Ogundele v. USA-2255
Filing
2
MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Judge Deborah L. Boardman on 3/25/2024. (c/m 3/26/2024)(kk5s, Deputy Clerk)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF MARYLAND
GBENGA BENSON OGUNDELE,
Petitioner,
*
*
v.
*
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
*
Respondent.
Crim. No. DLB-15-277
(Related Civ. No. DLB-21-479)
*
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Gbenga Benson Ogundele filed a motion to vacate, set aside, or correct his sentence
pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255. ECF 1003, 1027, 1027-1. Ogundele claims his Fifth, Sixth, and
Fourteenth Amendment rights were violated at trial and sentencing and that his conviction should
be set aside. ECF 1027-1. The government opposes the motion. ECF 1040. Ogundele filed a reply.
ECF 1041. No evidentiary hearing is necessary because the motion and the record conclusively
show that Ogundele is not entitled to relief. 28 U.S.C. § 2255(b); see also United States v. Mayhew,
995 F.3d 171, 176 (4th Cir. 2021). For the following reasons, Ogundele’s § 2255 motion is denied.
I.
Background
In May 2015, a grand jury indicted Ogundele and nine others, charging them with a
“romance fraud” scheme that targeted elderly individuals they met online. The indictment charged
all defendants with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1349, and
conspiracy to commit money laundering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1956(h). In addition, the
indictment charged Ogundele and two other defendants with aggravated identify theft in violation
of 18 U.S.C. § 1028A.
Four of the defendants, including Ogundele, went to trial in November 2016.1 At trial, the
government introduced evidence that Ogundele and his wife’s half-brother, Mukhtar Haruna, were
at the center of this fraud scheme. Eleven elderly victims testified about how they believed they
were in a legitimate long-distance relationship with someone they met online. Eventually, the
supposed long-distance partner would solicit funds from the victims, and the victims, believing
they were helping someone they cared about, transferred substantial sums of money to defendantcontrolled bank accounts, which the defendants quickly transferred to other accounts. Employees
of Bank of America, Capital One, and Wells Fargo testified about the transfers in and out of the
defendants’ bank accounts.
Through the testimony of FBI agents, the government introduced into evidence
incriminating information seized from the defendants’ email accounts, cell phones, and homes.
The FBI agents also testified about statements the defendants made in post-arrest interviews with
law enforcement, including incriminating statements Ogundele made to the FBI. The government
introduced the testimony of David Rutledge, an FBI forensic accountant, who testified about
summary charts detailing selected transactions in Ogundele’s bank accounts from 2011 through
2014. Over Ogundele’s counsel’s objections, the trial court admitted the charts as evidence under
Federal Rule of Evidence 1006, and Rutledge testified about the financial transactions in the chart.
In their case, the defendants called several witnesses. Two co-defendants, Victor Oloyede
and Babatunde Popoola, testified in their own defense. Generally, they blamed Haruna, who they
said made them believe the money transferred into their bank accounts was for the purchase of
cars for export to Nigeria, and they blamed Ogundele.
1
One defendant, Olusola Olla, later went to trial in June 2017.
2
The jury returned a verdict of guilty on all counts against all defendants. At Ogundele’s
sentencing, the Court calculated the sentencing guidelines. Because the counts of conviction
involved fraud, the Court had to determine the loss amount under U.S.S.G. § 2B1.1(b)(1). The
presentence investigation report calculated the loss amount as more than $9.5 million but less than
$25 million, resulting in a 20-level increase. Ogundele’s counsel objected to this loss amount,
arguing it was inflated because it attributed to Ogundele losses caused by other defendants. The
government argued the loss attributable to Ogundele was more than $1.5 million but less than $3.5
million. The Court agreed with the government and applied a 16-level enhancement to Ogundele’s
offense level based on that loss amount. The Court sentenced Ogundele to a total of 234 months
of incarceration on all counts.
