Zahraie v. Balcarcel
Filing
49
OPINION and ORDER Denying 21 Petition, Denying Certificate of Appealability, and Denying Leave to Appeal in Forma Pauperis. Signed by District Judge Thomas L. Ludington. (KWin)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN
NORTHERN DIVISION
JAMSHID ZAHRAIE,
Petitioner,
Case No. 1:17-cv-13131
v.
Honorable Thomas L. Ludington
United States District Judge
CHANDLER CHEEKS,
Respondent.
______________________________________/
OPINION AND ORDER DENYING PETITION, DENYING CERTIFICATE OF
APPEALABILITY, AND DENYING LEAVE TO APPEAL IN FORMA PAUPERIS
After a Tuscola County jury found Petitioner Jamshid Bakshi Zahraie guilty of six counts
of racketeering and drug charges, he was sentenced to 15 to 40 years of imprisonment. In February
2021, Petitioner filed an amended pro se petition for a writ of habeas corpus under 28 U.S.C. §
2254. ECF No. 21. He raises 14 claims challenging his convictions.
For reasons discussed below, Petitioner’s amended petition will be dismissed with
prejudice, a certificate of appealability will be denied, and Petitioner will be denied leave to appeal
in forma pauperis.
I.
In May 2014, a Tuscola County jury convicted Petitioner Jamshid Bakshi Zahraie of
conducting an enterprise through a pattern of racketeering activity, MICH. COMP. LAWS §
750.159i(1), unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, MICH. COMP.
LAWS §§ 333.7272(1)(e) and 333.7401(2)(b)(ii), unlawful manufacture of a controlled substance,
id., unlawful delivery of a controlled substance, id., unlawful possession of a controlled substance,
id., and maintaining a drug house, MICH. COMP. LAWS §§ 333.7405(1)(d) and 333.7406. ECF No.
21 at PageID.231. The trial court sentenced Petitioner to of 15 to 40 years’ imprisonment for the
racketeering conviction and to lesser concurrent terms for the remaining six convictions. Id.
In February 2021, he filed an amended pro se Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus, raising
13 claims, including claims regarding lack of evidence, admission of hearsay testimony,
ineffective assistance of counsel, and deprivation of constitutional rights. Id. at PageID.248–334.
He then filed a motion to add two claims concerning jury instruction error and juror bias, ECF No.
29, which this Court granted in part by permitting Petitioner to add a jury-bias claim, ECF No. 35.
Petitioner’s convictions arose from selling synthetic marijuana from his party store and gas station,
and manufacturing materials for synthetic marijuana from his apartment.1 See generally People v.
Zahraie, No. 321835, 2015 WL 4169311 (Mich. Ct. App. July 9, 2015). The following facts as
recited by the Michigan Court of Appeals are presumed correct on habeas review. Wagner v. Smith,
581 F.3d 410, 413 (6th Cir. 2009); 28 U.S.C. § 2254(e)(1).
On June 30, 2012, Michigan State Police (MSP) troopers in Tuscola County
participated in an MSP initiative to advise store owners that K2 and other types of
synthetic marijuana would be illegal as of July 1, 2012. Trooper Nathan Hopp
advised Jamshid, the owner of Gran’s Party Mart and the Clark gas station in Caro,
and his ex-wife, Kirsta, who was working at Gran’s on that day, of the impending
change in the law. Of the thirty-eight stores visited that day in Tuscola County as
part of the initiative, troopers observed synthetic marijuana only at Gran’s and the
Clark station.
Lapeer police detective A.J. Wetzel, a member of the TNU, participated in a
controlled purchase of suspected synthetic marijuana at Gran’s on July 20, 2012,
after receiving several tips that synthetic marijuana was being sold at the store.
Jamshid told Wetzel that he was sold out of a brand of synthetic marijuana known
as “Spice,” but showed Wetzel the different types of synthetic marijuana that he
had. Wetzel purchased one packet of “Skunk” for $20 and one packet of “Sativa”
for $15. Jamshid indicated that these brands were not as good as Spice, but were
smokable. Wetzel made a second controlled purchase of suspected synthetic
marijuana at Gran’s on August 22, 2012. Kirsta told Wetzel that a brand called
“Sachet” was not available and that they only had what was under the counter.
Petitioner was tried jointly with codefendant Kirsta Zahraie. The Michigan Court of Appeals
consolidated the appeals.
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Wetzel purchased one packet of “Blue Jay” from Kirsta for $15 or $20. When
Wetzel asked Kirsta if Blue Jay would get him high, Kirsta said that “everyone was
buying it so it must be okay.”
Both Jamshid and Kirsta were present at Gran’s during an administrative tobacco
inspection led by MSP trooper Michael Leddy on January 17, 2013. Trooper Leddy
observed brands of synthetic marijuana known as K3, Super Nova, and Diesel in a
glass display in an area containing smoking apparatuses, glass pipes, and rolling
papers. A large amount of several brands of synthetic marijuana was also found in
boxes in three separate unlocked basement rooms. Jamshid stated that he had
removed the illegal products from the shelves and put it in the basement and that
he did not know that the products in the glass case were illegal. MSP Trooper
Andrew Feehan testified that he informed Jamshid on this date that he could not
sell synthetic marijuana. A total of 40 pounds of suspected synthetic marijuana was
seized and a sample of each brand was sent to the crime laboratory for analysis.
According to Leddy, no field test for synthetic marijuana is available. The
laboratory report indicated that substances known as AM–2201, XLR–11, UR–144,
and EAM–2201 were found in the tested samples. The report indicated that AM–
2201 is a schedule 1 controlled substance in Michigan, and that XLR–11 was not
presently a listed controlled substance under Michigan or federal law.
Kirsta was present at Gran’s during a second administrative tobacco inspection led
by MSP detective-sergeant Michael Foley on March 27, 2013. According to Foley,
Kirsta was uncooperative and refused to provide identification. During the
inspection, Foley observed several packets of suspected synthetic marijuana under
a glass counter, in a grocery bag that Kirsta had attempted to hide, and in the
basement. Approximately 1,400 packets of suspected synthetic marijuana were
seized from Gran’s that day. XLR–11 was detected in five of the sample packets
that were analyzed by the crime laboratory.
Detective Jason Miner participated in a controlled purchase of suspected synthetic
marijuana at Gran’s on April 25, 2013. In response to Miner’s request for Spice,
Kirsta said that they had an all-natural product called Super Nova. Miner purchased
one packet of Super Nova from Kirsta for $15. A laboratory analysis indicated that
the sample contained XLR–11. Trooper Feehan testified that he told Jamshid and
Kirsta that they could not sell products containing XLR–11.
On April 29, 2013, Jerry Donley made a controlled purchase of suspected synthetic
marijuana at the Clark station. Donley told Kirsta that he wanted to purchase Spice,
and she told him that Spice was no longer available but that other smokable
products similar to Spice were available. Donley purchased one package each of
two different brands for $25, and Kirsta provided free rolling papers. Laboratory
analysis of the product detected the presence of XLR–11.
On May 2, 2013, members of the TNU executed search warrants at the Clark
station, at Gran’s, and at the apartment that Jamshid and Kirsta shared. 585 packets
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of Super Nova marked “Not for human consumption” and $114,024 in cash were
seized from the Clark station. Troopers also found an invoice for the purchase of
$3,100 worth of Super Nova from a company called Clear Smoke. During the
search at Gran’s, approximately 50 packets of K3 and Super Nova were found in a
glass case and under the front counter, and several thousand empty silver packets
were found in the basement. The empty packets were the same as the filled packets
but did not contain a label or substance. A laboratory analysis of the Super Nova
sample detected XLR–11.
During the search of the apartment, troopers found a total of 2,223 packets of
suspected synthetic marijuana, including 1,300 packets of Super Nova packaged in
1.5 gram, 3.5 gram, and 6 gram packets. Several pounds of plant material,
flavorings, foil packets, acetone, scales, measuring cups, syringes, trays, labels,
grinding utensils, and a recipe for synthetic marijuana using the controlled
substance JWH–018. According to MSP Lieutenant Doug Rogers, an expert on
possession with intent to deliver narcotics, the items seized suggested that synthetic
marijuana was being manufactured for distribution. Laboratory analysis of the
samples seized from the apartment showed that JWH–018 was found on loose plant
material in Ziploc baggies that were found in the pantry. Another baggie containing
loose plant material and a flavoring bottle contained XLR–11. A packet of a brand
of synthetic marijuana called “Scooby Snax” that was found in the pantry contained
the controlled substance AM–2201. The Super Nova packets found in the pantry
showed the presence of XLR–11. Bulk bags in the pantry that were labeled
“Stratosphere” contained controlled substances JWH–250, JWH–018, and AM–
2201. A packet labeled “Magnolia Rush II Max” that was found in the pantry
contained XLR–11.
Dr. Gregory Endres, an expert in organic chemistry in the identification,
classification, manufacture, and pharmacological effects of synthetic marijuana,
opined XLR–11 is a schedule 1 controlled substance under the controlled
substances act as amended on July 1, 2012.
Jamshid acknowledged that troopers told him on June 30, 2012, that all synthetic
marijuana was becoming illegal. Jamshid believed that the Super Nova he
purchased from Clear Smoke was legal based on a disclaimer that he read on the
internet and a laboratory report from the vendor. He admitted that he made K3 using
a base leaf of damiana leaf and lavender bud to which he added flavoring, and that
he continued to sell K3 because he believed it was legal. Jamshid admitted that he
had a recipe for making synthetic marijuana that contained JWH–018, but he denied
making any products using the recipe. Jamshid testified that some of his customers
smoke K3 and some use it for aromatherapy; approximately 15 to 20 percent of his
gross sales are from the sale of Super Nova and K3. Jamshid testified that the
synthetic marijuana the troopers found in the basement at Gran’s was the product
that he had removed from the store shelves because it contained chemicals and was
illegal. He explained that the large amount of cash seized from the gas station came
from a settlement with his former employer in 2001 and from real estate
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transactions. Jamshid testified that Kirsta is not his employee, that they are
divorced, and that she rents a room from him for so that she can assist with the care
of their children. He testified that Kirsta does not work at his stores and that she
merely covers for him for a half-hour or an hour when he has errands to run.
Kirsta testified that she was divorced from Jamshid and that she moved in with him
in 2009 because he needed help with their children. She stated that she had her own
bedroom in the apartment and that she paid $250 in monthly rent. Kirsta testified
that she is not Jamshid’s employee, that she receives no pay, that she does not own
any businesses, and that she does not assist with the business records or accounting
at Gran’s or the Clark gas station. She admitted that she assisted Jamshid at his
stores two days a week. Kirsta testified that she did not know that the products she
was selling contained a controlled substance and that she relied on Jamshid’s
statements that the substances they were selling were legal. Kirsta denied ever
seeing Jamshid make synthetic marijuana or sell it from their apartment. She also
denied knowledge of the items in the pantry, with the exception of cleaning items
and acetone for her fingernails.
