SOLANO v. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Filing
15
OPINION. Signed by Judge Susan D. Wigenton on 9/3/15. (DD, )
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY
ALBERTO SOLANO,
Civil Action No. 13-4696 (SDW)
Plaintiff,
v.
OPINION
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Defendants.
WIGENTON, District Judge:
Presently before the Court is the motion of Alberto Solano (“Petitioner”) to vacate, set
aside, or correct his January 2012 judgment of conviction and sentence. (ECF No. 1). Petitioner
filed his motion on or about August 1, 2013. (EF No. 1). On October 25, 2013, ths Court
provided Petitioner with a Miller notice. (ECF No. 2). On November 12, 2013, Petitioner
responded to that notice and elected to have his motion ruled upon as filed. (ECF No. 3).
Following multiple orders to answer and an extension, the Government filed its response on
April 15, 2015. (ECF No. 13). Also before this Court are Petitioner’s applications for default
judgment and a prohibitory injunction (ECF No. 11, 12), and Petitioner’s motion to strike the
Government’s response. (ECF No. 14). For the following reasosn, this Court will deny
Petitioner’s § 2255 motion, will deny Petitioner a certificate of appealability, and will deny
Petitioner’s remaining motions.
I. BACKGROUND
Petitioner, Alberto Solano, was charged by way of a one count informaion with
“knowingly and intentionally conspir[ing] . . . to distribute and to possess wth intent to distribute
1
5 kilograms or more of cocaine, a schedule II controlled substance contrary to [21 U.S.C. §§
841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A), and 846]” during the perod beween Novemer 2009 and March 2010.
(Information, 11-426 at ECf No. 112). This charge arose out of information gleaned from “court
authorized wiretaps, physical surveillance, information from confidential sources, narcotics
seizures, and other information [which] revealed that Joel Castro, [Petitioner], Genny Rivas, Jose
Vidal, Luis Diaz Alcantara, Carlos Acosta, and Noberto Lopez were members of a drug
trafficking organization (the “Castro DTO”) that operated in the area of Paterson, New Jersey.”
(11-426, PSR at ¶ 12). Through the court authorized wiretaps, law enforcement personnel
intercepted “numerous narcotics related calls” which “showed multiple narcotics transactions
whereby Acosta would supply Castro and [Petitioner] with cocaine, who would in turn use [the
other members of the DTO] to deliver the cocaine to customers on a daily basis.” (Id. at ¶ 14).
These narcotics related calls revealed that Petitioner was “frequently being updated by Castro on
the amounts of drugs left in the stash house and when the other members of the DTO were
coming by to pick up narcotics to be delivered to customers.” (Id.at ¶ 15). “Anytime drugs were
being taken from the stash location, [Petitioner] was made aware of it. Also, [Petitioner] is
overheard discussing with Castro, counter surveillance techniques and also instruct[ing Castro]
on how to prepare or cook the cocaine into crack. [Petitioner was] also heard over the wire
instructing Jose Vidal how to cook crack.” (Id.).
The calls intercepted by law enforcement included the following conversations:
. . . on November 19, 2009, Castro received a call from Diaz, who
placed an order for both powder cocaine and crack cocaine, [to]
which Castro replied “okay.” On November 20, 2009, Castro
called Diaz and confirmed that Diaz had completed a narcotic
transaction.
On December 2, 2009, [Petitioner] received a call from
Acosta, who said he had received a call from a narcotics supplier
2
who offered an amount of cocaine for $30,500. [Petitioner]
confirmed the price, which he thought was high. [Petitioner] stated
that Acosta told him it was going to be $29,000 for a whole
kilogram of cocaine. Acosta agreed that he would tell the narcotics
supplier that [Petitioner] would pay $29,000, and [Petitioner]
stated he had the money ready. [Petitioner] also confirmed that he
wanted one kilogram of cocaine, not two. A few minutes later,
Acosta called [Petitioner] back and stated that the supplied would
accept $30,000 for one kilogram, [to] which Solano [replied that]
he would let him know.
On January 16, 2010, at 3:06 [p.m.], Castro received a call
from Diaz, who told Castro the quantity of cocaine [Diaz] had
given one of their narcotics customers, [to] which Castro
responded “okay.” Later that evening, [Petitioner] called Rivas
and stated that if Rivas put 25 grams of powder cocaine in water to
boil it for the purpose of making crack cocaine, then it should have
yielded 25 grams of crack cocaine.
On January 18, 2010, [Petitioner] called Lopez. Lopez
stated [that] he was waiting for a narcotics supplier to arrive.
When [Petitioner] asked what Lopez had agreed with, Lopez
responded that he was going to receive two kilograms of cocaine.
Lopez also stated that the narcotics supplier was going to call
[Lopez] when he was going to deliver the cocaine. [Petitioner]
expressed doubt that the supplier would deliver the cocaine that
day, but Lopez assured [Petitioner] that the supplier would bring
the cocaine.
On January 23, 2010, [Petitioner] called Vidal, and Vidal
stated that he delivered 50 grams of crack cocaine but that the
texture of the crack cocaine was poor. [Petitioner] told Vidal to
“dry it” and that it could take up to two days to “dry up,” which
was interpreted to mean that the crack cocaine could take two days
to dry after the manufacturing process. Later that day, [Petitioner]
received a call from Diaz, who informed that the narcotics supplier
wanted Diaz to examine the narcotics and prepare the money for
the transaction. [Petitioner] asked whether there was two
kilograms of cocaine for purchase available for purchase or only
one.
On January 27, 2010, Castro called Rivas. Rivas asked
Castro how much crack cocaine he had on hand. Castro stated that
there was 82 grams of crack cocaine available in the stash location
located upstairs from Castro’s apartment. Rivas responded that
3
their customer wanted $1,800 worth of crack cocaine and that he
would send over a narcotics runner, Vidal, to pick up the narcotics.
On January 28, 2010, [Petitioner] called Rivas and asked
Rivas whether he had returned narcotics that they had previously
purchased. [Petitioner] asked Rivas whether [Rivas] had a
narcotics customer that was waiting for cocaine. Rivas stated that
“no one is waiting.” [Petitioner] then discussed how to structure a
narcotics transaction. [Petitioner] also stated that when he
obtained a quantity of cocaine from his narcotics associate, that he
was going to mix it with other cocaine.
On January 29, 2010, Castro called [Petitioner] and
[discussed] “the hard ones” (Castro was referring to crack cocaine)
and [stated] that there was a “a bag that has 91.” [Petitioner] asked
how much there was in “total” and Castro stated “one is with 101,
another is with 98, another one is with 90, an[d] anther one with
46.” (Castro was reciting gram-quantities of crack cocaine.)
Moments later [Petitioner] called Castro and told him to “add it
all” and to see if “it’s enough” but directed Castro [to] mix the
crack cocaine slowly to ensure the quality of the mixed amount.
On February 1, 2010, Castro called Rivas. Rivas reported
his narcotics activity to Castro. Specifically, Rivas stated that Jose
had given him $2,200 to purchase cocaine at $36 per gram – which
equaled approximately 61 grams – and that another customer
wanted to purchase 60 grams of powder cocaine.
On February 3, 2010, Castro called Vidal. Vidal stated that
he was going to take a quantity of cocaine. Castro stated he would
start “going up” then. (Based on this and other calls referring to
narcotics activity in an upstairs apartment in Castro’s building,
Castro was saying that he would go from his apartment on the fifth
floor of his apartment building to the stash [house] located on the
sixth floor of the building.) About an hour later, Vidal called
Castro and confirmed the amount of money he was to recover from
his narcotics customers.
