Opinion
CV 119-193
05-14-2020
MICHAEL BERNARD JOHNSON, Petitioner, v. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Respondent.
(Formerly CR 116-028)
MAGISTRATE JUDGE'S REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION
Petitioner, an inmate at Lee United States Penitentiary in Jonesville, Virginia, filed a motion under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 to vacate, set aside, or correct his sentence. For the reasons set forth below, the Court REPORTS and RECOMMENDS the § 2255 motion be DENIED, this civil action be CLOSED, and a final judgment be ENTERED in favor of Respondent.
I. BACKGROUND
A. Indictment
On May 4, 2016, the grand jury in the Southern District of Georgia returned a three-count indictment against Petitioner: Count One, possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1); Count Two, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(i); and Count Three, felon in possession of firearms, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). United States v. Johnson, CR 116-028, doc. no. 1 (S.D. Ga. May 4, 2016) (hereinafter "CR 116-028"). As originally charged, Petitioner faced a statutory sentence of not more than twenty years of imprisonment on Count One, not less than five years nor more than life imprisonment on Count Two, and not more than ten years of imprisonment on Count Three. CR 116-028, doc. no. 2. The Court appointed attorney Brendan N. Fleming to represent Petitioner. Id., doc. no. 9.
B. Guilty Plea
On August 17, 2016, Petitioner appeared with counsel and pled guilty to Count Three, felon in possession of firearms. Id., doc. nos. 49-51. The written plea agreement identified the elements of the offense as: "(1) that Defendant knowingly possessed a firearm in or affecting commerce; and (2) that, before possessing the firearm, Defendant had been convicted of a felony, that is, a crime punishable by imprisonment for more than one year." Id., doc. no. 51, ("Plea Agreement"), p. 1. In exchange for the guilty plea, the government agreed to (1) dismiss the remaining counts against Petitioner in the indictment; (2) not object to a recommendation for a two-point acceptance of responsibility reduction and move for an additional one-point reduction under the Sentencing Guidelines if Petitioner's offense level was sixteen or greater prior to the acceptance of responsibility reduction; and (3) consider filing a motion, based on any "substantial assistance" provided by Petitioner, for downward departure under U.S.S.G. § 5K1.1 or requesting a reduction of Petitioner's sentence under Fed. R. Crim. P. 35. Id. at 3-5.
The Plea Agreement contained the following factual basis for Petitioner's guilty plea:
That on or about the 4th day of December 2015, in Richmond County, within the Southern District of Georgia, the defendant herein, MICHAEL BERNARD JOHNSON having been convicted of the following crimes punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year:
i. Possession of a Firearm by First Offender Probationer, in the Superior Court of Richmond County, Georgia, Indictment No. 2009-RCCR-211; April 24, 2009;
ii. Possession of Marijuana With Intent to Distribute[,] in the Superior Court of Effingham County, Georgia, Indictment Number SU13-CR104W[;] November 20, 2013;
iii. Possession of a Controlled Substance With Intent to Distribute, Possession of A Firearm During the Commission of a Crime, Theft by Receiving Stolen Property, in the Superior Court of Richmond County, Georgia, Indictment No. 2013-RCCR-1484[;] August 8, 2014
Id. at 2. With his signature on the Plea Agreement, Petitioner "stipulate[d] that the factual basis set out therein is true and accurate in every respect." Id. at 9.
did knowingly possess in and affecting commerce a [sic] certain firearms, those are: a KelTec, Model PMR-30, .22 caliber pistol, serial number W6756; and a Rossi, Model 351, .38 caliber revolver, serial number TG51810, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g).
By signing the Plea Agreement, Petitioner also "entirely waive[d] his right to a direct appeal of his conviction and sentence on any ground" unless the Court (1) sentenced him above the statutory maximum, (2) sentenced him above the advisory Sentencing Guidelines range, or (3) the government appealed the sentence. Id. at 5. Absent one of those three conditions, "[Petitioner] explicitly and irrevocably instruct[ed] his attorney not to file an appeal." Id. at 6. Further, Petitioner waived his right to collaterally attack his conviction and sentence on any ground other than ineffective assistance of counsel. Id. By signing the Plea Agreement, Petitioner additionally attested Mr. Fleming had "represented him faithfully, skillfully, and diligently, and [Petitioner] is completely satisfied with the legal advice given and the work performed by his attorney." Id. at 7.