See People v. Zahraie, No. 321835, 2015 WL 4169311, at *1–4 (Mich. Ct. App. July 9, 2015).
The trial court sentenced Petitioner to 15–40 years’ imprisonment for the racketeering
conviction and to lesser concurrent terms for the other convictions. See id. at *1. Appealing as of
right, Petitioner argued that:
(1) the catchall language of MICH. COMP. LAWS § 333.7201(1)(e)(x) is
unconstitutionally vague;
(2) the evidence was insufficient to sustain his conviction for conducting a criminal
enterprise;
(3) the trial court erred by admitting evidence of prior purchases of synthetic
marijuana from Petitioner’s stores;
(4) he was denied due process of law because no hearing was held to determine the
existence of his prior convictions;
(5) his right of confrontation was violated by the admission of hearsay testimony;
(6) the prosecutor committed misconduct by eliciting testimony from an expert
witness that XLR-11 is a Schedule I controlled substance; and
(7) the trial court’s refusal to admit a laboratory report denied him the right to
present a defense.
See generally Zahraie, 2015 WL 4169311.
The Michigan Court of Appeals rejected Petitioner’s arguments and affirmed his
convictions in an unpublished, per curiam opinion. See Zahraie, 2015 WL 4169311, at *12.
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Petitioner then filed an application for leave to appeal in the Michigan Supreme Court, which
remanded Petitioner’s case to the trial court for a determination of whether the trial court would
have imposed a materially different sentence under the sentencing procedure described in People
v. Lockridge, 870 N.W.2d 502 (Mich. 2015). See People v. Zahraie, 875 N.W.2d 212 (Mich. 2016).
The Michigan Supreme Court denied leave to appeal in all other respects. See id. On June 28,
2016, the Michigan Supreme Court denied reconsideration. People v. Zahraie, 880 N.W.2d 569
(Mich. 2016). On October 3, 2016, the United States Supreme Court denied certiorari. See Zahraie
v. Michigan, 137 S. Ct. 115 (2016).
Meanwhile, in August 2016, the trial court held a resentencing hearing, as directed by the
Michigan Supreme Court, and affirmed its initial sentence in an oral decision. Petitioner appealed
the trial court’s ruling, but the Michigan Court of Appeals dismissed his claim of appeal for lack
of jurisdiction because the trial court had not entered a final judgment or order after its resentencing
hearing. See People v. Zahraie, No. 334853 (Mich. Ct. App. Oct. 12, 2016).
On November 29, 2016, the trial court issued a final order declining to resentence Petitioner
but granting him a new claim of appeal and appointing him appellate counsel. On March 20, 2017,
as the sentencing decision was progressing through the state courts, Petitioner filed his first federal
habeas corpus petition and a motion to stay the case pending exhaustion of state remedies. See
Zahraie v. McCullik, No. 1:17-cv-10875, ECF No. 4 (E.D. Mich. Mar. 30, 2107). Petitioner raised
fourteen claims:
(1) he was convicted under an unconstitutionally vague statute;
(2) he was charged under an “inapplicable” statute;
(3) he was denied the effective assistance of appellate counsel;
(4) he was denied the effective assistance of trial counsel;
(5) there was outrageous governmental conduct during the investigation;
(6) he was subjected to illegal searches and seizures;
(7) he was denied the right to present a complete defense;
(8) insufficient evidence was presented at trial to sustain his convictions;
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(9) the government exercised racially motivated peremptory strikes of jurors;
(10) the trial court erroneously admitted certain evidence at trial;
(11) the jury instructions were erroneous;
(12) the trial judge was biased against him and committed misconduct;
(13) the cumulative effect of the errors rendered his trial unfair; and
(14) he was entitled to re-sentencing
See generally id.
The Court summarily dismissed the petition without prejudice and denied the motion for
a stay as unnecessary because Petitioner was still exhausting state remedies and was not in danger
of running afoul of the habeas statute of limitations Id. The Court denied Petitioner’s Motion for
Reconsideration on August 29, 2017. See Zahraie v. McCullik, No. 1:17-CV-10875, 2017 WL
3720460, at *1 (E.D. Mich. Aug. 29, 2017).
On September 22, 2017, Petitioner commenced this, his second, case by filing an additional
habeas corpus petition, ECF No. 1, an application to proceed without prepaying fees or costs, ECF
No. 2, and a motion to stay the federal proceeding until he could file a proper post-conviction
motion in state court, ECF No. 3. This second Petition raised the same fourteen claims raised in
Petitioner’s first Petition. On November 16, 2017, Petitioner’s Motion to Stay was denied, his
Petition was summarily dismissed without prejudice, and his case was closed. ECF No. 9. This
Court noted that Petitioner’s direct appeal from the trial court’s new judgment of sentence was still
pending in the Michigan Court of Appeals and that the statute of limitations would not begin to
run until 90 days after appellate proceedings on Petitioner’s sentencing claim concluded.
On February 13, 2018, the Michigan Court of Appeals affirmed Petitioner’s sentences in
an unpublished opinion. People v. Zahraie, No. 336023, 2018 WL 842913, at *1, 3 (Mich. Ct.
App. Feb. 13, 2018). Petitioner subsequently filed for leave to appeal in the Michigan Supreme
Court, raising three new claims concerning the effectiveness of trial and appellate counsel. See
People v. Zahraie, 913 N.W.2d 294 (Mich. 2018). The Michigan Supreme Court denied leave
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because it was not persuaded that the questions presented should be reviewed by the Court. Id.
On August 13, 2018, Petitioner returned to the trial court and filed a motion for relief from
judgment, raising the following claims:
(1) he was charged under an “inapplicable” statute;
(2) he was convicted under an unconstitutionally vague statute and deprived of fair
notice;
(3) appellate counsel provided ineffective assistance;
(4) trial counsel provided ineffective assistance;
(5) he was deprived of search and seizure rights under the Fourth Amendment;
(6) the government exercised racially motivated peremptory strikes of jurors; and
(7) he was entitled to re-sentencing.
ECF No. 31-12. Petitioner also filed a motion to disqualify the trial court judge from
deciding his motion for reconsideration, which was ultimately denied. ECF No. 31-25,
PageID.4022. The trial court denied the motion for relief from judgment, ruling that Petitioner’s
first two claims were barred by Michigan Court Rule 6.508(D)(2), that his ineffective-assistanceof-appellate-counsel claim was meritless, and that his remaining claims were barred by Mich. Ct.
R. 6.508(D)(3). ECF No. 31-15. The trial court further denied Petitioner’s motion for
reconsideration. Id.
Petitioner filed for leave to appeal in the Michigan Court of Appeals, but the Court denied
leave because Petitioner “failed to establish that the trial court erred in denying the motion for
relief from judgment.” ECF No. 31-23, PageID.3534. Petitioner applied for leave to appeal in the
Michigan Supreme Court but was denied relief under Mich. Ct. Rule 6.508(D). People v. Zahraie,
944 N.W.2d 695 (Mich. 2020). The Michigan Supreme Court further denied Petitioner’s motion
for reconsideration. People v. Zahraie, 948 N.W.2d 561 (Mich. 2020).
On July 27, 2020, Petitioner filed a motion to reopen this case. ECF No. 18. His motion
was granted and Petitioner was directed to file an amended petition. ECF No. 19. On February 9,
2021, Petitioner filed his amended Petition raising 13 claims. ECF No. 21. On May 28, 2021,
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Petitioner moved to supplement his Petition with two new claims. ECF No. 29. This Court granted
the Motion in part and allowed Petitioner to add one additional claim regarding judicial bias. See
ECF No. 35 at PageID.5222–23. Thus, Petitioner asserts the following grounds for habeas relief:
I. Petitioner was convicted on insufficient evidence of a criminal enterprise and a
lack of evidence that the substance was a controlled substance within the meaning
of the statute.
II. The state court erred when admitting alleged prior bad acts when the evidence
was not relevant or material, not for a proper purpose, and/or substantially
outweighed by unfair prejudice.
III. The Michigan Court of Appeals abused its discretion where it denied
petitioner’s Sixth Amendment right to a trial by jury, when the Michigan Court of
Appeals affirmed his conviction on controlled substances that the jury did not
consider as an element of the offense during the trial. Petitioner cannot be convicted
of the crime because the prohibited “drug” is unconstitutional as a result of being
vague and overbroad.
IV. The right of confrontation was violated by the admission of hearsay testimony
of Blaine McGowen and Tamara Mathys, when they testified to the ill effects that
“spice” had on others, in violation of the Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments.
V. The prosecutor committed misconduct by eliciting testimony from an expert in
violation of Michigan Rule of Evidence 702, and Federal Rule of Evidence 702,
without conducting a Daubert hearing.
VI. The state court violated Petitioner’s right to present a defense.
VII. Petitioner was deprived of his constitutional right to have substantive and
procedural process under the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment
when the Tuscola County Prosecutor charged him with violating Michigan’s
controlled substances law under an inapplicable statute.
VIII. Petitioner was deprived of his constitutional right to have fair notice under the
Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment where MICH. COMP. LAWS §
333.7212(1)(e)(x)—the “catchall” clause—is void for vagueness.
IX. Petitioner was deprived of his Sixth Amendment right to effective assistance of
appellate counsel.
X. Petitioner was deprived of his Sixth Amendment right to effective assistance of
trial counsel.
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XI. Petitioner was deprived of his constitutional right under the Fourth
Amendment’s limitation on unreasonable search and seizure.
XII. Petitioner was deprived of his constitutional rights under the Sixth and
Fourteenth Amendment because the government exercised racially motivated
peremptory strikes of jurors.
XIII. Petitioner is entitled to re-sentencing.
XIV. Petitioner’s due process rights were violated as a result of judicial bias.
ECF Nos. 21 at PageID.225–26; 29 at PageID.824.
Respondent urges this Court to deny habeas relief because the state courts’ rejection of
Petitioner’s claims was not contrary to, or an unreasonable application of, clearly established
federal law. See ECF No. 30 at PageID.952–56. Alternatively, Respondent argues that Petitioner’s
claims are not cognizable on federal habeas review, are procedurally defaulted, are meritless, or
are moot. See id.
II.
The following standard of review applies to § 2254 habeas petitions:
A petition for a writ of habeas corpus brought by a person in custody pursuant to a state
court judgment “shall not be granted with respect to any claim that was adjudicated on the merits
in State court proceedings” unless the state court decision:
(1) was contrary to, or involved an unreasonable application of, clearly established
Federal law, as determined by the Supreme Court of the United States; or
(2) was based on an unreasonable determination of the facts in light of the evidence
presented in the State court proceeding.
28 U.S.C. § 2254(d).
A state court’s decision is “contrary to” clearly established Federal law if it either (1)
applies a standard different than what Supreme Court precedent says to apply or (2) applies the
correct precedent to materially indistinguishable facts but reaches a different result. Williams v.
