Nunez Moreno v. USA, No. 3:2013cv00027 - Document 2 (S.D. Cal. 2013)
Court Description: ORDER Denying Petition to Vacate under 28 USC 2255. Signed by Judge William Q. Hayes on 7/9/2013. (Copy already was sent to Defendant-Petitioner in case 11cr2921.) (mdc)
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Nunez Moreno v. USA Doc. 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 10 SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 11 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 12 13 14 vs. RUBEN NUNEZ MORENO, Plaintiff, CRIM CASE NO. 11cr2921WQH CIVIL CASE NO. 13cv0027WQH ORDER Defendant. 15 HAYES, Judge: 16 The matter before the Court is the motion to vacate, set aside or correct sentence 17 by a person in federal custody pursuant to 28 U.S.C. Section 2255 filed by the 18 Defendant Ruben Nunez Moreno. (ECF No. 42). 19 20 FACTS On June 2, 2011, Defendant was detained at the Port of Entry at San Ysidro, 21 California after a narcotics dog alerted agents to the passenger rear quarter panel of the 22 vehicle he was driving. Subsequent investigation revealed a non-factory compartment 23 in the quarter panel area concealed packaging containing approximately 7.40 kilograms 24 (16.28 pounds) of methamphetamine, a Schedule II Controlled Substance, and 25 approximately 8.58 kilograms (18.89 pounds) of marijuana, a Schedule I Controlled 26 Substance. Defendant was arrested and invoked his constitutional right to remain silent. 27 On July 12, 2011, Defendant waived indictment and agreed to allow the United 28 States to file an Information charging him with importation of approximately 7.4 -1- 11cr2921WQH Dockets.Justia.com 1 kilograms of methamphetamine in Count One and 8.58 kilograms of marijuana in Count 2 Two in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 952 and 960. (ECF No. 16). Count One carried a 3 minimum mandatory sentence of ten years and a maximum sentence of life 4 imprisonment. Count Two carried a maximum five years imprisonment. 5 On August 4, 2011, Defendant appeared before the Magistrate Judge and entered 6 pleas of guilty to both counts pursuant to a Plea Agreement. (ECF No. 23). The parties 7 agreed to recommend that Defendant receive a four-level downward departure for fast 8 track under U.S.S.G. § 5K3.1, a three-level reduction for acceptance of responsibility 9 under U.S.S.G. § 3E1.1, and agreed to jointly recommend a total offense level under the 10 guidelines of 33. (ECF No. 23 at 8). The parties also agreed in Section X, paragraph 11 A, that Defendant could only seek a downward adjustment for role under U.S.S.G. § 12 3B1.2(b), with corresponding adjustments under U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1(5), and a downward 13 departure for criminal history under U.S.S.G. § 4A1.3. Id. at 9. The parties further 14 agreed to not seek any adjustments, variances, reductions, or departures, including 15 reductions under 18 U.S.C. § 3553, that were not set forth in Section X, paragraph A, 16 and to recommend the statutory mandatory minimum sentence or the low end of the 17 advisory guideline as calculated by the Government in the Plea Agreement. Id. at 9-10. 18 19 In the Plea Agreement, Defendant stated his guilty plea was knowing and 20 voluntary. Id. at 6. DEFENDANT’S REPRESENTATIONS in the Plea Agreement 21 stated: 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 A. Defendant has had a full opportunity to discuss all the facts and circumstances of this case with defense counsel, and has a clear understanding of the charges and consequences of this plea. Defendant further understands that the conviction in this case may subject defendant to various collateral consequences, including but not limited to deportation, removal or other adverse immigration consequences; revocation of probation, parole, or supervised release in another case; none of which will serve as grounds to withdraw defendant’s guilty plea; B. No one has made any promises or offered any rewards in return for this guilty plea, other than those contained in this agreement or otherwise disclosed to the court; C. No one has threatened defendant or defendant’s family to induce this -2- 11cr2921WQH 1 guilty plea; and 2 D. Defendant is pleading guilty because in truth and in fact defendant is guilty and for no other reason. 