On March 11, 2010, [Petitioner] called Lopez and reiterated
that Lopez had asked [Petitioner] to order him a kilogram of
cocaine. [Petitioner] responded that, per Lopez’s instructions,
[Petitioner] obtained two kilograms of cocaine but he only had
enough money for one. Lopez advised he would get [Petitioner]
that money for a kilogram of cocaine right away.
4
On March 15, 2010, [Petitioner] called Lopez and asked
whether Lopez expected to be able to purchase cocaine from the
suppliers, which Lopez responded that he hoped to get “something
for today” but was not sure. [Petitioner] told Lopez to obtain one
kilogram of cocaine for [Petitioner], [to] which Lopez [responded
that] he would let [Petitioner] know right away “if anything.”
....
On March 11, 2010, at 10:48 a.m., Castro received a call
from Acosta, where Acosta discussed that he was trying to
negotiate the price to $32,000 per kilogram for Castro. A few
minutes later, Castro call[ed] Acosta and tried to negotiate the
price per kilogram down to $31,500. Castro told Acosta to “bring
it down anyway” because “we need it anyway” and directed
Acosta to “bring the two.” Castro and Acosta agreed that Acosta
would obtain two kilograms of cocaine from his supplier and
deliver it to Castro.
On March 11, 2010 at 3:47 p.m., Castro called Rivas and
told Rivas to have his money ready in case [Castro] needed to pay
[for] the full amount of cocaine as opposed to taking some portion
on credit.
Subsequent calls among Castro, Acosta, and [Petitioner] on
March 11, 2010, showed that at about 3:30 p.m., Acosta traveled to
Castro’s apartment building to deliver the two kilograms of
cocaine. Law enforcement subsequently effected a traffic stop of
Acosta’s car. Acosta was released upon showing identification.
On March 11, 2010[,] at 5:16 p.m., [Petitioner] received a
call from Acosta, who stated [that] he was stopped but that he was
not carrying any narcotics. Acosta and [Petitioner] then arranged
for Acosta to pick up the money for the cocaine that he had
delivered to Castro and [Petitioner]. Subsequent calls showed that
[Petitioner] and Castro assembled money and delivered it to
Acosta.
(Id.at ¶ 16-31, paragraph numbers omitted). Petitioner was arrested on March 24, 2010. (Id. at ¶
32). A search of the stash house following Petitioner’s arrests recovered “a .45 caliber Highpoint
JHP model handgun . . . and a Vulcan Model JV 10-9, MAC-10, 9mm firearm [and r]ounds for
each firearm.” (Id.at ¶ 34).
5
On April 6, 2011, 1 Plaintiff entered into a plea agreement with the Government in which he
agreed to plead guilty to the conspiracy offense with which he was charged in the information,
and in return the Government agreed not to pursue any other charges against him in relation to
this conspiracy. (Plea Agreement, 11-426 at ECF No. 116). In that agreement, Petitioner was
informed that this offense carried a minimum sentence of ten years and a maximum sentence of
life. (Id. at 2). Petitioner was also informed that his sentence would be within the “sole
discretion of the sentencing judge” subject to the Sentencing Reform Act and the sentencing
judge’s application of the United States Sentencing Guidelines. (Id.). The agreement also stated
that the guidelines were advisory, and not mandatory. (Id.).
In the plea agreement, Petitioner also agreed to waive certain appellate rights. (Id. at 3-4,
8-9). Specifically, Petitioner agreed to “voluntarily waive[], the right to file any appeal, any
collateral attack, or any other writ or motion, including but not limited to an appeal under 18
U.S.C. § 3742 or a motion under 28 U.S.C. § 2255, which challenges the sentence imposed by
the sentencing court if that sentence falls within or below the Guidelines range that results from
the agreed upon total Guidelines offense level of 31.” (Id. at 9). That agreed upon offense level
included a base offense level of 32, a two level increase for possession of a dangerous weapon in
connection with the offense, and a three level reduction for acceptance of responsibility. (Id. at
8-9).
On June 22, 2011, Plaintiff filed with this Court an application for permission to enter a
guilty plea pursuant to Rule 11. (11-426 at ECF No. 115). In that application, Petitioner
certified that he had discussed the decision to plead guilty and the waiver of his trial and grand
1
Petitioner signed this document on April 5, 2011, but his counsel did not sign until April 6,
2011. This Court thus refers to the later date. (See 11-426 at ECF No. 116 at 7).
6
jury rights with his lawyer to his satisfaction, that he was aware that his guilty plea would result
in a sentence with a mandatory minimum of ten years of imprisonment and a maximum sentence
of life, and that he understood the potential immigration consequences of his plea if he were not
a U.S. Citizen. (Id. at 1-5). Petitioner also certified that he understood that his “plea agreement
set forth a Guidelines calculation which [he] agree[d was] the total Guidelines offense level
applicable to [him].” (Id. at 5). Petitioner also stated that he understood that he had waived the
right to argue for a sentence below the range suggested by that guidelines level. (Id.). Plaintiff
further certified that he understood that he was waiving his appellate rights to the extent
specified in the plea agrement. (Id.). Finally, Plaintiff stated that he wished to plead guilty
“freely and voluntarily of [his] own accord with full understanding of all matters set forth in the
[information],” and that he was “satisfied with the advice and help [his] lawer ha[d] given” him.
(Id. at 6).
Pursuant to the plea agreement and plea application, this Court held a plea hearing on
June 23, 2011. (11-426 at ECF No. 125). After establishing Petitioner’s background, this Court
conducted the following plea colloquy:
THE COURT: Have you had a complete opportunity to speak
with your attorney . . . regarding your rights in this matter?
[Petitioner]: Yes, I have.
THE COURT: And has he answered all of your questons?
[Petitioner]: Yes.
[Petitioner thereafter confirmed that he had discussed his waiver of
indictment with his attorney to his satisfaction and wished to
voluntarily waive that right.]
THE COURT: Alright. . . . Now you also understand, [Petitioner],
that by virtue of the fact that you are entering a plea of guilty, that
you are waiving your right to trial in this matter where the burden
7
would be on the Government to prove your guilt beyond a
reasonable doubt. You understand that?
[Petitioner]: Yes.
THE COURT: By virtue of the fact that you’re pleading guilty,
they will not have to sustain that burden as your plea will have
been entered and it will not proceed to trial. Do you understand
that?
[Petitioner]: Yes.
THE COURT: Is it your intention to voluntarily waive your right
to trial in this matter?
[Petitioner]: Yes, it is.
THE COURT: Now, did you go over in detail with [counsel] the
application for permission to enter a plea of guilty?
[Petitioner]: Yes, I did.
THE COURT: And you went over that here . . . . yesterday it
looks like?
[Petitioner]: Yesterday.
THE COURT: The 22nd. And you signed this document, it looks
like, yesterday . . . is that correct?
[Petitioner]: Yes.
THE COURT: Alright. And I would note for the record that
[counsel] also signed this form. And once again, any questions
that you had as it relates to this application, [Petitioner], were those
questiones answered by [counsel]?
[Petitioner]: Yes, they were, your Honor.
....
THE COURT: You do understand that once you enter this plea,
you can not take the plea back or retract it because you don’t like
or agree with the sentence that I will impose?
8
[Petitioner]: Yes.
THE COURT: And you should be advised that regardless of any
agreement that you may have reached with your attorney, or your
attorney has reached with the Government, that those agreements
are not binding on me, the Court, and any sentence that is imposed
is one that I impose within my discretion. You understand that?
