Joly v. United States of America
Filing
27
ORDER denying 1 Motion to vacate/set aside/correct sentence (2255). Signed by Judge Roy B. Dalton, Jr. on 5/4/2017. (VMF)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
ORLANDO DIVISION
KESNER JOLY,
Petitioner,
v.
CASE NO. 6:15-cv-1940-Orl-37TBS
(6:14-cr-129-Orl-37TBS)
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Respondent.
__________________________________
ORDER
THIS CAUSE is before the Court on Petitioner Kesner Joly’s Motion to Vacate, Set Aside,
or Correct Sentence (“Motion to Vacate,” Doc. 1) pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255. Respondent filed
a Response to the Motion to Vacate (“Response,” Doc. 5) in compliance with this Court’s
instruction. Petitioner filed an Amended Reply to the Response (“Amended Reply,” Doc. 8). On
April 28, 2017, the Court held an evidentiary hearing on ground two. See Doc. 24.
Petitioner asserts three grounds in his Motion to Vacate. For the following reasons, the
Motion to Vacate is denied.
I. PROCEDURAL HISTORY
Petitioner was charged by Amended Indictment with conspiracy to distribute and to possess
with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846 and
841(b)(1)(A)(ii) (Count One) and two counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute
500 grams or more of cocaine in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(B)(ii) (Counts Two
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and Three). (Criminal Case No. 6:14-cr-129-Orl-37TBS, Doc. 28). 1 Pursuant to a plea agreement,
Petitioner pled guilty to Count One. (Criminal Case, Doc. 36). The Court sentenced Petitioner to
a mandatory minimum 120-month term of imprisonment. (Criminal Case, Doc. 48). The
Government dismissed Counts Two and Three. Id. Petitioner did not appeal his conviction or
sentence.
II.
LEGAL STANDARD
The Supreme Court of the United States in Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668 (1984),
established a two-part test for determining whether a convicted person is entitled to relief on the
ground that his counsel rendered ineffective assistance: (1) whether counsel’s performance was
deficient and “fell below an objective standard of reasonableness”; and (2) whether the deficient
performance prejudiced the defense. Id. at 687-88. The prejudice requirement of the Strickland
inquiry is modified when the claim is a challenge to a guilty plea based on ineffective assistance.
See Hill v. Lockhart, 474 U.S. 52, 58-59 (1985). To satisfy the prejudice requirement in such
claims, “the defendant must show that there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s
errors, he would not have pleaded guilty and would have insisted on going to trial.” Id. at 59.
A court must adhere to a strong presumption that counsel’s conduct falls within the wide
range of reasonable professional assistance. Strickland, 466 at 689-90. “Thus, a court deciding an
actual ineffectiveness claim must judge the reasonableness of counsel’s challenged conduct on the
facts of the particular case, viewed as of the time of counsel’s conduct.” Id. at 690; Gates v. Zant,
863 F.2d 1492, 1497 (11th Cir. 1989).
1
Criminal Case No. 6:14-cr-129-Orl-37TBS will be referred to as “Criminal Case.”
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As observed by the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, the test for ineffective assistance of
counsel:
has nothing to do with what the best lawyers would have done. Nor is the test even
what most good lawyers would have done. We ask only whether some reasonable
lawyer at the trial could have acted, in the circumstances, as defense counsel acted
at trial. Courts also should at the start presume effectiveness and should always
avoid second guessing with the benefit of hindsight. Strickland encourages
reviewing courts to allow lawyers broad discretion to represent their clients by
pursuing their own strategy.
We are not interested in grading lawyers’
performances; we are interested in whether the adversarial process at trial, in fact,
worked adequately.
White v. Singletary, 972 F.2d 1218, 1220-21 (11th Cir. 1992) (citation omitted). Under those rules
and presumptions, “the cases in which habeas petitioners can properly prevail on the ground of
ineffective assistance of counsel are few and far between.” Rogers v. Zant, 13 F.3d 384, 386 (11th
Cir. 1994).
