Opinions of the United
2006 Decisions                                                                                                             States Court of Appeals
                                                                                                                              for the Third Circuit


7-26-2006

Evola v. Carbone
Precedential or Non-Precedential: Non-Precedential

Docket No. 05-2508




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                                                              NOT PRECEDENTIAL

                      UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                           FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT


                                     No. 05-2508


                               VITO EVOLA, Appellant/Petitioner

                                           v.

                 ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES




                   On Appeal from the United States District Court
                for the District of New Jersey D.NJ. No. 05-cv-01481
                           Treated as a Petition for Review
               from the Board of Immigration Appeals (A 31 061 087)
                              Pursuant to the Real ID Act
           and on Appeal from the Denial of the Writ of Error Coram Nobis
                                 D. NJ No. 05-cv-01487

                     District Judge: The Honorable Joel A. Pisano


                   Submitted pursuant to Third Circuit L.A.R. 34.1(a)
                                    June 28, 2006

          Before: BARRY, VAN ANTWERPEN, and SILER,* Circuit Judges.

                                 (Filed July 26, 2006)


                                       OPINION



   *
   The Honorable Eugene E. Siler, Jr., Senior Circuit Judge, United States Court of
Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, sitting by designation.
SILER, Circuit Judge.

        Petitioner Vito Evola presents two issues to this court. First, he appeals the district court’s

denial of his petition for a writ of error coram nobis, arguing that the ineffective assistance of his

prior counsel constituted a fundamental error warranting coram nobis relief. Second, he presents a

petition for review challenging the Board of Immigration Appeals’ (“BIA”) determination that his

conviction under 21 U.S.C. § 843(b) rendered him ineligible for cancellation of removal. We affirm

the decision of the district court and deny the petition for review.

                                          BACKGROUND

        Evola is a 39-year-old Italian national and citizen who was granted lawful permanent resident

status in the United States in 1980. In 1997, as part of a plea agreement dropping other charges

against him, Evola pled guilty to a violation of 21 U.S.C. § 843(b), charging use of a communication

device to facilitate a conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute a controlled

substance. In 1998, he was sentenced to five years probation and did not appeal.

        In 2001, the INS initiated removal proceedings against Evola based on his 1998 conviction.

The INS charged that Evola was removable because he was convicted of an “aggravated felony,” and

because he violated a federal law relating to a controlled substance. In 2004, an Immigration Judge

(“IJ”) ordered Evola’s removal to Italy. The BIA affirmed the removal order and Evola’s

ineligibility for cancellation of removal or other relief, finding that a violation of 21 U.S.C. § 843(b)

constituted an “aggravated felony.” Evola filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus, contesting that

decision in the district court, which held that a violation of § 843(b) did in fact constitute an

aggravated felony. Evola appealed that decision to this court. However, in the intervening period,

Congress enacted the REAL ID Act, which means “that those habeas petitions pending before this


                                                  -1-
Court on the effective date of the REAL ID Act are properly converted into petitions for review and

retained by this Court.” Bonhometre v. Gonzales, 

, 446 (3d Cir. 2005).

        In 2002, Evola filed a habeas corpus petition pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255 seeking to vacate,

set aside, or correct his conviction as a result of ineffective assistance of counsel. He alleged that

his attorney, Joseph Santaguida, advised him that he could enter a guilty plea without suffering any

consequences with respect to his immigration status. In 2003, the district court denied Evola’s

petition because it was barred by the relevant one-year statute of limitations. In 2005, Evola filed

a petition for a writ of error coram nobis in the district court seeking to vacate his conviction with

the same ineffective assistance argument. The district court denied the petition, ruling that Evola

had failed to show fundamental error since he could not demonstrate the prejudice necessary for an

ineffective assistance claim.

                                            DISCUSSION

A. Writ of Error Coram Nobis

        “The writ of error coram nobis is available to federal courts in criminal matters under the All

Writs Act, 28 U.S.C. § 1651(a).” United States v. Stoneman, 

, 105 (3d Cir. 1989)

(citing United States v. Morgan, 

(1954)). The writ “was traditionally available only

to bring before the court factual errors ‘material to the validity and regularity of the legal proceeding

itself,’ such as the defendant’s being under age or having died before the verdict.” Carlisle v. United

States, 

, 429 (1996) (quoting United States v. Mayer, 

, 67-68 (1914)).

Today, “[i]t is used to attack allegedly invalid convictions which have continuing consequences,

when the petitioner has served his sentence and is no longer ‘in custody’ for purposes of 28 U.S.C.

§ 2255.” 

. “We have concluded that to qualify for relief under coram

nobis after a sentence has been served, the petitioner must show exceptional circumstances and


                                                  -2-
continuing collateral disadvantages.” Obado v. New Jersey, 

, 718 (3d Cir. 2003)

(citation omitted). The writ of error coram nobis has been repeatedly referred to as an “extraordinary

remedy,” “a remedy infrequently used,” and “a remedy reserved for exceptional circumstances.” See,

e.g., 

; United States v. Baptiste, 

, 189 (3d Cir. 2000).