[Petitioner]: Yes, I do.
THE COURT: Now, have you spoken to [counsel] with regard to
the role of the Sentencing Guidelines?
[Petitioner]: Yes.
THE COURT: Alright, so you do understand that while the Court
will certainly refer to the Guidelines and use them in an advisory
capacity, I am not bound by those Guidelines, and any sentence
that is imposed is one I impose within my discretion. You
understand that?
[Petitioner]: Yes, your Honor.
THE COURT: Alright. Now, knowing all of these things,
[Petitioner], is it your intention to still enter a plea of guilty?
[Petitioner]: Yes, it is.
[Petitioner then confirmed that he understood the terms of the plea
agreement, including the appellate waiver and stipulated guidelines
range, and that he had discussed the matter with counsel to his
satisfaction.]
THE COURT: . . . As it relates to a factual basis, [Petitioner],
from in or about November 2009, through on or about March 19th,
2010, in New Jersey and elsewhere, did you conspire and agree
with others to distribute and to possess with the intent to distribute
over 5 kilograms of cocaine?
[Petitioner]: Yes, your Honor.
THE COURT: Did you enter into the foregoing agreement
knowingly and intentionally?
[Petitioner]: Yes.
9
THE COURT: Did you conspire with others, including
[Petitioner’s co-defendants], to distribute and possess with intent to
distribute over five kilograms of cocaine?
[Petitioner]: Yes, your Honor.
THE COURT: And you are pleading guilty, [Petitioner], because
you are in fact guilty?
[Petitioner]: Yes, your Honor.
(Id. at 3-9). The Government thereafter stated that, had the matter gone to trial, it would have
proven that the conspiracy involved over five kilograms of cocaine. (Id. at 9). This Court
therefore concluded that Petitioner had knowingly and voluntarily waived his rights and pled
guilty to the one count information, and accepted his guilty plea. (Id. at 9-10).
In November of 2011, the United States Probation Office prepared a presentence report in
advance of Petitioner’s sentencing. In that report, Probation made the following comment as to
the quantity of drugs involved in Petitioner’s offense:
the drug quantities attributed to individual defendants in this case
were determined based on information derived from conversations
intercepted pursuant to court-ordered wire taps and individuals
cooperating with the government. As such, there is no specific
information relating to drug quantities, such as physical evidence.
Considering this lack of information, [Probation] cannot
independently assess the amount of drugs attributable to each
defendant.
(11-426, PSR at ¶ 39). The PSR therefore based its findings as to drug quantity on the
stipulations contained in Petitioner’s plea agreement, which were in turn based on the recorded
conversations. (Id.). Probation also recommended a two level enhancement for possession of a
dangerous weapon in connection with the offense because of the weapons seized from the stash
house. (Id. at ¶ 40). Finally, Probation made the following comments as to Petitioner’s role in
10
the underlying organization before concluding that Petitioner should be sentenced to a range
between 120 and 135 months based on a guidelines level of 31 (Id. at ¶ 105-06):
According to the government, [Petitioner] was the leader of this
organization. Their knowledge that he was the leader was based
primarily on the intercepted wire communications of [Petitioner],
as well as surveillance. Rivas, Vidal, Lopez, and Alcantara were
all lower members of the organization who followed the directions
of [Petitioner] and Castro. Based on this limited information,[ 2]
the probation office views [Petitioner] as more culpable than
Rivas, Vidal, Lopez, and Alcantara. While [Petitioner]’s role may
not hold enough weight to assess an aggravating role adjustment,
the Court may take this into consideration when fashioning an
appropriate sentence within the guideline range.
(Id. at ¶ 41).
This Court held a sentencing hearing as to Petitioner on January 20, 2012. During that
hearing, counsel for Petitioner argued that Petitioner should be subject to a safety valve sentence
below the mandatory minimum for the offense to which he pled guilty. Specifically, he argued
that
[t]here’s no issue as to whether [the] safety valve applies or
doesn’t apply. The issue is its applicablity to [Petitioner.].
Your Honor, I received the Government’s objection
yesterday dated January 19th, 2012. So the Court is aware, we met
[for] the first safety valve proffer earlier this week, I believe on
Tuesday. And the Government is exactly correct . . . that
[Petitioner] admitted that he knew that there was a weapon in what
they deemed a stash house. Access to the contents of the stash
house he had. The gun and the drugs were contained in the stash
house, he would have access to both of those. In addition, other
members of this conspiracy stored their drugs there. Other
members of the conspiracy in fact had access to the gun. And that
gun had been in that location for several months. That’s the
Government’s objection to [Petitioner] getting the safety valve.
2
Probation also noted that there were “conversations between [Petitioner] and Castro about firing Vidal because of
the mistakes he had made concerning narcotics deliveries,” which would further support the supposition that
Petitioner was a leader of the Castro DTO alongside Castro. (11-426, PSR at ¶ 43).
11
Your Honor, most respectfully, I do not submit or I do not
believe [the Guidelines] under the facts and circumstances of that
would preclude [Petitioner] from getting the safety valve, we
believe, Judge, for two reasons. Number one, I know you
sentenced Mr. Vidal earlier this month. He received the benefit of
the safety valve. And I know each defendant stands in a different
position. But based upon the Government’s objections, each
member knew the gun was there. Each member pooled their
money together to purchase narctoics, illegal drugs that were
stored there. And everyone had access to that house, and thus had
access to those guns . . .
Now it’s never been alleged that [Petitioner] threatened
anyone with that gun, specifically individidually possessed that
gune, used that gun in any way or facet in relation to the
conspiracy. He knew it was there. It was in the house. That’s the
basis for their position denying [Petitioner] the safety valve.
It’s our position, your Honor, based upon the comments to
[U.S.S.G. §] 5C1.2(a)(2), which I delineate in my sentencing
memo, and under the facts and circumstances of this case, that the
Government’s reasons as set forth in their letter . . . do not justify
their position that he’s not entitled to the safety valve. And
because of that, your Honor, I’m going to ask this Court to allow
him to have the benefit of the safety valve.
(Sentencing Transcript at 3-5).
The Government opposed this argument, arguing that constructive possession of the
weapon could be deduced from Petitioner’s statements showing that he knew what was in the
stash house, knew where the guns were located, and knew how long they had been in th stash
house. (Id. at 10). The Government argued that Petitioner had constant, open, and free access to
the weapons, and therefore could be said to have constructive possession over it. (Id.). The
Government therefore argued that the safety valve did not apply to Petitioner, and that he should
be sentenced in accord with the PSR and the mandatory minimum.
This Court ultimately concluded that the safety valve did not apply to Petitioner.
And I first want to address obviously the issue of the safety valve
and whether [Petitioner] qualifies and would be eligible for safety
12
valve consideration. He does fall under a criminal history category
of 1, although it’s not his first inolvement with the Criminal Justice
System. He still qualifies under the criminal history category of 1.
The Government has argued against the safety valve designation
and [Petitioner’s counsel] has argued for it on his behalf, indicating
that obviously everyone had access to the stash house and could
therefore access the weapons and other individuals that were
sentenced were not attributed possession of the weapon, et cetera.
But as obviously everyone is aware in this courtroom, the Court
has to look at each individual on their own and the history and
characteristics that they possess, in particular as it relates to what
sentence is appropriate, what sentence is applicable regarding all
the facts and circumstances involved in the case. In this particular
case, I d[o] not find [the] safety valve to be appropriate for a
couple of reasons. One, as it relates to the existence of those
weapons; and the purpose for which the weapons were there, quite
frankly, which was to protect the drugs and the drug enterprise that
was engaged in, in this stash house. So that was one aspect.
