BARBARA M.G. LYNN, Chief District Judge.
Based on the relevant findings and applicable law, the Motion Under 28 U.S.C. § 2255, to Vacate, Set Aside, or Correct Sentence by a Person in Federal Custody, received on June 23, 2016 (doc. 2), as amended (doc. 8), is
Jorge Calderon-Canas (Movant) challenges his federal conviction and sentence in Cause No. 3:13-CR-466-M. The respondent is the United States of America (Government).
On March 26, 2014, Movant was charged by superseding indictment with conspiracy to distribute a schedule II controlled substance in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846 (count one), and illegal reentry after removal in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326(a), (b)(2) (count two). (See doc. 105.)
Movant contends that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to object to the career offender enhancement under the sentencing guidelines. (See No. 3:16-CV-1764-M, doc. 8 at 5.)
"Relief under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 is reserved for transgressions of constitutional rights and for a narrow range of injuries that could not have been raised on direct appeal and would, if condoned, result in a complete miscarriage of justice." United States v. Gaudet, 81 F.3d 585, 589 (5th Cir. 1996) (citations and internal quotation marks omitted). It is well-established that "a collateral challenge may not do service for an appeal." United States v. Shaid, 937 F.2d 228, 231 (5th Cir. 1991) (en banc) (quoting United States v. Frady, 456 U.S. 152, 165 (1982)).
A failure to raise a claim on direct appeal may procedurally bar an individual from raising the claim on collateral review. United States v. Willis, 273 F.3d 592, 595 (5th Cir. 2001). Defendants may only collaterally attack their convictions on grounds of error omitted from their direct appeals upon showing "cause" for the omission and "actual prejudice" resulting from the error. Shaid, 937 F.2d at 232. However, "there is no procedural default for failure to raise an ineffectiveassistance claim on direct appeal" because "requiring a criminal defendant to bring [such] claims on direct appeal does not promote the[] objectives" of the procedural default doctrine, "to conserve judicial resources and to respect the law's important interest in the finality of judgments." Massaro v. United States, 538 U.S. 500, 503-04 (2003). The Government may also waive the procedural bar defense. Willis, 273 F.3d at 597.
The Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution provides in relevant part that "[i]n all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right . . . to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defense." U.S. Const. art. VI. It guarantees a criminal defendant the effective assistance of counsel, at trial and on appeal. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668 (1984); Evitts v. Lucey, 469 U.S. 387, 396 (1985). To successfully state a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, the prisoner must demonstrate that counsel's performance was deficient and that the deficient performance prejudiced his or her defense. Id. at 687. A failure to establish either prong of the Strickland test requires a finding that counsel's performance was constitutionally effective. Id. at 696. The Court may address the prongs in any order. Smith v. Robbins, 528 U.S. 259, 286 n.14 (2000).
In determining whether counsel's performance is deficient, courts "indulge a strong presumption that counsel's conduct falls within the wide range of reasonable assistance." Strickland, 466 U.S. at 689. "The reasonableness of counsel's actions may be determined or substantially influenced by the defendant's own statements or actions." Id. at 691. To establish prejudice, 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. A reasonable probability is a probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome." Id. at 694; Williams v. Taylor, 529 U.S. 362, 393 n.17 (2000) (inquiry focuses on whether counsel's deficient performance rendered the result of the trial unreliable or the proceeding fundamentally unfair). Reviewing courts must consider the totality of the evidence before the finder of fact in assessing whether the result would likely have been different absent counsel's alleged errors. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 695-96.
To show prejudice in the sentencing context, a petitioner must demonstrate that the alleged deficiency of counsel created a reasonable probability that his or her sentence would have been less harsh. See Glover v. United States, 531 U.S. 198, 200 (2001) (holding "that if an increased prison term did flow from an error [of counsel] the petitioner has established Strickland prejudice"). One cannot satisfy the second prong of Strickland with mere speculation and conjecture. Bradford v. Whitley, 953 F.2d 1008, 1012 (5th Cir. 1992). Conclusory allegations are insufficient to obtain relief under § 2255. United States v. Woods, 870 F.2d 285, 288 n.3 (5th Cir. 1989); see also Miller v. Johnson, 200 F.3d 274, 282 (5th Cir. 2000) (holding that "conclusory allegations of ineffective assistance of counsel do not raise a constitutional issue in a federal habeas proceeding").