Ogundele timely appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. He
argued, among other things, that the summary charts should not have been introduced into
evidence and that the Court erred by imposing the 16-level increase for loss. The Fourth Circuit
affirmed his conviction and sentence in a published opinion. United States v. Oloyede, 933 F.3d
302 (4th Cir. 2019). Ogundele filed a writ of certiorari, which the Supreme Court denied on
February 24, 2020. Ogundele v. United States, 140 S. Ct. 1213 (Mem) (2020). That day,
Ogundele’s conviction became final, and the one-year statute of limitations clock for filing a
§ 2255 motion began. See 28 U.S.C. § 2255(f)(1); Clay v. United States, 537 U.S. 522, 525 (2003).
The deadline for filing a § 2255 motion was February 24, 2021.
3
On February 16, 2021, Ogundele filed a motion “for an extension on his § 2255 motion.”2
ECF 1003. He requested an additional 90 days to “prepare a proper legal argument to present
before this Court.” Id. On August 19, 2021, the Court the informed Ogundele that it intended to
construe the February 16, 2021 filing as a § 2255 motion. ECF 1020. The Court granted Ogundele
twenty-eight days to notify this Court in writing whether: 1) he objects to this
Court construing the pleading filed as a Motion to Vacate, Set Aside or Correct
Sentence pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255; 2) he wants to withdraw this pleading; or
3) he wants to amend the pleading so that it contains all of the claims he wants to
raise. See Castro v. United States, 540 U.S. 375, 382–83 (2003) (holding that when
a district court proposes to construe a post-conviction motion as a movant’s first
collateral attack of a judgment under 28 U.S.C. § 2255, it is required to notify the
movant of the restrictions and limitations under section 2255).
Id. at 1. The Court also explained § 2255’s statute of limitations. Id. at 1–2.
On September 7, 2021, Ogundele responded to the August 19 Order. ECF 1024. He
objected to the Court construing his February 16 filing “as a formal Motion to Vacate, Set Aside
or Correct Sentence pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255.” Id. He asked the Court to “consider this letter
as a Motion to Withdraw petitioner’s previously filed ‘Motion for Extension of Time’ and, without
objection, submit the attached Request for Filing Extension into the record.” Id. That same day,
Ogundele filed another request to extend the deadline for a § 2255 motion by 90 days. ECF 1025.
On September 22, 2021, the Court issued another Order. This time, the Court explained to
Ogundele that it lacked jurisdiction to extend the time to file a § 2255 motion “unless the extension
2
Ogundele signed his motion on February 15, 2021, and it was mailed on February 16, 2021. ECF
1003, at 1–2. Thus, it was filed no later than February 16. See Lewis v. Richmond City Police
Dep’t, 947 F.2d 733, 735 (4th Cir. 1991) (noting that, for a prisoner, “filing occurs when the
petitioner delivers his pleading to prison authorities for forwarding to the court clerk”). The filing
was docketed on February 22. ECF 1003.
4
motion is accompanied by or preceded by a motion to vacate.” ECF 1026, at 1 (citing cases). The
Court continued:
The Court will grant Ogundele until October 25, 2021, to clarify whether he wants
his February 22, 2021 filing treated as a § 2255 petition, to complete a § 2255
motion form to the best of his ability, and to request an extension of time to file a
supplement to the § 2255 motion as appropriate. On the § 2255 form motion,
Ogundele may present reasons why he believes his motion, if untimely filed, is
subject to equitable tolling. If Ogundele informs the Court that he wants to
withdraw the § 2255 motion or declines to complete the § 2255 form motion to
present claims for relief, his § 2255 motion and requests for extensions of time will
be denied and dismissed without prejudice.
Id. at 2.