I also had some concerns as it related to [Petitioner’s] role,
quite frankly. He was not given any adjustments under the
Sentencing Guidelines for his role, but it’s very clear that the
weight that was attributed to him for drugs was more than a
number of the other individuals that have come before me. In
addition to that, he was considered to be a leader, although he did
not receive a role enhancement under the Guidelines. And I would
note for the record, as I stated to [Petitioner] when you pled guilty,
the Guidelines do not bind [the Court] in any way, but I have
certainly used them in an advisory capacity and understand that I
can impose a sentence that I feel is appropriate within my
discretion. And in this instance, when we discuss whether or not
safety valve eligibility is applicable or not, [this Court has]
determined [that Petitioner is not eligible for the safety valve].
(Id. at 11-13). Having concluded the safety valve was not applicable, this Court reviewed the
appropriate sentencing factors as they applied to Petitioner and ultimately sentenced Petitioner to
the mandatory minimum of 120 months’ imprisonment. (Id. at 13-17; see also 11-426 at ECF
No. 119, 120 at 1-2).
Petitioner filed a notice of appeal on January 31, 2012. (11-426 at ECF No. 122). While
trial counsel filed that notice on Petitioner’s behalf, because of the issues likely to be raised, trial
13
counsel requested that separate CJA counsel be appointed on appeal. (11-426 at ECF No. 121).
The Government thereafter filed a motion to enforce the appellate waiver and for summary
dismissal of Petitioner’s appeal prior to briefing, to which Petitioner twice responded. (See 11426 at ECF No. 126). The Third Circuit granted counsel’s motion to withdraw as appellate
counsel, and also granted the motion to enforce the appellate waiver and dismissed Petitioner’s
appeal “without prejudice to [Petitioner’s] right to raise in a properly filed collateral attack his
claims challenging the conduct of his defense counsel in advising him to plead guilty.” (Id.).
Petitioner filed the instant § 2255 motion approximately one year later. (ECF No. 1).
II.
PETITIONER’S APPLICATIONS/MOTIONS FOR DEFAULT JUDGMENT, A
PROHIBITORY INJUNCTION, AND TO STRIKE THE RESPONSE
Petitioner moves this Court to enter default judgment, prohibit the Government from
responding to his motion to vacate, and to strike the Government’s response. All three of
Petitioner’s motions are based upon a single faulty premise: that, in the absence of a response to
his § 2255 motion, he is entitled to default judgment. This simply is not the case. As the Third
Circuit has stated, “[e]ven if the Government . . . fail[s] to respond to [a] § 2255 motion, it does
not follow that [the petitioner] is entitled to a default judgment. See Gordon v. Duran, 895 F.2d
610, 612 (9th Cir. 1990) (collecting cases).” In re West, 591 F. App’x 52, 54 n. 3 (3d Cir. 2015).
“The failure to respond to claims raised in a petition for habeas corpus does not entitle the
petitioner to a default judgment.” Gordon, 895 F.2d at 612. This is so because “‘[w]ere district
courts to enter default judgments without reaching the merits of [a habeas] claim, it would not be
the defaulting party but the public at large that would be made to suffer by bearing either the risk
of releasing prisoners that in all likelihood were duly convicted, or the costly process of retrying
14
them.” United States v. Dill, 555 F. Supp. 2d 514, 521 (E.D. Pa. 2008) (quoting Bermudez v. Reid,
733 F.2d 18, 21 (2d Cir. 1984)); see also Atkins v. United States, No. 88-5106, 1990 WL 126196,
at *2 (D.N.J. Aug. 27, 1990); United States v. Greenslade, No. 04-405-05, 2009 WL 1507290, at
*2 (M.D. Pa. May 28, 2009) (“default judgments are not appropriate in § 2255 motions”). Indeed,
Rule 55(d) specifically states that, even outside the habeas context, a “default judgment may be
entered against the United States . . . only if the claimant establishes a claim or right to relief by
evidence that satisfies the court.” Thus, the entry of default judgment against the United States in
this or any § 2255 motion is not appropriate, Gordon, 895 F.2d at 612, and Petitioner’s application
for a default judgment will be denied. As petitioner’s application for a prohibitory injunction was
based on his assertion that he was entitled to default judgment, this Court will also deny that
application in turn.
Petitioner has also filed a motion to strike the Government’s late response to his § 2255
motion. Pursuant to Rule 12(f) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the “court may strike from
a pleading an insufficient defense or any redundant, immaterial, impertinent, or scandalous
matter.” Motions to strike, however “are disfavored and usually will be denied ‘unless the
allegations have no possible relation to the controversy and may cause prejudice to one of the
parties, or if the allegations confuse the issues in the case.’” Jones v. United States, No. 10-3502,
2012 WL 2340096, at *2 (D.N.J. June 18, 2012) (quoting River Road Dev. Corp. v. Carlson Corp.,
No. 89-7037, 1990 WL 69085, at *3 (E.D. Pa. May 23, 1990). District Courts have “considerable
discretion” in deciding a motion to strike under Rule 12(f). Id.
Petitioner bases his motion to strike on two arguments: that the entry of default judgment
is appropriate per his prior application, and that the Government’s late response after being given
multiple opportunities to timely file a response to the § 2255 motion prejudices him in so much as
15
he should receive a default judgment and release. Petitioner also suggests that because the
Government’s response is brief and contains what he describes as “boilerplate” and uses the
incorrect name for trial counsel it is not responsive and should be stricken. While this Court
deplores the Government’s failure to timely file its response after three orders directing them to
answer and a sixty day extension, Petitioner would receive no benefit from the striking of the
Government’s response as he would still not be entitled to default judgment in his § 2255 motion.
Petitioner is therefore not prejudiced by this Court’s consideration of the Government’s response,
and given the disfavored nature of motions to strike, striking the response would not be appropriate
in this case. Petitioner’s motion to strike will therefore be denied. 3
III. PETITIONER’S MOTION TO VACATE
A. Legal Standard
A prisoner in federal custody may file a motion pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255 challenging
the validity of his or her sentence. Section 2255 provides, in relevant part, as follows:
A prisoner in custody under sentence of a court established by Act
of Congress claiming the right to be released upon the ground that
the sentence was imposed in violation of the Constitution or laws of
the United States, or that the court was without jurisdiction to
impose such a sentence, or that the sentence was in excess of the
maximum authorized by law, or is otherwise subject to collateral
attack, may move the court which imposed the sentence to vacate,
set aside or correct the sentence.
28 U.S.C. § 2255. Unless the moving party claims a jurisdictional defect or a constitutional
violation, to be entitled to relief the moving party must show that an error of law or fact constitutes
3
Given the brief and cursory nature of the Government’s response to the § 2255 motion, this
Court notes that its ultimate ruling as to Petitioner’s § 2255 motion would not change were it to
strike or not consider the Government’s response.
16
“a fundamental defect which inherently results in a complete miscarriage of justice, [or] an
omission inconsistent with the rudimentary demands of fair procedure.” United States v. Horsley,
599 F.2d 1265, 1268 (3d Cir. 1979) (quoting Hill v. United States, 368 U.S. 424, 429 (1962)), cert.
denied 444 U.S. 865 (1979); see also Morelli v. United States, 285 F. Supp. 2d 454, 458-59 (D.N.J.
2003).
