1 WO 2 3 4 5 6 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 7 FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA
9 Alexandro Luis Gomez, No. CV-23-00458-TUC-RM
10 Petitioner, CR-20-01707-RM (EJM)
11 v. ORDER
12 United States of America,
13 Respondent. 14 15 Pending before the Court is Movant Alexandro Luis Gomez’s Motion Under 28 16 U.S.C. § 2255 to Vacate, Set Aside, or Correct Sentence. (Doc. 1; Doc. 93 in CR-20- 17 01707-RM(EJM).)1 Respondent filed a Response (Doc. 15), and Movant filed a Reply 18 (Doc. 30). For the following reasons, the Motion will be denied. 19 I. Background 20 Movant was charged by indictment in District of Arizona case number CR-20- 21 01707-RM(EJM) with one count of distribution of fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled 22 substance, resulting in death and serious bodily injury to victim A.L.; one count of 23 distribution of fentanyl; one count of possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute; and 24 one count of carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug-trafficking crime. (Doc. 25 30 in CR-20-01707-RM(EJM).) 26 Movant was initially represented by Jay Marble of the Federal Public Defender, 27 but he later retained Efthymios Katsarelis of Katsarelis Law PLLC. (Docs. 54, 55 in CR-
28 1 Unless otherwise noted, all record citations herein refer to the docket in the civil case opened in connection with the § 2255 Motion, CV-23-00458-TUC-RM. 1 20-01707-RM(EJM).) After retaining Mr. Katsarelis as his defense attorney, Movant 2 pled guilty to distribution of a controlled substance (fentanyl), in violation of 21 U.S.C. 3 §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C). (Docs. 66-68 in CR-20-01707-RM(EJM).) In the plea 4 agreement, the parties stipulated to a base offense level of 38 under USSG § 2D1.1(a)(2), 5 and Movant stipulated for purposes of calculation of the base offense level that A.L.’s 6 death resulted from the use of fentanyl that Movant distributed. (Doc. 67 at 3 in CR-20- 7 01707-RM(EJM).) Movant’s advisory guideline sentence was 240 months imprisonment 8 (Doc. 81 at 18 in CR-20-01707-RM(EJM), but the parties stipulated in the plea 9 agreement to a sentencing cap of 204 months (17 years) imprisonment (Doc. 67 at 3 in 10 CR-20-01707-RM(EJM)). On September 28, 2022, this Court sentenced Movant within 11 the plea agreement to a 204-month term of imprisonment, followed by a 5-year term of 12 supervised release. (Doc. 87 in CR-20-01707-RM(EJM).) The remaining counts of the 13 indictment were dismissed on the Government’s motion. (Id.) 14 II. Legal Standard 15 A federal prisoner may move to vacate, set aside, or correct a sentence “upon the 16 ground that the sentence was imposed in violation of the Constitution or laws of the 17 United States . . . or is otherwise subject to collateral attack.” 28 U.S.C. § 2255(a). 18 Collateral attack under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 is “[t]he customary procedure for challenging 19 the effectiveness of defense counsel in a federal criminal trial.” United States v. 20 Houtchens, 926 F.2d 824, 828 (9th Cir. 1991). 21 A convicted defendant asserting a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel must 22 show both deficient performance and prejudice. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 23 687 (1984). To establish deficient performance, the defendant “must show that counsel’s 24 representation fell below an objective standard of reasonableness.” Id. at 688. To 25 establish prejudice, “[t]he defendant must show that there is a reasonable probability that, 26 but for counsel’s unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been 27 different.” Id. at 694. 28 When a criminal defendant pleads guilty, he cannot “thereafter raise independent 1 claims relating to the deprivation of constitutional rights that occurred prior to the entry 2 of the guilty plea,” but instead “may only attack the voluntary and intelligent character of 3 the guilty plea by showing that the advice he received from counsel” was not “within the 4 range of competence demanded of attorneys in criminal cases.” Tollett v. Henderson, 5 411 U.S. 258, 266-67 (1973). To establish prejudice on a claim of ineffective assistance 6 of counsel challenging the voluntary and intelligent character of a guilty plea, a 7 “defendant must show that there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s errors, 8 he would not have pleaded guilty and would have insisted on going to trial.” Hill v. 9 Lockhart, 474 U.S. 52, 59 (1985). 10 A district court must hold an evidentiary hearing if a § 2255 movant “allege[s] 11 specific facts which, if true, would entitle him to relief” and the “record of the case 12 cannot conclusively show that he is entitled to no relief.” United States v. Howard, 381 13 F.3d 873, 877 (9th Cir. 2004). No hearing is required if the movant’s claims are “so 14 palpably incredible or patently frivolous as to warrant summary dismissal,” id. (internal 15 quotation marks omitted), and if credibility issues can be “conclusively decided on the 16 basis of documentary testimony and evidence in the record,” Watts v. United States, 841 17 F.2d 275, 277 (9th Cir. 1988) (per curiam). 