On October 21, 2021, Ogundele filed a Motion to Vacate, Set Aside, or Correct Sentence
and a Memorandum in Support of the Motion to Vacate, Set Aside, or Correct Sentence. ECF 1027,
1027-1. The government opposed the motion. ECF 1040. Ogundele replied. ECF 1041.3
The parties devote much of their briefing to discussing whether Ogundele has established
equitable tolling to prevent dismissal of the § 2255 motion filed in October 2021. See ECF 10271, at 2–6; ECF 1040, at 6–9. The Court need not engage in the equitable tolling analysis. The Court
takes its obligation to construe pro se pleadings liberally, Bing v. Brivo Sys., LLC, 959 F.3d 605,
618 (4th Cir. 2020), and with that in mind, the Court construes the February 16, 2021 filing as a
timely-filed § 2255 motion and the October 21, 2021 filings as supplements to the motion. The
Court proceeds to the merits.4
II.
Standard of Review
Section 2255 allows a prisoner in federal custody to move to vacate, set aside, or correct
The Honorable Paul W. Grimm presided over Ogundele’s trial and sentencing. Judge Grimm
retired at the end of 2022. On November 30, 2022, this case was transferred to the undersigned.
3
4
Even if the petition was not timely filed, it would not strip the Court of jurisdiction to hear the
merits of the petition. United States v. Prescott, 221 F.3d 686, 687–88 (4th Cir. 2000).
5
their sentence “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). The Court must hold an evidentiary hearing on such a
motion “[u]nless the motion and the files and records of the case conclusively show that the
prisoner is entitled to no relief,” in which case dismissal is appropriate. Id. § 2255(b); see Mayhew,
995 F.3d at 176.
A habeas petition is not an alternative to a direct appeal. Claims raised on direct appeal
may not be relitigated in a § 2255 petition because a petitioner cannot “circumvent a proper ruling
. . . on direct appeal by re-raising the same challenge in a § 2255 motion.” United States v. Dyess,
730 F.3d 354, 360 (4th Cir. 2013) (quoting United States v. Linder, 552 F.3d 391, 396 (4th Cir.
2009)). And, when a claim “could have been but w[as] not pursued on direct appeal,” the court
will not consider it on a § 2255 motion. United States v. Mikalajunas, 186 F.3d 490, 492 (4th Cir.
1999); see United States v. Pettiford, 612 F.3d 270, 280 (4th Cir. 2010) (citing Sanchez-Llamas v.
Oregon, 548 U.S. 331, 351 (2006)). Such procedurally defaulted claims may be considered only
“when a habeas applicant can demonstrate cause and prejudice, or actual innocence.” Pettiford,
612 F.3d at 280. To establish prejudice, a petitioner must show the mistake he complains of
“worked to his actual and substantial disadvantage.” United States v. McKinney, 60 F.4th 188, 195
(4th Cir. 2023) (quoting United States v. Frady, 456 U.S. 152, 170 (1982)). This means the
petitioner must show a substantial likelihood of a different result in the absence of the error. Frady,
456 U.S. at 172–74. Claims of ineffective assistance of counsel are an exception to this rule
because such claims ordinarily are not litigated on direct appeal. Massaro v. United States, 538
U.S. 500, 509 (2003); see also United States v. Baptiste, 596 F.3d 214, 216 n.1 (4th Cir. 2010)
6
(noting ineffective assistance of counsel claims are considered on direct appeal “only where the
record conclusively establishes ineffective assistance”).
III.
Discussion
Ogundele claims his constitutional rights were violated by the improper admission of the
Rule 1006 summary charts into evidence at trial and by their consideration at sentencing. Ogundele
also claims his trial counsel provided ineffective assistance. None of his claims has merit.
A.
Rule 1006 Summary Charts
Ogundele claims his constitutional rights were violated at trial and at sentencing because
the Court improperly admitted into evidence under Rule 1006 summary charts of financial
transactions selected by the government that showed the victims wired funds into accounts
controlled by Ogundele and that Ogundele then transferred the funds to accounts outside the
United States. This error, he claims, violated his Fifth Amendment due process right. Ogundele
also argues his Sixth Amendment right to confront witnesses was violated because the government
did not introduce the charts through the agent who “determined what criteria qualified [as] an
alleged fraudulent transaction.” ECF 1027-1, at 9. Ogundele says he was unable to cross-examine
the agent who did introduce the charts about why some transactions were included but others were
not because the sponsoring agent did not make those decisions. Finally, Ogundele claims the Court
erred at sentencing when it applied a guidelines enhancement for loss amount based on the
summary charts.