       In explicating the contours of coram nobis, we have stated:

       Coram nobis is an extraordinary remedy, and a court’s jurisdiction to grant relief is
       of limited scope. [United States v. Cariola, 

, 184 (3d Cir. 1963)]. “The
       interest in finality of judgments dictates that the standard for a successful collateral
       attack on a conviction be more stringent than the standard applicable on a direct
       appeal.” [United States v.] Gross, 614 F.2d [365,] 368 [(3d Cir. 1980)]. It is even
       more stringent than that on a petitioner seeking habeas corpus relief under § 2255.
       See [United States v.] Osser, 864 F.2d [1056,] 1060-61 [(3d Cir. 1988)]; United
       States v. Keogh, 

, 148 (2d Cir. 1968) (unlike habeas, where part of
       sentence remained unserved, no opportunity or incentive in coram nobis setting to
       retry defendant using newly discovered evidence where sentence already served).

.

       Thus, to summarize, courts have set out three requirements for a writ of error coram nobis:

(1) the petitioner must no longer be “in custody,” see 

; (2) the petitioner must

be attacking a conviction with “continuing penalties” or “collateral consequences” to the petitioner,

; and (3) the error the petitioner seeks to correct is a “fundamental error” for

which “there was no remedy available at the time of trial and where ‘sound reasons’ exist for failing

to seek relief earlier,” see 

(citation omitted).

       Evola makes two arguments of fundamental error: (1) the misadvice of prior counsel about

the immigration consequences of his guilty plea constituted ineffective assistance of counsel that

fundamentally flawed his guilty plea; and (2) it was fundamental error for the district not to advise

him of the immigration consequences of his guilty plea during the Rule 11 plea colloquy. His second

assignment of error can easily be dismissed. We have previously held that “Rule 11 does not require

a sentencing court to explain ‘collateral’ consequences of a guilty plea to a defendant” and therefore

                                                 -3-
there is “no error in the sentencing court’s failure to inform [a defendant] in the Rule 11 colloquy

of his possible deportation.” United States v. Romero-Vilca, 

, 179 (3d Cir. 1988)

(citations omitted).

       Turning to Evola’s first assignment of error, we have previously held that “persons not held

in custody can attack a conviction for fundamental defects, such as ineffective assistance of counsel,”

through coram nobis. United States v. Rad-O-Lite of Phila., Inc., 

, 744 (3d Cir. 1979).

Nevertheless, it is an open question whether counsel’s error regarding the collateral consequences

of a proceeding is fundamental to that conviction. See United States v. Nino, 

, 105 (3d

Cir. 1989) (declining to decide “whether counsel’s failure to advise a client about the deportation

consequences of a guilty plea can constitute deficient representation absent special circumstances”).

Assuming, without deciding, that a showing of ineffective assistance in this context would constitute

fundamental error, Evola presents insufficient evidence to satisfy the standard for ineffective

assistance laid out in Strickland v. Washington, 

(1984).

       In order for a defendant to gain relief based on a constitutional claim that his counsel
       was ineffective, the defendant must satisfy the two-pronged test announced in
       Strickland [ ]. The defendant must show (1) that counsel’s representation fell below
       an objective standard of reasonableness and (2) that there is a reasonable probability
       that, but for counsel’s error, the result of the proceeding would have been different.
       Both Strickland prongs must be met in order to merit relief . . . . With regard to the
       second prong, a reasonable probability is one that is sufficient to undermine
       confidence in the outcome.

Carpenter v. Vaughn, 

, 149 (3d Cir. 2002) (internal quotations and citations omitted).

To satisfy the prejudice requirement in the guilty plea context, “the defendant must show that there

is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s errors, he would not have pleaded guilty and would

have insisted on going to trial.” Hill v. Lockhart, 

, 59 (1985). Evola argues that this

means, to satisfy the prejudice prong of Strickland, he must only show that “but for the misadvice

[of counsel] he would not have pled guilty and [would have instead] gone to trial.” However, in a

                                                 -4-
similar case, we have interpreted the prejudice requirement to mean that a defendant must “show that

there is a reasonable probability that but for his counsel’s errors the result of the proceeding would

have been different.” 

(emphasis added). In that case, given that the record

was “replete with evidence of petitioner’s guilt,” the court “conclude[d] that even had petitioner been

advised of the deportation consequences of his guilty plea, he would have pled guilty anyway or, had

he not done so, been found guilty after trial.” 

case, even were we to assume that Evola would have refused to plead guilty had he

been advised of the deportation consequences of his guilty plea, there is overwhelming evidence of

his guilt in the record. First, nowhere in the record of these proceedings does Evola claim his

innocence. To the contrary, during his plea hearing, he expressly admitted his guilt. Furthermore,

at his sentencing hearing, Evola’s counsel conceded the following:

       The only thing [Evola] did was . . . Mr. Gallina was trying to get his drugs into the
       Camden area. They knew that Mr. Baskerville has some connections with the
       Camden area and the Mr. Baskerville had a drug background. The only way that Mr.
       Baskerville worked with Mr. Evola was strictly in the pizza place, had nothing to do
       with any drug activity whatsoever.