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Id. Under the terms of the Plea Agreement the Defendant waived his right to appeal or to collaterally attack his conviction and sentence. Id. at 11. Defendant initialed each page of the Plea Agreement and signed the Plea Agreement on the last page along with his counsel and counsel for the Government. Id. at 13. Directly above Defendant’s signature, the Plea Agreement stated: “Defendant has consulted with counsel and is satisfied with counsel’s representation.” Id. During the plea colloquy the Defendant, represented by counsel, acknowledged he had been sworn under penalty of perjury and that he could be prosecuted for perjury if he failed to provide truthful answers in the proceedings. (ECF No. 47 at 3-4). The Magistrate Judge stated: THE COURT: Are either of you taking any substance or medication that affects your ability to think clearly? THE COURT: Mr. Nunez? THE DEFENDANT: No. THE COURT: Are you having any problem understanding what’s going on so far? THE COURT: Mr. Nunez? THE DEFENDANT: No. THE COURT: Mr. Nunez, I have your plea agreement, it is 13 pages, appears to have been signed by you on the last page, has the initials “R.N.M.” in the lower right-hand corner of each page. That is your signature and initials, sir? THE DEFENDANT: Yes. THE COURT: There is also an addendum to your plea agreement that is four pages, appears to have been signed by you on the last page and initialed on each page. That is also your signature and initials? THE DEFENDANT: Yes. THE COURT: And, sir, please understand as I refer to your plea agreement going forward, I’ll be referring to these documents as if they were one document. Do you understand that? THE DEFENDANT: Yes. THE COURT: Okay. Counsel, are all the terms of the agreement contained in the written document? THE COURT: For Mr. Nunez? DEFENSE COUNSEL: Yes, Your Honor. THE COURT: Okay. Gentlemen, before you signed you plea agreement, did you have an opportunity to read it or have it explained to you in a way that you could understand it? THE COURT: Mr. Nunez? -3- 11cr2921WQH 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 THE DEFENDANT: Yes. THE COURT: And did you have time to discuss it with your attorney before you signed it and were whatever questions you had answered? THE COURT: Mr. Nunez? THE DEFENDANT: Yes. THE COURT: Do either of you now have any questions about the terms or the language of your plea agreement? THE COURT: Mr. Nunez? THE DEFENDANT: No. THE COURT: Okay. And are you satisfied with the advice that you received from your attorney? THE COURT: Mr. Nunez? THE DEFENDANT: Yes, I am. 8 Id. at 4-7. 9 The Magistrate Judge advised the Defendant of his right to a speedy and public 10 trial before a judge or a jury, the right to force the Government to prove its case beyond 11 a reasonable doubt, the right to appointed counsel if he could not afford one, and the 12 right to put on a defense to the case against him and introduce evidence on his behalf. 13 The Magistrate Judge also advised the Defendant of his right to have the Court 14 subpoena witnesses and evidence on his behalf, the right to confront and cross-examine 15 witnesses against him, his privileges against self-incrimination, and his right to remain 16 silent. Defendant acknowledged his rights and privileges and agreed to waive his rights 17 for the purposes of pleading guilty to the charges set forth in the Information. T h e 18 Magistrate Judge reviewed the maximum penalties for the charged offenses and stated 19 the district judge would decide the actual penalties imposed. Defendant acknowledged 20 the district judge is not required to follow the sentencing guidelines’ recommendation. 21 22 At the conclusion of the plea, the Magistrate Judge stated on the record and in 23 open court: “The Court finds your pleas are freely and voluntarily given, with an 24 understanding, knowing and intelligent waiver of your rights; that you’re both 25 competent to enter your pleas, and there is a factual basis for each plea. This Court will 26 therefore recommend that the district judge accept these pleas.” Id. at 15-16. 27 On August 19, 2011, the district court accepted the pleas by written order. (ECF 28 No. 26). -4- 11cr2921WQH 1 On November 4, 2011, the Presentence Report was prepared and submitted to this 2 Court. (ECF No. 28). The Presentence Report found a total offense level of 37 and a 3 Criminal History Category of VI, resulting in an advisory guideline range of 360 4 months to life. Id. at 11. After accounting for the four-level downward departure for 5 fast track, the advisory guideline range was 235-293 months imprisonment. Id. at 13. 6 The report recommended a term of 235 months for Count One and a term of 60 months 7 for Count Two, to be served concurrently. Id. The Presentence Report concluded the 8 Defendant was a career offender under USSG § 4B1.1(a) based on two prior felony 9 convictions. Id. at 5-6. 10 On November 21, 2011, the Government filed a Sentencing Summary Chart 11 recommending a sentence of 235 months for Count One and 60 months for Count Two, 12 to be served concurrently. (ECF No. 29). 13 On December 23, 2011, the Government filed a sentencing memorandum and 14 motion under U.S.S.G § 5K1.1 recommending a total offense level of 33, the guideline 15 calculation as agreed in the Plea Agreement. The Government moved for an additional 16 two-level downward departure based on Defendant’s substantial assistance, for a total 17 offense level of 31, and a guideline range of 188-235 months. The Government 18 recommended Defendant be sentenced to a term of 188 months in prison. 