B. Analysis
1. An evidentiary hearing is not required
Under 28 U.S.C. § 2255, an evidentiary hearing is required for a motion to vacate “unless
the motion and files and records of the case conclusively show that the prisoner is entitled to no
relief.” 28 U.S.C. § 2255(b); United States v. Booth, 432 F.3d 542, 545 (3d Cir. 2005); United
States v. Day, 969 F.2d 39, 41-42 (3d Cir. 1992). Where the record before the court, as
supplemented by the trial judge’s personal knowledge of the criminal proceedings, conclusively
negates the factual predicates asserted by a petitioner or otherwise indicate that the petitioner is
not entitled to relief as a matter of law, the Court is not required to hold a hearing. Government
of Virgin Islands v. Nicholas, 759 F.2d 1073, 1075 (3d Cir. 1985); see also United States v.
Tuyen Quang Pham, 587 F. App’x 6, 8 (3d Cir. 2014); Booth, 432 F.3d at 546 (evidentiary
hearing is necessary only where the petitioner’s claims are not conclusively resolved by the
record). For the reasons set forth below, Petitioner’s claims are without merit and as such the
record establishes that Petitioner is not entitled to relief as a matter of law. No evidentiary
hearing is therefore required to dispose of Petitioner’s motion.
17
2. Petitioner’s ineffective assistance of counsel claims
In his motion, Petitioner presents several claims for relief all of which arise out of his
assertion that his counsel was constitutionally ineffective. The standard for evaluating such
claims is well establshed:
[c]laims of ineffective assistance are governed by the two-prong test
set forth in the Supreme Court’s opinion in Strickland v.
Washington, 466 U.S. 668 (1984). To make out such a claim under
Strickland, a petitioner must first show that “counsel’s performance
was deficient. This requires [the petitioner to show] that counsel
made errors so serious that counsel was not functioning as the
‘counsel’ guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment.” Id. at 687; see also
United States v. Shedrick, 493 F.3d 292, 299 (3d Cir. 2007). To
succeed on an ineffective assistance claim, a petitioner must also
show that counsel’s allegedly deficient performance prejudiced his
defense such that the petitioner was “deprive[d] of a fair trial . . .
whose result is reliable.” Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687; Shedrick, 493
F.3d at 299.
In evaluating whether counsel was deficient, the “proper
standard for attorney performance is that of ‘reasonably effective
assistance.’” Jacobs v. Horn, 395 F.3d 92, 102 (3d Cir. 2005). A
petitioner asserting ineffective assistance must therefore show that
counsel’s representation “fell below an objective standard of
reasonableness” under the circumstances. Id. The reasonableness
of counsel’s representation must be determined based on the
particular facts of a petitioner’s case, viewed as of the time of the
challenged conduct of counsel. Id. In scrutinizing counsel’s
performance, courts “must be highly deferential . . . a court must
indulge a strong presumption that counsel’s conduct falls within the
wide range of reasonable professional assistance.” Strickland, 466
U.S. at 689.
Even where a petitioner is able to show that counsel’s
representation was deficient, he must still affirmatively demonstrate
that counsel’s deficient performance prejudiced the petitioner’s
defense. Id. at 692-93. “It is not enough for the defendant to show
that the errors had some conceivable effect on the outcome of the
proceeding.” Id. at 693. The petitioner must demonstrate that “there
is a reasonable probability, but for counsel’s unprofessional errors,
the result of the proceeding would have been different. A reasonable
probability is a probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the
outcome.” Id. at 694; see also Shedrick, 493 F.3d at 299. Where a
18
“petition contains no factual matter regarding Strickland’s prejudice
prong, and [only provides] . . . unadorned legal conclusion[s] . . .
without supporting factual allegations,” that petition is insufficient
to warrant an evidentiary hearing, and the petitioner has not shown
his entitlement to habeas relief. See Palmer v. Hendricks, 592 F.3d
386, 395 (3d Cir. 2010). “Because failure to satisfy either prong
defeats an ineffective assistance claim, and because it is preferable
to avoid passing judgment on counsel’s performance when possible,
[Strickland, 466 U.S. at 697-98],” courts should address the
prejudice prong first where it is dispositive of a petitioner’s claims.
United States v. Cross, 308 F.3d 308, 315 (3d Cir. 2002).
Judge v. United States, --- F. Supp. 3d ---, ---, No. 13-2896, 2015 WL 4742380, at *3-4 (D.N.J.
Aug. 11, 2015).
a. Petitioner’s assertion that counsel was ineffective by failing to challenge the wiretap
Petitioner first argues that his counsel was ineffective in that counsel failed to challenge
the wiretap which resulted in the evidence which led to Plaintiff’s arrest and prosecution for
conspiracy to possess and distribute cocaine. Although Petitioner couches this claim as
challenging counsel’s failure to investigate whether there were any deficiencies in the warrant
authorizing the wiretap, that claim in essence relies on the assertion that, had an investigation
been conducted, a deficiency in the wiretap would have been uncovered. See, e.g., United States
v. Perez, 177 F. Supp. 2d 342, 346-48 (E.D. Pa. 2001); Foote v. United States, No. 12-3094,
2014 WL 1214812, at *5 (D.N.J. Mar. 24, 2014). “Habeas corpus petitions must meet
heightened pleading requirements.” McFarland v. Scott, 512 U.S. 849, 856 (1994). A petitioner
in a §2255 proceeding must therefore provide in his petition “facts supporting each of the
grounds” he has raised. See 28 U.S.C. § 2255 Rule 2(b)(2). Where a petitioner provides no
more than bald assertions and conclusory allegations, he has not provided sufficient facts to
warrant an evidentiary hearing, let alone habeas relief. See Palmer v. Hendricks, 592 F.3d 386,
19
393, 395 (3d Cir. 2010) (where a “petition contains no factual matter regarding Strickland’s
prejudice prong and [only provides] . . . unadorned legal conclusions . . . without supporting
allegations” no evidentiary hearing need be held and the petitioner is not entitled to relief).
As to counsel’s alleged failure to investigate the wiretap, Petitioner makes no allegations
that the wiretap itself was improper or that any error by law enforcement in seeking, obtaining,
or making use of the warrant permitting them to maintain the wiretap occurred. Petitioner
instead offers questions which he states “remain rhetorical,” and in no way states, let alone
shows, that the wiretap was in some way, shape, or form faulty. (Document 2 attached to ECF
No. 1 at 11-12). Certainly, Petitioner suggests that there are many ways in which a wiretap can
be faulty, but Petitioner neither alleges nor provides facts to support an allegation that the
wiretap in Petitioner’s case suffered from any of these potential issues. Petitioner does no more
than assert that counsel may have found an error or could possibly have found cause to challenge
the warrant had he conducted an investigation to Petitioner’s satisfaction. Petitioner has in no
way shown that an investigation would have produced evidence of any error, nor that it would
have in any way led to the potential suppression of the wiretap and its fruits. Petitioner offers
only rhetorical and hypothetical language alongside his contention that counsel should have
investigated further. Petitioner has provided nothing more than his bald assertion that counsel
was deficient and has provided no argument, let alone evidence, which would in any way
establish that he was prejudiced by counsel’s alleged failure to investigate the wiretap. Without
some evidence that suppression or some other benefit would have resulted, this Court is unable
to conclude that but for counsel’s failure to investigate, Petitioner would not have pled guilty.
