TOWNSELL v. USA

Filing 16

ORDER discussing re 1 Motion to Vacate/Set Aside/Correct Sentence (2255) and denying certificate of appealability. The motion for relief pursuant to § 2255 is denied and this action is dismissed with prejudice. Judgment consistent with this Order shall now issue and the clerk shall docket a copy of this Order in 1:15-cr-00184-SEB-MJD-3. The motion to vacate, Crim. Dkt. 440 , shall also be terminated in the underlying criminal action. Signed by Judge Sarah Evans Barker on 6/7/2021 Copy sent to Tyrone Townsell via US Mail (CBU)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF INDIANA
INDIANAPOLIS DIVISION
TYRONE TOWNSELL,
Petitioner,
v.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Respondent.

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No. 1:19-cv-04240-SEB-TAB

Order Discussing Motion for Relief Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255
and Denying Certificate of Appealability
For the reasons discussed in this Order, the motion of Tyrone Townsell for relief pursuant
to 28 U.S.C. § 2255 must be denied and the action dismissed with prejudice. In addition, the Court
finds that a certificate of appealability should not issue.
I. Legal Standard
A motion pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255 is the presumptive means by which a federal
prisoner can challenge his conviction or sentence. See Davis v. United States, 417 U.S. 333, 343
(1974). A court may grant relief from a federal conviction or sentence pursuant to § 2255 "upon
the ground that the sentence was imposed in violation of the Constitution or laws of the United
States, or that the court was without jurisdiction to impose such sentence, or that the sentence was
in excess of the maximum authorized by law, or is otherwise subject to collateral attack." 28 U.S.C.
§ 2255(a). "Relief under this statute is available only in extraordinary situations, such as an error
of constitutional or jurisdictional magnitude or where a fundamental defect has occurred which
results in a complete miscarriage of justice." Blake v. United States, 723 F.3d 870, 878-79 (7th
Cir. 2013).

II. Factual Background
The facts of Townsell's criminal conduct, as provided in Townsell's presentence
investigation report, are as follows.
On September 14, 2015, [Townsell], Maurice Greer, and Christopher Davis
traveled to Kokomo, Indiana, in Davis' vehicle, with the intention of robbing a
Walmart located at 1920 E. Markland Avenue in Kokomo.
At approximately 3:00 AM, [Townsell] and Greer, armed with a .38 caliber
revolver, entered the Walmart. Davis, the designated get-away driver,
remained in the parking lot. First, [Townsell] and Greet obtained a rolling
suitcase from the store’s floor inventory. They proceeded to the front of the
store, and Greet brandished a large frame revolver at a Walmart employee.
They then forced the employee to open the door to the store’s cash room.
Once inside the cash room, they restrained the employee with zip-ties.
Approximately $90,000 was placed into the suitcase and taken from the store.
[Townsell] and Greer got into Davis' vehicle and returned to Indianapolis.
The three of them went to Davis’ apartment and, with the help of Davis’
wife, Fontella Pearson, counted and divided the money amongst themselves.
At approximately 9:00 AM on September 14, 2015, Davis' vehicle was
located in Indianapolis by law enforcement. A traffic stop was conducted,
and all three men were in the vehicle. A Walmart bag containing cash, as
well as a firearm, were located in the vehicle.
United States v. Williams, 1:15-cr-00184-SEB-MJD-3 (hereinafter "Crim. Dkt."), dkt. 228 at 5. On
September 15, 2015, an indictment (the "Indictment") was filed against Townsell, charging him
and his co-defendants with interstate commerce by robbery, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ U.S.C.
1951(a) and 2 (Count 1), and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, in
violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c)(1)(A)(ii) and 2 (Count 2). Crim. Dkt. 1. Three days later, Richard
Ford appeared as court-appointed counsel for Townsell. Crim Dkt. 21.
On September 6, 2016, Townsell entered into a plea agreement and agreed to plead guilty
to the charges in the Indictment. See Crim. Dkt. 154. Both parties agreed and stipulated to a factual
basis that supported a conviction for the charges. Id. at 11-13. The parties did not agree to a specific