III. ANALYSIS
A.
Ground One
Petitioner asserts counsel rendered ineffective assistance by failing to present evidence to
support application of the safety valve. (Doc. 1 at 4). In support of this ground, Petitioner
complains that counsel failed to present evidence to show that he cooperated with the Government
and was truthful in his proffers. (Doc. 1-1 at 3-6).
The Court concludes that ground one is speculative. Petitioner has not demonstrated that
evidence existed demonstrating he qualified for application of the safety valve. See Tejada v.
Dugger, 941 F.2d 1551, 1559 (11th Cir. 1991) (holding that vague, conclusory, or speculative
allegations cannot support claim of ineffective assistance of counsel). Petitioner has not offered
any evidence to support this ground. Petitioner does not indicate what testimony or other evidence
counsel could have provided to show that Petitioner was truthful in his proffers regarding the
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offenses. As noted by Petitioner, the Government maintained at sentencing that Petitioner had not
been honest in his proffers based on conflicting statements received from co-conspirator Lapointe.
See Doc. 1-1 at 5; see also Criminal Case, Doc. 55 at 10-14.
Moreover, the Government had Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) agents present
at sentencing to testify regarding Petitioner’s proffers. (Criminal Case, Doc. 55 at 2, 13). Defense
counsel knew that these witnesses were present and were prepared to testify that Petitioner had
failed to make a complete disclosure. (Id. at 2, 13-15). Defense counsel further knew that Petitioner
bore the burden of proving that the safety valve was warranted. (Id. at 13-15). Defense counsel,
therefore, clearly made a strategic decision not to present evidence in relation to the safety valve
but instead to simply argue why Petitioner was entitled to the safety valve. Petitioner has not
demonstrated that counsels’ decision was unreasonable. Consequently, Petitioner has not
established either deficient performance or prejudice. Accordingly, ground one is denied.
B.
Ground Two
Petitioner asserts counsel rendered ineffective assistance by failing to appeal after
Petitioner directed counsel to do so. (Doc. 1-1 at 7-8). According to Petitioner, he wanted counsel
to appeal his sentence because the Court denied application of the safety valve. (Id.).
It is well-settled that “a lawyer who disregards specific instructions from the defendant to
file a notice of appeal acts in a manner that is professionally unreasonable.” Roe v. Flores-Ortega,
528 U.S. 470, 477 (2000) (citations omitted). In such a case, prejudice is presumed, and the
petitioner is entitled to a new appeal without showing that his appeal would likely have merit.
See id. at 483 (“The . . . denial of the entire judicial proceeding itself, which a defendant wanted
at the time and to which he had a right, . . . demands a presumption of prejudice.”); Peguero v.
United States, 526 U.S. 23, 28 (1999) (“[W]hen counsel fails to file a requested appeal, a defendant
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is entitled to [a new] appeal without showing that his appeal would likely have had merit.”).
At the evidentiary hearing, Petitioner testified that when the sentencing hearing concluded,
he told counsel to file an appeal. Petitioner stated that counsel told him he could not appeal because
of the plea agreement, to which Petitioner responded he wanted them to file an appeal anyway.
Petitioner acknowledged that the plea agreement contained an appeal waiver provision. Petitioner
testified he wanted to appeal the Court’s denial of application of the safety valve.
Petitioner, who was sentenced in December 2014, admitted he did not contact his attorneys
after sentencing until April 2015, when he wrote them two letters requesting copies of his
sentencing transcript and other documents. Petitioner maintained that he believed counsel would
file an appeal based on his request. Nevertheless, Petitioner did not mention an appeal in either of
the letters he sent counsel.
In contrast, Rick and David Jancha, experienced criminal attorneys, testified that Petitioner
did not ask them to file an appeal after he was sentenced. They said they reviewed the appeal
waiver provision of the plea agreement with Petitioner prior to the sentencing hearing and told him
that this provision would likely preclude an appeal of the denial of the safety valve. Rick and David
Jancha testified that their employment contract did not include an appeal and they told Petitioner
this at their initial meeting. However, they said that had Petitioner requested an appeal, they would
have filed a notice of appeal and moved to withdraw and to appoint counsel.