These claims are foreclosed by the Fourth Circuit’s decision affirming Ogundele’s
conviction and sentence. On direct appeal, Ogundele argued that the trial court “abused its
discretion in admitting into evidence under Federal Rule of Evidence 1006 a series of charts
detailing selected deposits made into [his] bank accounts.” Oloyede, 933 F.3d at 310. He argued
7
that the charts included deposits related to a “subjective list” of suspected victims and represented
an “editorialized subsection of transactions.” Id. He said, “many of the charts’ entries, including
those reflecting many of the cash deposits, were never proven to be related to fraudulent activity,
but that admitting the charts into evidence implied that every entry was fraudulent.” Id.
The Fourth Circuit agreed that the charts did not comport with Federal Rule of Evidence
1006 “because of their selectivity.” Id. “They did not fully represent the accounts that they were
purportedly summarizing.” Id. A chart admissible under Rule 1006 must be “an objectively
accurate summarization of the underlying documents, not a skewed selection of some of the
documents to further the proponent’s theory of the case.” Id. at 311. The government in this case
“was not using the charts as surrogate evidence offered in lieu of voluminous underlying bank
records, but rather was seeking to help the jury understand how various related records
demonstrated a pattern of suspicious activity engaged in by the defendants.” Id. While the charts
could have been shown to the jury under Federal Rule of Evidence 611(a), it was improper to
admit them into evidence under Rule 1006. Id.
Nonetheless, the Fourth Circuit held the erroneous evidentiary ruling was harmless: “[W]e
are confident that the error did not affect the defendants’ substantial rights, particularly as the
same information in the same form could have been shown to the jury under Rule 611(a).” Id. at
311 (emphasis added). In his § 2255 motion, Olundeye appears to take issue with this holding,
insisting that the “error led to substantial harm and a violation of [his] rights.” ECF 1027-1, at 6;
see id. at 8 (“charts under Rule 1006 unfairly prejudiced the jury’s perception of Ogundele’s
alleged fraud”), 12 (“Ogundele’s substantial rights were duly negatively impacted” by the
summary charts). The Fourth Circuit rejected this claim. The court held that the introduction of
the summary charts into evidence did not affect Ogundele’s substantial rights at trial. This was
8
because the bank records referenced in the charts had been admitted into substantive evidence, and
an agent could have testified about the significance of the selected bank records referenced in the
1006 charts with the aid of a pedagogical chart permissible under Rule 611(a). These issues were
decided on appeal. Ogundele may not relitigate them in his § 2255 motion. See Dyess, 730 F.3d at
360.
Ogundele next argues his Sixth Amendment right to confront witnesses was violated
because the agent who decided which transactions to include in the summary charts did not
introduce the charts and the agent who did introduce the charts, Agent Rutledge, did not know why
certain transactions were included and others were not. ECF 1027-1, at 8–9. The confrontation
clause bars “extrajudicial ‘testimonial statements of a witness who did not appear at trial unless
[the witness] was unavailable to testify, and the defendant had a prior opportunity for crossexamination.’” United States v. Jones, 716 F.3d 851, 855 (4th Cir. 2013) (quoting Crawford v.
Washington, 541 U.S. 36, 53–54 (2004)). The Supreme Court has “has limited the Confrontation
Clause’s reach to those statements ‘made under circumstances which would lead an objective
witness reasonably to believe that the statements would be available for use at a later trial.’” Id.
(quoting Crawford, 541 U.S. at 52).
