ELLEN LIPTON HOLLANDER, District Judge.
Following a lengthy trial by jury, Steven Abiodun Sodipo and his codefendant, Callixtus Nwaehiri, were convicted on July 31, 2008, of various offenses, including conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute hydrocodone, under 21 U.S.C. § 846.
On September 30, 2013, Sodipo, who is now self-represented, filed a petition to vacate, set aside, or correct his sentence, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255 (ECF 672), along with a supporting memorandum and exhibits. See ECF 672-1 to ECF 627-9. A redacted petition (ECF 673) was also submitted, along with a supporting memorandum (ECF 673-1) and several exhibits (ECF 673-2 to ECF 673-9) (collectively, "Petition").
Under 28 U.S.C. § 2255(b), a hearing is required "[u]nless the motion and the files and the records of the case conclusively show that the prisoner is entitled to no relief. . . ." This is such a case; no hearing is necessary. For the reasons that follow, I shall deny the Petition.
Sodipo was a licensed pharmacist in Maryland and, along with Nwaehiri, he was a part owner and operator of NewCare Home Health Services, Inc., also known as NewCare Pharmacy ("NewCare"). See Joint Appendix ("JA") at 976-78;
On October 4, 2006, Sodipo and several others were indicted on one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, "outside the scope of professional practice and not for a legitimate medical purpose," i.e., "at least eight (8) million dosage units of hydrocodone. . . ." ECF 1 at 1 (Indictment); see also ECF 675 at 1. On September 19, 2007, a Superseding Indictment was filed as to multiple defendants, charging additional crimes. ECF 177 (Superseding Indictment); see also ECF 675 at 1-2.
At trial, the government produced evidence that various warning signs alerted, or should have alerted, Sodipo and his coconspirators to the fact that many of NewCare's customers were abusing hydrocodone, and that the prescriptions completed by the Florida Headquarters were not for legitimate medical needs. For example, staff members testified that they received calls from angry and agitated customers complaining about slightly incorrect pill counts and from others complaining that their relatives, who were NewCare customers, were addicted to hydrocodone. JA at 883-84; JA at 1080-81; JA at 1085. Fed-Ex called to complain about deliveries in neighborhoods with heavy drug use. JA at 889.
Notably, NewCare received "two to ten" after-hours calls a night from hysterical customers who had not received their drugs or had received incorrect pill counts. Supp. Joint App'x ("SJA") at 101-102. Sodipo was aware of these calls. JA at 884-90. In addition, staff members expressed concern to Sodipo and Nwaehiri about the validity of the prescriptions they were filling, because the majority of the prescriptions were for hydrocodone and most of the patients did not live near the Florida-based medical providers who prescribed the hydrocodone. JA at 1381-86; SJA at 83; JA at 879-890; JA at 973. Sodipo also made misrepresentations about the nature of NewCare's business to state regulators, NewCare's suppliers, and NewCare's staff. See, e.g., JA at 990-91; JA at 1385-86; SJA at 85; JA at 853-57; SJA at 164-65; SJA at 136-37; JA at 1210-11.
On July 31, 2008, after an eight-week trial before then Chief Judge Benson E. Legg, a jury convicted Sodipo of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute hydrocodone, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846; six counts of distribution of hydrocodone and aiding and abetting, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a) and 18 U.S.C. § 2; conspiracy to launder monetary instruments and two counts of money laundering, in violation, respectively, of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1956(h) and 1957(a); and filing a false tax return, in violation of 26 U.S.C. § 7206(1). See ECF 480, ECF 498; see also ECF 177.
Judge Legg held a sentencing hearing on December 2, 2008. ECF 45. It resumed on December 12, 2008. ECF 488. See also ECF 498 (Judgment). As noted, Sodipo received a sentence of five years' imprisonment. ECF 488; ECF 498.
On December 17, 2008, Sodipo appealed his conviction and sentence to the Fourth Circuit. ECF 489. Nwaehiri also appealed. Both argued that the trial court erred in denying the defendants' motion for a mistrial on grounds that a government witness testified about evidence the Court had ruled inadmissible, and that the prosecutor had made improper statements during closing arguments. United States v. Sodipo, 467 F. App'x 161, 162-63 (4th Cir. 2012) (per curiam), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 133 S.Ct. 281 (2012), and cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 133 S.Ct. 457 (2012). The defendants also argued that the District Court erred in denying their motion for new trial, "because the court failed to ensure that the jury began deliberations anew when the court replaced a juror with an alternate after deliberations were in progress." Sodipo, 467 F. App'x at 163. Sodipo's appellate counsel was also his trial counsel.