At the guilty plea hearing, Chief United States District Judge J. Randal Hall first confirmed no one had threatened or pressured Petitioner into pleading guilty and that he clearly understood where he was and why he was in court. Id., doc. no. 78 ("Rule 11 Tr."), pp. 4, 7. Judge Hall reviewed the charges against Petitioner in the indictment, with a particular focus on the felon in possession charge to which the guilty plea applied, as well as the forfeiture allegation against him. Id. at 7-8, 16-17. Petitioner confirmed he had as much time as he needed to go over the charges with Mr. Fleming. Id. at 9. Petitioner also testified under oath he was satisfied with the assistance he had received from Mr. Fleming and that he had read and reviewed the Plea Agreement with counsel before signing it. Id. at 9, 11-12.
Judge Hall also explained the rights Petitioner would be waiving by pleading guilty, and Petitioner affirmed he clearly understood those rights. Id. at 9-11. Among the rights explained, Judge Hall reviewed the right to trial by jury, the presumption of innocence, the government's burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, the right to present and cross-examine witnesses, and the right to remain silent. Id. Judge Hall also specifically reviewed the appeal and collateral attack waiver provisions of the Plea Agreement. Id. at 12. Judge Hall confirmed that other than the Plea Agreement, no one on behalf of the government had promised anything to procure the guilty plea. Id. at 13.
Judge Hall reviewed the statutory penalty of a sentence up to ten years in prison. Id. at 13. When asked, Petitioner confirmed that he understood the possible imprisonment penalty, as well as the potential $ 250,000 fine and up to three years of supervised release after completion of the term of imprisonment. Id. Judge Hall also explained that upon Petitioner's conviction, he would lose the right to vote, hold public office, serve on a jury, and own or possess firearms or ammunition. Id. at 14. Judge Hall further explained that upon entry of the guilty plea, he would order the preparation of a Presentence Investigation Report ("PSI"), and Petitioner's sentence would be based on the information in the PSI. Id. at 15. Judge Hall specifically explained the PSI would calculate an advisory Sentencing Guidelines range, but he could sentence Petitioner within the range, below the range, or above the range. Id. at 16. Petitioner stated that he understood the sentencing process described by Judge Hall and that no one had promised him he would receive a particular sentence. Id.
Next, Judge Hall heard a factual basis for the guilty plea from Jason Stricklin, Special Agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Id. at 17-19. SA Stricklin testified members of the Richmond County Sheriff's Department narcotics unit executed a search warrant on December 4, 2015, at the residence Petitioner shared with his girlfriend. Id. at 18. The search uncovered firearms, ammunition, currency, telephones, documents, a suspected drug ledger, and quantities of cocaine, heroin, and pills. Id. at 18-19. ATF agents examined the firearms, both of which were the subject of the felon in possession charge brought against Petitioner, and discovered both had been manufactured outside Georgia, and one had been previously reported stolen. Id. at 19. A review of Petitioner's criminal history revealed he had three prior felony convictions, thereby prohibiting him from possessing a firearm. Id. Petitioner stated to Judge Hall the information provided by SA Stricklin and contained in Count Three of the indictment was true, that when he possessed the two firearms in December 2015 he was already a convicted felon, and he was guilty of, and wanted to plead guilty to, the felon in possession charge. Id. at 20.
Judge Hall then summarized the proceedings as follows:
. . . [T]his Court finds that "[Petitioner] is competent. He fully understands the charge against him. There is an independent factual basis supporting his plea of guilty containing each of the essential elements of the offense. He knows the maximum punishment that could be imposed on the charge, and he knows his jury rights, which he has knowingly and voluntarily waived.
I further find that [Petitioner's] decision to plead guilty this afternoon was voluntary, knowing, and not the result of any force, pressure, threats, or promises other than the promises made by the Government in the plea
agreement. Therefore, [Petitioner's] plea is accepted, and I now adjudge him guilty of Count 3 of the indictment.Id. at 21.