As Ogundele sees it, he was unable to confront the government’s witness because Agent
Rutledge, the witness who sponsored the admission of the charts, did not know why certain
financial transactions were included in the charts and others were not. This argument, framed as a
confrontation clause violation, could have been but was not raised on appeal and is therefore
procedurally defaulted. See Mikalajunas, 186 F.3d at 492–93; Pettiford, 612 F.3d at 280. Ogundele
cannot overcome this procedural default because he cannot show prejudice. Pettiford, 612 F.3d at
9
280.5 As the Fourth Circuit noted, Ogundele was “free to cross-examine the government’s
witnesses about the soundness” of the criteria that the government applied “to help present its
theory of the case . . . just as if the charts had been shown to the jury under Rule 611(a).” Oloyede,
933 F.3d at 311. So, even if Ogundele could not cross-examine Rutledge about the criteria used to
create the charts because Rutledge did not know the criteria, Ogundele could have asked other
government witnesses about the selection criteria. Furthermore, even if Ogundele could not have
elicited testimony about the selection criteria, he has not established a substantial likelihood that
such testimony would have led to a different result in the trial. Indeed, the testimony likely would
have reinforced the incriminating evidence against Ogundele by highlighting the financial
transactions that the government believed established his guilt. Thus, Ogundele cannot establish
prejudice to overcome the procedural default of this claim.
Finally, Ogundele argues he was prejudiced at sentencing because the Court relied on the
improperly admitted summary charts when it applied the 16-level enhancement for loss amount.
ECF 1027-1, at 18. Ogundele challenged the loss amount enhancement on appeal. He argued he
should not have been held accountable for more than $1.5 million but less than $3.5 million in
loss. The Fourth Circuit rejected this argument because the record showed that “this was a
conservative estimate of loss for which he was accountable based on the activity in his own bank
accounts.” Oloyede, 933 F.3d at 319. This issue was litigated on direct appeal and cannot be
challenged in a § 2255 motion. See Dyess, 730 F.3d at 360. Furthermore, this type of alleged error
in the application of the sentencing guidelines is not grounds for relief in a § 2255 motion. United
States v. Pregent, 190 F.3d 279, 283–84 (4th Cir. 1999) (holding that “barring extraordinary
5
The Court need not decide whether Ogundele alleges a confrontation clause violation, because
he cannot establish prejudice to overcome the procedural default.
10
circumstances . . . an error in the application of the Sentencing Guidelines cannot be raised in a
§ 2255 proceeding”).
Ogundele is not entitled to relief under § 2255 based on the improperly admitted summary
charts.
B.
Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
Ogundele claims his counsel was ineffective because counsel did not demand production
of exculpatory evidence that Ogundele says the FBI seized from his home.6 ECF 1027-1, at 18–
19. The alleged exculpatory evidence was an “accounts ledger” that reflected “currency exchanges
with Haruna, a licensed currency broker in Nigeria.” Id. at 18. The ledger “listed the linked cash
deposits into his account completed by such currency exchanges,” and these “cash transactions
recorded in the ledger reflected cash deposit activity contained . . . in the government’s summary
charts.” Id. Ogundele also claims his counsel was ineffective because counsel did not investigate
“paid receipts and invoices in Nigeria that would have corresponded with the entries in the ledger
and have invalidated listed, unverified transactions in the Rule 1006 charts.” Id. at 20.
To help ensure our adversarial system produces just results, the Sixth Amendment to the
U.S. Constitution guarantees a criminal defendant the effective assistance of counsel. United States
v. Carthorne, 878 F.3d 458, 465 (4th Cir. 2017) (citing Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668,
686 (1984)). To prevail on a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, a petitioner must satisfy
the two-pronged test set forth in Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687–88. See United States v. Freeman, 24
F.4th 320, 326 (4th Cir. 2022). That test requires the petitioner to show that (1) his counsel’s
performance was deficient and (2) he was prejudiced by the deficient performance. Id. Ultimately,
6
The government maintains it made all materials seized pursuant to the warrant available to
defense counsel and would prove it at an evidentiary hearing if one were held. ECF 1040, at 14
n.6.