18 III. Discussion 19 In his § 2255 Motion, Movant alleges that his defense attorney failed to review 20 victim A.L.’s autopsy reports with an independent toxicologist/pathologist. (Doc. 1 at 4; 21 Doc. 1-1 at 4.) Movant argues that such a review was crucial because the autopsy reports 22 disclosed by the Government indicated the victim had multiple drugs in his system, and 23 therefore it is unclear whether fentanyl was the but-for cause of the victim’s death. (Doc. 24 1-1 at 4, 7.) Movant further argues that his attorney’s failure to hire a 25 toxicologist/pathologist to conduct an independent analysis deprived him of the 26 opportunity to make an intelligent and voluntary plea. (Id. at 4.) In support of these 27 arguments, Movant attaches a report from forensic pathologist Andrew Baker, M.D. 28 (Doc. 1-2.) In the report, Dr. Baker opines that the victim’s cause of death should have 1 been listed as mixed fentanyl and alprazolam toxicity. (Id. at 3.) 2 In response, the Government avers that Dr. Baker’s report is not newly discovered 3 evidence but, instead, an independent forensic review that was obtained by Defendant’s 4 former defense attorney and discussed with Defendant. (Doc. 15 at 10-11.) The 5 Government argues that, notwithstanding Dr. Baker’s opinion, fentanyl was still the but- 6 for cause of A.L.’s death under Burrage v. United States, 571 U.S. 204 (2014). (Id. at 7 11.) The Government further argues that defense counsel’s advice to accept the plea 8 agreement and maximize mitigation through acceptance of responsibility, instead of 9 pursuing a mixed-toxicity defense, was a reasonable strategic decision under Strickland, 10 and that Movant cannot show prejudice. (Id. at 11-13.) The Government attaches a 11 declaration in which Movant’s former attorney, Mr. Katsarelis, avers that he reviewed Dr. 12 Baker’s report but made a strategic decision to present full acceptance of responsibility to 13 the Court and to avoid discussing other drugs in the victim’s system at sentencing. (Doc. 14 15-1 at 2-3.) 15 Pursuant to 21 U.S.C.
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1 WO 2 3 4 5 6 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 7 FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA
9 Alexandro Luis Gomez, No. CV-23-00458-TUC-RM
10 Petitioner, CR-20-01707-RM (EJM)
11 v. ORDER
12 United States of America,
13 Respondent. 14 15 Pending before the Court is Movant Alexandro Luis Gomez’s Motion Under 28 16 U.S.C. § 2255 to Vacate, Set Aside, or Correct Sentence. (Doc. 1; Doc. 93 in CR-20- 17 01707-RM(EJM).)1 Respondent filed a Response (Doc. 15), and Movant filed a Reply 18 (Doc. 30). For the following reasons, the Motion will be denied. 19 I. Background 20 Movant was charged by indictment in District of Arizona case number CR-20- 21 01707-RM(EJM) with one count of distribution of fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled 22 substance, resulting in death and serious bodily injury to victim A.L.; one count of 23 distribution of fentanyl; one count of possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute; and 24 one count of carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug-trafficking crime. (Doc. 25 30 in CR-20-01707-RM(EJM).) 26 Movant was initially represented by Jay Marble of the Federal Public Defender, 27 but he later retained Efthymios Katsarelis of Katsarelis Law PLLC. (Docs. 54, 55 in CR-
28 1 Unless otherwise noted, all record citations herein refer to the docket in the civil case opened in connection with the § 2255 Motion, CV-23-00458-TUC-RM. 1 20-01707-RM(EJM).) After retaining Mr. Katsarelis as his defense attorney, Movant 2 pled guilty to distribution of a controlled substance (fentanyl), in violation of 21 U.S.C. 3 §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C). (Docs. 66-68 in CR-20-01707-RM(EJM).) In the plea 4 agreement, the parties stipulated to a base offense level of 38 under USSG § 2D1.1(a)(2), 5 and Movant stipulated for purposes of calculation of the base offense level that A.L.’s 6 death resulted from the use of fentanyl that Movant distributed. (Doc. 67 at 3 in CR-20- 7 01707-RM(EJM).) Movant’s advisory guideline sentence was 240 months imprisonment 8 (Doc. 81 at 18 in CR-20-01707-RM(EJM), but the parties stipulated in the plea 9 agreement to a sentencing cap of 204 months (17 years) imprisonment (Doc. 67 at 3 in 10 CR-20-01707-RM(EJM)). On September 28, 2022, this Court sentenced Movant within 11 the plea agreement to a 204-month term of imprisonment, followed by a 5-year term of 12 supervised release. (Doc. 87 in CR-20-01707-RM(EJM).) The remaining counts of the 13 indictment were dismissed on the Government’s motion. (Id.) 14 II. Legal Standard 15 A federal prisoner may move to vacate, set aside, or correct a sentence “upon the 16 ground that the sentence was imposed in violation of the Constitution or laws of the 17 United States . . . or is otherwise subject to collateral attack.” 