Notice: First Circuit Local Rule 36.2(b)6 States Unpublished Opinions May Be Cited Only in Related Cases.leopold Demarco, Plaintiff, Appellant, v. United States of America, Defendant, Appellee, 7 F.3d 218 (1st Cir. 1993)

Petitioner challenges the denial of a motion under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 to vacate, set aside or correct his sentence.¹  He alleges that the district court erroneously enhanced his sentence two levels for possession of a firearm during the offense. He also alleges ineffective assistance of counsel in the failure to object on this ground and to take a direct appeal from the sentence imposed. We affirm the district court's disposition.

Petitioner pleaded guilty to a cluster of charges stemming from his involvement in a large scale marijuana distribution operation.²  In return for his plea, the government agreed to recommend dismissal of two of the charges,³  and imposition of a sentence at the low end of the guideline offense level chosen by the court. The plea agreement recited the parties' understanding that defendant's Criminal History Category was I, and that the applicable guideline offense level would be either 34, 35 or 36, depending on the district court's ruling.

The presentence report calculated the applicable offense level at 36 as follows: (1) the base offense level was 32; (2) a two level increase was assessed pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1(b) (1) for possessing a firearm during the offense; (3) a four level increase was assessed under U.S.S.G. § 3B1.1 for being an organizer or leader of a criminal activity that involved five or more participants; and (4) petitioner was awarded a two-level decrease in offense level for acceptance of responsibility pursuant to § 3E1.1.

Petitioner objected only to the four level enhancement for being an organizer or leader. He successfully renewed this contention as his sole objection at the sentencing hearing. He testified at length about his role in the conspiracy, the government presented a rebuttal witness on point, and there were vigorous arguments by both sides. The district court agreed that petitioner's involvement qualified only for a two level enhancement under § 3B1.1(c), not a four level enhancement. At petitioner's urging, the court ruled that the proper guideline offense level was 34.⁴  Accepting the plea agreement, the court sentenced petitioner to 151 months, the low end of the lowest guideline offense level conceded to be applicable by the parties.

Petitioner did not take a timely appeal from the sentence. Instead, he filed a § 2255 motion one year later challenging the sentence on the ground that the court erred in imposing the two level increase for possession of a firearm. He argued that there was an insufficient nexus between the loaded firearm found in his home and the narcotics offenses to which he pleaded guilty. In reply to the government's contention that this claim of error had been forfeited by a double procedural default, petitioner claimed ineffective assistance by his counsel.⁵ 

We agree with the district court's conclusions. On appeal, the fact-finder's determination that petitioner received effective assistance of counsel at sentencing, "may be overturned only for clear error." Isabel v. United States, 980 F.2d 60, 64 (1st Cir. 1992). "[P]etitioner bears a very heavy burden on an ineffective assistance claim." Lema v. United States, 987 F.2d 48 (1st Cir. 1993). "The court must not only find that defense counsel's performance was deficient, but that it was so prejudicial as to undermine confidence in the outcome." Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 689 (1984). And petitioner must "overcome the presumption that, under the circumstances, the challenged action 'might be considered sound trial strategy.' " Strickland, 466 U.S. at 689 (citation omitted).

Applying these standards, petitioner's argument falls far short of the "clear error" threshold. Petitioner offered no cogent argument or evidence to overcome the very strong presumption that counsel's failure to object on this ground was a deliberate strategic decision. The loaded gun had been found in petitioner's home along with a large amount of cash ($266,230.00), drug paraphernalia, and a suitcase with marijuana residue. There was substantial testimony at the hearing, including petitioner's own testimony, that petitioner's home had served as a routine base of operations for the conspiracy. Even after the base of operations was moved elsewhere, the presentence report and testimony showed that petitioner's home continued to be used for drug distribution activities, and the cash represented profits from the illegal scheme.⁶ 

In similar cases we have held that the base offense level should be increased by two levels under U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1(b) (1) unless it is "clearly improbable that the weapon and the offense were connected." United States v. Corcimiglia, 967 F.2d 724, 726 (1st Cir. 1992); United States v. McDowell, 918 F.2d 1004, 1011 (1st Cir. 1990) (citing cases). Given the admission that illegal drug activities occurred in the very place where the gun was found, counsel could not have reasonably expected to succeed on an argument that it was "improbable" that the gun was connected to the illegal activity. The failure to object on that basis, especially in light of the court's express inclination to sentence petitioner in accordance with the plea agreement, was undoubtedly deliberate, and, as the court held, not prejudicial to petitioner.

As to counsel's failure to take a direct appeal from the sentence, we have held that where a criminal defendant loses his right to a direct appeal through dereliction of his counsel, he is entitled to a new appeal without first showing a meritorious appellate issue. Bonneau v. United States, 961 F.2d 17 (1st Cir. 1992); United States v. Tajeddini, 945 F.2d 458, 466-67 (1st Cir. 1991), cert. denied, 112 S. Ct. 3009 (1992). However, a defendant who voluntarily forfeits his right to a direct appeal is not entitled to assign error for the first time on collateral review without showing both cause for the default and actual prejudice resulting from the assigned error. United States v. Frady, 456 U.S. 152 (1982); see also Tajeddini, 945 F.2d at 468 (remanding case to district court to determine whether petitioner had voluntarily foregone his right to appeal).

Petitioner's excuse for failing to take a direct appeal is that he didn't know he had the right to appeal. First he blames his lack of knowledge on his counsel, claiming that counsel failed to advise him of his right to appeal. However, the letter he offered from his attorney does not support this claim.⁷  Second, petitioner claims he was in "shock" and under the influence of medication at the time of sentencing. For this reason, petitioner alleges, he could not understand the judge's plain statement informing petitioner of his right to appeal the sentence. Petitioner's "shock" claim, however, is belied by his own lengthy, concise and responsive testimony at the hearing. And the record shows no mention of petitioner's use of medication at the time of sentencing.

While the district court did not expressly rule on the voluntariness of petitioner's failure to appeal, the record before us is plain. As the letter from his counsel affirms, there was no incentive for petitioner to take a direct appeal because he had obtained all the relief he sought at the sentencing hearing. Aside from his transparently thin claim of lack of knowledge, petitioner offered no evidence below to rebut the presumption of a voluntary waiver. He asserts no other cause for his procedural default, nor any prejudice from the alleged error.

Accordingly, we affirm the judgment below.