11
the “benchmark for judging any claim of ineffectiveness must be whether counsel’s conduct so
undermined the proper functioning of the adversarial process that the trial cannot be relied on as
having produced a just result.” Strickland, 466 U.S. at 686.
To satisfy the deficient performance prong, a petitioner must demonstrate that his
attorney’s performance fell “below an objective standard of reasonableness.” Id. at 688.
Performance is evaluated based on “‘prevailing professional norms,’ not whether it deviated from
best practices or most common custom.” Harrington v. Richter, 562 U.S. 86, 88 (2011) (quoting
Strickland, 466 U.S. at 690); see Carthorne, 878 F.3d at 465. The “first prong sets a high bar.”
Buck v. Davis, 580 U.S. 100, 118 (2017).
To satisfy the prejudice prong in the context of trial representation, a petitioner must show
that “there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s unprofessional errors, the result of the
proceeding would have been different.” Strickland, 466 U.S. at 694. “A reasonable probability is
a probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome.” Id.
In evaluating whether the petitioner has satisfied the two-pronged test in Strickland, a court
“need not determine whether counsel’s performance was deficient before examining the prejudice
suffered by the defendant as a result of the alleged deficiencies.” Id. at 697. Because failing either
prong is fatal to a petitioner’s claim, “there is no reason for a court . . . to address both components
of the inquiry if the defendant makes an insufficient showing on one.” Id.
The Court first addresses Ogundele’s claim that his counsel did not demand the production
of exculpatory evidence—an “accounts ledger” the FBI allegedly seized from his home. Other
than his unsworn word, Ogundele offers no proof that the exculpatory ledger existed. Even if it
existed and had been introduced into evidence at trial, Ogundele has not demonstrated a reasonable
probability that the result of his trial would have been different. Ogundele argues the ledger and
12
related documents would have “showed a verified cash deposit corresponded to legitimate
currency exchanges based upon auto sales,” which would have “cast doubt” on the government’s
“subjective criteria used to compile the charts.” ECF 1027-1, at 19. Even if such doubt had been
cast, there was ample other evidence to support the jury’s verdict. The government presented
victim “testimony show[ing] that, between November 2012 and April 2014, five of them sent a
total of approximately $140,000 to two business bank accounts controlled by Ogundele.” Oloyede,
933 F.3d at 307; ECF 757, at 73–77; ECF 758, at 17–22, 171-185; ECF 759, at 64–68, 93–110. In
Ogundele’s email account, law enforcement found copies of a victim’s government identification
card and a letter from the victim to his bank, informing the bank that the victim intended to transfer
$46,000 to Ogundele. ECF 757, at 80–82. The victim testified that he never sent Ogundele his
identification and that he did not write the letter to his bank. Id. The government also introduced
into evidence records of Ogundele’s bank statements, cash deposit slips, and wire transfers
connecting Ogundele to other members of the conspiracy. ECF 760, at 81–191. Ogundele’s bank
account records showed deposits made by victims and deposits made by co-conspirators in
amounts that matched the deposits of other victims into the co-conspirators’ accounts. ECF 760,
at 83–84, 109–11. The evidence also showed that after the bank abruptly closed one of Ogundele’s
accounts, his wife, at his direction, accepted deposits into her account from victims and then
quickly transferred the money to another one of his accounts. Oloyede, 933 F.3d at 308–309, 313.
