1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Case No.: 20cr2914-CAB; 23cv1860- CAB 12 Plaintiff,
13 v. ORDER DENYING DEFENDANT’S MOTION UNDER 28 U.S.C. 14 CYNTHIA LEON MONTOYA, SECTION 2255 TO VACATE, SET 15 Defendant. ASIDE, OR CORRECT SENTENCE BY A PERSON IN FEDERAL 16 CUSTODY 17 [DOC. NO. 79]
18 Before the Court is Defendant Cynthia Leon Montoya’s Motion Under 28 U.S.C. 19 Section 2255 to Vacate, Set Aside, or Correct Sentence by a Person in Federal Custody 20 (“motion to vacate”). [Doc. No. 79.] For the reasons set forth below, the motion is 21 DENIED. 22 FACTUAL BACKGROUND 23 On March 10, 2021, Defendant pled guilty to importation of methamphetamine and 24 importation of cocaine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 952 and 960. [Doc. No. 34.] Through 25 her plea agreement, Defendant agreed that she imported 4.40 kilograms of cocaine on her 26 person, and 5.02 kilograms of methamphetamine body-carried by her 15-year-old minor 27 son into the United States from Mexico [Doc. No. 33 at Para. II.B(2).] Further, the 28 1 Guidelines agreed to by the parties, pursuant to the plea agreement, placed Defendant at a 2 base offense level of 38 under the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines. The parties agreed to a 3 two-level enhancement for importation of methamphetamine if no role adjustment 4 applied, as well as adjustments and departures for acceptance of responsibility (-3) and 5 Fast Track (-4). The parties agreed to allow argument at sentencing for a two-level 6 enhancement for use of a minor to commit a crime pursuant to USSG § 3B1.4. 7 Defense counsel Richard J. Boesen filed sentencing documents on May 5, 2021. 8 [Doc. Nos. 39 and 40.] Defendant requested adjustments for safety valve pursuant to 9 USSG § 2D1.1(b)(17) and 5C1.2 (-2) and minor role pursuant to 3B1.2 (-2). [Doc. No. 10 39]. Defendant requested additional departures and variances based on Defendant’s 11 mental and emotional conditions, imperfect duress, and combination of factors, and 12 requested a sentence of less than 21 months. Id. 13 Counsel for the government filed a Sentencing Summary Chart on May 7, 2021 14 [Doc. No. 43.] The Government recommended adjustments for safety valve (-2) and use 15 of a minor pursuant to USSG § 3B1.4 (+2). Id. After all adjustments and departures were 16 totaled, the adjusted offense level recommended by the Government was 33, resulting in 17 a guideline range of 135 months to 168 months at Criminal History Category I. Id. The 18 Government recommended a downward variance based on Defendant’s waiver of Speedy 19 Trial Act claims, as well as an additional variance to “avoid unwarranted disparities here 20 in light of Defendant’s health issues, background, and family circumstances . . . .” Id. The 21 Government’s ultimate sentencing recommendation was 70 months. 22 The Court held a sentencing hearing on May 17, 2021. [Doc. No. 68.] At the 23 conclusion of the hearing, the sentencing court imposed a sentence of 100-months in 24 custody and five years of supervised release for each count, concurrent. [Doc. No. 47.] 25 Judgment was entered on June 7, 2021. [Doc. no. 62.] 26 PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND 27 On October 6, 2023, Defendant filed the pending Motion to Vacate. [Doc. No. 79.] 28 In the Motion to Vacate, Defendant requests the Court vacate, set aside, or correct her 1 sentence based on ineffective assistance of counsel (IAC). Defendant claims her 2 sentencing counsel, Richard J. Boesen, was ineffective in that Mr. Boesen: 1) told 3 Defendant that she was looking at a sentence of no more than 5 years; 2) failed to provide 4 Defendant with a copy of her Presence Investigation Report (PSR) prior to sentencing; 3) 5 failed to argue mitigating circumstances of Defendant’s mental health conditions and 4) 6 violated attorney-client privilege by arguing with Defendant during her presentence 7 interview about the disposition of payments made for transporting controlled substances. 