Opinion
CASE NO. 07CV1271, CASE NO. 04CR2557.
November 14, 2007
ORDER
This matter comes before the Court on Petitioner/Defendant's Motion under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 to vacate, set aside, or correct sentence by a person in federal custody (Doc. # 79).
BACKGROUND
On September 29, 2004, Petitioner/Defendant Alma Adriana Busane was charged in a four count indictment with importation of approximately 21.29 kilograms of cocaine and 2.89 kilograms of methamphetamine in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 952 and 960 and possession with intent to distribute approximately 21.29 kilograms of cocaine and 2.89 kilograms of methamphetamine in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1).
On August 24, 2005, a jury returned a verdict finding Petitioner guilty of all counts in the Indictment.
On December 19, 2005, the Court held a sentencing hearing. The Court found that the base offense level was 38 under U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1(c)(1), denied an adjustment for minor role under U.S.S.G. § 3B1.2, and imposed a two level increase under U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1(b)(4) for importation of methamphetamine without a mitigating role adjustment. The Court found that safety valve did not apply because Petitioner did not provide authorities with a full and truthful account of the offense. The Court found the total offense level was 40, the Criminal History Category was I, and the guideline range was 292-365 months. The Court concluded that the minimum mandatory sentence of 120 months applied and sentenced the Petitioner to serve a period of 138 months imprisonment on each count to run concurrently. After full consideration of all factors set forth in 18 U.S.C. § 3553, the Court found that 138 months was a reasonable sentence.
Petitioner filed an appeal in the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit asserting that 1) the trial court failed to properly instruct the jury on her theory of the defense of third party culpability, 2) the district court erred in refusing to grant a safety valve reduction, and 3) the prosecutor's closing argument constituted misconduct.
On January 17, 2007, The Court of Appeals affirmed Petitioner's conviction and sentence. U.S. v. Busane, 218 Fed. Appx. 633 (9th Cir. 2007). The Court of Appeals concluded that the district court properly instructed the jury on all elements of the defense that she lacked the requisite knowledge; and that the district court did not err in refusing to grant a safety valve reduction. The Court of Appeals concluded "even if the prosecutor's closing argument constituted misconduct, which is doubtful, such misconduct didn't deprive Busane of a fair trial and any error was harmless." Id. Petitioner timely filed a petition for a writ of certiorari to the United States Supreme Court.
On May 29, 2007, the United States Supreme Court denied the petition for writ of certiorari.
On July 13, 2007, Petitioner file a timely motion to vacate, set aside or correct under 28 U.S.C. § 2255.
APPLICABLE LAW
28 U.S.C. § 2255 provides:
A prisoner 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 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.
ANALYSIS
Petitioner moves the Court to vacate, set aside or correct his sentence on the grounds that she was denied effective assistance of counsel. Petitioner contend that her trial counsel 1) failed to adequately investigate and present a third party culpability defense on her behalf; and 2) failed to adequately explain the advantages and disadvantages of going to trial. Petitioner asserts that her sentence violated the holding of the United States Supreme Court in Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466, 120 S.Ct. 2348 (2000) and was not reasonable under United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220, 125 S.Ct. 738 (2005).Respondent contends that the record in the case conclusively establishes that counsel for Petitioner effectively investigated and rigorously presented her third party culpability defense. Respondent asserts that Petition has no cognizable claim under Apprendi or reasonableness challenge under Booker.
Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
In order to prevail on a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, Petitioner must show that defense counsel's representation fell below an objective standard of reasonableness, and that any deficiencies in counsel's performance were prejudicial. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 688, 690, 104 S.Ct. 2039, 2052 (1984). Both deficient performance and prejudice are required before it can be said that a conviction or sentence resulted from a breakdown in the adversary process that rendered the result of the proceeding unreliable and thus in violation of the Sixth Amendment. United States v. Thomas, 417 F.3d 1053, 1056 (9th Cir. 2005). In order to show that counsel's representations fell below an objective standard of reasonableness, Petitioner must identify "material, specific errors and omissions that fall outside the wide range of professionally competent assistance." United States v. Molina, 934 F.2d 1440, 1447 (9th Cir. 1991) (citation omitted). To prevail on the prejudice prong, there must be "a reasonable probability that, but for counsel's unprofessional errors, the results of the proceedings would have been different. A reasonable probability is a probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome." Strickland, 466 U.S. at 694, 104 S.Ct. 2052.
Petitioner's claim that her trial counsel failed to investigate and present the third-party culpability defense is not supported by the record in this case. In opening statement, counsel for Petitioner told the jury that "[s]he is not guilty and she did not know that there were drugs in her car. There is someone who did know and this person's name is Jesus Valtierra, a person the Government neglected to mention in their opening statement. Mr. Valtierra is Miss Busane's ex-boyfriend. He's a man that she trusted. He's a man that she loved and he's a man who ultimately used Miss Busane for his personal gain." (Exhibit 7 at page 112.) Counsel for Petitioner presented testimony from Petitioner's daughter that Petitioner and Valtierra had a romantic relationship; that Valtierra visited Petitioner's residence daily and had a key to Petitioner's residence; that Valtierra knew that Petitioner intended to go to Mexico on the day of her arrest; and that Valtierra had access to the car keys and usually drove Petitioner's car. Counsel for the Defendant presented the testimony of Valtierra in an attempt to bolster the third party culpability defense and argued forcefully in closing argument that Valtierra was "the real culprit." (Exhibit 8 at page 565.) Counsel for Defendant submitted a theory of the defense instruction to the Court specifically blaming Valtierra and the Court instructed the jury that Petitioner maintained that she did not know the car contained drugs and that Jesus Valtierra placed the drugs in the car without her knowledge. The Court of Appeals concluded that the jury instructions properly instructed the jury on all elements of the defense that she lacked the requisite knowledge. The record in this case conclusively established that defense counsel thoroughly investigated and rigorously presented at trial Petitioner's third party culpability defense.
The Court concludes that there are no facts to support any claim that defense counsel's representation was outside the range of professional competent assistance and that Petitioner suffered prejudice from the defense counsel's representation in this case. Petitioner does not identify any aspect of the proceedings that defense counsel failed to explain or identify any prejudice from her conclusory allegation that counsel failed to inform her of the consequences of going to trial. Petitioner's continued claim that she is innocent and that Valtierra committed the offense is contrary to any claim that the result in this case would have been different but for some unidentified failure of her counsel to inform her of the consequences of going to trial. See Young v. Runnels, 435 F.3d 1038, 1043 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 127 S.Ct. 579 (2006) (to prove prejudice, defendant "must demonstrate a reasonable probability that, but for counsel's alleged errors, the result would have been different").
Apprendi
Booker
Apprendi v. New Jersey530 U.S. 466120 S.Ct. 2348Id. Apprendi. United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220 125 S.Ct. 738 Booker Id. Booker U.S. v. Mohamed459 F3d 979985Booker
CONCLUSION
The Court has examined Petitioner's legal arguments in support of the motion to vacate or modify the sentence imposed under 28 U.S.C. § 2255. No factual record needs to be developed.IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT the motion to vacate and correct sentence pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255 filed by Petitioner/Defendant (#79) is denied. The Clerk of the Court is directed to enter Judgment in favor of Respondent.