The Fourth Circuit affirmed the defendants' convictions. Id. Sodipo's petition for writ of certiorari was denied by the Supreme Court on October 1, 2012. Sodipo v. United States, ___ U.S. ___, 133 S.Ct. 281 (2012). On September 30, 2013, Sodipo timely filed his Petition. ECF 672; ECF 673. See 28 U.S.C. 2255(f) (providing a one-year limitations period for the filing of a petition, dating from the date of finality of the judgment).
As noted, this case was reassigned to me on January 28, 2016. See Docket. By that point, Sodipo's two-year period of supervised release had expired. Therefore, by Order of March 18, 2016 (ECF 691), I asked Sodipo to advise the Court whether he wished to pursue his Petition. Id. The Clerk docketed correspondence from Sodipo on April 4, 2016, advising the Court of his desire to pursue his Petition. ECF 693.
Additional facts are included in the Discussion.
Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255(a), a prisoner in federal custody may "move the court which imposed the sentence to vacate, set aside or correct the sentence," but only on certain grounds: "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. . . ." See also United States v. Newbold, 791 F.3d 455, 459 (4th Cir. 2015).
Collateral attack is not a substitute for direct appeal; failure to raise certain issues on direct appeal may render them procedurally defaulted on post-conviction review. United States v. Frady, 456 U.S. 152, 165 (1982); accord Bousely v. United States, 523 U.S. 614, 630 (1998). As a general rule, a petitioner who fails to raise a claim on direct appeal is barred from raising the claim on collateral review. Sanchez-Llamas v. Oregon, 548 U.S. 331, 350-51 (2006). However, this bar generally does not apply to claims pertaining to ineffective assistance of counsel. See, e.g. Massaro v. United States, 538 U.S. 500, 503-04 (2003).
Under 28 U.S.C. § 2255(b), the post-conviction court must hold a hearing "[u]nless the motion and the files and records conclusively show that the prisoner is entitled to no relief. . . ." See, e.g. United States v. White, 366 F.3d 291, 302 (4th Cir. 2004). Courts have determined that a hearing is not necessary where "the motion . . . fail[s] to allege sufficient facts or circumstances upon which the elements of constitutionally deficient performance might properly be found [or] where the defendant has failed to present any affidavits or other evidentiary support for the naked assertions contained in his motion." United States v. Taylor, 139 F.3d 924, 933 (D.C. Cir. 1998) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted); accord United States v. McGill, 11 F.3d 223, 225-26 (1st Cir. 1993). On the other hand, a hearing is generally "required when a movant presents a colorable Sixth Amendment claim showing disputed material facts and a credibility determination is necessary to resolve this issue." United States v. Robertson, 219 Fed. App'x 286, 286 (4th Cir. 2007); see also United States v. Ray, 547 Fed. App'x 343, 345 (4th Cir. 2013).
Of course, a self-represented litigant is generally "held to a `less stringent standard[]' than is a lawyer, and the Court must liberally construe his claims, no matter how `inartfully' pled." Morrison v. United States, RDB-12-3607, 2014 WL 979201, at *2 (D. Md. Mar. 12, 2014) (internal citations omitted); see Erickson v. Pardus, 551 U.S. 89, 94 (2007); Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519, 520 (1972) (stating that claims of self-represented litigants are held "to less stringent standards than formal pleadings drafted by lawyers"); Bala v. Commonwealth of Va. Dep't of Conservation & Recreation, 532 F. App'x 332, 334 (4th Cir. 2013) (per curiam) (same). Nevertheless, I am satisfied that no hearing is necessary to resolve Sodipo's claims.
The Petition contains three principal contentions, two of which are related. First, Sodipo contends that the District Court committed a "constitutional error" when it denied his motion for a mistrial because of an alleged grudge between the Court and defense counsel. ECF 673-1 at 4. Second, he claims ineffective assistance of counsel because his trial counsel failed to investigate and articulate a proper and adequate defense based upon provisions of Florida Board of Medicine Regulations and telemedicine practices that govern the practice of prescribing medication via the Internet. ECF 673-1 at 6. Finally, Sodipo claims his counsel failed to object to erroneous jury instructions that omitted the Florida Regulations. ECF 673-1 at 9-10.