Movant contends that counsel failed to argue that the career offender enhancement could not apply to him because the two Texas offenses of which he was convicted fall outside the definition of "controlled substance offense." (3:16-CV-1764-M, doc. 8. at 6.)
The appropriate approach to be used by courts in determining whether a prior conviction qualifies as one for a controlled substance offense as defined in the career offender sentencing guideline, § 4B1.1(b),
Id. at 498 (quoting Hinkle, 832 F.3d at 574-75).
If a statute is indivisible because it sets out a single set of elements, the sentencing court must apply the "categorical approach." Mathis v. United States, 136 S.Ct. 2243, 2248 (2016). This approach requires the court to compare the elements of the statutory offense of which the defendant was convicted to the elements of the guideline offense. Howell, 838 F.3d at 494. The court "do[es] not consider the actual conduct of the defendant in committing the offense." Id.; see also Lerma, 877 F.3d at 631 ("The sentencing court is not permitted to review the particular facts of the case."). If the statute "criminalizes a greater swath of conduct than the elements of the relevant [Guidelines] offense," then a conviction under that statute cannot be used as a basis for enhancement under § 4B1.1(b). See United States v. Tanksley, 848 F.3d 347, 352 (5th Cir. 2017), supplemented by 854 F.3d 284 (5th Cir. 2017).
If a statute is divisible because it lists alternative elements, the sentencing court must use the "modified categorical approach" to determine the elements under which the defendant was convicted. Mathis, 136 S.Ct. at 2253. Under this approach, the court looks "to a limited class of documents (for example, the indictment, jury instructions, or plea agreement and colloquy) to determine what crime, with what elements, a defendant was convicted of [committing]." Id. at 2249 (citations omitted). If the elements of the prior offense include conduct that is not included in the guideline offense, the prior offense is broader than the guideline offense, and the prior conviction cannot be used for enhancement under the guideline. Tanksley, 848 F.3d at 352.
In United States v. Ford, 509 F.3d 714 (5th Cir. 2007), the Fifth Circuit determined that the Texas statute setting out the offense of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance
Movant contends that counsel was ineffective for failing to argue that Ford had been overruled by the Supreme Court's decision in Descamps, which was issued in 2013, before he was sentenced. He argues Descamps made clear that when analyzing a state statute, the focus should be on the elements, and not the means by which a person can commit the elements of the statute.
In Descamps, the petitioner was convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g). See id. at 258. The Government sought to enhance his sentence under the Armed Career Criminal Act (ACCA)
The issue before the Supreme Court was whether the modified categorical approach applies to statutes that contain a single, "indivisible" set of elements that sweep more broadly than the relevant generic offense. Id. at 260. The Court began by noting that its case law on the categorical approach and the "modified" categorical approach almost resolved the case. Id. It also explained the difference between a divisible statute and an indivisible statute: a divisible statute includes statutory alternatives that are separate and distinct elements, and an indivisible statute involves alternative means of committing a single set of elements. See id. at 257-58.
Approximately three years after Descamps, the Supreme Court issued its decision in Mathis. 136 S.Ct. 2243. In Mathis, the petitioner pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. See id. at 2250. At his sentencing, the Government moved to enhance his sentence under ACCA, based upon his five prior state convictions for burglary in Iowa. See id. Iowa's burglary statute covers more conduct than generic burglary. See id.