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Taylor, 529 U.S. 362, 397, 405–06, 413 (2000). But a state decision that applies a state-law
standard is not “contrary to” clearly established Federal law if the state standard is practically
similar to the Supreme Court’s. See Robertson v. Morgan, No. 20-3254, 2020 WL 8766399, at *4
(6th Cir. Dec. 28, 2020) (holding state decision was not “contrary to” because it applied a statelaw standard bearing “some similarity” to the Brady standard).
The Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty act of 1996 “imposes a highly deferential
standard for evaluating state-court rulings” and “demands that state-court decisions be given the
benefit of the doubt.” Renico v. Lett, 559 U.S. 766, 773 (2010) (internal citations omitted). If the
state decision was not “contrary to” clearly established Federal law, then it “precludes federal
habeas relief so long as ‘fairminded jurists could disagree’ on the correctness of the state court’s
decision.” Harrington v. Richter, 562 U.S. 86, 101 (2011) (quoting Yarborough v. Alvarado, 541
U.S. 652, 664 (2004)). In this way, to obtain habeas relief in federal court, a state prisoner must
show that the state court’s denial “was so lacking in justification that there was an error well
understood and comprehended in existing law beyond any possibility for fairminded
disagreement.” Id. at 103. A “readiness to attribute error [to a state court] is inconsistent with the
presumption that state courts know and follow the law.” Woodford v. Visciotti, 537 U.S. 19, 24
(2002). A petition should be denied if it is within the “realm of possibility” that fairminded jurists
could find the state decision to be reasonable. See Woods v. Etherton, 587 U.S. 113, 113 (2016)
(per curiam). For claims the state court adjudicated on the merits, habeas review is “limited to the
record that was before the state court.” Cullen v. Pinholster, 563 U.S. 170, 181 (2011).
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III.
A. Procedural Default
At the outset, this Court notes that although Respondent argues Petitioner has procedurally
defaulted several of his claims of error, this Court is not obligated to address that defense because
procedural default is not a jurisdictional bar to review the merits. Smith v. Nagy, 962 F.3d 192, 207
(6th Cir. 2020); Trest v. Cain, 522 U.S. 87, 89 (1997)); see also Hudson v. Jones, 351 F.3d 212,
215 (6th Cir. 2003) (citing Lambrix v. Singletary, 520 U.S. 518, 525 (1997)) (“[F]ederal courts are
not required to address a procedural default issue before deciding against the petitioner on the
merits[.]”) The Sixth Circuit recognizes that its decisions “may sometimes reach the merits of a
petitioner’s claim, particularly when the merits are easily resolvable against the petitioner while
the procedural issues are complicated.” Smith, 962 F.3d at 207 (citing Lambrix, 520 U.S. at 525);
see also id. (finding “resolution of the procedural issues . . . not necessary [and] that the claim is
better resolved on the merits”). Here, the procedural-default analysis will not affect the outcome
of this case, and it is more efficient for this Court to proceed directly to the merits of Petitioner’s
claims.
B. Sufficiency of the Evidence
Petitioner first argues the prosecution failed to present sufficient evidence to convict him
of conducting a criminal enterprise/racketeering at trial. ECF No. 21 at PageID.248–49. The
Michigan Court of Appeals rejected this claim, concluding that the evidence presented at trial was
sufficient to sustain the conviction:
Jamshid argues that the evidence was insufficient to sustain his conviction of
conducting a criminal enterprise because there was no evidence of criminal activity.
He contends that the evidence did not show that he knew or should have known that
the products he possessed were unlawful because the illegal nature of a substance
cannot be determined by looking at it. However, precise knowledge of the nature of
a substance is not required for conviction as long as the defendant was aware that
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the product was a controlled substance. People v. Zion, 93 Mich. App 576, 578; 287
NW2d 6 (1979). Here, law enforcement officers informed Jamshid that K2 and
synthetic marijuana would be illegal as of July 1, 2012. Jamshid had direct contact
with law enforcement on at least three occasions and had a large quantity of synthetic
marijuana confiscated on more than one occasion after July 1. Jamshid admitted that
the products he had in the basement of Gran's were illegal. The jury could reasonably
draw an inculpatory inference that Jamshid knew the substance to be a controlled
substance from the evidence presented.
Jamshid further argues that there was no evidence presented that the sale of the
alleged controlled substances was part of a criminal enterprise or that there was a
concert of action between himself and Kirsta. He contends that Kirsta was merely
someone who helped out in the stores and who had no interest in the business.
Viewed in a light most favorable to the prosecution, the evidence revealed that Kirsta
shared an apartment with Jamshid, that all of the components of a synthetic
marijuana manufacturing operation were present in the apartment, that both Kirsta
and Jamshid sold controlled substances in the stores, and that a large sum of cash
was discovered in one of the stores. This evidence was sufficient to allow the jury
to find that Jamshid and Kirsta engaged in a criminal enterprise.
Lastly, Jamshid argues that insufficient evidence was presented to support his
remaining drug-related convictions because he did not know that the substances
were controlled substances. As discussed above, however, the evidence was
sufficient to allow the jury to infer that Jamshid knew or should have known that the
substances he was making and selling were controlled substances.
See Zahraie, 2015 WL 4169311, at *8-9.
The Michigan Court of Appeals’ ruling was not contrary to, or an unreasonable application
of, clearly established federal law. The Fourteenth Amendment Due Process Clause “protects the
accused against conviction except upon proof beyond a reasonable doubt of every fact necessary
to constitute the crime with which he is charged.” In re Winship, 397 U.S. 358, 364 (1970). The
question on a sufficiency of the evidence claim is “whether, after viewing the evidence in the light
most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements
of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.” Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319 (1979). The
Jackson standard must be applied “with explicit reference to the substantive elements of the
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criminal offense as defined by state law.” Brown v. Palmer, 441 F.3d 347, 351 (6th Cir. 2006)
(quoting Jackson, 443 U.S. at 324 n.16).
A federal habeas court views this standard through the framework of 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d).
Martin v. Mitchell, 280 F.3d 594, 617 (6th Cir. 2002). Thus, under the AEDPA, challenges to the
sufficiency of the evidence must survive two layers of deference to groups who might view facts
differently than a reviewing court on habeas review—the factfinder at trial and the state court on
appellate review—as long as those determinations are reasonable. Brown v. Konteh, 567 F.3d 191,
205 (6th Cir. 2009). “[I]t is the responsibility of the jury—not the court—to decide what
conclusions should be drawn from the evidence admitted at trial.” Cavazos v. Smith, 565 U.S. 1, 2
(2011) (per curiam). “A reviewing court does not re-weigh the evidence or re-determine the
credibility of the witnesses whose demeanor has been observed by the trial court.” Matthews v.
Abramajtys, 319 F.3d 780, 788 (6th Cir. 2003) (citing Marshall v. Lonberger, 459 U.S. 422, 434
(1983)). Accordingly, the “mere existence of sufficient evidence to convict . . . defeats a
petitioner’s claim.” Matthews, 319 F.3d at 788–89.
The Michigan statute for conducting a criminal enterprise provides, in relevant part, that
“[a] person employed by, or associated with, an enterprise shall not knowingly conduct or
participate in the affairs of the enterprise directly or indirectly through a pattern of racketeering
activity.” MICH. COMP. LAWS § 750.159i(1). The statute defines racketeering as, inter alia,
“committing, attempting to commit, conspiring to commit, or aiding or abetting, soliciting,
coercing, or intimidating a person to commit an offense for financial gain[.]” MICH. COMP. LAWS
§ 750.159g(c). And a “pattern of racketeering activity,” in turn, is defined as not less than 2
incidents of racketeering to which all of the following characteristics apply:
(1) The incidents have the same or a substantially similar purpose, result, participant,
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victim, or method of commission, or are otherwise interrelated by distinguishing
characteristics and are not isolated acts.
(2) The incidents amount to or pose a threat of continued criminal activity.
(3) At least 1 of the incidents occurred within this state on or after the effective date
of the amendatory act that added this section, and the last of the incidents occurred
within 10 years after the commission of any prior incident, excluding any period of
imprisonment served by a person engaging in the racketeering activity.
MICH. COMP. LAWS § 750.159f(c); see also People v. Martin, 721 N.W.2d 815, 842–43 (Mich. Ct.
App. 2006).
In this case, the prosecution presented evidence that Petitioner knowingly sold synthetic
marijuana at Gran’s Party Mart and the Clark gas station after the product became illegal on July
1, 2012. The prosecution also presented evidence that before July 2012, police informed Petitioner
that synthetic marijuana was becoming illegal. ECF No. 31-5, PageID.1632–40. Although
forewarned, Petitioner continued to sell synthetic marijuana in his stores. Detective Wetzel
testified that on July 30, 2012, he entered Petitioner’s store for the undercover purchase of
synthetic marijuana called “Spice.” ECF No. 31-5 at PageID.1655–57. He testified that Petitioner
told him that he did not have Spice, but assisted him with the purchase of other synthetic marijuana
brands. Id. at PageID.1657. Detective Wetzel further testified that he made another purchase of
synthetic marijuana at Gran’s Mart on August 22, 2012, with Ms. Zahraie’s assistance. Id. at
PageID.1662–63.
And other witnesses testified that Petitioner continued to sell marijuana after July 2012.
Ryan Mueller testified that in December 2012, he drove to Petitioner’s store with a friend who was
interested in purchasing “K2,” another strain of synthetic marijuana. Petitioner showed them the
products he had in his display case, including the synthetic marijuana “Super Nova.” ECF No. 315 at PageID.1686. Thomas Devine testified that he purchased synthetic marijuana from Gran’s
from July 2012 through May 2013, when it was ultimately removed from the store. ECF No. 31-6
- 15 -
at PageID.1852. On January 17, 2013, the police conducted an administrative tobacco inspection
at Gran’s. Trooper Feehan testified that he told Petitioner that he could not sell the product because
it was illegal. ECF No. 31-6 at PageID.1901. But Petitioner was uncooperative. Id. at PageID.1904.
On March 27, 2013, police conducted a second administrative tobacco inspection where they
seized approximately 1,400 packets of synthetic marijuana from Gran’s store and discovered
several packets of K2 displayed for purchase. Id. at PageID.1815–16. In May 2013, the police
executed multiple search warrants for Petitioner’s businesses, vehicle, and apartment. Id. at
PageID.1958. The police seized synthetic marijuana from all locations and seized $114,024 in cash
from the Clark store. Id. Additionally, an invoice from a company called “Clear Smoke” showed
Petitioner recently purchased $3,100 worth of Super Nova, a synthetic marijuana product. Id. at
PageID.1960.
The prosecution also presented sufficient evidence of Ms. Zahraie’s regular involvement
in selling synthetic marijuana at Gran’s. For instance, Trooper Hopp testified that Ms. Zahraie
informed him that she was an employee of Gran’s. ECF No. 31-5 at PageID.1637. Despite Ms.