As a preliminary matter, in his Reply, Sodipo seeks leave to adopt codefendant Nwaehiri's opening and reply briefs, in their entirety, as to Nwaehiri's § 2255 proceedings. ECF 679 at 2. Two of the three issues raised by Sodipo in this Petition were also raised by Nwaehiri in his § 2255 petition, namely the claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, albeit a different lawyer, and the claim as to the alleged erroneous jury instructions. However, Nwaehiri raised three claims that Sodipo has not asserted: 1) that his counsel did not move for administrative resolution of his case; 2) that his counsel developed a conflict of interest; and (3) that the prosecution committed a violation under Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83 (1963), by failing to inform the Court and the jury of the Florida Regulations. See Nwaehiri v. United States, WDQ-13-09903, 2014 WL 1800404, at *2 (D. Md. May 5, 2014).
Nwaehiri's claim of a conflict of interest on the part of his lawyer is not applicable to Sodipo, as Sodipo and Nwaehiri did not share the same trial counsel. And, the Fourth Circuit has stated: "It is a well settled rule that contentions not raised in the argument section of the opening brief are abandoned." United States v. Al-Hamdi, 356 F.3d 564, 571 n. 8 (4th Cir. 2004) (declining to consider argument first raised in reply brief); see also United States v. Williams, 445 F.3d 724, 736 n. 6 (4th Cir. 2006) (declining to consider an argument raised for the first time in the reply brief); Hanlin-Cooney v. Frederick Cnty., Md., 2014 WL 576373, at *11 n. 32 (D. Md. Feb. 11, 2014) (declining to consider an argument first raised in reply brief). The rationale behind this general principle is that that the opposing party would be prejudiced by a consideration of the argument absent an opportunity to respond. See Clawson v. FedEx Ground Package Sys., Inc., 451 F.Supp.2d 731, 735 (D. Md. 2006) (citing United States v. Head, 340 F.3d 628, 630 n. 4 (8th Cir. 2003)).
In its Opposition to Sodipo's Petition, the government of course did not address the three additional arguments that Nwaehiri had raised. However, the government did respond to those arguments in the context of its opposition to Nwaehiri's § 2255 petition. See ECF 666 ("Nwaehiri Opposition"). Moreover, the contentions were considered by Judge Quarles and rejected. ECF 682; 2014 WL 1800404, at *5-6. Therefore, I decline to allow Sodipo to use his Reply as a vehicle to adopt Nwaehiri's opening and reply briefs.
I next consider, sua sponte, whether Sodipo's release from incarceration and/or the expiration of his term of supervised release has rendered his Petition moot.
Sodipo was released from prison on June 21, 2013, and at that point he began a two-year term of supervised release. Thus, he was on supervised release when he filed his Petition on September 30, 2013. See, e.g., ECF 671. Sodipo's term of supervised release expired on June 20, 2015 (see, e.g., ECF 671). However, he was "in custody" for purposes of § 2255 at the time he filed his Petition.
"Whether an individual is in custody for § 2255 purposes is determined at the time the habeas action is filed. . . . The fact that custody expires after the habeas action is filed is irrelevant." United States v. Bryson, 981 F.2d 720, 726 (4th Cir. 1992); see United States v. Pregent, 190 F.3d 279, 283 (4th Cir. 1999) ("A prisoner on supervised release is considered to be "in custody" for purposes of a § 2255 motion."); see also Maleng v. Cook, 490 U.S. 488, 490-91 (1989) (per curiam) ("We have never held . . . that a habeas petitioner may be `in custody' under a conviction when the sentence imposed for that conviction has fully expired at the time his petition is filed.") (emphasis in original); Carafas v. LaVallee, 391 U.S. 234, 238 (1968) ("The federal habeas corpus statute requires that the applicant must be `in custody' when the application for habeas corpus is filed.").
Generally, "expiration of [the] sentence does not moot the action" unless "`there is no possibility that any collateral legal consequences will be imposed on the basis of the challenged conviction.'" Bryson, 981 F.2d at 726 (citation omitted). However, when a petitioner "does not challenge the validity of his underlying convictions," a § 2255 petition is "moot" when the petitioner has "completely served his sentence which his motions attack[.]" United States v. Caputo, 972 F.2d 342, 1992 WL 180147 (4th Cir. July 29, 1992) (per curiam) (unpublished table decision) (citing Lane v. Williams, 455 U.S. 624 (1982)).