19 On January 5, 2012, defense counsel filed a sentencing memorandum requesting 20 a four-level downward departure under U.S.S.G. § 5K1.1, reducing the total offense 21 level to 29 and the advisory guideline range to 151-188 months. (ECF No. 36 at 3). 22 Defense counsel requested a sentence of 120 months imprisonment. Id. Counsel 23 explained that Defendant was “repeatedly physically assaulted by his father” and as a 24 result he “turned to alcohol and marijuana as a form of escape and started using both 25 substances at 13.” Id. at 2. 26 On January 9, 2012, Defendant appeared before this Court for a sentencing 27 hearing. (ECF No. 46). In consideration of Defendant’s family history, the abuse he 28 suffered when growing up, his addiction problems and how that addiction contributed -5- 11cr2921WQH 1 to his involvement in the offense, defense counsel requested a 120 month sentence, a 2 “substantial departure” from the recommendations of the Government and Probation. 3 Id. at 5. The Government orally moved for a one-level departure in addition to the two4 level departure crediting Defendant for information he provided which led to the arrest 5 of an individual smuggling aliens, not drugs. Id. The Government recommended 168 6 months imprisonment based on a total offense level of 30. Id. 7 At the sentencing hearing, the Court found the base level offense was 38 under 8 U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1, and applied a two-level increase pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1(b)(5), 9 and a three-level reduction for acceptance of responsibility pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 10 3E1.1. The Court found the total offense level was 37 and the Defendant had 8 criminal 11 history points based on two prior drug convictions in 1986 and 1999. The Court found 12 the Criminal History Category was VI based on the Defendant’s career offender status, 13 and the advisory guideline range before departures was 360 months to life. The Court 14 found a four-level downward adjustment for fast track and a four-level reduction under 15 U.S.S.G. § 5K1.1 was fair and appropriate and that the advisory guideline range was 16 151 to 188 months imprisonment. After considering of all the factors set forth in 18 17 U.S.C. § 3553, the Court sentenced the Defendant to 151 months imprisonment for 18 Count One and 60 months imprisonment for Count Two to be served concurrently, 19 followed by a five-year term of supervised release on Count One and a two-year term 20 of supervised release on Count Two to be served concurrently. The Court also 21 recommended Defendant participate in the Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP). 22 During the sentencing hearing, the Court confirmed with defense counsel that the 23 Defendant had waived his rights to appeal or collaterally attack his sentence. Id. at 15. 24 On January 3, 2013, Defendant filed a motion to vacate, set aside or correct under 25 28 U.S.C. § 2255. (ECF No. 42). Plaintiff United States filed a Response in 26 Opposition. (ECF No. 48). Defendant filed a Traverse. (ECF No. 50). 27 28 CONTENTIONS OF PARTIES Defendant moves the Court to vacate, set aside or correct his sentence on the -6- 11cr2921WQH 1 grounds that his plea was not knowing and voluntary and that he did not understand the 2 nature of the charge and the consequences of the plea. (EFC No. 42 at 5). Defendant 3 contends his counsel “never went over the plea agreement” and just told him to “inicial 4 [sic] and signed [sic].” Id. Defendant also contends his counsel failed to disclose to the 5 Court the full extent of his cooperation. Defendant asserts that he was given 6 cooperation credit for providing information about alien smuggling when he provided 7 information about members of the drug cartel. Id. Defendant asserts that he was denied 8 effective assistance of counsel. Id. Defendant asserts his counsel mistakenly told him 9 he would be denied sentencing departures based on 1) his addiction problems and 2) the 10 claim that he committed the offense while under duress. Id. 11 Plaintiff United States contends that Defendant waived his right to appeal or 12 collaterally attack his conviction and sentence in the Plea Agreement and defense 13 counsel acknowledged this waiver during Defendant’s sentencing hearing. Plaintiff 14 United States asserts that Defendant did not raise his argument of ineffective assistance 15 of counsel before this Court or on direct appeal and therefore he cannot collaterally 16 attack his sentence. Plaintiff United States asserts that Defendant alleged no facts 17 which would support a claim that his counsel’s performance was deficient or that he 18 suffered any prejudice. 