As such, his conclusory allegations are insufficient to warrant habeas relief in the absence of any
supporting evidence showing that an investigation of the wiretap would have provided any
20
results, such as the suppression of the evidence derived therefrom. See Palmer, 592 F.3d at 395;
Foote, 2014 WL 1214812, at *5; Perez, 177 F. Supp. 2d at 346-48.
b. Petitioner’s assertion that counsel was ineffective for failing to seek a safety valve
sentence for Petitioner
Petitioner next makes three interlocking arguments: that counsel was ineffective for
failing to argue that Petitioner did not possess a weapon in connection with his offense, for
failing to argue that Petitioner should receive a safety valve reduction, and for failing to
challenge the PSR to the extent that it concluded Petitioner was a leader of the DTO. In so much
as Petitioner argues that counsel was ineffective for failing to challenge Petitioner’s possession
of a weapon and for failing to acquire a safety valve reduction, Petitioner’s arguments are
contradicted by the sentencing record. Because Petitioner was subject to a ten year minimum
sentence in the absence of a safety valve reduction, and because counsel was not ineffective in
allegedly failing to seek such a reduction for the reasons set forth below, any failing on counsel’s
part to challenge Petitioner’s leadership role, which was well supported by evidence resulting
from the wiretaps, resulted in no prejudice to Petitioner as petitioner received the mandatory
minimum sentence.
Turning first to Petitioner’s safety valve challenge, Petitioner essentially argues that
counsel was ineffective for failing to seek a safety valve reduction. Petitioner bases this
argument on his contention that he did not possess the weapons seized from the stash house, and
thus counsel should have argued that Petitioner should not be subject to an enhancement for
possession of a weapon in relation to the drug offense, and in turn he should have received a
safety valve reduction. Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3553(f), a court may sentence those convicted of
21
certain offenses, including the drug offense to which Petitioner pled guilty, below the mandatory
minimum for those offenses under certain circumstances. This “safety valve” provision was
enacted “to provide relief to individuals playing minor roles in drug trafficking conspiracies, who
lacked the detailed knowledge to qualify for ‘substantial assistance’ sentence reductions.”
United States v. Holguin, 263 F. App’x 219, 220 (3d Cir. 2008). The safety valve applies when
five criteria are met:
(1) the defendant does not have more than 1 criminal history point
...;
(2) the defendant did not use violence or credible threats of
violence or possess a firearm or other dangerous weapon (or
induce another participant to do so) in connection with the offense;
(3) the offense did not result in death or serious bodily injury to
any person;
(4) the defendant was not an organizer, leader, manager, or
supervisor of others in the offense, as determined under the
sentencing guidelines and was not engaged in a continuing
criminal enterprise, as defined in [21 U.S.C. § 848]; and
(5) not later than the time of the sentencing hearing, the defendant
has truthfully provided to the Government all information and
evidence the defendant has concerning the offense or offenses that
were part of the same course of conduct or of a common scheme or
plan, but the fact that the defendant has no relevant or useful
infromation to provide or that the Government is already aware of
the information shall not preclude a determiantion by the court that
the defendant has complied with this requirement.
18 U.S.C. § 3553(f); see also U.S.S.G. § 5C1.2. A criminal defedant bears the burden of
demonstrating, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the safety valve applies to him. United
States v. Sabir, 117 F.3d 750, 754 (3d Cir. 1997); see also United States v. Ishmael, 469 F.
App’x 86, 88 (3d Cir. 2012).
22
A question related to whether the safety valve applies is whether a petitioner was in
possession of a firearm or other dangerous weapon in connection with his offense. U.S.S.G. §
2D1.1(b)(1) provides for a two level sentencing enhancement if a dangerous weapon, such as a
firearm, was possessed in relation to a petitioner’s offense. “The enhancement should be applied
if the weapon was present, unless it is clearly improbable that the weapon was connected with
the offense.” Application Note 11 to U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1(b)(1). This enhancement therefore
applies where it is shown that the firearm was “present during the offense, and it is not clearly
improbable that the weapon was connected with the offense.” United States v. Torres, 529 F.
App’x 303, 305 (3d Cir. 2013) (quotations omitted). So long as the weapon was possessed
“during the currency of the offense,” the enhancement applies regardless of whether the
petitioner actually used the weapon “in perpetrating the crime or that he intended to do so.” Id.
To establish that the ehancement applies, the Government need only establish that a “temporal
and spatial relation existed between the weapon, the drug trafficking activity, and the defendant.”
United States v. Zavalza-Rodriguez, 379 F.3d 1182, 1185 (10th Cir. 2004); Torres, 529 F. App’x
at 306 (quoting Zavalza-Rodriguez). The Third Circuit has previously held that the enhancement
applies where a gun is found within an apartment, such as the stash house here, which is used
“solely for the purpose of facilitating [a drug] conspiracy.” Torres, 529 F. App’x at 306. In
determining whether it is “clearly improbable” that the weapon was connected to the offense,
courts consider the type of gun involved (with handguns being most likely to be connected),
whether the gun was loaded, whether the gun was stored near the drugs or related paraphrenalia,
and whether the gun was accessible. Id. (quoting United States v. Drozdowski, 313 F.3d 819,
822-23 (3d Cir. 2002)).
23
Petitioner contends that counsel should have argued that the 2D1.1 enhancement should
not apply to him because other members of the DTO had access to the stash house and the guns
should have been attributed to others and not to Petitioner, and that as a result he should have
received the benefit of the safety valve provision. What Petitioner’s argument fails to account
for, however, is that counsel essentially made this argument at sentencing. At sentencing,
counsel specifically argued that although Petitioner knew that the weapons were in the stash
house, Petitioner never used them to threaten anyone or directly used them in furtherance of the
DTO. Counsel also argued that all of the members of the DTO had access to the guns, and that
they could have belonged to any of the members of the DTO. Indeed, counsel even highlighted
that another DTO defendant had received a safety valve reduction, and that such a reduction
would likewise be appropriate for Petitioner. Thus, the argument Petitioner seeks to make, that
the weapons in the stash house should be attributed to someone other than Petitioner, was made
by counsel at sentencing, and was rejected by this Court. Counsel cannot be ineffective for
failing to make an argument which he presented to this Court. Likewise, because this Court
rejected that argument, Petitioner has suffered no prejudice in counsel’s failing to couch it in the
terms Petitioner now presents.
Petitioner’s assertion also fails because there was sufficient information to conclude that
U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1(b)(1) should apply to his case as Petitoner’s statements during his safety valve
proffer established that there was a temporal and spatial relationship between Petitioner, the
guns, and the drug trafficking organization. Indeed, Petitioner does not dispute that the two
firearms were seized from the “stash house” used by the drug conspiracy in which he was
involved and that during his proffer session with the government he admitted that he knew how
long the weapons had been in the stash house, where they were kept, and that he had “dominion
24
and shared sporadic control” over the stash house and its contents, which would include the
weapons. 4 (See Document 2 attached to ECF No. 1 at 21, 23, Sentencing Transcript at 10).
Thus, the evidence in the record suggests that there was a spatial and temporal relation between
Petitioner, the weapons held in his stash house, and the drug trafficking crimes to which he pled
guilty, and the enhancement for possession would apply to Petitioner based on the weapons kept
in the stash house. Zavalza-Rodriguez, 379 F.3d at 1185; Torres, 529 F. App’x at 306. That
Petitioner was never seen overtly using the weapons is of no consequence. Torres, 529 F. App’x
at 305. Petitioner’s underlying assertion, that he was not subject to an enhancement under
U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1(b)(1) is therefore without merit. 5 As Petitioner has not shown that the
ehancement did not apply to him, he has failed to show that counsel was ineffective for failing to
challenge the enhancement.