Zahraie’s testimony that she only helped at Gran’s occasionally, several witnesses testified about
her regular presence at Gran’s and her sales assistance. ECF Nos. 31-5 at PageID.1636; 31-6 at
PageID.1878, 1917–18. And the record shows that Petitioner and Ms. Zahraie jointly resided in an
apartment where Petitioner maintained the necessary items to conduct a synthetic marijuana
manufacturing operation. See ECF Nos. 31-8 at PageID.2405; 31-6 at PageID.1997.
From this evidence a jury could reasonably infer that Petitioner conducted a criminal
enterprise and, on more than two occasions, knowingly sold illegal synthetic marijuana for
financial gain and likely would have continued to do so. Because any rational trier of fact could
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have found the essential elements of the conducting a criminal enterprise/racketeering beyond a
reasonable doubt, Petitioner’s first claim is without merit.
C. Evidentiary Error
Petitioner next argues that the trial court improperly admitted evidence of other wrongful
acts in violation of Michigan Rule of Evidence 404(b). ECF No. 21 at PageID.255–61.
Specifically, Petitioner challenges the prosecution’s evidence that he continued selling synthetic
marijuana after being informed of its illegality. Id.
The Michigan Court of Appeals rejected Petitioner’s argument and concluded:
Testimony regarding defendant’s prior activity and transactions was not improper
under [Michigan Rule of Evidence] 404(b). Testimony that defendant possessed
and sold synthetic marijuana to store patrons after being informed of the illegality
of synthetic marijuana tends to show that defendant engaged in a criminal enterprise
during the period alleged in the information. And, the evidence was sufficiently
probative to outweigh any danger of unfair prejudice.
See Zahraie, 2015 WL 4169311, at *10.
There is no merit in Petitioner’s claim that “other acts” evidence was improperly introduced
at his trial under Michigan Rule of Evidence 404(b), because the alleged violation of the Michigan
Rules of Evidence is not a cognizable claim on federal habeas corpus review. Hall v. Vasbinder,
563 F.3d 222, 239 (6th Cir. 2009). “[A] federal court is limited to deciding whether a conviction
violated the Constitution, laws, or treaties of the United States.” Estelle v. McGuire, 502 U.S. 62,
68 (1991). “[S]tate-court evidentiary rulings cannot rise to the level of due process violations
unless they ‘offend[ ] some principle of justice so rooted in the traditions and conscience of our
people as to be ranked as fundamental.’” Seymour v. Walker, 224 F.3d 542, 552 (6th Cir. 2000)
(quoting Montana v. Egelhoff, 518 U.S. 37, 43 (1996)).
To the extent that Petitioner’s claim implicates due process protections, the Supreme Court
has declined to hold that the admission of “other acts” evidence is so extremely unfair that it
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violates fundamental conceptions of justice. Dowling v. United States, 493 U.S. 342, 352–53
(1990). The Supreme Court has discussed when other-acts testimony is permissible under the
Federal Rules of Evidence, see Huddleston v. United States, 485 U.S. 681 (1988), but has not
addressed the issue in constitutional terms. Such matters are more appropriately addressed in rules
of evidence and procedure. Dowling, 493 U.S. at 352. Moreover, “[t]here is no clearly established
Supreme Court precedent which holds that a state violates due process by permitting propensity
evidence in the form of other bad acts evidence.” Bugh v. Mitchell, 329 F.3d 496, 512 (6th Cir.
2003). Consequently, there is no “clearly established federal law” to which the state court’s
decision could be “contrary” within the meaning of section 2254(d)(1). Id. at 513. Accordingly,
Petitioner will be denied habeas relief on this claim.
D. MICH. COMP. LAWS § 333.7212(1)(e)(x)
Petitioner brings three claims challenging the constitutionality and applicability of MICH.
COMP. LAWS § 333.7212(1)(e)(x). Because these claims are related, this Court will discuss them
together. Petitioner argues that (1) the catchall language of § 333.7201(1)(e)(x) is
unconstitutionally vague because it did not adequately notify him that XLR–11 was illegal, ECF
No. 21 at PageID.263–66; (2) he was charged under the wrong statute, id. at PageID.280–84; and
(3) he was deprived of his due process right to fair notice because § 333.7212(1)(e)(x) is void for
vagueness. ECF No. 21 at PageID.285–86.
The Michigan Court of Appeals rejected Petitioner’s constitutional challenge and
concluded that even if the catchall language of § 333.7201(1)(e)(x) is unconstitutionally vague,
Petitioner’s convictions were valid on other grounds:
The offenses with which defendants were charged prohibited the unlawful
possession with intent to deliver, unlawful manufacture, unlawful delivery,
unlawful possession, and keeping or selling, a controlled substance—specifically,
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synthetic cannabinoids (marijuana). At the time of defendants’ arrests, MCL
333.7212(1) provided, in relevant part:
The following controlled substances are included in schedule 1:
***
(e) Synthetic cannabinoids. As used in this subdivision, “synthetic
cannabinoids” includes any material, compound, mixture, or
preparation that is not otherwise listed as a controlled substance in
this schedule or in schedules II through V, is not approved by the
federal food and drug administration as a drug, and contains any
quantity of the following substances, their salts, isomers (whether
optical, positional, or geometric), homologues (analogs), and salts
of isomers and homologues (analogs), unless specifically excepted,
whenever the existence of these salts, isomers, homologues
(analogs), and salts of isomers and homologues (analogs) is possible
within the chemical designation:
[subsections
compounds]
(i)
through
(ix)
describe
specific
chemical
(x) Any other synthetic chemical compound that is a cannabinoid
receptor agonist and mimics the pharmacological effect of naturally
occurring cannabinoids that is not listed in schedules II through V
and is not approved by the federal food and drug administration as
a drug.
Defendants argue that the catchall language of MCL 333.7201(1)(e)(x) is
unconstitutionally vague because it did not adequately notify them that XLR–11
was illegal because a reasonable person does not know which substances are
cannabinoid receptor agonists and mimic the effect of naturally occurring
cannabinoids. Jamshid also argues that the statute conferred unfettered discretion
on the trier of fact to determine whether a compound “mimics the pharmacological
effects of naturally occurring cannabinoids.”
A statute is presumed to be constitutional and will be construed as such unless its
unconstitutionality is clearly apparent. People v. Hubbard (After Remand), 217
Mich. App 459, 483–484; 552 NW2d 493 (1996), overruled in part on other
grounds by People v. Harris, 495 Mich. 120, 123; 845 NW2d 477 (2014), and
People v. Bryant, 491 Mich. 575, 618; 822 NW2d 124 (2012). The constitutional
doctrines of vagueness and overbreadth are distinct doctrines, but they are related
in the sense that both curb arbitrary and discriminatory enforcement. Van Buren
Twp v. Garter Belt, Inc, 258 Mich. App 594, 628; 673 NW2d 111 (2003). A penal
statute is unconstitutionally vague or overbroad if “(1) it does not provide fair notice
of the conduct proscribed, (2) it confers on the trier of fact unstructured and
unlimited discretion to determine whether an offense had been committed, or (3)
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its coverage is overly broad and impinges on First Amendment Freedoms.” People
v. Vronko, 228 Mich. App 649, 652; 579 NW2d 138 (1998). “The doctrine of
overbreadth is primarily applied to First Amendment cases where an overbroad
statute prohibits constitutionally protected conduct.” People v. Cavaiani, 172 Mich.
App 706, 711; 432 NW2d 409 (1988). In this case, defendants do not assert that the
application of MCL 333.7212(1)(e)(x) impinges on any First Amendment freedoms
or other constitutionally protected activity. Accordingly, the doctrine of
overbreadth does not apply. Vronko, 228 Mich. App at 652. “When a defendant’s
vagueness challenge does not implicate First Amendment freedoms, the
constitutionality of the statute in question must be examined in light of the
particular facts at hand without concern for the hypothetical rights of others.” Id.
“A statute provides fair notice when it gives a person of ordinary intelligence a
reasonable opportunity to know what is prohibited.” People v. Gratsch, 299 Mich.
App 604, 610; 831 NW2d 462 (2013), vacated on other grounds 495 Mich. 876
(2013). “To evaluate a vagueness challenge, this Court must examine the entire text
of the statute and give the words of the statute their ordinary meanings.” People v.
Hrlic, 277 Mich. App 260, 263; 744 NW2d 221 (2007). “Reference to a dictionary
is appropriate to determine the ordinary meaning of a word.” People v. Wilson, 230
Mich. App 590, 592; 585 NW2d 24 (1998). A statute may not use a term that
requires persons of ordinary intelligence to speculate about its meaning and differ
about its application, but “[a] statute is sufficiently definite if its meaning can fairly
be ascertained by reference to judicial interpretations, the common law,
dictionaries, treatises, or the commonly accepted meanings of words.” Gratsch, 299
Mich. App at 610 (citation and quotation marks omitted). The party challenging the
constitutionality of a statute bears the burden of proving that the law is
unconstitutional. In re Request for Advisory Opinion Regarding Constitutionality
of 2005 PA 71, 479 Mich. 1, 11; 740 NW2d 444 (2007).
The record reveals that JWH–250, JWH–018, and AM–2201 were found during the
execution of the search warrant at defendants’ apartment on May 2, 2013. These
chemical compounds are specifically listed as synthetic cannabinoids in MCL
333.7212(1)(e)(i) and (v). Additionally, AM–2201 was found at Gran’s during an
inspection on January 17, 2013. Therefore, even if the catchall definition for
synthetic cannabinoids in MCL 333.7212(1)(e)(x) were found to be
unconstitutionally vague, defendants’ convictions would still stand in the absence
of the evidence of XLR–11. “The Court will not pass upon a constitutional question
although properly presented by the record, if there is also present some other ground
upon which the case may be disposed of.” People v. McKinley, 496 Mich. 410,
415–416 n. 4; 852 NW2d 770 (2014), quoting Ashwander v. Tenn Valley Auth, 297
U.S. 288, 347; 56 S Ct 466; 80 L Ed 688 (1936).
See Zahraie, 2015 WL 4169311, at *4-6.
- 20 -
The Michigan Court of Appeals’ ruling was not contrary to, or an unreasonable application
of, clearly established federal law. The appellate court determined that it need not reach
Petitioner’s constitutional question because the record established that his convictions would stand
on other statutory grounds. See id. The appellate court’s decision to decline the constitutional
question on this basis was not unreasonable. The Supreme Court has held that such resolution is
appropriate when faced with an issue that can be decided on more than one ground. See Ashwander
v. Tennessee Valley Auth., 297 U.S. 288, 347 (1936) (“[I]f a case can be decided on either of two
grounds, one involving a constitutional question, the other a question of statutory construction or
general law, the Court will decide only the latter.”). The state-court record supports the conclusion
that Petitioner violated the statute of conviction by possessing with the intent to deliver other
chemical compounds specifically listed as synthetic cannabinoids. ECF No. 31-7, PageID.2068–
71. Thus, the appellate court correctly concluded that Petitioner’s convictions would stand even if
he successfully challenged § 333.7212(1)(e)(x). Because Petitioner’s convictions would be upheld
under other provisions of the statute of conviction, he is not entitled to habeas relief on his claims
challenging the constitutionality of § 333.7201(1)(e)(x). Accordingly, this Court will not address
Petitioner’s remaining arguments challenging his conviction under this statute.