In Lane, 455 U.S. at 631-32, the Supreme Court explained:
In Carafas, 391 U.S. at 238, the habeas petitioner had been unconditionally discharged from his sentence while his appeal was pending. The Supreme Court rejected the state's mootness argument on that basis, in part because the petitioner was in physical custody when the time the petition was filed. Id. In contrast, in Maleng, 490 U.S. at 492, the petitioner sought habeas corpus relief seven years after his 1958 sentence had expired. The Court rejected the claim that "a habeas petitioner remains `in custody' under a conviction after the sentence imposed for it has fully expired, merely because of the possibility that the prior conviction will be used to enhance the sentences imposed for any subsequent crimes of which he is convicted."
Sodipo attacks the validity of his underlying conviction, not his sentence. And, he did so while on supervised release. See ECF 673. "[I]t is an `obvious fact of life that most criminal convictions do in fact entail adverse collateral legal consequences.'" Spencer v. Kemna, 523 U.S. 1, 12 (1998) (quoting Sibron v. N.Y., 392 U.S. 40, 55 (1968)). In fact, "[t]he mere `possibility' [of adverse collateral legal consequences] is enough to preserve a criminal case from ending `ignominiously in the limbo of mootness.'" Sibron, 392 U.S. at 55 (quoting Parker v. Ellis, 362 U.S. 574, 577 (1960) (dissenting opinion)).
Under Maryland law, Sodipo, a Maryland resident (see ECF 689) with felony convictions, may neither serve on a jury nor carry a regulated firearm. See Md. Code (2013 Repl. Vol., 2016 Supp.), § 8-103 of the Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article; Md. Code (2011 Repl. Vol., 2016 Vol.), § 5-133 of the Public Safety Article. Similarly, under federal law, Sodipo may not own, use, or possess a firearm. See 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1).
The delay in resolving this case is not attributable to Sodipo. In my view, under all the facts and circumstances of this case, the Petition was timely filed while Sodipo was still in custody for § 2255 purposes. And, it is not moot.
As noted, Sodipo has alleged that the trial judge committed a "constitutional error" by denying his motion for mistrial, because the ruling was predicated on personal animosity towards defense counsel. ECF 673-1 at 4-5. According to Sodipo, the trial court should have granted a mistrial because a government witness, "in direct contravention of the district court's order, relayed to the jury that an alleged customer of Newcare had died as result of receiving prescription drugs from Newcare." Id. at 5. Sodipo explains: "The genie was out of the box, then the judge want us to find a curative instruction to cure the problem. But the Judge had personal grudges toward [Sodipo's] lawyer and once again came to the rescue, had to reversed [sic] his own ruling." Id. In particular, Sodipo maintains that the "tension between the judge and [his] lawyer" was "so obvious" and led to "verbal confrontation." Id. at 4. He adds that at one time his lawyer "had to tell the judge to stop helping the government prosecuting the case." Id. at 5.
The government counters that there is "no evidence" of a personal grudge between the trial judge and defense counsel. ECF 675 at 27. The government adds: "As this Court can imagine, there are moments in any trial where discourse may be heated or even unpleasant. This trial was no different. But contrary to the defendant's view of the conduct of the parties and what transpired during trial, there was no animus, no grudge, and no unjustified rulings by the district court." Id. In addition, the government argues: "More importantly, the validity of the denial of the mistrial motion was already addressed on appeal. A grudge or ill-will nothwithstanding [sic], this issue cannot be raised again." Id. at 27-28.
Sodipo responds that there is evidence to support his claim of "animosity which existed between defense counsel and the trial judge." ECF 679 at 3. He alleges, without citing to the trial transcript, that "during the criminal process, the trial judge referred to defense counsel as a `boy' while pointing his finger at counsel in an angry manner." Id. at 13, ¶ 4; see also id. at 3.
The motion for mistrial arose from the testimony of a government witness regarding evidence that the Court had previously ruled inadmissible. Teresa Ryan, a NewCare employee, was to testify that she received a phone call from "an hysterical mother who accused NewCare of distributing hydrocodone to her son who overdosed. In fact, the mother had advised that her son had died." ECF 675 at 21.
Judge Legg recounted that he had "ruled that the mention of the death was relevant under Fed. R. Evid. 401. The Court nevertheless decided to preclude any mention of the death using a Rule 403 analysis. The Court found that the prejudicial effect of the mention of the death outweighed the probative value of the testimony." ECF 325 (written ruling of Judge Legg, dated June 27, 2008), at 2.