As the ehancement applied, and as this Court has already rejected Petitioner’s arguments
for why the weapons should not prevent him from receiving the benefit of the safety valve at
sentencing, Petitioner has in turn failed to show that counsel was ineffective for failing to argue
4
To the extent that Petitioner asserts that counsel should not have permitted him to engage in the
proffer session with the Government and his assertion that he is being punished on the basis of
his admissions there, Petitioner cannot have his cake and eat it, too. To qualify for a safety valve
reduction, a Petitioner is required to “not only . . . admit the conduct charged, but [] also . . .
volunteer any information aside from the conduct comprising the elements of the offense.”
Ishmael, 469 F. App’x at 88. Thus, Petitioner was required, in order to be eligible for safety
valve sentencing, to “reveal a broad scope of information about the relevant criminal conduct to
the authorities.” Id.; see also United States v. Claxton, 766 F.3d 280, 305 (3d Cir. 2014). Thus,
counsel’s decision to permit the proffer session was entirely necessary to secure the safety valve
applicability Petitioner now claims counsel was ineffective for failing to acquire. As such,
allowing the proffer session was not ineffective assistance of counsel.
5
Petitioner does not attempt to argue that it was “clearly improbable” that the weapons were
connected to the drug trafficking organization. As the weapons seized included a handgun and a
machine pistol, as opposed to a hunting rifle or the like, which were seized in the stash house
wherein the DTO kept its drugs, and the weapons were found alongside ammunition, any such
argument would appear to be meritless in any event. Torres, 529 F. App’x at 305-06.
25
for the applicability of the safety valve at sentencing. This is especially true in light of the fact
that counsel did make the arguments Petitioner now asserts entitled him to the safety valve at
sentencing. In his petition, Petitioner also asserts that counsel was ineffective for failing to
challenge the conclusion in the PSR and by this Court that Petitioner was a leader of the DTO. It
is worth noting that Petitioner did not receive a sentencing enhancement for his role in the
organization, but rather this Court’s conclusion that he acted in a leadership capacity was only a
second reason why the safety valve should not apply to Petitioner. As the safety valve did not
apply because of this Court’s conclusion as to the weapons, and Petitioner received the statutory
mandatory minimum sentence in the absence of the safety valve, Petitioner suffered no prejudice
as a result of counsel’s alleged failure to challenge this Court’s conclusions as to Petitioner’s
leadership role in the DTO. As such, Petitioner cannot show prejudice from this alleged
deficiency.
The final facet to Petitioner’s argument regarding possession of the weapons is that
counsel was ineffective for failing to secure a plea agreement which did not include a stipulation
that U.S.S.G. 2D1.1(b)(1) applied. Petitioner asserts that counsel could have instead sought a
plea agreement without the enhancement which would have resulted in a lower guidelines
offense level of 27, as opposed to 31. The inherent problem with this assertion, however, is that
there is no evidence that the Government would have been willing to offer a plea agreement
without this stipulation. The “failure to obtain a [better] plea bargain is not evidence of
ineffective assistance of counsel when the record does not contain evidence that one might have
been offered.” Eisemann v. Herbert, 401 F.3d 102, 109 (2d Cir. 2005); see also Burger v. Kemp,
483 U.S. 776, 785-86 (1987) (where there is no evidence that a prosecutor “would have been
receptive to a plea bargain,” no Strickland prejudice results from the failure to secure that
26
bargain). As Petitioner has failed to demonstrate that the Government would have accepted such
a bargain, counsel was not ineffective for failing to secure a plea agreement without the weapon
possession stipulation. As such, Petitioner has failed to show that counsel was ineffective in
relation to his weapon possession, leadership, and safety valve claims.
c. Petitioner’s assertion that counsel was ineffective for failing to challenge the quantity of
cocaine
Petitioner’s next argument is that counsel was ineffective for failing to challenge the
quantity of drugs he was charged with possessing. Petitioner asserts that the estimates regarding
drug quantity in the PSR are insufficient to warrant the ten year mandatory minimum under
Alleyne because that estimate arises from “guesstimates” derived from the wiretap. Petitioner’s
argument is, in large part, based on a comment by probation officials that they could not assess
the drug quantities involved independent of the information contained in the wiretaps because
there was no physical evidence of the drug quantities involved. (See PSR at ¶ 39). This
statement, however, does not express an opinion on the part of probation that there was no
evidence to support this quantity, only that the quantity calculation resulted from the wiretaps
rather than a physical source which probation could re-examine. Although Petitioner couches his
claim as an assertion that counsel should have questioned the quantity before advising him to
sign the plea agreement, Petitioner does not actually argue that point. Instead he argues that
because the five kilogram quantity was not found by a jury, counsel should have challenged the
sentencing court’s reliance on that quantity in sentencing Petitioner to a ten year mandatory
minimum under the Alleyne doctrine. See Alleyne v. United States, 570 U.S. ---, ---, 133 S. Ct.
2151, 2162-63 (2013).
27
In Alleyne, the Court ruled that any fact which increases the mandatory minimum
sentence of an offense is an element of that offense and must be proven beyond a reasonable
doubt, usually through submission to a jury. Id. Petitioner’s reliance on Alleyne is misplaced,
however, as the Supreme Court has not made Alleyne retroactive to cases on collateral review.
See United States v. Reyes, 755 F.3d 210, 213 (3d Cir. 2014). The “decision to make Alleyne
retroactive rests exclusively with the Supreme Court, which has not chosen to do so.” Id. Unless
the Court decides that Alleyne is retroactive to collateral cases, lower courts may not so extend
Alleyne. Id.; see also Simpson v. United States, 721 F.3d 875, 876 (7th Cir. 2013). Petitioner
was sentenced in January, 2012. The Third Circuit dismissed his appeal in August 2012.
Petitioner did not file a petition for certiorari. Alleyne was not decided until nearly a year later in
June of 2013, shortly before Petitioner filed this motion. Thus, Alleyne would only benefit
Petitioner were it made retroactive to cases on collateral review. As it has not been made
retroactive to cases on collateral review, Petitioner’s Alleyne argument is without merit, and his
assertion that counsel was ineffective for failing to argue against the mandatory minimum on that
ground is equally without merit. 6
6
This Court also notes that, regardless of retroactivity, there would be no Alleyne issue here as
Petitioner, in his plea colloquy, admitted that his crime involved more than five kilograms of
cocaine, which is more than sufficient to satisfy the requirements of Alleyne. See, e.g., United
States v. Ramirez, 528 F. App’x 678, 679-80 (7th Cir. 2013) (admission as to drug quantity in
plea colloquy “negated the need for the district court to make a finding beyond a reasonable
doubt regarding drug quantity”). Likewise, the information derived from the wiretap strongly
supports the Government’s assertion that more than five kilograms were involved in Petitioner’s
offense, and thus there is no evidence that the Government would have been receptive to a plea
deal involving a lesser quantity.
28
d. Petitioner’s claim that the above alleged errors rendered his plea involuntary
Petitioner’s final argument is that, as a result of counsel’s purported errors as discussed
above, his guilty plea was rendered involuntary. A petitioner’s right to counsel extends to the
plea-barganing process. Lafler v. Cooper, --- U.S. ---, ---, 132 S. Ct. 1376, 1384 (2012). Where
a petitioner asserts that inefective assistance of counsel rendered his guilty plea involuntary, the
petitioner must show that counsel’s advice regarding the plea was outside of the range of
adequate performance demanded of attorneys in criminal cases. Hill v. Lockhart, 474 U.S. 52,
56 (1985). “When addressing a guilty plea, counsel is required to give a defendant enough
information ‘to make a reasoanbly informed decision whether to accept a plea offer.’” United
States v. Bui, --- F.3d ---, ---, 2015 WL 4620059, at *3 (3d Cir. Aug. 4, 2015) (quoting Shotts v.