E. Confrontation Clause
Petitioner argues that the prosecution violated his Sixth Amendment right to confrontation
by introducing witness testimony addressing the ill effects of synthetic marijuana in others who
did not testify. ECF No. 21 at PageID.267–71. The Michigan Court of Appeals reviewed this claim
for plain error and rejected Petitioner’s argument on the basis that the testimony presented was not
hearsay. The panel concluded:
Hearsay is “a statement, other than the one made by the declarant while testifying
at the trial or hearing, offered in evidence to prove the truth of the matter asserted.”
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MRE 801(c). The admission of hearsay evidence is generally prohibited. MRE 802.
Here, however, the basis for McGowan’s and Mathys’ testimony was their own
personal observations. Accordingly, this testimony was not hearsay, as there was
no out-of-court statement made by a declarant that formed the basis of either
witness’s testimony regarding their observations of others who had smoked
synthetic marijuana that had been purchased from Jamshid’s stores. Thus, their
testimony was not hearsay and the admission of the evidence did not violate
defendant’s right of confrontation.
See Zahraie, 2015 WL 4169311, at *11.
The Michigan Court of Appeals’ ruling was not contrary to, or an unreasonable application
of, clearly established federal law. The Sixth Amendment guarantees the right of an accused in a
criminal prosecution “to be confronted with the witnesses against him.” U.S. CONST. amend. VI.
The Confrontation Clause provides criminal defendants the right to confront and cross examine
witnesses against them. See, e.g., Davis v. Alaska, 415 U.S. 308, 315 (1973). The right to confront
adverse witnesses generally prevents a court from admitting an out-of-court statement against a
criminal defendant. California v. Green, 399 U.S. 149, 155-58 (1970). The Sixth Amendment
protections, however, are not so broad as to exclude the admission of all hearsay statements against
a defendant despite his or her inability to confront the declarant at trial. See Maryland v. Craig,
497 U.S. 836, 847–48 (1990). The constitutionality of admitting a hearsay statement depends on
whether the statement is testimonial or non-testimonial in nature and on the circumstances
surrounding the making of the statement.
In Crawford v. Washington, the Supreme Court held that out-of-court statements that are
“testimonial” in nature are barred by the Confrontation Clause unless the witness is unavailable
and the defendant had a prior opportunity for cross examination regardless of whether the trial
court finds the statements to be reliable. 541 U.S. 36, 68 (2004). The Confrontation Clause is not
implicated, however, when the hearsay at issue is non-testimonial. See Davis v. Washington, 547
U.S. 813, 823–26 (2006). The proper inquiry in deciding whether a statement is testimonial is
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“whether a reasonable person in the declarant’s position would anticipate his statement being used
against the accused in investigating and prosecuting the crime.” United States v. Cromer, 389 F.3d
662, 675 (6th Cir. 2005).
Here, Petitioner has not shown that the witnesses’ testimony violated his confrontation
rights. During trial, Blaine McGowan testified that he accompanied his brother to Petitioner’s store
to purchase synthetic marijuana. ECF No. 31-6 at PageID.1834. He further testified that he
observed his brother become sick from smoking the product, which he smoked frequently. Id. at
PageID.1834–35. At one point, McGowan went to the store to confront Petitioner and asked him
to stop selling the product to his brother. Id. at PageID.1838. McGowan testified that Petitioner
“pushed [him] out of [the] store.” Id. Tamara Mathys testified that in January and February of
2013, she drove a friend to Petitioner’s store once or twice a week for purchase of synthetic
marijuana. Id. at PageID.1871–72. Mathys observed that her friend “would act very tired, he was
losing weight and sometimes he would be sick, had like flu-like symptoms.” Id. at PageID.1866.
She further testified that her friend moved to Florida because of his addiction. Id. at PageID.1867.
Neither McGowan nor Mathys based their testimony on any out-of-court statements made
by a declarant who was not testifying. Rather, both witnesses testified about their personal
observations regarding other individuals’ experiences with the synthetic marijuana purchased in
Petitioner’s store. “A witness’s testimony about his personal observations of an event is not an
out-of-court statement and, thus, is not ‘hearsay.’” Garcia-Dorantes v. Warren, 769 F. Supp. 2d
1092, 1112 (E.D. Mich. 2011). Nevertheless, to the extent the witnesses testified about any outof-court statements made by non-testifying declarants, Petitioner fails to show that the statements
were testimonial. Because the witnesses’ testimony regarding their personal observations and the
- 23 -
non-testimonial statements made by others did not implicate the Confrontation Clause, Petitioner’s
claim fails.
Additionally, to the extent that Petitioner challenges the state appellate court’s conclusion
that the testimony was not hearsay, his claim is not cognizable on habeas review. As discussed,
alleged trial court errors in the application of state evidentiary law are generally not cognizable as
grounds for federal habeas relief. See Estelle v. McGuire, 502 U.S. 62, 67–68 (1991). A federal
habeas court is bound by a state appellate court’s ruling that certain testimony is not hearsay,
because state law governs questions concerning the admissibility of evidence. See Maynard v.
Lockhart, 981 F.2d 981, 986 (8th Cir. 1992). Any claim that the trial court improperly admitted
this evidence as an exception to the hearsay rule is therefore non-cognizable in federal habeas
review. See, e.g., Cathron v. Jones, 190 F. Supp. 2d 990, 996 (E.D. Mich. 2002) (holding
petitioner’s claim that state court erred in admitting hearsay under state evidence rule governing
declarations against penal interest not cognizable in federal habeas review because the claim
alleged a violation of state law instead of federal constitutional rights). Therefore, Petitioner is not
entitled to relief on this claim.
F. Prosecutorial Misconduct
Petitioner argues that the prosecutor improperly elicited expert testimony that XLR-11 was
a controlled substance under MICH. COMP. LAWS § 333.7201(1)(e)(x) because it embraced an
ultimate issue reserved for the jury and was unreliable opinion testimony. ECF No. 21 at
PageID.272–76. Petitioner also argues that the prosecutor improperly stated in a newspaper that
Petitioner was a “drug-dealer.” Id. at PageID.275–76. The Michigan Court of Appeals rejected
Petitioner’s expert witness argument on direct review for plain error, concluding that the
prosecutor’s conduct was harmless error:
- 24 -
Jamshid did not dispute at trial that XLR–11 was a controlled substance. Rather,
his defense was that he did not know, and could not have known, that XLR–11 was
a controlled substance. Assuming that the prosecutor committed misconduct by
eliciting expert testimony that XLR–11 was a controlled substance, any error would
be harmless. Jamshid has failed to demonstrate plain error affecting substantial
rights.
Zahraie, 2015 WL 4169311, at *11.
The Michigan Court of Appeals’ harmless-error ruling was not contrary to, or an
unreasonable application of, clearly established federal law. “Claims of prosecutorial misconduct
are reviewed deferentially on habeas review.” Millender v. Adams, 376 F.3d 520, 528 (6th Cir.
2004) (cleaned up). Prosecutorial misconduct will thus form the basis for habeas relief only if the
conduct was so egregious as to render the entire trial fundamentally unfair based on the totality of
the circumstances. Donnelly v. DeChristoforo, 416 U.S. 637, 643–45 (1974). To obtain habeas
relief on a prosecutorial misconduct claim, a habeas petitioner must show that the state court’s
rejection of his prosecutorial misconduct claim “was so lacking in justification that there was an
error well understood and comprehended in existing law beyond any possibility for fairminded
disagreement.” Parker v. Matthews, 567 U.S. 37, 48 (2012) (cleaned up). Claims of prosecutorial
misconduct also are subject to harmless-error analysis. Mason v. Mitchell, 320 F.3d 604, 635 (6th
Cir.2003) (citing Hill v. Brigano, 199 F.3d 833, 847 (6th Cir.1999)). An error is harmless unless
it had a “‘substantial and injurious effect or influence in determining the jury’s verdict.’” Brecht
v. Abrahamson, 507 U.S. 619, 623 (1993) (quoting Kotteakos v. United States, 328 U.S. 750, 776
(1946)). The Court must examine “the fairness of the trial, not the culpability of the prosecutor.”
Serra v. Mich. Dep’t of Corr., 4 F.3d 1348, 1355 (6th Cir.1993) (quoting Smith v. Phillips, 455
U.S. 209, 219 (1994).
Petitioner has not shown that the prosecutor’s conduct rendered the trial fundamentally
unfair. The trial court ruled that Dr. Gregory W. Endres could offer expert testimony. ECF No. 31- 25 -
8 at PageID.2290. A prosecutor does not commit misconduct by introducing evidence that is
admissible under state law. See Dufresne v. Palmer, 876 F.3d 248, 261 (6th Cir. 2017). In any
event, a prosecutor “does not commit misconduct by asking questions that elicit inadmissible
evidence.” Id. (quoting Key v. Rapelje, 634 F. App’x 141, 148 (6th Cir. 2015)). Even if Dr. Endres’
testimony invaded the jury’s fact-finding provision, Petitioner has not cited any cases declaring
that the introduction of such testimony rises to the level of a due process violation. A federal district
court cannot grant habeas relief on the admission of an expert witness’s testimony in the absence
of Supreme Court precedent that shows that the admission of that expert witness’s testimony on a
particular subject violates the federal constitution. See Wilson v. Parker, 515 F.3d 682, 705–706
(6th Cir. 2008). Petitioner cites no Supreme Court cases establishing a due process violation on
the particular subject to which Dr. Endres testified. In fact, “the Supreme Court has yet to hold that
the federal constitution prohibits an expert from testifying even about an ultimate issue to be
resolved by the trier of fact.” See Dicken v. Brewer, No. 2:19-CV-11676, 2019 WL 6701434, at
*7 (E.D. Mich. Dec. 9, 2019) (citing Moses v. Payne, 555 F.3d 742, 761 (9th Cir. 2009)). He also
fails to cite a single Supreme Court case establishing a due process violation based on the
admission of evidence in the form of unreliable expert testimony. Because Petitioner has not shown
that the prosecutor’s admission of Dr. Endres’ testimony violated his due process rights, he is not
entitled to habeas relief on this claim. And, to the extent Petitioner also argues that the prosecutor
committed misconduct by calling him a drug dealer in a local newspaper, Petitioner did not raise
this claim in the state courts, and this claim is speculative and unsupported by the state-court
record. Petitioner is not entitled to habeas relief on this claim.