sentence or term of supervised release. See id. at 6-8. Townsell agreed to waive his right to appeal
his conviction and sentence. Id. at 9-10. Townsell further agreed not to contest or seek to modify
his conviction or sentence or the manner in which they were determined in any later legal
proceeding, including but not limited to an action brought under 28 U.S.C. § 2255. Id. at 10.
The Court held Townsell's change of plea hearing on September 20, 2016. Prior to the
change of plea hearing, Ford filed a motion to substitute attorney for the hearing due to his recent
knee replacement surgery. Crim Dkt. 156. The Court granted the motion and appointed Andrew
Borland as substitute counsel for the hearing. Crim. Dkt. 162. During the hearing, the Court asked
Townsell if he understood that Borland was appearing on the defendant’s behalf due to Ford’s
recent knee surgery. Crim Dkt. 405 at 4. Townsell confirmed that he understood and agreed to
Borland's representation. Id. At the hearing, Townsell entered a plea of guilty pursuant to his plea
agreement, which the Court accepted. Crim Dkt. 161.
On June 7, 2018, the Court held Townsell's sentencing hearing. Crim. Dkt. 362. Although
Ford had originally intended to argue that Townsell was not a career offender, Ford subsequently
agreed with the Court that Townsell’s Iowa conviction was qualifying. See Dkt. 408 at 7-8
("Subsequent to that point in time, I am convinced at this point in time that the law is currently
that that conviction out of Iowa would be a qualifying conviction for the purposes of career
offender."). In light of Townsell’s assistance at the trial of his co-defendants, the United States
recommended a 210-month sentence, representing a four-level guideline reduction. Id. at 9-10.
The Court sentenced Townsell to 188 months’ imprisonment, followed by three years of
supervised release. Id. at 41.

On June 21, 2018, Townsell filed an appeal. Crim Dkt. 382. On October 5, 2018,
Townsell's appellate counsel filed a motion to dismiss the appeal, which was granted. Crim Dkt.
420. On October 16, 2019, Townsell filed the presently pending § 2255 petition. Dkt. 1.
III. Discussion
A petitioner claiming ineffective assistance of counsel bears the burden of showing (1) that
trial counsel performed deficiently and (2) that this deficiency prejudiced the defense. Strickland
v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 688-94 (1984); Delatorre v. United States, 847 F.3d 837, 844 (7th
Cir. 2017). If a petitioner cannot establish one of the Strickland prongs, the Court need not consider
the other. Groves v. United States, 755 F.3d 588, 591 (7th Cir. 2014).
The right to effective assistance of counsel "extends to the plea-bargaining process." Lafler
v. Cooper, 566 U.S. 156, 162 (2012). The Strickland two-part test "applies to challenges to guilty
pleas based on ineffective assistance of counsel." Hill v. Lockhart, 474 U.S. 52, 58 (1985). The
performance inquiry requires the petitioner to show that counsel's representation fell below an
objective standard of reasonableness. Lafler, 566 U.S. at 163. To establish prejudice, a defendant
"must show that there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel's unprofessional errors, the
result of the proceeding would have been different." Id. (internal quotation marks and citation
omitted).
In his petition, Townsell raises two grounds for ineffective assistance of counsel: (1) that
his counsel was ineffective for failing to attend the initial appearance on the superseding
indictment or the change of plea hearing, and (2) that his counsel failed to challenge his career
offender designation. See dkt. 2 at 6-7. Townsell also argues that his guilty plea was not knowing
and voluntary. The Court will consider each argument in turn.