Wetzel, 724 F.3d 364, 376 (3d Cir. 2013)). Even where a petitioner can make such a showing, he
is still required to show that he suffered prejudice as a result. Id. In this context, Strickland’s
prejudice prong requires a showing that “there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s
errors, [the petitioner] would not have pleaded guilty and would have insisted on going to trial.”
Lafler, --- U.S. ---, ---, 132 S. Ct. at 1384-85 (quoting Hill, 474 U.S. at 59).
Here, Petitioner’s assertions that he was not given adequate and proper advice in support
of his guilty plea are complicated by the fact that Petitioner made contrary statements in his Rule
11 Application and during his plea colloquy. As the Supreme Court has explained,
the representations of the defendant, his lawyer, and the prosecutor
at [a plea] hearing, as well as any findings made by the judge
accepting the plea, constitute a formidable barrier in any subsequent
collateral proceedings. Solemn declarations in open court carry a
strong presumption of verity. The subsequent presentation of
conclusory allegations unsupported by specifics is subject to
summary dismissal, as are contentions that in the face of the record
are wholly incredible. . . .
29
. . . [T]he barrier of the plea or sentencing proceeding record,
although imposing, is not invariably insurmountable [however]. In
administering the writ of habeas corpus and its § 2255 counterpart,
the federal courts cannot fairly adopt a per se rule excluding all
possibility that a defendant’s representations at the time his guilty
plea was accepted were so much the product of such factors as
misunderstanding, duress, or misrepresentation by others as to make
the guilty plea a constitutionally inadequate basis for imprisonment.
Blackledge v. Allison, 431 U.S. 63, 73-75 (1977); see also United States v. Erwin, 765 F.3d 219,
230 (3d Cir. 2014) (applying Blackledge); United States v. Dickler, 64 F.3d 818, 823 n. 7 (3d
Cir. 1995) (“Sworn statements in a plea proceeding are conclusive unless the movant can
demonstrate compelling reasons for questioning their truth”); United States v. Stewart, 977 F.2d
81, 84 (3d Cir. 1992) (“The ritual of the colloquy is but a means toward determining whether the
plea was voluntary and knowing. A transcript showing full compliance with the customary
inquiries and admonitions furnishes strong, although not necessarily conclusive, evidence that
the accused entered his plea without coercion and with an appreciation of its consequences”).
Petitioner asserts that counsel performed no investigation and gave him no advice as to
the plea agreement he was offered other than that he should sign it. This assertion, however runs
counter to statements he made to this Court in both his Rule 11 application and his plea colloquy.
Petitioner, through both means, informed this Court that his lawyer had fully explained to him
the terms of the plea agreement, including the appellate waiver and the mandatory minimum
sentence which would apply to him, that he had discussed the agreement with his lawyer, and
that his lawyer had answered all of his questions to his satisfaction. Petitioner also asserted that
he was satisfied with his lawyer’s representation, and fully understood the rights he was giving
up and wished to plead guilty because he was in fact guilty. Thus, Petitioner’s unsupported
assertions in his petition that his lawyer did not give him full and proper advice in pleading
30
guilty run counter to the statements he made to this Court during his plea. Petitioner’s
unsupported allegations that counsel gave him no advice other than to sign are insufficient to
overcome the presumption of verity to which his declarations in court are entitled, and as such
are insufficient to show that his plea was not knowingly and voluntarily entered. Blackledge,
431 U.S. at 73-75.
A further difficulty facing Petitioner’s argument is that many of the acts he suggests
render his plea involuntary – counsel’s alleged failure to challenge the drug quantity based on
statements in the PSR, to seek a safety valve sentence, to challenge Petitioner’s being attributed
possession of the weapons found in the stash house, and to challenge the PSR’s leadership
determination as interpreted by this Court – did not arise in the context of his guilty plea, but
rather only as sentencing arguments and considerations. With the exception of Petitioner’s
assertion that counsel should have challenged the wiretap, the quantity of drugs stipulated in the
plea agreement, and the plea agreement stipulation as to the firearms, Petitioner’s ineffectiveness
arguments deal not with the plea phase, but rather the sentencing phase, and thus have no bearing
on the voluntariness of his plea. As to the three remaining assertions of ineffectiveness,
Petitioner has shown no basis for a motion attacking the wiretap and has provided no more than
hypotheticals and unsupported allegations to support the assertion that the wiretap was subject to
challenge. The wiretap record supports the government’s assertions as to the quantity of cocaine
Petitioner dealt with in the plea agreement, and the record supports the assertion that Petitioner
was subject to an enhancement under U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1(b)(1). Thus, there does not appear to
have been any basis in the record for counsel to challenge these issues beyond the arguments he
ultimately made to this Court.
31
In any event, the Court need not rely on the weaknesses in Petitioner’s assertions as to the
deficiency prong here as Petitioner has failed to show that he suffered prejudice as he has not
demonstrated that but for counsel’s advice or lack thereof, he would have not pled guilty and
would have insisted on going to trial. Throughout his petition, Petitioner makes it abundantly
clear that he takes issue not with his entry of a guilty plea per se, but rather in the sentence he
ultimately received, arguing that had counsel acted as Petitioner desired his plea deal would have
resulted in a lesser sentence. Petitioner has not asserted that, had counsel acted properly, he
would have insisted on going to trial. Based on the strong evidence against him, including the
wiretap information, there is nothing in the record to suggest that a reasonable defendant would
have insisted on going to trial under these circumstances. Likewise, Petitioner has provided no
support for the supposition that a better plea deal would have been offered or accepted by the
Government, and given this Court’s determination that the enhancements Petitioner received and
this Court’s denial of a safety valve sentence were both supported by the record, this Court
discerns no basis to believe that the Government would have entertained a “better” offer for
Petitioner. Thus Petitioner has shown neither that he would have proceeded to trial but for
counsel’s errors, nor has he shown that the outcome of the plea process would have been
different (i.e., that a better deal would have been reached) absent the alleged deficiencies of
counsel. As such, he has failed to show that he was prejudiced by counsel’s actions in relation to
his guilty plea, and has in turn failed to show that he suffered ineffective assistance of counsel.
Petitioner’s § 2255 motion must therefore be denied.
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IV. CERTIFICATE OF APPEALABILITY
Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c) a petitioner may not appeal from the final order in a §
2255 proceeding unless he has “made a substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional
right.” “A petitioner satisfies this standard by demonstrating that jurists of reason could disagree
with the district court’s resolution of his constitutional claims or that jurists could conclude that
the issues presented here are adequate to deserve encouragement to proceed further.” Miller-El
v. Cockrell, 537 U.S. 322, 327 (2003). As Petitioner has failed to show that he received
ineffective assistance of counsel, he has failed to make a substantial showing that he was denied
a constitutional right, and jurists of reason could not conclude that his claims are sufficient to
warrant encouragement to proceed. As such, Petitioner is denied a certificate of appealability.
V. CONCLUSION
For the reasons set forth above, Petitioner’s applications for default judgment and a
preliminary injunction are DENIED; Petitioner’s motion to strike is DENIED; Petitioner’s
motion to vacate is DENIED; and Petitioner is DENIED a certificate of appealability. An
appropriate order follows.
s/ Hon. Susan D. Wigenton
United States District Judge
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