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G. Right to Present a Defense
Petitioner argues that the trial court violated his right to present a defense by denying his
request to admit a laboratory report from one his vendors to show that he believed that the product
he purchased was legal. ECF No. 21 at PageID.277–79. The Michigan Court of Appeals reviewed
this claim for plain error affecting Petitioner’s substantive rights, and determined that even though
the trial court erred by denying the request on the basis of hearsay, the trial court did not violate
his right to present a defense because defense counsel failed to comply with the Michigan Rules
of Evidence:
[D]efense counsel failed to comply with the evidentiary rules for presenting
documentary evidence. The authentication or identification of evidence is a
condition precedent to its admission, MRE 901(a), and when the admissibility of
evidence is disputed, “the burden of establishing a proper foundation rests with the
party seeking admission.” In re Brock, 193 Mich. App 652, 669; 485 NW2d 110
(1992), rev’d on other grounds 442 Mich. 101 (1993). Evidence can be identified
by the testimony of a witness with knowledge that the documents are what they are
claimed to be, MRE 901(b)(1), or self-authenticated by an affidavit from the
records custodian. MRE 902(11). Defense counsel did not call a witness to lay a
foundation for admission of the laboratory report. Additionally, the court allowed
Jamshid to testify that he read the laboratory report and that, on the basis of
information contained in the report, he believed that the product he was selling was
legal. Jamshid was not denied the opportunity to present a defense, and he has failed
to establish plain error affecting substantial rights.
Zahraie, 2015 WL 4169311, at *11-12.
The Michigan Court of Appeals’ ruling was not contrary to, or an unreasonable application
of, clearly established federal law. First, to the extent that Petitioner asserts that the trial court erred
in excluding the lab report, he does not state a claim upon which habeas relief may be granted.
State courts are the final arbiters of state law, and the federal courts will not intervene in such
matters. See Lewis v. Jeffers, 497 U.S. 764, 780 (1990). The decision of the state courts on a state
law issue is binding on a federal court. See Wainwright v. Goode, 464 U.S. 78, 84 (1983); see also
Bradshaw v. Richey, 546 U.S. 74, 76 (2005) (“We have repeatedly held that a state court’s
- 27 -
interpretation of state law, including one announced on direct appeal of the challenged conviction,
binds a federal court sitting in habeas corpus.”). The state court of appeals’ determination that
defense counsel failed to lay a proper foundation for the lab report under the Michigan Rules of
Evidence is, therefore, axiomatically correct on habeas review.
Second, Petitioner has not shown that the court’s ruling infringed on his constitutional right
to present a defense. The Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments guarantee criminal defendants a
meaningful opportunity to present evidence in support of a complete defense. Crane v. Kentucky,
476 U.S. 683, 689–90 (1986). A criminal defendant, however, “does not have an unfettered right
to offer evidence that is incompetent, privileged, or otherwise inadmissible under standard rules
of evidence.” United States v. Blackwell, 459 F.3d 739, 753 (6th Cir. 2006) (internal alterations
and quotation marks omitted). Rather, “the Constitution permits judges to exclude evidence that is
repetitive, only marginally relevant or poses an undue risk of harassment, prejudice, or confusion
of the issues.” Holmes v. South Carolina, 547 U.S. 319, 326–27 (2006). Thus, evidentiary rules
abridge the right to a meaningful opportunity to present a defense if such rules both “infring[e]
upon a weighty interest of the accused” and are “arbitrary” or “disproportionate to the purposes
they are designed to serve.” United States v. Scheffer, 523 U.S. 303, 308 (1998). When deciding if
the exclusion of evidence impairs a defendant’s rights, the question is not whether the excluded
evidence would have caused the jury to reach a different result. The question is whether the
defendant was afforded “a meaningful opportunity to present a complete defense.” Crane v.
Kentucky, 476 U.S. 683, 690 (1986) (quoting California v. Trombetta, 467 U.S. 479, 485 (1984)).
Petitioner fails to show that the trial court’s evidentiary ruling deprived him of a
meaningful opportunity to present a complete defense. Although the court excluded the lab report,
Petitioner testified that he read the lab report and relied on it when deciding whether to sell the
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product. For instance, when defense counsel asked Petitioner if he believed that the “Super Nova”
synthetic marijuana was legal, he testified, “Yes . . . [b]ased on the disclaimer that company gave.”
ECF No. 31-7 at PageID.2149. Petitioner also testified that he believed the product was legal
“based on vendor information.” Id. at PageID.2156. Defense counsel continued this line of
questioning and Petitioner was fully permitted to explain his reasons for believing the product was
legal. Id. at PageID.2155–60. The lab report itself would have only bolstered Petitioner’s
testimony, rather than add any new evidence for the jury to consider. For these reasons, the trial
court’s ruling did not render Petitioner’s trial fundamentally unfair. Thus, Petitioner’s claim is
without merit.
H. Ineffective Assistance of Trial Counsel
Petitioner argues that trial counsel was ineffective during various stages of his criminal
case, and argues specifically that his counsel:
(1) lacked the necessary legal training to defend the case,
(2) failed to adequately investigate the facts of the case,
(3) failed to file certain pre-trial motions,
(4) failed to familiarize himself with the Michigan Rules of Evidence,
(5) failed to properly prepare for jury selection,
(6) failed to effectively cross-examine the prosecution’s witnesses with
impeachment evidence,
(7) failed to the limit the facts presented to the jury,
(8) failed to properly defend against the charges,
(9) failed to report the prosecutor’s misconduct to the Attorney Grievance
Commission,
(10) failed to prepare for sentencing and object to the scoring of offense variables
3, 9, 12, 14, and
(11) failed to object to the trial court’s imposition of excessive fines
ECF No. 21 at PageID.293–306.
Petitioner first raised this claim in his motion for relief from judgment. The Tuscola County
Circuit Court did not address this claim on the merits. Instead, the trial court concluded that
Petitioner failed to establish cause for failing to raise the issue on direct appeal, or prejudice. See
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ECF No. 31-15 at PageID.2830. Because the trial court resolved this issue on the ground of a
procedural default, it did not adjudicate the ineffective assistance of counsel claim on the merits.
Accordingly, this Court’s review of the issue is de novo.
Claims of ineffective assistance of counsel are subject to the two-prong standard of
Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668 (1984). Strickland asks: (1) whether counsel was deficient
in representing the defendant; and (2) whether counsel’s alleged deficiency prejudiced the defense
so as to deprive the defendant of a fair trial. See id. at 687. To meet the first prong, a petitioner
must establish that his attorney’s representation “fell below an objective standard of
reasonableness,” and must overcome the “strong presumption that counsel’s conduct falls within
the wide range of reasonable professional assistance; that is, the defendant must overcome the
presumption that . . . the challenged action ‘might be considered sound trial strategy.’” Id. at 688–
89. The “prejudice” component of a Strickland claim “focuses on the question of whether counsel’s
deficient performance renders the result of the trial unreliable or the proceeding fundamentally
unfair.” Lockhart v. Fretwell, 506 U.S. 364, 372 (1993). Prejudice, under Strickland, requires
showing 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.
First, Petitioner has not shown that trial counsel lacked the necessary legal training and
preparedness for trial. He also does not show that counsel lacked knowledge of the Michigan Rules
of Evidence, failed to effectively cross-examine witnesses, failed to prepare for jury selection, and
failed to adequately defend against the charges. Indeed, the record belies these assertions.
Throughout Petitioner’s criminal case, trial counsel demonstrated thorough knowledge of the law
and the facts. Counsel also raised numerous nonfrivolous objections and legal arguments, engaged
extensively in jury selection, filed pretrial motions, moved for a directed verdict, and vigorously
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cross-examined witnesses. For these reasons, Petitioner fails to show that counsel’s conduct was
constitutionally deficient on these bases.
Second, Petitioner has not demonstrated that trial counsel failed to investigate the case.
Petitioner specifically challenges trial counsel’s alleged failure to consult with and secure a
chemistry or pharmacology expert to rebut Dr. Endres’ testimony. However, Petitioner fails to
show that counsel’s strategy for not retaining an expert fell below an objective standard of
reasonableness or would have changed the outcome of the case. Petitioner has not offered any
evidence as to what the expert witness’ testimony would have been and, therefore, cannot explain
how an expert would have aided in his defense. A habeas petitioner’s claim that trial counsel was
ineffective for failing to call an expert witness cannot be based on speculation. See Keith v.
Mitchell, 455 F.3d 662, 672 (6th Cir. 2006).
Third, Petitioner asserts that trial counsel failed to file certain pretrial motions. But
Petitioner does not present any evidence showing that counsel had a proper basis to file any of the
suggested motions nor does Petitioner discuss the likelihood that any suggested motion would be
granted by the trial court. For these reasons, Petitioner’s argument is purely conclusory and
speculative.
Fourth, Petitioner contends that trial counsel should have reported the prosecution’s alleged
misconduct to the Attorney Grievance Commission. However, this argument does not address trial
counsel’s performance during trial and would not have affected the outcome of Petitioner’s case.
Because this argument is irrelevant to Strickland’s inquiry, it lacks merit.
Finally, Petitioner argues that trial counsel failed to object to various offense variables and
the trial court’s imposition of fines during sentencing. A criminal defendant has the right to the
effective assistance of counsel at sentencing in both noncapital and capital cases. See Lafler v.
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Cooper, 566 U.S. 156, 165 (2012). Although sentencing does not involve a criminal defendant’s
guilt or innocence, “ineffective assistance of counsel during a sentencing hearing can result in
Strickland prejudice because ‘any amount of [additional] jail time has Sixth Amendment
significance.’” Id. (quoting Glover v. United States, 531 U.S. 198, 203 (2001)). Petitioner fails to
show that any of the requested objections at sentencing would have resulted in an alternative ruling.
Trial counsel cannot be deemed ineffective for failing to make a futile or meritless objection or
argument. Tackett v. Trierweiler, 956 F.3d 358, 375 (6th Cir. 2020); Hoffner v. Bradshaw, 622
F.3d 487, 499 (6th Cir. 2010). Moreover, the record reveals that trial counsel did successfully
challenge the scoring of offense variable 19. ECF No. 31-10, PageID.2637–38. For these reasons,
Petitioner is not entitled to habeas relief on this claim.
I. Ineffective Assistance of Appellate Counsel
Petitioner contends that appellate counsel on his initial direct appeal provided ineffective
assistance by failing to file motions for new trial and for remand in the state appellate courts and
by failing to raise the foregoing issues and supplemental authority on direct appeal. ECF No. 21 at
PageID.287–92. Petitioner raised this claim in his motion for relief from judgment. The trial court
denied the claim on the basis that Petitioner failed to show that counsel’s actions fell below the
standard of reasonableness and that he was prejudiced by counsel’s conduct. See ECF No. 31-15
at PageID.2831.