Defendants promptly moved for a mistrial. ECF 568, Trial Trans. at 186:6-186:23; 188:4-188:10; see also JA at 1087; JA at 1089. The motion was denied. ECF 568, Trial Trans. at 188:12-188:15; see also JA at 1089. The trial court explained that it had made its ruling "to be fair to the defendants at this point" and to allow testimony about overdoses but not about death, based on his analysis under Fed. R. Evid. 403. ECF 568, Trial Trans. at 189:7-189:15; see also JA at 1090. The court added: "The point with respect to the testimony about death, is that it is . . . highly relevant testimony because what is at issue are the representations and statements made to Mr. Sodipo and Mr. Nwaehiri about the customer base." ECF 568, Trial Trans. at 188:25-189:5; JA at 1089-90. The court asked defense counsel if they wanted a curative instruction. ECF 568, Trial Trans. at 189:16-189:17; see also JA at 1089. But, they did not. ECF 568, Trial Trans. at 202:21-204:4; see also JA at 1103-1105.
At the end of that day, defendants renewed their motion for mistrial. ECF 568, Trial Trans. at 202:23-204:9; id. at 228:10-240:25; see also JA at 1103-05; JA at 1129-41. They argued, inter alia, that, as the court had previously ruled, Ryan's testimony was "so highly prejudicial and outweighed any probative value that a curative instruction would not suffice." ECF 568, Trial Trans. at 235:15-235:16; JA at 1136.
Again, Judge Legg orally denied the motion. And, he issued a written opinion on June 27, 2008, to explain his ruling. See ECF 325. The court cited United States v. Wallace, 515 F.3d 327 (4th Cir. 2008), in which a witness inadvertently, but in violation of a court directive, made an improper statement. ECF 325 at 2-3. The court ruled that, "given the standard and the case law, it is clear to the Court that a mistrial is not warranted. The evidence is not so prejudicial as to affect the fundamental fairness of the trial." Id. at 3. Judge Legg believed that the evidence, although improper, was "inadvertently admitted. . . ." Id. at 2. He also indicated that "a curative instruction would draw the sting of the mention of the death," id. at 3, but noted that he did not issue a curative instruction because "Defendants . . . have requested that the Court not give a curative instruction to the jury because it would draw attention to the testimony." Id.
On July 7, 2008, Sodipo and Nwaehiri submitted a Motion for Reconsideration of Court's Denial of Defendants' Motion for Mistrial. ECF 333; see also JA at 1654-67. The court denied this Motion. ECF 363; see also JA at 2083.
As discussed, defendants subsequently argued on appeal, inter alia, that "the district court erred in denying their motion for a mistrial based on a Government witness' testimony regarding evidence that the district court had ruled inadmissible under Fed. R. Evid. 403." Sodipo, 467 F. App'x at 162. The Fourth Circuit stated, id.:
The Fourth Circuit considered and rejected Sodipo's argument that the trial court erred in denying the motion for a mistrial based on Ryan's testimony. Id. Sodipo cannot "circumvent a proper ruling on . . . direct appeal by re-raising the same challenge in a § 2255 motion.[]" United States v. Linder, 552 F.3d 391, 396 (4th Cir. 2009). Issues fully considered on appeal are not subject to collateral attack, absent an intervening change in the law. See United States v. Walker, 299 F. App'x 273, 276 (4th Cir. 2008) (per curiam) ("Absent a change in the law, a prisoner cannot relitigate in collateral proceedings an issue rejected on direct appeal."); United States v. Roane, 378 F.3d 382, 396 n. 7 (4th Cir. 2004) (same); Boeckenhaupt v. United States, 537 F.2d 1182, 1183 (4th Cir. 1976) (per curiam) (stating that claims fully considered on direct appeal cannot be reconsidered on collateral attack).
Sodipo has merely reframed his challenge to the trial court's failure to grant the motion for mistrial. He now claims that the trial court did not grant the mistrial because of a personal grudge against Sodipo's counsel. However, Sodipo may not "recast, under the guise of collateral attack, questions fully considered" earlier by the appellate court. Boeckenhaupt, 537 F.2d at 1183 (citing Herman, 227 F.2d 332). Sodipo's argument as to the mistrial was previously rejected by the Fourth Circuit.
Even if Sodipo's claim regarding a grudge between the trial judge and counsel were not precluded, the record does not reflect that the decisions of the trial judge regarding Ryan's testimony and the motion for mistrial were animated by bias or a grudge. As discussed, the trial judge instructed the government that no mention of death was to be made in front of the jury. This is not consistent with a grudge against defense counsel. Nor did the court provoke Ryan's testimony. And, after the government witness nevertheless mentioned the reported death, the court asked both defense attorneys if they wanted a curative instruction, which they declined. ECF 325 at 3. The evidence simply does not support Sodipo's view that the decisions of the trial judge were motivated by animosity towards his lawyer.