A. Substitution of Counsel
First, Townsell argues that Ford was ineffective for failing to attend the initial appearance
on his superseding indictment on December 15, 2015 and his change of plea hearing on September
20, 2016. The Court disagrees.
Townsell was represented by counsel at both proceedings, specifically by Brent
Westerfield at the initial appearance on Townsell's superseding indictment, and by Andrew
Borland at the change of plea hearing while Ford was recovering from knee replacement surgery.
Townsell expressly consented to Borland serving as substitute counsel at the change of plea
hearing during the following inquiry by the Court:
THE COURT: You understand that we have allowed Mr. Borland to appear on your
behalf –
[TOWNSELL]: Yes, ma'am.
THE COURT: -- because Mr. Ford had his knee replacement surgery?
[TOWNSELL]: Yes.
THE COURT: Is that agreeable to you?
[TOWNSELL]: Yes, it is.
Dkt. 405 at 4. To the extent that Townsell now argues that he is entitled to relief because he was
"abandoned" or denied counsel at any "critical stage of his trial," dkt. 2 at 1-2, the Court finds his
assertion inaccurate. At all stages of his case, Townsell was represented by appointed counsel.
Furthermore, Townsell does not argue that either Westerfield's or Borland's performances were
deficient such that their substitute representation would constitute ineffective assistance of
counsel.
Accordingly, because Townsell cannot show that his counsel's performance was deficient,
he is not entitled to relief on that ground. See Groves, 755 F.3d at 591 ("If [a petitioner] is unable

to make a sufficient showing of one of the Strickland prongs, [the Court] need not consider the
other.") (citing Strickland, 466 U.S. at 697).
B. Career Offender Enhancement
Townsell also argues that Ford was ineffective for failing to object to Townsell's criminal
history category and seek a downward departure based on his criminal history. See dkt. 2 at 7-10.
For the reasons below, this argument is likewise without merit.
A defendant is classified as a career offender under the Sentencing Guidelines and subject
to an increased offense level if: (1) he is at least eighteen years old at the time of the offense of
conviction; (2) the offense of conviction is a crime of violence or a controlled substance offense;
and (3) the defendant has at least two prior felony convictions of either a crime of violence or a
controlled substance offense. U.S.S.G. § 4B1.1 (1998). The term "crime of violence" means any
offense under federal or state law, punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, that
(1) has an element the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force
against the person of another, or
(2) is burglary of a dwelling, arson, or extortion, involves use of explosives, or
otherwise involves conduct that presents a serious potential risk of physical
injury to another.
U.S.S.G. § 4B1.2(a) (2008).
Here, the record reflects that Ford adequately preserved the challenge to the Iowa
conviction and ultimately decided not to persist in arguing that the Iowa conviction was not
qualifying because that challenge was without merit. At the sentencing hearing, Ford had the
following exchange with the Court:
MR. FORD: Judge, with regard to all of the objections that were raised, I was in
most instances persuaded by the probation officer's response with regard to the
objection dealing with the career offender situation. That objection was posed back
in 2016 as a result of the current status of the law at that time, and lots of decisions
that were coming out, I needed to protect the record.

THE COURT: Of course.
MR. FORD: Subsequent to that point in time, I am convinced at this point in time
that the law is currently that that conviction out of Iowa would be a qualifying
conviction for the purposes of career offender.
THE COURT: Okay. I know you to be a good and astute lawyer, and so you did
the right thing to preserve your legal argument, but your analysis that has occurred
and the conclusion you've reached conforms to mine as well. That's what the
probation officer has put forward too. So there are no issues that remain that I need
to rule on; is that true?
MR. FORD: That is correct, Your Honor.
Dkt. 408 at 7-8.
As the above exchange makes clear, the Court concluded through its independent analysis
that the Iowa conviction was a qualifying conviction, and thus any attempt by Ford to persist in
arguing against a career offender enhancement would have been futile. Faucett v. United States,
872 F.3d 506, 512 (7th Cir. 2017) ("Refraining from a meritless sentencing argument cannot be
characterized as objectively unreasonable."). Therefore, since any continued objection would have
been overruled as meritless, Ford was not constitutionally deficient for not continuing to object.
See Lambert v. McBride, 365 F.3d 557, 564 (7th Cir. 2004) (finding no deficient performance
where the proposed objection would have been overruled if made). See also Northern v.
Boatwright, 594 F.3d 555, 561 (7th Cir. 2010) ("[O]bviously, an attorney is not constitutionally
deficient for failing to lodge a meritless objection."). Because Townsell's counsel was not deficient,
Townsell is not entitled to relief on this ground. Groves, 755 F.3d at 591.
C. Knowing and Voluntary
Finally, to the extent that Townsell argues that his plea was not knowing or voluntary, the
Court finds his argument without merit. Townsell's contention that he was manipulated into
entering a plea agreement "is belied by his own statements at the change of plea hearing, which

