flores was imprisoned.

On the merits, Flores is barred from relief by Bryan v. U. S., 492 F.2d 775 (5th Cir. 1974) en banc, cert. denied, 419 U.S. 1079, 1117, 95 S.Ct. 668, 798, 42 L.Ed.2d 674, 817 (1974), and our succeeding cases, e. g., U. S. v. Dabdoub-Diaz, 599 F.2d 96, 100 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, - U.S. -, 100 S.Ct. 164, 62 L.Ed.2d 107 (1979); Thomas v. Estelle, 550 F.2d 1014, 1016 (5th Cir. 1977); Dugan v. U. S., 521 F.2d 231, 233 (5th Cir. 1975). Flores has presented only his bare assertion that the bargain made was that he would not have to do one more day in time than he was already required to do. He has not alleged who made such a representation or promise and whether it was made by someone representing the government or was simply his counsel’s erroneous construction of what a concurrent sentence means. Counsel’s affidavit is no more helpful. It sets out his erroneous impression that a concurrent sentence means a “fully concurrent” sentence, but he does not say that this misconception originated with the government rather than from his own misunderstanding of the law. The allegations are not sufficient to require a hearing on the validity of a guilty plea allegedly induced by an unkept promise.

A hearing is not required on an assertion of an unkept plea bargain when no more is alleged than that the defendant’s expectation has been disappointed or that he or his counsel misunderstood his legal position. It is possible that Flores entered his plea of guilty expecting his second sentence to begin on the same day as the first sentence and to terminate on the same day and that his counsel expected the same thing. But these expectations alone are not enough to invalidate the plea bargain or to trigger the right to a hearing.

AFFIRMED.

1

. The government represents to us by written instruments filed with this court that after the appeal was docketed Flores was released on parole and later was ordered deported to Mexico, and that presently he is at large on bail pending appeal from the deportation order. The case is not moot because of the parole and the possibility that Flores will be deported, nor[*842] can we dispose of the case on the government’s argument that it concerns a trivial matter not worthy of the court’s time.