8 Id. 9 On November 17, 2023, the government filed an opposition. [Doc. No. 86.] On 10 December 8, 2023, Defendant filed a reply. [Doc. No. 88.] After this Court granted the 11 government’s motion to waive attorney-client privilege and compel any associated 12 disclosure [Doc. Nos. 85, 103], on August 28, 2024, the government filed a supplemental 13 opposition. [Doc. No. 109.] On November 29, 2024, Defendant filed a reply to the 14 supplemental opposition. [Doc. No. 114.] 15 LEGAL STANDARD 16 To prevail on a claim that counsel's assistance was so defective as to require 17 reversal of a conviction, a defendant must show that counsel's performance was deficient 18 and that the deficient performance prejudiced the defense. Strickland v. Washington, 466 19 U.S. 668, 687 (1984). The proper standard for evaluating attorney performance is 20 whether the assistance was reasonably effective under the circumstances. Id. at 690. 21 Judicial scrutiny of defense counsel's performance must be “highly deferential,” and a 22 court “must indulge a strong presumption that counsel's conduct falls within the wide 23 range of reasonable professional assistance....” Id. at 689. Prejudice is shown when “there 24 is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel's unprofessional errors, the result of the 25 proceeding would have been different. A reasonable probability is a probability sufficient 26 to undermine confidence in the outcome.” Id. at 694. 27 / / / / / 28 / / / / / 1 DISCUSSION 2 A. Counsel’s Representations Regarding Punishment. 3 Defendant alleges that her counsel told her she was “looking at no more than five 4 years,” which led her to plead guilty. [Doc. No. 79 at 1.] However, this allegation does 5 not amount to IAC under Stickland. First, Mr. Boesen denies making that statement. 6 [Doc. No. 109-1 at 3, ¶2.] Moreover, Plaintiff’s allegations are contradicted by 7 statements in her signed plea agreement that she knew about potential sentences and 8 knew that her sentence was within the sole discretion of the judge. [Doc. No. 33, ¶VI.B., 9 IX.] Plaintiff then confirmed these sworn statements at the plea hearing. [Doc. No. 67 at 10 10-12.] Sworn statements at the plea hearing “carry a strong presumption of truth.” Muth 11 v. Fondren, 676 F.3d 815, 821 (9th Cir. 2012). Thus, these allegations fail to show IAC 12 under Strickland. 13 B. Counsel’s Alleged Failure to Provide Copy of PSR. 14 Defendant alleges counsel failed to provide her a copy of her presentence report 15 (“PSR”) prior to sentencing. [Doc. No. 79 at 1.] Again, Mr. Boesen denies this 16 allegation. [Doc. No. 109-1 at 3, ¶4.] Moreover, at the sentencing hearing, the Court 17 asked Defendant’s counsel whether he had reviewed the PSR with Defendant prior to 18 sentencing, and counsel responded “I certainly have, Your Honor.” [Doc. No. 68 at 2.] 19 Defendant did not contradict or challenge that statement at her sentencing hearing, 20 despite having the opportunity to address the Court. [Doc. No. 68 at 20-22.] Finally, 21 even if her allegations are true, Defendant fails to show what allegedly false information 22 in the PSR was relied upon by the Court at sentencing. Thus, Defendant fails to satisfy 23 the prejudice prong under Strickland. 24 C. Mitigating Evidence Regarding Mental Health Conditions. 25 Defendant claims that counsel failed to present mitigating evidence at sentencing 26 regarding her mental health conditions. [Doc. No. 79 at 1.] However, this claim is also 27 contradicted by the record. Prior to sentencing, defense counsel filed a sentencing 28 memorandum [Doc. No.
