Asadorian v. United States

CourtDistrict Court, M.D. Florida
DecidedMarch 11, 2021
Docket3:17-cv-01241
StatusUnknown

This text of Asadorian v. United States (Asadorian v. United States) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, M.D. Florida primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Asadorian v. United States, (M.D. Fla. 2021).

Opinion

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA JACKSONVILLE DIVISION

EDIK ASADORIAN,

Petitioner,

vs. Case No.: 3:17-cv-1241-MMH-JBT 3:15-cr-65-MMH-JBT UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Respondent. /

ORDER

This case is before the Court on Edik Asadorian’s Motion Under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 to Vacate, Set Aside, or Correct Sentence (Civ. Doc. 1, § 2255 Motion) and pro se memorandum (Civ. Doc. 2, Memorandum).1 A jury found Asadorian guilty of sex trafficking and traveling in interstate commerce to violate a protection order. Asadorian challenges his convictions based on three grounds of ineffective assistance of counsel. The United States has responded in opposition. (Civ. Doc. 6, Response). Although given the opportunity to file a reply brief (Civ. Docs. 5, 7), Asadorian has not done so. Thus, the case is ripe for a decision.

1 Citations to the record in the underlying criminal case, United States vs. Edik Asadorian, No. 3:15-cr-65-MMH-JBT, will be denoted “Crim. Doc. __.” Citations to the record in the civil § 2255 case, No. 3:17-cv-1241-MMH-JBT, will be denoted “Civ. Doc. __.” Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255 and Rule 8(a) of the Rules Governing Section 2255 Proceedings2, the Court has considered the need for an evidentiary

hearing and determines that a hearing is not necessary to resolve the merits of this action. See Rosin v. United States, 786 F.3d 873, 877 (11th Cir. 2015) (an evidentiary hearing on a § 2255 motion is not required when the petitioner asserts allegations that are affirmatively contradicted by the record or patently

frivolous, or if in assuming the facts that he alleges are true, he still would not be entitled to any relief); Patel v. United States, 252 F. App’x 970, 975 (11th Cir. 2007).3 For the reasons set forth below, Asadorian’s § 2255 Motion is due to be denied.

I. Background On November 13, 2014, while living in New York, Asadorian and his girlfriend got into an altercation in their apartment. (Crim. Doc. 84, Trial Transcript, Vol. I at 63-65). Officers from the New York Police Department

(NYPD) responded to the home, and Asadorian’s girlfriend, V.D., told the officers that Asadorian had choked her. Id. at 66-67, 76-77. The officers arrested

2 Rule 8(a) of the Rules Governing Section 2255 Proceedings expressly requires the Court to review the record, including any transcripts and submitted materials, to determine whether an evidentiary hearing is warranted before resolving a § 2255 motion.

3 Although the Court does not rely on unpublished opinions as precedent, they may be cited throughout this Order as persuasive authority on a particular point. Rule 32.1 of the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure expressly permits the Court to cite to unpublished opinions that have been issued on or after January 1, 2007. Fed. R. App. P. 32.1(a). Asadorian for strangulation and assault, id. at 77-79, and took photographs of V.D.’s injuries (which were later admitted at trial) (see Crim. Doc. 58, Gov’t

Exhibits 1-1, 1-2, 1-3). The day after the arrest, the Criminal Court of Queens County, New York entered an order of protection against Asadorian, instructing him to stay away from V.D., not to go within 100 yards of her, and to refrain from communication or any other contact with her. See Trial Tr. Vol. I at 87-91;

Gov’t Ex. 3. The order stated it would remain in place until May 13, 2015, even if V.D. consented to having contact, and that Asadorian was advised in court of the order’s issuance and its contents. See id. The order specifically advised Asadorian that it was a federal crime to cross state lines to violate the order.

Id. Shortly thereafter, Asadorian and V.D. resumed their relationship. Near the end of November 2014, they left New York for Florida. (See Crim. Doc. 85, Trial Transcript Vol. II at 65-68; Gov’t Ex. 4). The two stopped in several cities

along the way, including Charleston, South Carolina, where V.D. posted an online advertisement for body rubs with Asadorian’s knowledge. Trial Tr. Vol. I at 216-17. They arrived at a hotel in Jacksonville, Florida on December 5, 2014. Gov’t Exs. 8-1, 8-2. With Asadorian’s knowledge, V.D. began posting

advertisements for “sensual body work” and “Nuru slide” massages on Backpage.com, charging $150 for “incalls” and $200 for “outcalls.” Gov’t Ex. B18; Trial Tr. Vol. I at 219-22. The advertisement contained four photographs of V.D. wearing lingerie. Trial Tr. Vol. I at 196-99.

An undercover detective responded to the advertisement and called V.D., who advised she was available for a night call to his address. Trial Tr. Vol. II at 20-21. V.D. advised the detective that the price for a body rub was $200 because she had to pay her driver, Asadorian, $50. Id. at 27. Asadorian drove V.D. to

meet the undercover detective in Orange Park, Florida. Trial Tr. Vol. I at 243- 44. V.D. met with the undercover officer and the two discussed what services she would provide. Trial Tr. Vol. II at 28. V.D. said she would provide a “Nuru Massage,” Trial Tr. Vol. I at 244, which is “where you slide your body on

somebody’s else’s body,” Trial Tr. Vol. II at 27. V.D. assured the detective that he would feel good all over at the end of the massage. Id. at 28. V.D. brought a bag that contained lingerie and Nuru gel. Trial Tr. Vol. I at 188; Trial Tr. Vol. II at 86, 91. While meeting with the detective, V.D. called Asadorian to notify

him she was safe. Trial Tr. Vol. II at 37-38. Police officers arrested V.D. after she finished discussing the services she would provide. Id. at 41. They also arrested Asadorian while he was waiting for V.D. in the parking lot outside the residence where V.D. met with the officer.

Id. A federal grand jury eventually returned a two-count superseding indictment against Asadorian. (Crim. Doc. 26, Superseding Indictment). In Count One, the grand jury charged Asadorian with transporting V.D. in interstate commerce to engage in prostitution and criminal sexual activity, in

violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2421. In Count Two, the grand jury charged him with traveling in interstate commerce to violate a protection order, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2262(a)(1). Asadorian pled not guilty to the charges and proceeded to trial. Over the

course of three days, the jury heard testimony from nine witnesses for the government, including V.D., three NYPD officers, and four detectives involved in the investigation and arrest of Asadorian. The defense moved for judgment of acquittal at the conclusion of the government’s case, Trial Tr. Vol. II at 114,

but it did not present witnesses of its own. In moving for a judgment of acquittal, the defense asserted that the government had not met its burden of proof. Id. The Court denied the motion for judgment of acquittal, finding that the evidence was sufficient to allow the jury to render a guilty verdict as to both charges. Id.

at 123–25. During closing arguments, the defense argued to the jury that the government’s evidence was insufficient to prove that Asadorian was guilty of the charges. (Crim. Doc. 86, Trial Tr. Vol. III at 30-51). After deliberations, the jury returned a guilty verdict as to both counts in the Superseding Indictment.

(Crim. Doc. 62, Jury Verdict).

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