Ex Parte Frances Nwosuocha v. the State of Texas

CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedJune 25, 2024
Docket14-23-00071-CR
StatusPublished

This text of Ex Parte Frances Nwosuocha v. the State of Texas (Ex Parte Frances Nwosuocha v. the State of Texas) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Ex Parte Frances Nwosuocha v. the State of Texas, (Tex. Ct. App. 2024).

Opinion

Affirmed and Memorandum Opinion filed June 25, 2024.

In The

Fourteenth Court of Appeals

NO. 14-23-00071-CR

EX PARTE FRANCES NWOSUOCHA, Appellant

On Appeal from the 185th District Court Harris County, Texas Trial Court Cause No. 1157990A

MEMORANDUM OPINION

Appellant Frances Nwosuocha appeals an order denying her post-conviction application for habeas corpus based on a claimed violation of Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83 (1963). We affirm.

BACKGROUND

Federal and state investigators discovered rampant fraudulent billings for Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement for motorized wheelchairs in Harris County in the early 2000s. Nwosoucha v. State, 325 S.W.3d 816, 821 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2010, pet. ref’d). One of the durable medical equipment companies under investigation was Silver-Hawk, which was owned and controlled by Bibian and Achor Uluocha. Id. Many of Silver-Hawk’s billings relied on Certificates of Medical Necessity (CMNs) that Appellant, who was a nurse practitioner, had signed. Id. Medicare and Medicaid reimbursed Bibian and Achor’s company based on twenty-three CMNs Appellant admitted signing; there was evidence they contained falsified information. Id. at 841. The total loss to Medicare and Medicaid for these CMNs was $113,979.56. Id.

In March 2008, Appellant was indicted for engaging in organized criminal activity in combination with Bibian, Achor, and others. Id. at 821. In October 2008, the case proceeded to trial. Id. at 823. A jury found Appellant guilty of engaging in organized criminal activity, namely aggregate theft by a governmental contractor of property with a value of over one hundred thousand dollars and under two hundred thousand dollars. Id. at 821. The jury assessed punishment at ten years’ confinement, recommended community supervision, and assessed a $10,000 fine; the trial court sentenced Appellant accordingly. Id. This court affirmed Appellant’s conviction in 2010. Id. at 821-44.

In January 2020, Appellant filed an application for a writ of habeas corpus pursuant to Texas Code of Criminal Procedure article 11.072 1 seeking relief from her conviction; she filed two amended applications thereafter. In her second amended application, Appellant contended that the State (1) failed to disclose

1 Article 11.072 “establishes the procedures for an application for a writ of habeas corpus in a felony or misdemeanor case in which the applicant seeks relief from an order or a judgment of conviction ordering community supervision.” Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 11.072, § 1; see also Ex parte Villanueva, 252 S.W.3d 391, 395 (Tex. Crim. App. 2008). Under the statute, a person who is serving or who has completed a term of community supervision may file a habeas application attacking the “legal validity” of (1) the conviction for which or order in which community supervision was imposed or (2) the conditions of community supervision. Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 11.072, § 2; Ex parte Villanueva, 252 S.W.3d at 395.

2 material evidence favorable to her in violation of Brady, and (2) used false testimony to secure her conviction in violation of her rights to Due Process. Appellant incorporated a memorandum with exhibits in support of her application.

In May 2021, the trial court held a hearing on Appellant’s application. In December 2021, the trial court signed an order denying Appellant relief; the court also issued findings of fact and conclusions of law. Appellant filed a timely notice of appeal.

ANALYSIS

While Appellant lists two issues in her brief, they are indistinguishable. Furthermore, she presents only a single argument contending the trial court erroneously denied her relief based on her claimed Brady violation. We also note that although Appellant cites the United States and Texas Constitutions in her issue statements, she makes no other mention of the constitutional provisions in her briefing. Therefore, we focus on addressing Appellant’s contention that she was entitled to relief because the State failed to disclose material evidence in violation of Brady.