28 U.S.C. § 2255(a). 18 Collateral attack under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 is “[t]he customary procedure for challenging 19 the effectiveness of defense counsel in a federal criminal trial.” United States v. 20 Houtchens, 926 F.2d 824, 828 (9th Cir. 1991). 21 A convicted defendant asserting a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel must 22 show both deficient performance and prejudice. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 23 687 (1984). To establish deficient performance, the defendant “must show that counsel’s 24 representation fell below an objective standard of reasonableness.” Id. at 688. To 25 establish prejudice, “[t]he defendant must show that there is a reasonable probability that, 26 but for counsel’s unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been 27 different.” Id. at 694. 28 When a criminal defendant pleads guilty, he cannot “thereafter raise independent 1 claims relating to the deprivation of constitutional rights that occurred prior to the entry 2 of the guilty plea,” but instead “may only attack the voluntary and intelligent character of 3 the guilty plea by showing that the advice he received from counsel” was not “within the 4 range of competence demanded of attorneys in criminal cases.” Tollett v. Henderson, 5 411 U.S. 258, 266-67 (1973). To establish prejudice on a claim of ineffective assistance 6 of counsel challenging the voluntary and intelligent character of a guilty plea, a 7 “defendant must show that there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s errors, 8 he would not have pleaded guilty and would have insisted on going to trial.” Hill v. 9 Lockhart, 474 U.S. 52, 59 (1985). 10 A district court must hold an evidentiary hearing if a § 2255 movant “allege[s] 11 specific facts which, if true, would entitle him to relief” and the “record of the case 12 cannot conclusively show that he is entitled to no relief.” United States v. Howard, 381 13 F.3d 873, 877 (9th Cir. 2004). No hearing is required if the movant’s claims are “so 14 palpably incredible or patently frivolous as to warrant summary dismissal,” id. (internal 15 quotation marks omitted), and if credibility issues can be “conclusively decided on the 16 basis of documentary testimony and evidence in the record,” Watts v. United States, 841 17 F.2d 275, 277 (9th Cir. 1988) (per curiam). 18 III. Discussion 19 In his § 2255 Motion, Movant alleges that his defense attorney failed to review 20 victim A.L.’s autopsy reports with an independent toxicologist/pathologist. (Doc. 1 at 4; 21 Doc. 1-1 at 4.) Movant argues that such a review was crucial because the autopsy reports 22 disclosed by the Government indicated the victim had multiple drugs in his system, and 23 therefore it is unclear whether fentanyl was the but-for cause of the victim’s death. (Doc. 24 1-1 at 4, 7.) Movant further argues that his attorney’s failure to hire a 25 toxicologist/pathologist to conduct an independent analysis deprived him of the 26 opportunity to make an intelligent and voluntary plea. (Id. at 4.) In support of these 27 arguments, Movant attaches a report from forensic pathologist Andrew Baker, M.D. 28 (Doc. 1-2.) In the report, Dr. Baker opines that the victim’s cause of death should have 1 been listed as mixed fentanyl and alprazolam toxicity. (Id. at 3.) 2 In response, the Government avers that Dr. Baker’s report is not newly discovered 3 evidence but, instead, an independent forensic review that was obtained by Defendant’s 4 former defense attorney and discussed with Defendant. (Doc. 15 at 10-11.) The 5 Government argues that, notwithstanding Dr. Baker’s opinion, fentanyl was still the but- 6 for cause of A.L.’s death under Burrage v. United States, 571 U.S. 204 (2014). (Id. at 7 11.) The Government further argues that defense counsel’s advice to accept the plea 8 agreement and maximize mitigation through acceptance of responsibility, instead of 9 pursuing a mixed-toxicity defense, was a reasonable strategic decision under Strickland, 10 and that Movant cannot show prejudice. (Id. at 11-13.) The Government attaches a 11 declaration in which Movant’s former attorney, Mr. Katsarelis, avers that he reviewed Dr. 12 Baker’s report but made a strategic decision to present full acceptance of responsibility to 13 the Court and to avoid discussing other drugs in the victim’s system at sentencing. (Doc. 14 15-1 at 2-3.) 