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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Case No.: 20cr2914-CAB; 23cv1860- CAB 12 Plaintiff,
13 v. ORDER DENYING DEFENDANT’S MOTION UNDER 28 U.S.C. 14 CYNTHIA LEON MONTOYA, SECTION 2255 TO VACATE, SET 15 Defendant. ASIDE, OR CORRECT SENTENCE BY A PERSON IN FEDERAL 16 CUSTODY 17 [DOC. NO. 79]
18 Before the Court is Defendant Cynthia Leon Montoya’s Motion Under 28 U.S.C. 19 Section 2255 to Vacate, Set Aside, or Correct Sentence by a Person in Federal Custody 20 (“motion to vacate”). [Doc. No. 79.] For the reasons set forth below, the motion is 21 DENIED. 22 FACTUAL BACKGROUND 23 On March 10, 2021, Defendant pled guilty to importation of methamphetamine and 24 importation of cocaine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 952 and 960. [Doc. No. 34.] Through 25 her plea agreement, Defendant agreed that she imported 4.40 kilograms of cocaine on her 26 person, and 5.02 kilograms of methamphetamine body-carried by her 15-year-old minor 27 son into the United States from Mexico [Doc. No. 33 at Para. II.B(2).] Further, the 28 1 Guidelines agreed to by the parties, pursuant to the plea agreement, placed Defendant at a 2 base offense level of 38 under the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines. The parties agreed to a 3 two-level enhancement for importation of methamphetamine if no role adjustment 4 applied, as well as adjustments and departures for acceptance of responsibility (-3) and 5 Fast Track (-4). The parties agreed to allow argument at sentencing for a two-level 6 enhancement for use of a minor to commit a crime pursuant to USSG § 3B1.4. 7 Defense counsel Richard J. Boesen filed sentencing documents on May 5, 2021. 8 [Doc. Nos. 39 and 40.] Defendant requested adjustments for safety valve pursuant to 9 USSG § 2D1.1(b)(17) and 5C1.2 (-2) and minor role pursuant to 3B1.2 (-2). [Doc. No. 10 39]. Defendant requested additional departures and variances based on Defendant’s 11 mental and emotional conditions, imperfect duress, and combination of factors, and 12 requested a sentence of less than 21 months. Id. 13 Counsel for the government filed a Sentencing Summary Chart on May 7, 2021 14 [Doc. No. 43.] The Government recommended adjustments for safety valve (-2) and use 15 of a minor pursuant to USSG § 3B1.4 (+2). Id. After all adjustments and departures were 16 totaled, the adjusted offense level recommended by the Government was 33, resulting in 17 a guideline range of 135 months to 168 months at Criminal History Category I. Id. The 18 Government recommended a downward variance based on Defendant’s waiver of Speedy 19 Trial Act claims, as well as an additional variance to “avoid unwarranted disparities here 20 in light of Defendant’s health issues, background, and family circumstances . . . .” Id. The 21 Government’s ultimate sentencing recommendation was 70 months. 22 The Court held a sentencing hearing on May 17, 2021. [Doc. No. 68.] At the 23 conclusion of the hearing, the sentencing court imposed a sentence of 100-months in 24 custody and five years of supervised release for each count, concurrent. [Doc. No. 47.] 25 Judgment was entered on June 7, 2021. [Doc. no. 62.] 26 PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND 27 On October 6, 2023, Defendant filed the pending Motion to Vacate. [Doc. No. 79.] 28 In the Motion to Vacate, Defendant requests the Court vacate, set aside, or correct her 1 sentence based on ineffective assistance of counsel (IAC). Defendant claims her 2 sentencing counsel, Richard J. Boesen, was ineffective in that Mr. Boesen: 1) told 3 Defendant that she was looking at a sentence of no more than 5 years; 2) failed to provide 4 Defendant with a copy of her Presence Investigation Report (PSR) prior to sentencing; 3) 5 failed to argue mitigating circumstances of Defendant’s mental health conditions and 4) 6 violated attorney-client privilege by arguing with Defendant during her presentence 7 interview about the disposition of payments made for transporting controlled substances. 8 Id. 9 On November 17, 2023, the government filed an opposition. [Doc. No. 86.] On 10 December 8, 2023, Defendant filed a reply. [Doc. No. 88.] After this Court granted the 11 government’s motion to waive attorney-client privilege and compel any associated 12 disclosure [Doc. Nos. 85, 103], on August 28, 2024, the government filed a supplemental 13 opposition. [Doc. No. 109.] On November 29, 2024, Defendant filed a reply to the 14 supplemental opposition. [Doc. No. 114.] 15 LEGAL STANDARD 16 To prevail on a claim that counsel's assistance was so defective as to require 17 reversal of a conviction, a defendant must show that counsel's performance was deficient 18 and that the deficient performance prejudiced the defense. Strickland v. Washington, 466 19 U.S. 668, 687 (1984). The proper standard for evaluating attorney performance is 20 whether the assistance was reasonably effective under the circumstances. Id. at 690. 