19 20 APPLICABLE LAW 28 U.S.C. § 2255 provides that “A prisoner under sentence of a court established 21 by Act of Congress claiming the right to be released upon the ground that the sentence 22 was imposed in violation of the Constitution or laws of the United States, or that the 23 court was without the jurisdiction to impose such a sentence, or that the sentence was 24 in excess of the maximum authorized by law, or is otherwise subject to collateral attack, 25 may move the court which imposed the sentence to vacate, set aside or correct the 26 sentence.” 28 U.S.C. § 2255. 27 If any of these grounds exists, the court “shall vacate and set the judgment aside 28 and shall discharge the prisoner or release him or grant a new trial or correct the -7- 11cr2921WQH 1 sentence as may appear appropriate.” Id. Where the motion, files, and records of the 2 case “conclusively show that the prisoner is entitled to no relief,” the court need not 3 hold an evidentiary hearing to address his allegations. Id.; see also United States v. 4 Zuno-Arce, 209 F.3d 1095, 1102 (9th Cir. 2000), rev’d. on other grounds. 5 A waiver barring collateral attack of a conviction or sentence is enforceable when 6 voluntarily made. United States v. Abarca, 985 F.2d 1012, 1014 (9th Cir. 1993) 7 (citations omitted). “A defendant’s wavier of appellate rights is enforceable if (1) the 8 language of the waiver encompasses his right to appeal on the grounds raised, and (2) 9 if the waiver was knowingly and voluntarily made.” United States v. Jeronimo, 298 10 F.3d 1149, 1153 (9th Cir. 2005). Plea agreements are contractual in nature, and their 11 plain language will generally be enforced if the agreement is “clear and unambiguous 12 on its face.” Id. “A waiver of the right to appeal is knowing and voluntary where the 13 plea agreement as a whole was knowingly and voluntarily made.” Id. at 1154. “A plea 14 agreement ... that waives the right to file a petition under § 2255 is unenforceable with 15 respect to an ineffective assistance of counsel claim (IAC) that challenges the 16 voluntariness of the waiver.” Washington v. Lampert, 422 F.3d 864, 871 (9th Cir. 17 2005) (citation omitted). 18 19 RULING OF THE COURT Pursuant to the terms of the Plea Agreement, the Defendant waived “to the full 20 extent of the law, any right to appeal or to collaterally attack the conviction and 21 sentence, including any restitution order, unless the Court imposes a custodial sentence 22 above the greater of the high end of the guideline range recommended by the 23 Government pursuant to this agreement at the time of sentencing or statutory mandatory 24 minimum term, if applicable.” (ECF No. 23 at 11). In this case, the record shows the 25 Defendant waived his right to bring a § 2255 motion to attack his conviction and 26 sentence. Id. At the time of sentencing the Government recommended an adjusted 27 offense level of 30 and a resulting guideline range of 168-210 months. (ECF No. 46 at 28 8). The Government recommended a sentence of 168 months. Id. The Court imposed -8- 11cr2921WQH 1 a sentence of 151 months imprisonment for Count One and 60 months imprisonment 2 for Count Two to be served concurrently. Id. at 14. 3 An express waiver of the right to appeal in a negotiated plea agreement is valid 4 if knowingly and voluntarily made. See United States v. Rahman, 642 F.3d 1257, 1259 5 (9th Cir. 2011). In this case, the record of the plea colloquy and the sentencing hearing 6 show that waiver was knowing and voluntary. Defendant entered into a written Plea 7 Agreement with the advice of counsel and represented in open court that the plea was 8 knowing and voluntary, that he understood the plea agreement and that he was satisfied 9 with the advice from his counsel. (ECF No. 47 at 4-7). At the plea colloquy, the 10 Defendant represented to the Magistrate Judge under penalty of perjury that he initialed 11 each page of the Plea Agreement and signed the last page of the Plea Agreement. Id. 12 The Magistrate Judge thoroughly reviewed the Plea Agreement in all aspects. The 13 Magistrate Judge specifically advised the Defendant of the rights he was giving up by 14 pleading guilty. Id. at 7-8. Defendant indicated on the record that he understood the 15 rights he was giving up. Id. The Magistrate Judge found the guilty plea was knowing 16 and voluntary. Id. at 15-16. Defendant filed no objections to the recommendation of 17 the Magistrate Judge and this Court accepted the guilty plea. (ECF No. 46). At 18 sentencing, this Court confirmed with defense counsel the Defendant’s waiver of his 19 rights to appeal or collaterally attack his sentence. Id. at 15. Defendant did not waive 20 his right to bring an ineffective assistance of counsel claim pursuant to a § 2255 21 petition, regarding the voluntariness of the appeal waiver. See Lampert, 422 F.3d at 22 871. 23 In order to prevail on a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel the Defendant 24 must show: 1) the representation of counsel fell below an objective standard of 25 reasonableness and 2) any deficiencies in counsel’s performance were prejudicial. See 26 Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 688, 690 (1984). Both deficient performance and 27 prejudice are required before it can be said a conviction or sentence resulted from a 28 breakdown in the adversary process that rendered the result of the proceedings -9- 11cr2921WQH 1 unreliable and thus in violation of the Sixth Amendment. See United States v. Thomas, 2 417 F.3d 1053, 1056 (9th Cir. 2005). 