It is true that the Sixth Amendment guarantees a defendant the right to the effective
assistance of appellate counsel. Evitts v. Lucey, 469 U.S. 387, 396–97 (1985); Halbert v. Michigan,
545 U.S. 605, 609–10 (2005). But court appointed appellate counsel does not have a constitutional
duty to raise every non-frivolous issue requested by a defendant. Jones v. Barnes, 463 U.S. 745,
751 (1983). A habeas court reviewing an ineffective-assistance-of-appellate-counsel claim must
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defer twice: first to appellate counsel’s decision not to raise an issue, and secondly, to the state
court’s determination that appellate counsel was not ineffective. Woods v. Etherton, 578 U.S. 113,
119 (2016) (per curiam).
Appellate counsel was not ineffective for failing to file motions for new trial and remand
on Petitioner’s direct appeal.2 Petitioner fails to show that appellate counsel’s refusal to file the
requested motions on direct appeal was deficient or unreasonable. He also fails to demonstrate that
filing the motions would have affected the outcome of his direct appeal. Further, appellate counsel
did not perform deficiently by failing to raise certain issues on direct appeal or by failing to file
additional supplemental authority to support his sufficiency of the evidence claim. As discussed
herein, Petitioner has not shown that any of the claims that he wanted his appellate counsel to raise
on direct review were meritorious. “[A]ppellate counsel cannot be found to be ineffective for
‘failure to raise an issue that lacks merit.’” Shaneberger v. Jones, 615 F. 3d 448, 452 (6th Cir.
2010) (quoting Greer v. Mitchell, 264 F.3d 663, 676 (6th Cir. 2001)). Therefore, appellate counsel
was not ineffective and Petitioner is not entitled to habeas relief on this claim.
J. Preemptory Challenges (Batson)
Petitioner argues that the prosecutor deprived him of his right to equal protection by using
peremptory challenges to remove a Black and a Hispanic juror from the jury solely on the basis of
race. ECF No. 21-1 at PageID.325–27. Petitioner raised this claim in his motion for relief from
judgment. Because the state court resolved this issue on the ground of a procedural default, the
2
The Court notes that substitute appellate counsel filed a motion for remand for an evidentiary
hearing regarding Petitioner’s conviction under MICH. COMP. LAWS § 333.7212(1)(e)(x) in
Petitioner’s second appeal to the Michigan Court of Appeals after the Lockridge remand. ECF No.
31-19 at PageID.3162. The Michigan Court of Appeals denied the motion. Id. at PageID.3161.
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state court did not adjudicate the Batson claim on the merits. Accordingly, this Court’s review of
the Batson issue is de novo.
Although a criminal defendant has no right to have a member of a particular race on the
jury, he or she does have the right to be tried by a jury whose members are selected by nondiscriminatory criteria. See Powers v. Ohio, 499 U.S. 400, 404 (1991); Taylor v. Louisiana, 419
U.S. 522, 527–28 (1975). The Supreme Court “consistently and repeatedly has reaffirmed that
racial discrimination by the State in jury selection offends the Equal Protection Clause.” Georgia
v. McCollum, 505 U.S. 42, 44 (1992). Consequently, a prosecutor is prohibited from challenging
potential jurors solely on account of their race. See Batson v. Kentucky, 476 U.S. 79, 89 (1986);
Lancaster v. Adams, 324 F.3d 423, 432-33 (6th Cir. 2003); see also Rivera v. Illinois, 556 U.S.
148, 152 (2009). To be sure, the “Constitution forbids striking even a single prospective juror for
a discriminatory purpose.” Foster v. Chatman, 578 U.S. 488, 499 (2016)
To establish a prima facie case of purposeful discrimination in the selection of a jury based
upon the prosecutor’s exercise of peremptory challenges, a defendant must show that he or she is
a member of a cognizable racial group and that the prosecutor used peremptory challenges to
remove members of the defendant’s race from the jury. The defendant must also show that other
relevant circumstances raise an inference that the prosecutor used the peremptory challenges to
exclude jurors on account of their race. Relevant circumstances include the pattern of strikes and
the prosecutor’s questions and statements. Batson, 476 U.S. at 96-97.
Once the defendant makes a prima facie showing, the burden shifts to the prosecutor to
offer a “race neutral explanation” for challenging the jurors. Id. at 97. A “race neutral” explanation
is one based upon something other than the juror’s race. The issue is the facial validity of the
prosecutor’s explanation. “Unless a discriminatory intent is inherent in the prosecutor’s
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explanation, the reason offered will be deemed race neutral.” Hernandez v. New York, 500 U.S.
352, 360 (1991); see also Rice v. Collins, 546 U.S. 333, 338 (2006).
If a race-neutral explanation is offered, the court must then determine whether the
defendant carried the burden to prove purposeful discrimination. Batson, 476 U.S. at 98. The
ultimate question of discriminatory intent concerns an evaluation of the prosecutor’s credibility.
Such a decision represents a factual finding accorded great deference on appeal, which will not be
overturned unless clearly erroneous. See Miller-El v. Cockrell, 537 U.S. 322, 339–40 (2003). The
defendant bears the final burden of proving purposeful discrimination. Batson, 476 U.S. at 98.
In this case, Petitioner concedes that he cannot make a prima facie showing of purposeful
discrimination based on the state-court record and requests an evidentiary hearing to further
develop his claim. He contends that the jury questionnaire forms and jury list will show purposeful
discrimination. However, Petitioner fails to explain how the proposed discovery would raise even
the slightest inference that the prosecutor used the peremptory challenges to exclude the two jurors
because of their race. On the contrary, the state-court record shows that one of the two jurors
expressed that a prior experience may cause him to be biased in the case, which certainly suggests
a race neutral basis for preemptively striking the juror. ECF No. 31-5 at PageID.1439. For these
reasons, the Court concludes that Petitioner’s claim is speculative. A habeas petitioner is not
entitled to habeas relief on a right to present a defense claim that is merely speculative. See, e.g.,
Berry v. Palmer, 518 F. App’x. 336, 342 (6th Cir. 2013). Petitioner is not entitled to habeas relief
on this claim.
K. Fourth Amendment
Petitioner argues that his Fourth Amendment rights were violated when police officers
searched his party store and his apartment and seized items without a warrant. ECF Nos. 21 at
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PageID.307–18; 21-1 at PageID.319–24. This claim will not be addressed on the merits, because
Petitioner cannot overcome the hurled imposed by Stone v. Powell, in which the Supreme Court
held that “where the State has provided an opportunity for full and fair litigation of a Fourth
Amendment claim, a state prisoner may not be granted federal habeas corpus relief on the ground
that evidence obtained in an unconstitutional search or seizure was introduced at his trial.” 428
U.S. 465, 494–95 (1976).
The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals employs a two-step analysis to determine whether a
defendant was given a full and fair opportunity to litigate a Fourth Amendment claim in state court:
First, the court must determine whether the state procedural mechanism, in the
abstract, presents the opportunity to raise a fourth amendment claim. Second, the
court must determine whether presentation of the claim was in fact frustrated
because of a failure of that mechanism.
Machacek v. Hofbauer, 213 F.3d 947, 952 (6th Cir. 2000) (quotation marks omitted). The relevant
inquiry is whether the petitioner had an opportunity to litigate his claims, not whether he in fact
did so or even whether the Fourth Amendment claim was correctly decided. See Wynne v. Renico,
279 F. Supp. 2d 866, 892 (E.D. Mich. 2003); rev’d on other grounds 606 F.3d 867 (6th Cir. 2010).
Michigan provides ample opportunity to litigate Fourth Amendment claims. Typically,
such claims are addressed by pre-trial motions to suppress. See People v. Ferguson, 376 Mich. 90,
93-94, 135 N.W.2d 357, 358–59 (1965) (holding motions to suppress must be brought timely
where the factual circumstances constituting the illegal arrest or seizure are known to the defendant
before trial). Petitioner makes no allegations that presentation of his Fourth Amendment claim was
frustrated by a failure of the state court procedures for presentation of that claim. This claim is
therefore without merit.
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L. Sentencing
Petitioner argues that he is entitled to re-sentencing because: (1) the trial court incorrectly
scored offense variables, (2) his fines were unconstitutionally excessive, and (3) his sentence was
based on unconstitutional judicial factfinding. None of Petitioner’s arguments entitle him to relief.
ECF No. 21-1 at PageID.328–35.
First, Petitioner’s argument that the state trial court incorrectly scored his offense variables
3, 9, 12, and 14 under the Michigan Sentencing Guidelines is not cognizable on federal habeas
review, because it is essentially a state law claim. See Tironi v. Birkett, 252 F. App’x. 724, 725
(6th Cir. 2007); Howard v. White, 76 F. App’x. 52, 53 (6th Cir. 2003). Errors in the application of
state sentencing guidelines may not independently support habeas relief. See Kissner v. Palmer,
826 F. 3d 898, 904 (6th Cir. 2016). Petitioner had “no state-created interest in having the Michigan
Sentencing Guidelines applied rigidly in determining his sentence.” See Mitchell v. Vasbinder, 644
F. Supp. 2d 846, 867 (E.D. Mich. 2009).
Second, to the extent Petitioner argues that the trial court imposed excessive fines in
violation of the Eighth Amendment, this claim is also not cognizable. Where a habeas petitioner
is not claiming the right to be released, but is challenging the imposition of a fine or other costs,
he or she may not bring a petition for writ of habeas corpus. See United States v. Watroba, 56 F.
3d 28, 29 (6th Cir. 1995); see also U.S. v. Mays, 67 Fed. App’x. 868, 869 (6th Cir. 2003) (holding
district court lacked subject matter jurisdiction over defendant’s § 2255 post-judgment motion to
reduce or rescind fine levied in criminal judgment because defendant was not in custody, as
required in a motion to vacate sentence or a petition for a writ of habeas corpus).
Third, Petitioner claims that the trial judge violated his Sixth Amendment right to a trial
by jury throughout sentencing by using factors that had not been proven beyond a reasonable doubt
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or admitted to when scoring offense variables. Respondent argues this claim is moot and does not
warrant additional relief.
Petitioner raised this argument in his application for leave to appeal before the Michigan
Supreme Court. See ECF No. 31-27. The Michigan Supreme Court remanded the issue to the trial
court to determine whether it would have imposed a materially different sentence under the
sentencing procedure described in People v. Lockridge, 498 Mich. 358, 870 N.W.2d 502 (Mich.
2015). See Zahraie, 875 N.W.2d at 212. On remand, the trial court ruled that it would have imposed
the same sentence and affirmed Petitioner’s original sentence. See ECF No. 31-11, PageID.2670.
Following the remand, the Michigan Court of Appeals affirmed his sentence. Zahraie, 2018 WL
842913, at *1, 3.