21 Judicial scrutiny of defense counsel's performance must be “highly deferential,” and a 22 court “must indulge a strong presumption that counsel's conduct falls within the wide 23 range of reasonable professional assistance....” Id. at 689. Prejudice is shown when “there 24 is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel's unprofessional errors, the result of the 25 proceeding would have been different. A reasonable probability is a probability sufficient 26 to undermine confidence in the outcome.” Id. at 694. 27 / / / / / 28 / / / / / 1 DISCUSSION 2 A. Counsel’s Representations Regarding Punishment. 3 Defendant alleges that her counsel told her she was “looking at no more than five 4 years,” which led her to plead guilty. [Doc. No. 79 at 1.] However, this allegation does 5 not amount to IAC under Stickland. First, Mr. Boesen denies making that statement. 6 [Doc. No. 109-1 at 3, ¶2.] Moreover, Plaintiff’s allegations are contradicted by 7 statements in her signed plea agreement that she knew about potential sentences and 8 knew that her sentence was within the sole discretion of the judge. [Doc. No. 33, ¶VI.B., 9 IX.] Plaintiff then confirmed these sworn statements at the plea hearing. [Doc. No. 67 at 10 10-12.] Sworn statements at the plea hearing “carry a strong presumption of truth.” Muth 11 v. Fondren, 676 F.3d 815, 821 (9th Cir. 2012). Thus, these allegations fail to show IAC 12 under Strickland. 13 B. Counsel’s Alleged Failure to Provide Copy of PSR. 14 Defendant alleges counsel failed to provide her a copy of her presentence report 15 (“PSR”) prior to sentencing. [Doc. No. 79 at 1.] Again, Mr. Boesen denies this 16 allegation. [Doc. No. 109-1 at 3, ¶4.] Moreover, at the sentencing hearing, the Court 17 asked Defendant’s counsel whether he had reviewed the PSR with Defendant prior to 18 sentencing, and counsel responded “I certainly have, Your Honor.” [Doc. No. 68 at 2.] 19 Defendant did not contradict or challenge that statement at her sentencing hearing, 20 despite having the opportunity to address the Court. [Doc. No. 68 at 20-22.] Finally, 21 even if her allegations are true, Defendant fails to show what allegedly false information 22 in the PSR was relied upon by the Court at sentencing. Thus, Defendant fails to satisfy 23 the prejudice prong under Strickland. 24 C. Mitigating Evidence Regarding Mental Health Conditions. 25 Defendant claims that counsel failed to present mitigating evidence at sentencing 26 regarding her mental health conditions. [Doc. No. 79 at 1.] However, this claim is also 27 contradicted by the record. Prior to sentencing, defense counsel filed a sentencing 28 memorandum [Doc. No. 40] and a psychological evaluation (filed under seal) prepared 1 || by a licensed psychologist. These documents detailed multiple traumas experienced by 2 || the Defendant throughout her life and the impact on her mental health. Defense counsel 3 || pointed to this mitigating information in requesting a downward departure for Defendant 4 || based on “mental and emotional conditions” under USSG § 5H1.3. [Doc. No. 39 at 2.] At 5 || sentencing, defense counsel also pointed to this information, and Defendant’s diagnosed 6 || major depressive disorder. [Doc. No. 68 at 17.] The Court acknowledged this information 7 || and took it into account when fashioning an appropriate sentence. [/d. at 35.] Thus, 8 || Defendant fails to show IAC under Strickland. 9 D. Representation at Presentence Interview. 10 Defendant alleges that defense counsel argued with her during Defendant’s 11 || presentence interview regarding the disposition of money made transporting drugs, and 12 this action was a breach of attorney-client privilege. [Doc. No. 79 at 1.] First, this 13 |}cannot support an IAC claim because there is no Sixth Amendment right to counsel in a 14 || presentence interview, as it is not considered a “critical stage” in an adversary 15 || proceeding. See United States v. Benlian, 63 F.3d 824, 827 (9th Cir. 1995)(“[I]f the stage 16 not critical, there can be no constitutional violation, no matter how deficient counsel’s 17 || performance.”) Second, Mr. Boesen denies that this argument occurred. Finally, even if 18 || the allegations are true, Defendant has failed to show how this alleged argument with 19 counsel prejudiced her. Accordingly, Defendant fails to show IAC under Strickland. 20 CONCLUSION 21 For the reasons set forth above, Defendant’s Motion to Vacate is DENIED. 22 IT IS SO ORDERED. 23 Dated: December 13, 2024 € ZL 24 Hon. Cathy Ann Bencivengo 25 United States District Judge 26 27 28