Sodipo raises the related argument in his Reply that there was a structural error in his trial due to judicial bias. See ECF 679 at 2-4. "Structural error occurs when a judge with actual bias against a defendant presides at his trial." Norris v. United States, 820 F.3d 1261, 1266 (11th Cir. 2016) (citing Arizona v. Fulminante, 499 U.S. 279, 309-10 (1991)); see also Tumey v. Ohio, 273 U.S. 510, 535 (1927) ("No matter what the evidence was against [the defendant], he had the right to have an impartial judge.")). A structural error is considered per se prejudicial. Wilder v. United States, 806 F.3d 653, 658 (1st Cir. 2015) (citing Owens v. United States, 483 F.3d 48, 64 (1st Cir. 2007)), cert. denied, ___U.S. ___, 136 S.Ct. 2031 (2016).
Before reaching the merits of this argument, I first address whether I may consider it, given that Sodipo has raised the issue for the first time in his Reply, and the issue was not raised on direct appeal. "It is a well settled rule that contentions not raised in the argument section of the opening brief are abandoned." Al-Hamdi, 356 F.3d at 571 n. 8; see also Williams, 445 F.3d at 736 n. 6 (declining to consider an argument raised for the first time in the reply brief). The rationale for this general principle is that the opposing party would be prejudiced by consideration of the argument, absent an opportunity to respond. See Clawson, 451 F. Supp. 2d at 735 (citing Head, 340 F.3d at 630 n. 4). Here, in its Opposition, the government addressed Sodipo's contention that a grudge animated the trial judge's decision not to grant a mistrial. But, the government had no opportunity to address the new argument asserted in the Reply, i.e., that the entire trial was infected by judicial bias, rising to the level of a structural error.
Collateral attack is not a substitute for direct appeal. As a general rule, a petitioner who fails to raise a claim on direct appeal is barred from raising the claim on collateral review. Sanchez-Llamas, 548 U.S. at 350-51. However, constitutional claims that could have been raised on direct appeal, but were not, may be raised in a § 2255 motion if "cause" and "actual prejudice" are shown, Frady, 456 U.S. at 167-68, or "actual innocence" is shown. Bousely, 523 U.S. at 621; see United States v. Pettiford, 612 F.3d 270, 280 (4th Cir. 2010). Cause for a procedural default must turn on something external to the defense, such as the "novelty of the claim" (i.e., a subsequent change in the law), or a denial of effective assistance of counsel. Murray v. Carrier, 477 U.S. 478, 488 (1986); accord United States v. Mikalajunas, 186 F.3d 490, 493 (4th Cir. 1999).
Prejudice requires the error to have caused "actual and substantial disadvantage." Satcher v. Pruett, 126 F.3d 561, 572 (4th Cir. 1997). This type of error "`affect[s] the framework within which the trial proceeds, rather than simply an error in the trial process itself.'" Neder v. United States, 527 U.S. 1, 8 (1999) (quoting Arizona v. Fulminante, 499 U.S. 279, 310 (1991)). Sodipo's claim that judicial bias caused structural error thus satisfies the prejudice requirement for procedural default. However, Sodipo cannot satisfy the cause requirement. The charge of judicial bias does not turn on a subsequent change of law or, as discussed, infra, ineffective assistance of counsel. Sodipo does not allege any connection between his charge of judicial bias and his ineffective assistance of counsel claims. Sodipo does not claim, for example, that his counsel failed to object to judicial bias during the trial or failed to raise the argument at his appeal. Therefore, Sodipo is precluded from raising this argument in his § 2255 petition.
Even if Sodipo were not precluded from raising the argument that judicial bias infected his trial, the record reveals no bias, let alone bias rising to the level of "structural error." Norris, 820 F.3d at 1266. A review of the record reveals that on the eleventh day of trial, Sodipo's counsel and the trial judge disagreed whether a particular witness would be referred to as a friend or an associate of another witness. ECF 568, Trial Trans, at 225:16-226:23; see also JA at 1126-27. During the course of disagreement and after the jury had been dismissed, the trial judge advised Sodipo's lawyer to refrain from "mock[ing] one of [his] rulings again[.]" ECF 568, Trial Trans, at 227:5-227:6; JA at 1128. In turn, defense counsel asked the trial judge "not to yell at [him] or point at [him]." ECF 568, Trial Trans, at 226:12; JA at 1128. A moment of heated discourse between a judge and a lawyer during a lengthy trial, out of earshot of the jury, does not indicate bias that rises to the level of structural error. At most, Sodipo has demonstrated heated discourse, not judicial bias.