are presumed truthful." Bridgeman v. United States, 229 F.3d 589, 592 (7th Cir. 2000); see Hurlow
v. United States, 726 F.3d 958, 968 (7th Cir. 2013) ("[R]epresentations made to a court during a
plea colloquy are presumed to be true.") (citation and internal quotation marks omitted); Nunez v.
United States, 495 F.3d 544, 546 (7th Cir. 2007) ("Defendants cannot obtain relief by the expedient
of contradicting statements freely made under oath, unless there is a compelling reason for the
disparity."), judgment vacated and remanded on other grounds, 554 U.S. 911 (2008).
During the change of plea hearing, the Court reviewed the charge, the penalties Mr.
Townsell faced, and the terms of the plea agreement. Crim Dkt. 405 at 3-13. Mr. Townsell
responded that he understood. Id. at 13. The Court then inquired and confirmed that Mr. Townsell
was satisfied with his representation and was pleading guilty of his free will, free from coercion
or any promises or assurances other than what was contained in the plea agreement. Id. at 13-14,
20.
Townsell fails to provide a compelling reason why the statements he made to the Court are
now false. Despite several opportunities to do so during the change of plea hearing, Townsell
never objected to the plea agreement, never informed the Court he was dissatisfied with his
attorney, never asserted that he was being coerced. Rather, he stated that he was pleading guilty
of his own free will, having understood his charge and the potential sentencing, and that he was
fully satisfied with his attorneys' assistance. His statements to the Court are given a "strong
presumption of verity," United States v. Silva, 122 F.3d 412, 415 (7th Cir. 1997) (quoting
Blackledge v. Allison, 431 U.S. 63, 74 (1977)), because "when the judge credits the defendant’s
statements in open court, the game is over," United States v. Stewart, 198 F.3d 984, 987 (7th Cir.
1999). "[A] defendant has no chance of success on appeal when the judge elects to treat freely

given sworn statements as conclusive. Entry of a plea is not some empty ceremony, and statements
made to a federal judge in open court are not trifles that defendants may elect to disregard." Id.
Without more, Townsell cannot now allege that his statements in court were lies.
Accordingly, Townsell's allegation that his attorney manipulated him into taking the plea
agreement must also be rejected.
IV. Conclusion
For the reasons explained in this Order, Townsell is not entitled to relief on his § 2255
motion. He did not receive ineffective assistance of counsel, and his plea agreement was knowing
and voluntary. Accordingly, his motion for relief pursuant to § 2255 is denied and this action is
dismissed with prejudice. Judgment consistent with this Order shall now issue and the clerk shall
docket a copy of this Order in 1:15-cr-00184-SEB-MJD-3. The motion to vacate, Crim. Dkt.
[440], shall also be terminated in the underlying criminal action.
V. Denial of Certificate of Appealability
A habeas petitioner does not have the absolute right to appeal a district court's denial of his
habeas petition. Rather, he must first request a certificate of appealability. See Miller-El v.
Cockrell, 537 U.S. 322, 335 (2003); Peterson v. Douma, 751 F.3d 524, 528 (7th Cir. 2014).
Pursuant to Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 22(b), Rule 11(a) of the Rules Governing § 2255
Proceedings, and 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c), the Court finds that Townsell has failed to show that
reasonable jurists would find "it debatable whether the petition states a valid claim of the denial of

a constitutional right" and "debatable whether [this Court] was correct in its procedural ruling."
Slack v. McDaniel, 529 U.S. 473, 484 (2000).
The Court therefore denies a certificate of appealability.
IT IS SO ORDERED.

Date:

6/7/2021

_______________________________
SARAH EVANS BARKER, JUDGE
United States District Court
Southern District of Indiana

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