I. Standard of Review and Applicable Law

A writ of habeas corpus is an extraordinary remedy. See Ex parte Smith, 444 S.W.3d 661, 666 (Tex. Crim. App. 2014). We generally review a ruling on an application for writ of habeas corpus for an abuse of discretion. Ex parte Contreras, 640 S.W.3d 279, 282 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2021, pet. ref’d); see also Ex parte Garcia, 353 S.W.3d 785, 787 (Tex. Crim. App. 2011). We decide whether a trial court abused its discretion by determining whether the court acted without reference to any guiding rules or principles, i.e., whether the court acted arbitrarily or unreasonably. Ex parte Contreras, 640 S.W.3d at 282; Ex

3 parte Allen, 619 S.W.3d 813, 816 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2020, pet. ref’d). A trial court abuses its discretion if its decision lies outside the zone of reasonable disagreement. Ex parte Temple, 636 S.W.3d 332, 336 (Tex. App.— Houston [14th Dist.] 2021, pet. ref’d); Ex parte Allen, 619 S.W.3d at 816.

In reviewing a trial court’s ruling on an application for habeas relief, we examine the evidence in the habeas record in the light most favorable to the trial court’s ruling. Kniatt v. State, 206 S.W.3d 657, 664 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006). The trial court is the sole factfinder in a post-conviction application for writ of habeas corpus filed under article 11.072. Ex parte Torres, 483 S.W.3d 35, 42 (Tex. Crim. App. 2016). We afford almost total deference to a trial court’s factual findings when they are supported by the record, especially when those findings are based upon the witnesses’ credibility and demeanor. Id. at 42. This deferential review applies even when the findings are based on affidavits rather than live testimony. See Ex parte Wheeler, 203 S.W.3d 317, 325-26 (Tex. Crim. App. 2006). We apply the same deference to review the trial court’s application of law to fact questions if resolving those determinations rests upon an evaluation of credibility and demeanor. Ex parte Allen, 619 S.W.3d at 816. “[W]e review de novo the trial court’s resolution of mixed questions of law and fact that do not turn on witness credibility and its resolution of pure questions of law.” Ex parte Beck, 541 S.W.3d 846, 852 (Tex. Crim. App. 2017). We will uphold a trial court’s ruling as long as it is correct on any theory of law applicable to the case. Id.

In Brady, the Supreme Court held that “the suppression by the prosecution of evidence favorable to an accused upon request violates due process where the evidence is material either to guilt or to punishment, irrespective of the good faith or bad faith of the prosecution.” Brady, 373 U.S. at 87. Therefore, Brady is violated when three requirements are satisfied: (1) the State suppressed evidence;

4 (2) the suppressed evidence is favorable to the defendant; and (3) the suppressed evidence is material. Ex parte Lalonde, 570 S.W.3d 716, 724 (Tex. Crim. App.

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Related

Brady v. Maryland
373 U.S. 83 (Supreme Court, 1963)
Ex Parte Villanueva
252 S.W.3d 391 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas, 2008)
Kniatt v. State
206 S.W.3d 657 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas, 2006)
Ex Parte Richardson
70 S.W.3d 865 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas, 2002)
Ex Parte Wheeler
203 S.W.3d 317 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas, 2006)
Harm v. State
183 S.W.3d 403 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas, 2006)
Nwosoucha v. State
325 S.W.3d 816 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 2010)
Hampton v. State
86 S.W.3d 603 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas, 2002)
Ex Parte Cristela GARCIA, Appellee
353 S.W.3d 785 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas, 2011)
Smith, Al Letroy
444 S.W.3d 661 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas, 2014)
Torres, Ex Parte Manuel
483 S.W.3d 35 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas, 2016)
Ex parte Beck
541 S.W.3d 846 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas, 2017)
Ex parte Lalonde
570 S.W.3d 716 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas, 2019)

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Bluebook (online)
Ex Parte Frances Nwosuocha v. the State of Texas, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/ex-parte-frances-nwosuocha-v-the-state-of-texas-texapp-2024.