       At one point Mr. Gallina was looking for Mr. Baskerville and the phone
       conversations between Mr. Gallina and Mr. Evola were can you get in touch with Mr.
       Baskerville because we want to talk to him, not because Mr. Evola had any
       participation. The only reason why he is guilty is because he did know why they
       were trying to get together and it would be like two people who are going to commit
       a bank robbery and the third person said, look, I don’t want any participation in this,
       but here’s a mask you can use in case you want to do it.

       It would put him in the conspiracy, but not in the effect that he was going to share in
       any proceeds or participate in any type of activity in the robbery.

       Here, the only thing he does know what Mr. Gallina’s about, and he does know what
       they want Mr. Baskerville to do. Because Mr. Baskerville works for him in a
       legitimate enterprise, he’s trying to get in touch with him because they’re looking for
       Mr. Baskerville and they wanted to know how the five grams would be transferred,
       whether or not those people liked it or didn’t like it. They’re saying have you seen
       Baskerville, can you get him in here?


                                                 -5-
As Evola pled guilty to a violation of 21 U.S.C. § 843(b),1 this factual scenario detailed by counsel

shows that Evola used a communication device to facilitate a conspiracy to distribute and to possess

with intent to distribute a controlled substance.

          In addition, the government possessed an impressive amount of evidence pointing to Evola’s

guilt. First, all eleven of Evola’s co-defendants had already pled guilty and were available to testify

against him. Second, the government “possessed consensual recordings of Evola’s participation in

the drug conspiracy.” Based upon the strength of this evidence and Evola’s lack of an innocence

claim, Evola is unable to show the prejudice necessary to make out an ineffective assistance claim.

See 

.

B. Petition for Review

          In his petition for review, Evola argues that there is no trafficking element in 21 U.S.C. §

843(b) and, therefore, his conviction under that statute does not constitute an aggravated felony

under 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(43)(B). Although Evola concedes that he is removable since his

conviction under § 843(b) is a felony punishable under the Controlled Substances Act, he contends

that the BIA erred when it found him ineligible for cancellation of removal under 8 U.S.C. §

1229b(b)(1) due to its finding that his conviction constituted an aggravated felony. “Review of the


   1
       21 U.S.C. § 843(b) states:

          It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly or intentionally to use any
          communication facility in committing or in causing or facilitating the
          commission of any act or acts constituting a felony under any provision of this
          subchapter or subchapter II of this chapter. Each separate use of a
          communication facility shall be a separate offense under this subsection. For
          purposes of this subsection, the term "communication facility" means any and
          all public and private instrumentalities used or useful in the transmission of
          writing, signs, signals, pictures, or sounds of all kinds and includes mail,
          telephone, wire, radio, and all other means of communication .


                                                    -6-
BIA’s legal conclusions is de novo, with appropriate deference to the agency’s interpretation of the

underlying statute in accordance with administrative law principles.” Mahmood v. Gonzales, 

, 250 (3d Cir. 2005) (citations omitted).

       Despite Evola’s arguments to the contrary, a conviction under § 843(b) constitutes an

aggravated felony within the meaning of 8 U.S.C. § 1229b(a)(3). Definitions for Chapter 12 of the

Immigration and Nationality Act (“INA”), which includes the cancellation of removal statute at issue

in this case, are laid out in 8 U.S.C. § 1101. Section 1101(a)(43)(B) defines an “aggravated felony”

to include “illicit trafficking in a controlled substance (as defined in section 802 of Title 18),

including a drug trafficking crime (as defined in section 924(c) of Title 18).” Section 924(c)(2)

defines a “drug trafficking crime” to include “any felony punishable under the Controlled

Substances Act (21 U.S.C. §§ 801, et seq.).” Evola was convicted of violating 21 U.S.C. §

843(b) – a part of the Controlled Substances Act. Accordingly, a conviction for a violation

of 21 U.S.C. § 843(b) qualifies as an aggravated felony within the meaning of 8 U.S.C. §

1229b(a) and Evola is therefore ineligible for cancellation of removal. See Khan v. Ashcroft,

, 522 (2d Cir. 2003) (noting that a violation of 21 U.S.C. § 843(b) is “an

aggravated felony within the meaning of the INA”); see also Kayrouz v. Ashcroft, 115 Fed.

Appx. 783, 785 (6th Cir. 2004) (unpublished opinion) (“a violation of 21 U.S.C. § 843(b)

qualifies as an aggravated felony under the INA”).

       The decision of the district court is AFFIRMED and the petition for review is

DENIED.