Assessing the credibility of witnesses is reserved for the Court. See Castle v. Sangamo
Weston, Inc., 837 F.2d 1550, 1559 (11th Cir. 1988) (“Assessing the weight of evidence and
credibility of witnesses is reserved for the trier of fact.”). “‘[T]o adequately determine the
credibility of a witness . . . the fact finder must observe the witness.’” United States v. Powell, 628
F.3d 1254, 1257 (11th Cir. 2010) (quoting Louis v. Blackburn, 630 F.2d 1105, 1110 (5th Cir.
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1980)). “A proper credibility determination. . . includes [consideration of] ‘the internal consistency
of the [witness’s] testimony, or his candor or demeanor on the stand.’” United States v. RamirezChilel, 289 F.3d 744, 749 (11th Cir. 2002) (quoting Gallego v. United States, 174 F.3d 1196, 1198
(11th Cir. 1999)).
After carefully considering the evidence and viewing the witnesses and their demeanor
while testifying, the Court finds the testimony of Rick and David Jancha to be more credible than
the testimony of Petitioner. In making this determination, the Court notes Petitioner testified that
he did not understand the plea agreement because it was not explained to him in Creole. Petitioner,
however, told the Court at the plea hearing that he understood everything in the plea agreement
and that it was explained to him in a language he understood. (Criminal Case, Doc. 54 at 5-6).
Furthermore, Rick and David Jancha’s testimony that Petitioner did not ask them to file an appeal
is corroborated by the fact that Petitioner did not mention an appeal in either of the letters he wrote
to counsel approximately four months after his sentencing. Had Petitioner in fact requested counsel
to file an appeal, logically, he would have questioned them about the status of the appeal in his
first communication with them after sentencing.
Given the evidence presented, the Court concludes Petitioner did not request that counsel
file an appeal. Consequently, Petitioner has not established that counsel provided deficient
performance or that prejudice resulted. Accordingly, ground two is denied.
C.
Ground Three
Petitioner contends counsel rendered ineffective assistance by failing to request a two-level
reduction in anticipation of the amendment of the Drug Quantity Table of the Sentencing
Guidelines. (Doc. 1-1 at 9).
As noted at sentencing, Petitioner in fact received a two level reduction in accordance with
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the amended Drug Quantity Table. (Criminal Case, Doc. 55 at 16-18). Petitioner, however, was
subject to a minimum mandatory sentence of ten years. Therefore, counsel was not deficient for
failing to request a two-level reduction, nor did prejudice result. Accordingly, ground three is
denied pursuant to Strickland.
Any of Petitioner’s allegations that are not specifically addressed herein have been found
to be without merit.
Accordingly, it is hereby ORDERED AND ADJUDGED:
1.
Petitioner’s Motion to Vacate, Set Aside, or Correct Sentence (Doc. 1) is DENIED.
2.
The Clerk of the Court shall enter judgment accordingly and is directed to close
this case.
3.
The Clerk of the Court is directed to file a copy of this Order in criminal case
number 6:14-cr-129-Orl-37TBS and to terminate the motion to vacate, set aside, or correct an
illegal sentence pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255 (Criminal Case, Doc. 50) pending in that case.
4.
This Court should grant an application for certificate of appealability only if the
Petitioner makes “a substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right.” 28 U.S.C. §
2253(c)(2). Petitioner has failed to make a substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional
right. 2 Accordingly, a Certificate of Appealability is DENIED in this case.
DONE AND ORDERED in Orlando, Florida, this 4th day of May, 2017.
2
Pursuant to the Rules Governing Section 2255 Proceedings for the United States District
Court, “[t]he district court must issue or deny a certificate of appealability when it enters a final
order adverse to the applicant.” Rules Governing Section 2255 Proceedings for the United States
District Courts, Rule 11(a).
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Copies to:
Counsel of Record
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