The state court’s decision is neither contrary to Supreme Court precedent nor an
unreasonable application of federal law or the facts. On June 17, 2013, the United States Supreme
Court held that any fact that increases the mandatory minimum sentence for a crime is an element
of the criminal offense that must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. See Alleyne v. United
States, 570 U.S. 99, 103 (2013). Alleyne expands the Supreme Court’s holdings in Apprendi v.
New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466 (2000), Blakely v. Washington, 542 U.S. 296 (2004), and United States
v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220 (2005), in which the U.S. Supreme Court held that any fact that increases
or enhances a penalty for a crime beyond the prescribed statutory maximum for the offense must
be submitted to the jury and proven beyond a reasonable doubt. In reaching this conclusion, the
Supreme Court overruled Harris v. United States, 536 U.S. 545 (2002), which held that only
factors that increase the maximum, as opposed to the minimum, sentence must be proven beyond
a reasonable doubt to a factfinder. Alleyne, 570 U.S. at 106-07. The Supreme Court, however,
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indicated that the ruling in Alleyne did not mean that every fact influencing judicial discretion in
sentencing must be proven to a jury beyond a reasonable doubt. Id. at 116.
Two years later, the Michigan Supreme Court relied on Alleyne in finding that Michigan's
mandatory sentencing guidelines scheme violated the Sixth Amendment right to a jury trial. See
Lockridge, 498 Mich. at 373-74. The Michigan Supreme Court held that, under Alleyne, the
Michigan sentencing guidelines scheme violated the Sixth Amendment, because the “guidelines
require judicial fact-finding beyond facts admitted by the defendant or found by the jury to score
offense variables that mandatorily increase the floor of the guidelines minimum sentence range,
i.e., the ‘mandatory minimum’ sentence under Alleyne.” Lockridge, 498 Mich. at 364. The
Michigan Supreme Court’s remedy for the unconstitutionality of the Michigan guidelines was to
sever and strike the mandatory component of the guidelines and make the guidelines advisory only.
Id. at 391–92 (relying on Booker, 543 U.S. at 264–65 (holding the remedy for the
unconstitutionality of the mandatory federal sentencing guidelines was to sever only the mandatory
component, still requiring courts to consider the guidelines, but making them advisory and subject
to reasonableness review)).
After correcting the unconstitutional sentencing guidelines, the Lockridge court decided
the proper remedy for defendants who had been sentenced under the unconstitutional sentencing
guidelines was to “remand[ ] to the trial court to determine whether that court would have imposed
a materially different sentence but for the constitutional error.” Id. at 398. Known as a Crosby
hearing, the trial court conducts a new sentencing hearing only if it finds that it would have
imposed a materially different sentence had the guidelines been advisory and not mandatory. Id.
In this case, even if Petitioner’s initial sentence violated the Sixth Amendment, he is still
not entitled to habeas relief. As the record shows, Petitioner was afforded a Crosby hearing and
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the state trial court ruled that it would not impose a different sentence. See ECF No. 31-11. The
Sixth Circuit has found that this process employed by the state courts to remedy any Sixth
Amendment violations is sufficient and is not a basis for granting habeas relief. See Morrell v.
Wardens, 12 F.4th 626, 632-33 (6th Cir. 2021) (noting the state could remand such matters for full
re-sentencing hearings, but is not required to as Crosby hearings do not violate clearly established
federal law); see also McLilly v. Nagy, 2023 WL 21145 at *6 (6th Cir., Jan. 3, 2023) (“We need
not ‘ask the sentencing court if it would change its mind’ when it has already made clear that it
would not.”) Because Petitioner had received a Crosby hearing, and the Court need not afford
Petitioner any further relief, this claim is rejected as moot.
M. Judicial Bias
Finally, Petitioner argues that he was denied a fair trial because of judicial bias.
Specifically, he argues that the trial judge (1) had a personal financial interest in the outcome of
the case, (2) showed favoritism toward the prosecution in evidentiary rulings, and (3) repeatedly
admonished and criticized defense counsel in front of the jury. See ECF No. 29 at PageID.848–63.
Petitioner first raised his judicial bias claim in a motion to disqualify the trial judge from
adjudicating his post-conviction proceedings. See ECF No. 31-25 at PageID.4022. The trial court
denied the motion, Id. at PageID.4031, and Petitioner moved to have the matter reviewed by the
State Court Administrative Office. A second hearing was held before the Huron County Circuit
Court. ECF No. 31-25 at PageID.4034. During the hearing, Petitioner raised several arguments,
including that the trial judge showed bias by (1) denying Petitioner’s change of venue request
because she had a financial interest in the case, id. at PageID.4050; (2) allowing the prosecution’s
evidence and denying admission of Petitioner’s evidence, id. at PageID.4038; and (3) belittling
and criticizing defense counsel such that the jury could infer prejudice against Petitioner. Id. at
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PageID.4039-41. The trial court denied Petitioner’s motion on the basis that he failed to satisfy his
burden under the Michigan Court Rules. Id. at PageID.4057. Petitioner filed an application for
leave in the Michigan Court of Appeals and a motion for remand, which the Michigan Court of
Appeals denied. ECF No. 31-22 at PageID.3432. Petitioner then filed an application for leave to
appeal in the Michigan Supreme Court, which was also denied. ECF No. 31-25 at PageID.3999.
The state court’s decision is neither contrary to Supreme Court precedent nor an
unreasonable application of federal law or the facts. The Fourteenth Amendment Due Process
Clause requires a fair trial in a fair tribunal before a judge with no actual bias against the defendant
or an interest in the outcome of the case. Bracy v. Gramley, 520 U.S. 899, 904–05 (1997). Judicial
misconduct claims involve two types of cases. One group addresses charges of “judicial bias”
stemming from a trial judge’s “personal interest” in the outcome of a case, usually derived from
some extrajudicial association with the cause or one of the parties. In re Murchison, 349 U.S. 133,
136 (1955). The second group concerns charges of “judicial misconduct” in which the trial judge
is accused of conducting the proceedings in a manner that exhibits a “deep-seated favoritism or
antagonism that would make fair judgment impossible.” Liteky v. United States, 510 U.S. 540, 555
(1994); see also Alley v. Bell, 307 F.3d 380, 386 (6th Cir. 2002). Adverse rulings themselves are
generally insufficient to establish bias or prejudice. Liteky, 510 U.S. at 555 (“[J]udicial rulings
alone almost never constitute valid basis for a bias or partiality recusal motion.”); United States v.
Hynes, 467 F.3d 951, 960 (6th Cir. 2006). A constitutional violation occurs only when a judge’s
rulings or statements show “a predisposition so extreme as to display clear inability to render fair
judgment.” Johnson v. Bagley, 544 F.3d 592, 597 (6th Cir. 2008) (punctuation modified).
In reviewing a judicial bias claim, a federal habeas court should presume that the judge
properly discharged his or her official duties. Withrow v. Larkin, 421 U.S. 35, 47 (1975); Coley v.
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Bagley, 706 F.3d 741, 751 (6th Cir. 2013); Johnson v. Warren, 344 F. Supp. 2d 1081, 1093 (E.D.
Mich. 2004). The pertinent question on habeas review is not whether the judge’s questions or
comments might constitute reversible error if the conviction was being reviewed on direct review
but whether the state appellate court’s rejection of the judicial misconduct claim was a reasonable
or unreasonable application of clearly established federal law. See, e.g., Allen v. Hawley, 74 F.
App’x 457, 460-61 (6th Cir. 2003).
Here, Petitioner’s arguments implicate both types of judicial misconduct cases, but none
have merit. First, Petitioner fails to show that the trial judge had a personal financial interest in the
case such that his constitutional rights were violated. In support of his argument, Petitioner claims
that defense counsel told him that the trial judge refused to grant his request to change venue
because she had a financial interest in the case. He also claims that the trial judge had a personal
interest in using his $114,000 criminal fine to fund a local library. Petitioner’s arguments are
conclusory and speculative. He provides no evidentiary support for these claims as shown by his
request for an evidentiary hearing to factually develop this issue. Therefore, such allegations are
insufficient to overcome the presumptions of judicial impartiality and the judge’s proper discharge
of her duties.
Second, Petitioner fails to show that the trial judge was biased through her evidentiary
rulings. As stated, adverse rulings alone are insufficient to establish bias or prejudice. Liteky, 510
U.S. at 555. Although Petitioner disagrees with many of the trial court’s rulings, he has not shown
that the court showed any degree of favoritism for the prosecution or antagonism for the defense.
Rather, the trial transcript shows that the trial court ruled carefully on objections. And even if some
of the trial court’s evidentiary rulings were incorrect, that alone would not establish judicial bias
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against Petitioner, see United States v. Gallagher, 576 F.2d 1028, 1039 (3rd Cir. 1978), and any
error would be harmless given the overwhelming evidence supporting his convictions.
Third, Petitioner fails to show that the trial court’s comments to defense counsel showed
bias. Petitioner argues that the trial judge belittled defense counsel before the jury and made several
disparaging remarks. The Supreme Court has ruled that “expressions of impatience,
dissatisfaction, annoyance, and even anger” do not establish judicial bias or misconduct. Liteky,
510 U.S. 540 at 555–56. “A judge’s ordinary efforts at courtroom administration-even a stern and
short-tempered judge’s ordinary efforts at courtroom administration-remain immune.” Id. The
record reveals that at certain points during trial the court expressed impatience toward defense
counsel with respect to his evidentiary objections, cross-examination, and evidentiary requests.
The judge’s comments speak to her efforts to control courtroom administration and trial efficiency,
and do not exhibit prejudice or bias against Petitioner. For these reasons, Petitioner is not entitled
to habeas relief on this claim.
IV.
Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 22 provides that an appeal may not proceed unless a
certificate of appealability (COA) is issued under 28 U.S.C. § 2253. A COA may be issued “only
if the applicant has made a substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right.” 28 U.S.C.
§ 2253(c)(2). A petitioner must show “that reasonable jurists could debate whether (or, for that
matter, agree that) the petition should have been resolved in a different manner or that the issues
presented were adequate to deserve encouragement to proceed further.” Slack v. McDaniel, 529
U.S. 473, 484 (2000) (internal quotation and quoting citation omitted).
In this case, reasonable jurists would not debate this Court’s conclusion that Petitioner is
not entitled to habeas relief. Therefore, a certificate of appealability will be denied. Petitioner will
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also be denied leave to appeal in forma pauperis because an appeal could not be taken in good
faith. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(3).
V.
Accordingly, it is ORDERED that the Petition for a Writ of Habeas Corpus, ECF No. 21,
is DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE.
Further, it is ORDERED that a certificate of appealability is DENIED.
Further, it is ORDERED that leave to appeal in forma pauperis is DENIED.
This is a final order and closes the above-captioned case.
Dated: March 28, 2024
s/Thomas L. Ludington
THOMAS L. LUDINGTON
United States District Judge
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