The issue before the Supreme Court was whether ACCA makes an exception to the rule that when a defendant is convicted under a statute that includes multiple, alternative means of satisfying an element. See id. at 2247-48. It noted that for at least 25 years, its decisions had held that a prior crime qualifies as an ACCA predicate only if the elements are the same or more narrow than those of the generic offense. See id. at 2247. It discussed how to determine whether statutory alternatives are actual elements (and must be charged) or are merely means of committing a single element (and need not be charged). See id. at 2256. A sentencing court may determine whether statutory alternatives are elements or means by looking to state law. See id. For example, the sentencing court can examine state court decisions on whether a jury must be unanimous about such alternatives. See id. If jury unanimity is required, a statute is divisible. See id. at 2248. If jury unanimity is not required, a statute is indivisible. See id.
After Descamps and Mathis, the Fifth Circuit addressed whether a Texas delivery of a controlled substance offense was a controlled substance offense under the guidelines in Hinkle. 832 F.3d at 571-74. The defendant argued that under Descamps, the statutory alternatives of delivery were means and not elements, so the sentencing court should not have reviewed the underlying documents in the state criminal case to determine whether his offense was a delivery by an offer to sell that was not a controlled substance offense under the guideline, or a form of delivery that was a controlled substance offense under the guideline. See id. In accordance with Mathis, which had been decided while Hinkle was pending, the Fifth Circuit examined state court decisions on jury unanimity regarding the Texas statute and determined that the statute set out alternative means within a single element, so it was indivisible. See id. at 575-76. Because one of the statutory means of accomplishing a delivery of a controlled substance was by an offer to sell, the Texas offense did not match the guideline's definition of a controlled substance offense, and the prior offense of delivery of a controlled substance did not subject the defendant to the guideline enhancement. See id.; United States v. Lee, 419 F. App'x 480, 481 (5th Cir. 2011) (offer to sell drugs under Texas statute is not a controlled substance offense under the career offender guideline). Hinkle did not mention Ford.
Shortly after Hinkle, the Fifth Circuit observed in Howell that "the issue that has divided courts, and with great respect to the Supreme Court, confused courts attempting to apply Descamps and the decisions preceding it, is how to determine if a statute is `divisible.'" 838 F.3d at 497 (footnote omitted). It noted that Mathis "provided needed guidance on when a statute of conviction is divisible" and how to "distinguish means from elements" by reviewing state court decisions to determine if a jury must agree on the statutory alternatives. See id.
Subsequently, in a case which involved possession with intent to deliver, the Fifth Circuit again reviewed a state court decision on jury unanimity as directed by Mathis, and it held that the Texas statute criminalizing possession with intent to deliver was indivisible and not a controlled substance offense under the guideline for the same reasons as in Hinkle. See Tanksley, 848 F.3d at 352. It acknowledged that "prior to Mathis, Section 481.112(a)'s status as a divisible statute subject to a modified categorical approach was firmly established." See id. at 351. It found that "Mathis is `more than merely illuminating with respect to the case before us;' it unequivocally resolves the question in favor of Tanksley," however. Id. at 352. Finding that it "cannot stand" in light of Mathis, the Fifth Circuit expressly abrogated Ford. Id.;
These Fifth Circuit cases make clear that it was Mathis, rather than Descamps, that instructed the lower courts on how to determine whether statutory alternatives are elements or means, and that led to the abrogation of Ford. See United States v. Elizalde-Perez, 727 F. App'x 806, 809 n.3 (5th Cir. 2018) (finding that Ford was abrogated in light of the guidance in Mathis); Villa-Sanchez v. United States, No. 3:17-CV-3457-D, 2018 WL 2299057, at *1 (N.D. Tex. May 21, 2018) (finding that if not for the instruction in Mathis to review state court decisions, Ford would have remained the law in this circuit).