And then there was Ogundele’s post-arrest statements to law enforcement. He told the FBI
that he did not know the people who were depositing substantial sums of money into his bank
accounts and he made no effort to find out who they were, even though he suspected the
transactions were fraudulent and that Haruna was engaged in fraud. ECF 764, at 161–69. Ogundele
also admitted to the FBI that he believed the bank had closed one of his bank accounts due to
13
suspected fraudulent activity and that he nevertheless continued to transfer funds to Haruna in
Nigeria through another bank account. Id. Ogundele told the FBI he directed Haruna to deposit
cash into his account because Ogundele “was uncomfortable seeing [the victims’] names on his
bank statements . . . .” Oloyede, 933 F.3d at 316. This is but a selection of the evidence against
Ogundele. He has not shown a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s failure to demand
production of an “accounts ledger” seized from his home, the result of the proceeding would have
been different.7
The Court next addresses Ogundele’s claim that his counsel was ineffective for not
investigating and locating paid receipts and invoices in Nigeria that Ogundele says would have
explained the unverified, suspicious transactions in the government’s summary charts. ECF 10271, at 20. Again, other than his unsworn word, Ogundele offers no proof that these paid receipts and
invoices in Nigeria existed. Even if they did, and if they had been introduced into evidence,
Ogundele ignores the mountain of other incriminating evidence against him. He has not shown
there is a reasonable probability that the trial outcome would have been difference if his counsel
7
Ogundele suggests the government may have violated Rule 16 and Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S.
83 (1963), by failing to produce the “accounts ledger.” ECF 1027-1, at 20. An alleged Brady
violation is not a basis for relief “unless the nondisclosure was so serious that there is a reasonable
probability that the suppressed evidence would have produced a different verdict.” Strickler v.
Greene, 527 U.S. 263, 281 (1999). Like his Strickland claim, Ogundele cannot demonstrate a
reasonable probability that the ledger’s disclosure—if, in fact, the ledger actually existed—would
have led to a different result at trial.
14
had located paid receipts and invoices in Nigeria that provided an innocent explanation for the
unverified transactions in the government’s summary charts.8
Ogundele has not shown his counsel provided ineffective assistance. He is not entitled to
relief under § 2255.
IV.
Certificate of Appealability
The accompanying Order is a final order adverse to Ogundele. Thus, the Court must issue
or deny a certificate of appealability. Rule 11(a), Rules Governing Section 2255 Cases in the U.S.
Dist. Cts. Ogundele must receive a certificate of appealability before an appeal may proceed. 28
U.S.C. § 2253(c)(1).
A certificate of appealability may issue “only if the applicant has made a substantial
showing of the denial of a constitutional right.” 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(2). When a district court
rejects a § 2255 petition on the merits, as here, a petitioner may satisfy this standard by
demonstrating that “reasonable jurists would find the district court’s assessment of the
constitutional claims debatable or wrong.” Slack v. McDaniel, 529 U.S. 473, 484 (2000). Ogundele
has failed to demonstrate that a certificate of appealability should issue. He still may request that
8
Ogundele does not argue his attorney was ineffective for not cross-examining government
witness who prepared the Rule 1006 summary charts about why they included some financial
transactions but not others. Even if Ogundele had made this argument, he has not established
counsel’s performance was deficient or that it prejudiced him. Testimony by an FBI agent
explaining why the agent chose to include certain financial transactions in the government’s
summary charts would have highlighted the incriminating evidence against Ogundele. Counsel’s
failure to cross-examine government witnesses about the criteria used to create the summary charts
was not deficient. As for prejudice, Ogundele has not shown there is a reasonable probability that
questioning the government’s witnesses about the selection criteria would have led to a different
result. Ogundele’s conviction was supported by the testimony of victims who deposited money
into Ogundele’s account, bank records showing Ogundele transferred the victims’ money to
offshore accounts shortly after the funds were received, evidence that Ogundele’s wife accepted
money from victims at Ogundele’s direction, and Ogundele’s admissions to law enforcement that
he did not know the people depositing thousands of dollars into his bank account and he suspected
the deposits were fraudulent.
15
the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit issue such a certificate. See Fed. R. App.
P. 22(b).
V.
Conclusion
For the reasons stated in this memorandum opinion, the Court denies Ogundele’s motion
to vacate, set aside, or correct his sentence pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255. The Court declines to
issue a certificate of appealability.
A separate Order follows.
DATED this 25th day of March, 2024.
_______________________
Deborah L. Boardman
United States District Judge
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