Welch v. United States

CourtDistrict Court, D. Idaho
DecidedDecember 20, 2024
Docket2:23-cv-00415
StatusUnknown

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

Bluebook
Welch v. United States, (D. Idaho 2024).

Opinion

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF IDAHO UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Case No. 2:20-cr-00052-DCN Plaintiff, 2:23-cv-00415-DCN

v. MEMORANDUM DECISION AND ORDER TRINA MARIE WELCH,

Defendant.

I. INTRODUCTION Before the Court in the above-captioned related cases are several matters ripe for review. In her criminal case (“CR-20-52”), Trina Welch filed a Motion to Dismiss or Amend (Dkt. 131), a Motion for Request of Information Regarding Properties (Dkt. 146), and a Petition for Home Confinement (Dkt. 154).1 In her civil cased filed under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 (“CV-23-415”) Welch has filed an Application to Proceed in Forma Pauperis (Dkt. 2), and a “Supplemental Motion” (Dkt. 19).2 Additionally, Welch has filed two documents in both cases: a “Motion Asking the Honorable Court and Marshal Service for a Case Breakdown” (CR-20-52, Dkt. 148; CV-

1 The Government also filed a Motion for Extension of Time to Reply to one of Welch’s filings. CR-20-52, Dkt. 133. This Motion is GRANTED.

2 These filings are in addition to the actual 2255 Petition, which is currently pending as well. CV-23-415, Dkt. 1. 23-415, Dkt 21), and a “Motion for Leave to Add Attachments” (CR-20-52, Dkt. 152; CV- 23-415, Dkt. 25). Because of the overlapping and interrelated nature of these documents, the Court

issues this omnibus decision addressing all relevant filings. Additionally, it does so without oral argument, having determined the facts and legal arguments are adequately presented in the briefs and that the decisional process would not be significantly aided by oral argument. See Dist. Idaho Loc. Civ. R. 7.1(d)(1)(B). II. BACKGROUND

The Court will not review the factual background of the underlying criminal case as it is known to all parties. Briefly though, Welch pleaded guilty to wire fraud for embezzling money from her employer. CR-20-52, Dkts. 45, 48. The Court sentenced Welch to 51 months of incarceration and ordered she pay $3,678,642.62 in restitution. Dkt. 93. Some additional background information is worth noting to contextualize the

Court’s rulings on the motions at issue. First, as part of her plea agreement, Welch admitted the asset forfeiture allegation in the Indictment. CR-20-52, Dkt. 45, at 6–9. Soon after, the Government sought a Preliminary Order of Forfeiture related to the six parcels of real property listed in Welch’s Indictment and Plea Agreement. CR-20-52, Dkt. 51. Thereafter, Welch’s husband and son

filed petitions claiming an interest in various properties. CR-20-52, Dkts. 54, 60. The Court ultimately granted the Government’s motion to dismiss these petitions. CR-20-52, Dkt. 113. The Court also denied Welch’s husband’s follow-up motion to reconsider (CR-20-52, Dkt. 125), and the Court’s decision was recently affirmed by the Ninth Circuit. CR-20-52, Dkt. 155. Second, this has been a highly contentious case in the sense that it divided a small community. Gossip, Facebook posts, and texts between neighbors, friends, and co-workers

abound. Sentencing in this matter was akin to a feature film where one half the town sat on one side of the gallery and the other half on the opposite with jeers, sneers, and whispers spanning the divide. Welch has accused the victim (her former boss)—Keith Sims—of orchestrating a smear campaign against her and her family. Sims has made similar allegations against Welch. The strife continues to this day as Sims tries to collect on the

money owed to him under the Court’s restitution award. In turn, Welch continues to argue Sims was complicit in her criminal activity and/or is guilty of crimes himself. The Court is aware that Sims has taken legal action in Idaho state court on these matters and that Welch filed a federal civil lawsuit against Sims to prevent those state court actions.3 The Court mentions this saga because the bulk of what Welch recites in each of the

pending motions relates to her relationship with Sims, her belief that she was wrongfully prosecuted, and the notion that Sims should be prohibited from trying to collect any court- awarded restitution. But none of these issues are properly before the Court. The Court has jurisdiction over Welch. It has ordered certain financial obligations as part Welch’s sentence. But Sims is not on trial here and the Court has no jurisdiction or authority over

him. Likewise, the Court does not have jurisdiction over any Idaho state court proceedings.

3 United States Magistrate Judge Deborah K. Grasham recently dismissed that suit because Welch failed to properly serve Sims. Case No. 2:23-cv-00580, Dkts. 43, 44. Welch has sought to reopen the matter. Id. at Dkt. 45. Thus, although the Court acknowledges Welch’s extensive allegations, questions, and concerns, it lacks authority to address many of them. Instead, the Court turns to the various motions and arguments properly before it, beginning with Welch’s criminal case.

III. DISCUSSION A. Motion To Dismiss or Amend Judgment (CR-20-52, Dkt. 131) 1. Background Welch first moves the Court for an order dismissing or amending the restitution judgment and forfeiture order. Welch states that she is “challenging the district court’s

restitution order, forfeiture order, money judgment order, which entails the change of Plea and Indictment to state the ‘TRUTH’ in the matters presented to the honorable court.” CR- 20-52, Dkt. 131-1, at 1. Welch goes on to state “that substantial grounds warrant reconsideration, and I am asking The Court to dismiss, correct, set aside, or amend the final judgment and indictment to state ‘THE TRUTH.’” Id. Finally, Welch notes that, “this

Motion can be joined with the 2255 Motion, which was mailed on 9/15/2023, as the facts are being presented with the ineffective counsel that was received and the misconduct and fraudulent accusations.” Id. at 1–2. The Government responded in opposition, arguing the Court should deny this motion for various reasons.4 Under the circumstances, the Court agrees.

As an initial matter, Welch cannot litigate in two forums. She has filed a Petition under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 alleging—among other things—ineffective assistance of counsel

4 The Government also sought an extension of its deadline to respond. CR-20-52, Dkt. 133. Good cause appearing, the same is GRANTED and the Court accepts the Government’s brief as filed. because her attorneys advised her to plead guilty and did not more strenuously object to the restitution amount, loss amount, and forfeiture amount. The Court will deal with those issues in Welch’s civil case. But to the extent Welch’s Motion to Dismiss or Amend

Judgment (“Motion to Dismiss”) in her criminal case seeks relief that can only be found via the proceedings in the civil case, it is denied. Interestingly, however, in her 2255 Petition in her civil case, Welch also challenges the Court’s restitution and forfeiture orders. Neither of those arguments can be adjudicated in that forum. See United States v. Thiele, 314 F.3d 399, 400 (9th Cir. 2002) (explaining

that claims for “relief from a restitution order[] cannot be brought in a § 2255 motion . . . .”); United States v. Finze, 428 F. App’x 672, 677 (9th Cir. 2011) (holding that a challenge to a “forfeiture claim is not a cognizable § 2255 claim . . . .”) (cleaned up)). Thus, the Court must address the forfeiture and restitution aspects of Welch’s Motion to Dismiss in the context of her criminal case.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Murray v. Carrier
477 U.S. 478 (Supreme Court, 1986)
Massaro v. United States
538 U.S. 500 (Supreme Court, 2003)
United States v. Christian Finze
428 F. App'x 672 (Ninth Circuit, 2011)
United States v. Oscar Ceballos
671 F.3d 852 (Ninth Circuit, 2011)
United States v. John Herman Thiele
314 F.3d 399 (Ninth Circuit, 2002)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
Welch v. United States, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/welch-v-united-states-idd-2024.