15 Pursuant to 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), it is unlawful to knowingly or intentionally 16 distribute a controlled substance. If the controlled substance is in schedule I or II and 17 “death or serious bodily injury results from the use of such substance,” the defendant 18 “shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not less than twenty years or more than 19 life.” 21 U.S.C. § 841(b)(1)(C). For a defendant to be liable under this penalty 20 enhancement provision, a jury must find beyond a reasonable doubt that use of the drug 21 was the but-for cause of the victim’s death or injury, meaning the victim would not have 22 died or sustained the injury but for use of the drug. Burrage, 571 U.S. at 210, 218-19. 23 In Burrage, multiple drugs were present in the victim’s system at the time of his 24 death, including heroin metabolites, codeine, alprazolam, clonazepam metabolites, and 25 oxycodone. Id. at 207. Medical experts testified that the heroin supplied by the 26 defendant was a contributing factor to the victim’s death, but they could not say whether 27 the victim would have lived had he not taken the heroin. Id. The Supreme Court 28 reversed the defendant’s conviction, finding he could not be liable under the penalty 1 enhancement provision of 21 U.S.C. § 841(b)(1)(C) absent evidence that the victim 2 would have lived but for his use of the heroin. Id. at 218-19. 3 Movant’s case is distinguishable from Burrage because A.L.’s autopsy report lists 4 his cause of death as fentanyl toxicity. (Doc. 19 at 3.) The toxicology report reflects 5 that, although alprazolam was present in the victim’s system within the therapeutic range, 6 fentanyl was the only drug present at concentrations outside the therapeutic range. (Id. at 7 8.) Dr. Baker opines that A.L.’s cause of death should have been listed as mixed fentanyl 8 and alprazolam toxicity, but he does not opine that A.L. would have lived if not for his 9 ingestion of the fentanyl distributed by Movant. (Doc. 1-2 at 3.) Furthermore, Dr. Baker 10 notes that the foam seen coming from A.L.’s nose and mouth at the death scene, as well 11 as the pulmonary edema present at autopsy, are common manifestations of fentanyl 12 toxicity. (Id.) 13 Given this evidence, a jury could reasonably have found the death-resulting 14 sentencing enhancement of 21 U.S.C. § 841(b)(1)(C), thereby exposing Movant to a 15 mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years imprisonment and a maximum sentence of life 16 imprisonment. Furthermore, Count Three of the Indictment carried a potential sentence 17 of five to forty years imprisonment, and Count Four carried a statutory mandatory 18 consecutive prison sentence of five years. (Doc. 81 at 20 in CR-20-01707-RM(EJM).) 19 By pleading guilty, Movant capped his potential sentence at 17 years imprisonment. 20 (Doc. 67 at 3 in CR-20-01707-RM(EJM).) In advising Movant to accept the plea 21 agreement and to maximize mitigation through acceptance of responsibility—as opposed 22 to pursuing a mixed-toxicity defense at trial—Movant’s defense attorney made a 23 reasonable and sound strategic decision. Movant has failed to establish deficient 24 performance under the Strickland standard. 25 Furthermore, the record contradicts Movant’s assertions that his defense attorney 26 failed to hire a toxicologist/pathologist to review A.L.’s autopsy and toxicology reports 27 and to conduct an independent analysis. Movant’s prior attorney, Jay Marble, procured 28 the independent report from forensic pathologist Dr. Baker. (See Doc. 1-2 at 2.) || Movant’s attorneys discussed the report with one another, and Mr. Katsarelis discussed 2|| the report with Movant prior to his guilty plea. (Doc. 15-1 at 2-3.) Movant decided to 3|| plead guilty notwithstanding his knowledge of Dr. Baker’s report.? Although Movant 4|| may regret his decision in hindsight, the record refutes his contention that his plea was 5|| not knowing and voluntary due to defense counsel’s failure to obtain an independent || report from a toxicologist/pathologist. Accordingly, in addition to failing to establish deficient performance, Movant has failed to establish prejudice. 8 Because the record conclusively shows that Movant is not entitled to relief, the || Court declines to hold an evidentiary hearing. 10 IT IS ORDERED that the Motion Under § 2255 to Vacate, Set Aide, or Correct Sentence (Doc. 1 in CV-23-00458-TUC-RM; Doc. 93 in CR-20-01707-RM(EJM)) is 12|| denied. The Clerk of Court is directed to terminate the Motion in the criminal case (Doc. 13 || 93 in CR-20-01707-RM(EJM)), and to enter final judgment against Movant and in favor □□ of Respondent in the civil action, CV-23-00458-TUC-RM. 15 Dated this 27th day of February, 2025. 16 17 i pf > 19 Honorable Rosemary □□□□□□□ 20 United States District □□□□□ 21 22 23 24 25 26 ? Furthermore, Movant confirmed under oath at his change-of-plea hearing that he was 27 pleading guilty voluntarily and that he understood and was wi ling to be bound by the terms and conditions of his plea agreement. (Doc. 98 at 6-7 in CR-20-01707-RM(EJM).) At his sentencing hearing, he confirmed that he was satisfied with the services of his attorney. (Doc. 97 at 4 in CR-20-01707-RM(EJM).) -6-