DILLARD v. United States

CourtDistrict Court, S.D. Indiana
DecidedOctober 12, 2023
Docket1:20-cv-03224
StatusUnknown

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

Bluebook
DILLARD v. United States, (S.D. Ind. 2023).

Opinion

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF INDIANA INDIANAPOLIS DIVISION

MARCUS DILLARD, ) ) Petitioner, ) ) v. ) No. 1:20-cv-03224-SEB-TAB ) UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ) ) Respondent. )

Order Discussing Motion for Relief Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255 and Denying Certificate of Appealability

For the reasons explained in this Order, the motion and amended motion of Marcus Dillard for relief pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255 must be denied and the action dismissed with prejudice. And the Court finds that a certificate of appealability should not issue. I. The § 2255 Motion A motion pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255 is the presumptive means by which a federal prisoner can challenge his conviction or sentence. See Davis v. United States, 417 U.S. 333, 343 (1974). A court may grant relief from a federal conviction or sentence under § 2255 "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." 28 U.S.C. § 2255(a). "Relief under this statute is available only in extraordinary situations, such as an error of constitutional or jurisdictional magnitude or where a fundamental defect has occurred which results in a complete miscarriage of justice." Blake v. United States, 723 F.3d 870, 878-79 (7th Cir. 2013) (citing Prewitt v. United States, 83 F.3d 812, 816 (7th Cir. 1996); Barnickel v. United States, 113 F.3d 704, 705 (7th Cir. 1997)). II. Factual Background On October 29, 2019, IMPD Detectives De Leon and Smilko, and Special Agent Bevington

and Task Force Officer Cooper of ATF stopped Mr. Dillard after he committed two traffic violations. United States v. Dillard, 1:19-cr-362-SEB-TAB (hereinafter "Crim. Dkt."), Crim. Dkt. 19 at 8. The officers asked Mr. Dillard for the registration to the vehicle. Id. Mr. Dillard opened the center console, and Detective De Leon observed a clear plastic bag containing a large, pressed chunk of what looked like heroin. Id. Detective De Leon ordered Mr. Dillard to unlock the door. Id. at 9. Mr. Dillard, however, refused and tried to drive away—until another police vehicle appeared and prevented him from doing so. Id. In Mr. Dillard's car, detectives located a loaded firearm, a digital scale with heroin residue, around 69 grams of heroin in a clear plastic bag, $3,187 in currency, and three cell phones in the center console of the vehicle. Id. Mr. Dillard was initially charged with possession with intent to distribute a controlled

substance, in violation of 21 U.S.C.§ 841(a)(1) (Count 1); carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c) (Count 2); and possession of a firearm or ammunition as a prohibited person, or both in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) (Count 3). Crim. Dkt. 2. Ultimately, Mr. Dillard agreed to waive indictment and was charged in an Information with possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) (Count 1); and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c) (Count 2). Crim. Dkt. 13. Harold Samuel Ansell was appointed as counsel for Mr. Dillard. Crim. Dkt. 21. On November 18, 2019, the parties petitioned to enter a plea of guilty and plea agreement under Fed. R. Crim. P. 11(c)(1)(C). Crim. Dkt. 19. Mr. Dillard agreed to plead guilty as charged. Id. at 1. Mr. Dillard agreed to a sentence of 97 months' imprisonment. Id. at 4. The government agreed that Mr. Dillard should receive a three-level reduction under U.S.S.G. § 3E1.1(a) and (b). Id. at 11. Mr. Dillard waived his right to appeal if the Court sentenced him to 97 months'

imprisonment. Id. at 12. Additionally, Mr. Dillard agreed not to contest, or seek to modify, his conviction or the way either was determined in any proceeding, including 18 U.S.C. § 3582 or 28 U.S.C. § 2255. Id. at 12-13. Mr. Dillard's waiver did not encompass any claims of ineffective assistance of counsel. Id. A presentence investigation report was prepared. Crim Dkt. 30 (PSR). Mr. Dillard's guideline imprisonment range was 30 to 37 months on Count 1, plus a consecutive 60 months on Count 2. PSR ¶¶ 78-81. On June 3, 2020, the Court accepted Mr. Dillard's plea. Crim. Dkt. 49. Following the terms of the plea agreement, the Court sentenced Mr. Dillard to 97 months' imprisonment. Crim. Dkt. 50.

On December 14, 2020, Mr. Dillard moved to vacate under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 arguing his counsel was ineffective for failing to file a notice of appeal. Dkts 1 and 2. The United States responded, dkt. 15. On August 16, 2021, Mr. Dillard filed an amended motion to vacate under 28 U.S.C. § 2255. Dkt. 14. Mr. Dillard claims that he is entitled to relief because his counsel failed to: 1) ensure he signed a waiver of indictment; 2) inform him of the consequences of pleading guilty; 3) file any pretrial motions; 4) conduct a pretrial investigation; 5) attempt to negotiate a more favorable plea; and 6) file an appeal. III. Discussion In general, to prove ineffective assistance of counsel, Mr. Dillard would have to meet the two-part test established in Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668 (1984). He must show that (1) his attorney performed deficiently, and (2) the deficiency in performance prejudiced him. Id.

In the guilty plea context, courts are to apply the modified Strickland analysis articulated in Hill v. Lockhart, 474 U.S. 52, (1985). United States v. Smith, 989 F.3d 575, 581 (7th Cir. 2021) (citing Gish v. Hepp, 955 F.3d 597, 605 (7th Cir. 2020)). "Under Hill, the deficient performance prong remains largely unchanged.

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DILLARD v. United States, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/dillard-v-united-states-insd-2023.