3 In order to show counsel’s performance fell below an objective standard of 4 reasonableness, Defendant must identify “material, specific errors and omissions that 5 fall outside the wide range of professionally competent assistance.” United States v. 6 Molina, 934 F.2d 1440, 1447 (9th Cir. 1991) (citation omitted). The inquiry is 7 “whether counsel’s advice was within the range of competence demanded of attorneys 8 in criminal cases.” Turner v. Calderon, 281 F.3d 851, 879 (9th Cir. 2002) (internal 9 quotations omitted). In making this determination, the court applies a “strong 10 presumption that counsel’s conduct falls within the wide range of reasonable 11 professional assistance...” Strickland, 466 U.S. at 689. A deficient performance 12 requires showing “counsel made errors so serious that counsel was not functioning as 13 ‘counsel’ guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment.” Id. at 687. 14 In this case, Defendant asserts defense that counsel’s performance was deficient 15 because she told him he would be denied sentencing departures based on 1) his 16 addiction problems and 2) the claim he committed the offense while under duress. To 17 the extent that the representations could impact the voluntariness of Defendant’s plea 18 of guilty, the Court finds that they do not fall outside the range of professionally 19 competent assistance. Drug addiction or abuse is not ordinarily a reason for a 20 downward departure under the guidelines. See U.S.S.G. § 5H1.4. The terms of the Plea 21 Agreement precluded Defendant from seeking any adjustments or departures other than 22 minor role and criminal history in exchange for the four-level departure for fast track. 23 However, defense counsel asked the Court to consider Defendant’s addiction as a 24 mitigating factor in both her sentencing memorandum and at the sentencing hearing. 25 The Court took the arguments of defense counsel into account as part of the history and 26 characteristics of the Defendant. (ECF No. 46 at 11-14). There are no facts alleged by 27 the Defendant that would support a claim the performance of his counsel was deficient 28 because his counsel failed to argue Defendant’s drug addiction and history warranted - 10 - 11cr2921WQH 1 a lesser sentence. 2 The guidelines allow a downward departure for imperfect duress. See U.S.S.G. 3 § 5K2.12. The record shows that the Defendant explained in the Presentence Report 4 that he committed the offense due to his lack of income and drug dependency (ECF No. 5 28) and defense counsel brought these facts to the attention of the Court at the 6 sentencing hearing. (ECF No. 46 at 3-5). There are no facts alleged by the Defendant 7 that would support a claim the performance of his counsel was deficient because his 8 counsel failed to argue he committed the offense under duress from drug traffickers. 9 Defendant has failed to identify “material, specific errors and omissions that fall outside 10 the wide range of professionally competent assistance.” Molina, 934 F.2d at 1447. 11 This Court further concludes the record in this case is adequate to conclusively 12 show the Defendant’s claim of prejudice does not meet the second prong of the 13 Strickland standard: a reasonable probability of a different outcome absent counsel’s 14 alleged errors. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 694. The record shows that counsel for the 15 Government moved for an additional one-level departure at the time of the sentencing 16 for a total downward departure of three levels for substantial assistance. (ECF No. 46 17 at 8). The record shows that the Court considered the full extent of the information 18 provided by the Defendant and that the Court granted a total of four levels downward 19 departure for substantial assistance as requested by the Defendant. The Court imposed 20 a sentence of 151 months at the low end of the sentencing guideline range as calculated 21 by the Defendant. 22 23 CONCLUSION Based on the facts in the record, the Court concludes the advice of defense 24 counsel was “within the range of competence demanded of attorneys in criminal cases.” 25 Turner, 281 F.3d at 879. There are no grounds upon which Defendant is entitled to 26 prevail. 27 IT IS HEREBY ORDERED the Motion under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 to vacate, set 28 aside or correct sentence by a person in federal custody filed by the Defendant Ruben - 11 - 11cr2921WQH 1 Nunez Moreno (ECF No. 42) is denied. 2 DATED: July 9, 2013 3 4 WILLIAM Q. HAYES United States District Judge 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 - 12 - 11cr2921WQH
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