The Sixth Amendment guarantees a criminal defendant the effective assistance of counsel. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 686 (1984); Evitts v. Lucey, 469 U.S. 387, 397 (1985). Ineffective assistance of counsel is a well recognized basis for relief under § 2255. See generally Missouri v. Frye, ___ U.S. ___, 132 S.Ct. 1399 (2012); Lafler v. Cooper, ___ U.S. ___, 132 S.Ct. 1376 (2012); Padilla v. Kentucky, 559 U.S. 356 (2010).
To challenge successfully a sentence of imprisonment under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 based on a Sixth Amendment claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, a petitioner must satisfy the two-prong test set forth in Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687-88. See Chaidez v. United States, ___ U.S. ___, 133 S.Ct. 1103, 1107-8 (2013); Roe v. Flores-Ortega, 528 U.S. 470, 477 (2000); Lafler, 132 S. Ct. at 1384; Hill v. Lockhart, 474 U.S. 52 (1985); United States v. Rangel, 781 F.3d 736, 742 (4th Cir. 2015); Richardson v. Branker, 668 F.3d 128, 139 (4th Cir. 2012); United States v. Higgs, 663 F.3d 726, 735 (4th Cir. 2011); see, e.g., United States v. Baker, 719 F.3d 313, 318 (4th Cir. 2013).
First, the petitioner must show that his attorney's performance fell "below an objective standard of reasonableness," measured by "prevailing professional norms." Strickland, 466 U.S. at 688. This is known as the "performance prong," which relates to professional competence. The burden is on the petitioner to establish "`that counsel made errors so serious that "counsel" was not functioning as the "counsel" guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment.'" Harrington v. Richter, 562 U.S. 86, 88 (2011) (quoting Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687).
The performance prong is "`difficult'" to establish. Lawrence v. Branker, 517 F.3d 700, 709 (4th Cir. 2008) (quoting James v. Harrison, 389 F.3d 450, 457 (4th Cir. 2004)). "Keenly aware of the difficulties inherent in evaluating counsel's performance, the Supreme Court has admonished that courts `must indulge a strong presumption that counsel's conduct falls within the wide range of reasonable professional assistance.'" Lawrence, 517 F.3d at 708 (quoting Strickland, 446 U.S. at 689); see Harrington, 562 U.S. at 104; Lee v. Clarke, 781 F.3d 114, 122 (4th Cir. 2015). Indeed, "the Strickland standard must be applied with scrupulous care," Harrington, 562 U.S. at 105, and "the standard of judging counsel's representation is a most deferential one." Id. The central question is whether "an attorney's representation amounted to incompetence under `prevailing professional norms,' not whether it deviated from best practices or most common custom." Harrington, 562 U.S. at 88 (quoting Strickland, 466 U.S. at 690).
Second, the petitioner must show that his attorney's deficient performance "prejudiced [his] defense." Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687. To satisfy the "prejudice prong," a petitioner must show that "there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel's unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been different." Id. at 694. "A reasonable probability is a probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome" of the proceedings. Id.
The Padilla Court said, 559 U.S. at 371: "Surmounting Strickland's high bar is never an easy task." Accordingly, a petitioner is not entitled to post-conviction relief based on prejudice where the record establishes that it is "not reasonably likely that [the alleged error] would have made any difference in light of all the other evidence of guilt." Berghuis v. Thompkins, 560 U.S. 370, 390 (2010).
A court "need not determine whether counsel's performance was deficient before examining the prejudice suffered by the defendant as a result of the alleged deficiencies." Id. at 697. Nor must a court address both components if one is dispositive. Jones v. Clarke, 783 F.3d 987, 991 (4th Cir. 2015). Failure to satisfy either prong is fatal to a petitioner's claim. As a result, "there is no reason for a court . . . to address both components of the inquiry if the defendant makes an insufficient showing on one." Strickland, 466 U.S. at 697.
Sodipo contends that he could not be guilty under the CSA because the Florida Headquarters, with which he allegedly conspired, complied with Florida Board of Medicine Regulations ("Florida Regulations") governing the dispensing of prescriptions over the Internet. See ECF 673-1 at 6-9.
At the relevant time, Florida Regulations Section 64B8-9.014 (repealed as of October 26, 2014, revised and reenacted as 64B8-9.0141), stated:
Sodipo argues that under Gonzales v. Oregon, 546 U.S. 243 (2006), the Court must defer to the Florida Regulations for prescribing medicine online. See id. at 6-7.