Movant argues that the Fifth Circuit applied the elements-focused approach of Descamps in Tanksley and Hinkle. He claims Descamps held that the statutory alternatives for committing an offense under the Texas drug delivery statute are alternative means of committing the same offense, not alternative elements of the offense, so the statute is indivisible. As a result, one of the alternative means, delivery by an offer to sell, is not a controlled substance offense under the guideline. He notes that Mathis clarified the importance of Descamps, applied the Supreme Court's "longtime and exclusive focus on the elements," and did not change the law. (See 3:16-CV-1764, doc. 8 at 6-8.) Movant contends that the key point in Mathis was that the modified categorical approach could be used when a statute sets out alternative elements, instead of alternative factual means, and the Supreme Court clearly stated in Descamps that elements are not factual means. He claims that counsel should have relied on Descamps to argue that his prior convictions were not controlled substance offenses under the guideline. He also notes that the defendant in Hinkle challenged the holding of Ford, argued that the statute was indivisible under Descamps, and prevailed on appeal.
Courts have rejected similar arguments. For example, in United States v. Woods, the Fifth Circuit held that counsel was not ineffective for failing to argue that a Texas controlled substance offense was not a controlled substance offense under the guideline because Mathis, Hinkle, and Tanksley were all decided after he was sentenced. 714 F. App'x 455, 456 (5th Cir. 2018). In Villa-Sanchez, the district court held that counsel was not ineffective for failing to argue that Descamps overruled Ford because it was actually overruled by Mathis, which was decided after the defendant was sentenced. 2018 WL 2299057, at *1. In McCowen v. United States, No. 3:16-CV-1909-B, 2018 WL 1135627, at *2 (N.D. Tex. Jan. 18, 2018), rec. adopted, 2018 WL 1083820 (N.D. Tex. Feb. 27, 2018), the district court held that counsel was not ineffective for failing to argue that Texas convictions for possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance did not qualify for enhancement under the guideline because Ford was the controlling authority when the movant was sentenced and was not abrogated until Tanksley. Although the attorney in Hinkle argued that an offense under the Texas statute was not a controlled substance offense under the guideline based on Descamps, he prevailed because Mathis was fortuitously decided while the case was on appeal, not because of counsel's argument under Descamps.
Ford was the controlling precedent in the Fifth Circuit at the time of Movant's sentencing in 2015, and it continued to be the law of the circuit until it was subsequently abrogated in Tanksley based on the Supreme Court's 2016 decision in Mathis. "Although a failure of counsel to be aware of prior controlling precedent in even a single prejudicial instance might render counsel's assistance ineffective under the Sixth Amendment," it is well-established "that there is no general duty on the part of defense counsel to anticipate changes in the law." United States v. Fields, 565 F.3d 290, 295 (5th Cir. 2009) (citations and internal quotation marks omitted). In the specific context of counsel's performance at sentencing, the Fifth Circuit has "explained that, of course, counsel's inability to foresee future pronouncements which will dispossess the Court of power to impose a particular sentence which is presently thought viable does not render counsel's representation ineffective." Id. (internal quotation marks omitted).
Because counsel was under no duty to anticipate the use of state court decisions under Mathis to determine whether a statute is divisible, as well as the Fifth Circuit's subsequent abrogation of Ford based on that case, Movant has not shown that counsel was ineffective for failing to argue that his prior convictions did not qualify under the guideline in light of Descamps.
The motion to vacate, set aside, or correct sentence under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 is
After considering the record in this case, and in accordance with Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 22(b), Rule 11(a) of the Rules Governing §§ 2254 and 2255 proceedings, and 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c), Movant is
If Movant files a notice of appeal, he must pay the $505.00 filing fee or file a motion for leave proceed in forma pauperis on appeal with a properly signed certificate of inmate trust account.
(a) Certificate of Appealability. The district court must issue or deny a certificate of appealability when it enters a final order adverse to the applicant. Before entering the final order, the court may direct the parties to submit arguments on whether a certificate should issue. If the court issues a certificate, the court must state the specific issue or issues that satisfy the showing required by 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(2). If the court denies a certificate, the parties may not appeal the denial but may seek a certificate from the court of appeals under Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 22. A motion to reconsider a denial does not extend the time to appeal.
(b) Time to Appeal. Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 4(a) governs the time to appeal an order entered under these rules. A timely notice of appeal must be filed even if the district court issues a certificate of appealability.