The government counters that Florida law was not applicable to Sodipo's case, and that even if it was, Sodipo was in violation of the Florida Regulations. See ECF 675 at 31; see also Nwaehiri Opposition, ECF 666 at 26. The government argues, ECF 675 at 31:
Further, the government contends that "drug abuse will never be considered a legitimate medical purpose" under the CSA and thus the Florida Regulations are irrelevant to Sodipo's case. Accordingly, it maintains that there was no error. Nwaehiri Opposition, ECF 666 at 26; see also ECF 675 at 30.
Sodipo's second allegation of ineffective assistance is that his trial counsel did not object to jury instructions that failed to include the "very [Florida] regulations that guided and permitted telemedicine-online prescription practices." ECF 673-1 at 10. The government responds: "Any such objection would have been denied. Legally the Florida guidelines were not relevant, and factually, the doctors and the defendants were in violation of those guidelines as well." ECF 675 at 31.
Judge Quarles analyzed the identical legal issue in Nwaehiri v. United States, ECF 682, 2014 WL 1800404 (D. Md. May 5, 2014), addressing the applicability of the Florida Regulations to this case. His analysis is equally apt as to Sodipo. Judge Quarles wrote, ECF 682 at 8-12; see also 2014 WL 1800404, at *3-4:
Similarly, evidence at trial established that Sodipo, like his codefendant, knew or was willfully blind to the fact that many NewCare customers were purchasing hydrocodone for reasons of addiction or abuse, rather than legitimate medical need. See, e.g., JA at 883-84; JA at 1080-81; JA at 1085; JA at 889; SJA at 101-102; JA at 884-90; JA at 1381-86; SJA at 83; JA at 879-890; JA at 973; JA at 990-91; JA at 1385-86; SJA at 85; JA at 853-57; SJA at 164-65; SJA at 136-37; JA at 1210-11. And, regardless of the applicability of the Florida Regulations, Sodipo, like Nwaehiri, was subject to the CSA's requirement to dispense prescriptions only "for a legitimate medical purpose . . . in the usual course of [their] professional practice." See 21 C.F.R. § 1306.04(a).
Accordingly, I am persuaded by Judge Quarles's reasoning that "because the Florida Regulations are not relevant to the question of whether [Sodipo] or his co-conspirators filled prescriptions for a `legitimate medical purpose' under the CSA,[]" Sodipo's "trial counsel did not err by failing to investigate the regulations, introduce them as evidence at trial, or object to their absence from the jury instructions." Nwaehiri, WDQ-13-09903, 2014 WL 1800404, at *4.
Similarly, Sodipo's appellate counsel did not err in failing to argue on appeal or in a Rule 33 Motion that the Florida Regulations were a defense to his liability. Although Sodipo requested that his counsel make this argument, see ECF 673-1 at 10-11, appellate counsel has no constitutional duty to raise every non-frivolous issue on appeal. See Jones v. Barnes, 463 U.S. 745 (1983). In Nwaehiri, WDQ-13-09903, 2014 WL 1800404, at *5, Judge Quarles elaborated:
Furthermore, as Judge Quarles observed, the claim regarding the applicability of the Florida Regulations "was not even colorable.[]" Id. (citing Sodipo, 467 F. App'x at 163 n. 2). It follows that neither trial counsel nor appellate counsel was ineffective in failing to make such an argument on behalf of Sodipo.
Accordingly, Sodipo has failed to establish ineffective assistance of counsel on the grounds that his counsel failed to use the Florida Regulations in his defense or on appeal.
For the foregoing reasons, I shall deny the Petition (ECF 672).
Under Rule 11(a) of the Rules Governing Proceedings under 28 U.S.C. § 2255, no Certificate of Appealability ("COA") shall be issued, because Sodipo has not made a substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right. See Tennard v. Pretke, 542 U.S. 274, 282 (2004). However, denial of a COA does not bar the petitioner from seeking a COA from the appellate court.
A separate Order follows, consistent with this Memorandum Opinion.
Two of the three issues raised by Sodipo in this Petition were also raised by Nwaehiri in his petition. Accordingly, where applicable, I incorporate the factual and procedural history in the Quarles Opinion.
The government cited to the JA and SJA in its Opposition and subsequently furnished the Court with a copy of the appendices. Transcripts of trial court proceedings are docketed at ECF 541; ECF 542; ECF 556; ECF 560 to ECF 585; ECF 591; ECF 592; and ECF 625 to ECF 642.