C. Sentencing
The United States Probation Office then prepared a PSI which set Petitioner's Total Offense Level at twenty-nine, Criminal History Category at VI, and Guidelines imprisonment range at 120 months because the 151 to 188 months range was limited by the statutory maximum of ten years. PSI ¶¶ 27, 39, 57, 58; see also CR 116-028, doc. no. 2, p. 2. The criminal history section listed the three prior felonies listed in the indictment and Plea Agreement. PSI ¶¶ 32, 35, 36. The base offense level of twenty-six was increased by two and four points, respectively, because one of the firearms was stolen and Petitioner possessed the firearms while in possession of a felony quantity of cocaine with intent to distribute. PSI ¶¶ 17-19. The adjusted offense level was reduced three points for Petitioner's acceptance of responsibility. PSI ¶¶ 23, 25-27. Had Petitioner been convicted of the charges in Counts One and Two dismissed as part of the Plea Agreement, the statutory penalty would have allowed for up to twenty years in prison for Count One and a mandatory consecutive term of at least five years in prison as to Count Two. CR 116-028, doc. no. 2; PSI ¶ 59.
At sentencing, Judge Hall resolved Petitioner's one objection to a factual statement regarding tattoos on Petitioner's body commonly identified as used by Bloods Street Gang members by altering the punctuation to make sure Petitioner was not identified as a gang member. PSI ¶ 11; PSI Add.; CR 116-028, doc. no. 76, ("Sent. Tr."), pp. 4-7. Judge Hall then adopted the factual statement of the PSI and the application of the advisory Guidelines as his own findings of fact. Id. at 7. Mr. Fleming requested Judge Hall consider a downward departure from the Guidelines range; Petitioner declined to make a statement. Id. at 7-9. Judge Hall imposed a term of imprisonment of 120 months, consecutive to any state sentence imposed for violating probation in Petitioner's prior Richmond County Superior case 2013-RCCR-1484. Id. at 10; CR 116-028, doc. no. 60.
On direct appeal, Mr. Fleming filed a brief pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967), and the Eleventh Circuit affirmed Petitioner's conviction and sentence. United States v. Johnson, 699 F. App'x 908, 909 (11th Cir. 2017) (per curiam).
D. § 2255 Proceedings
Petitioner filed the instant § 2255 motion to vacate, set aside, or correct his sentence arguing he is entitled to have his felon in possession conviction vacated in light of the decision of the United States Supreme Court in Rehaif v. United States, 139 S. Ct. 2191 (U.S. 2019). (See generally doc. no. 1.)
II. DISCUSSION
In Rehaif, the Supreme Court held that in a felon in possession prosecution "under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g) and § 924(a)(2), the Government must prove both that the defendant knew he possessed a firearm and that he knew he belonged to the relevant category of persons barred from possessing a firearm." 139 S. Ct. at 2200. Prior to this 2019 decision, the government was not required "to satisfy a mens rea requirement with respect to the status element of § 922." United States v. Rehaif, 888 F.3d 1138, 1144 (11th Cir. 2018), rev'd and remanded, 139 S. Ct. 2191. The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals has determined the Supreme Court's Rehaif decision clarified the requirements for prosecuting an individual under 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g) and 924(a)(2) but did not announce a new rule of constitutional law. In re Palacios, 931 F.3d 1314, 1315 (11th Cir. 2019). The Eleventh Circuit also recognized the Supreme Court did not make the case retroactively applicable to cases on collateral appeal. Id.
Petitioner argues he "did not know he had the relevant status of being a convicted felon at the time he possessed the firearm." (Doc. no. 1, p. 2.) Furthermore, he argues the government "definitely cannot provide any" evidence he had the relevant knowledge of his status. (Id. at 3.) Respondent argues the § 2255 motion should be denied for four reasons: (1) the claim is barred by the collateral attack waiver; (2) the non-jurisdictional defect of failing to include the mens rea element in the indictment was waived by entry of a knowing and voluntary guilty plea; (3) the claim is procedurally defaulted; and (4) any error was harmless.
A. Petitioner's Claim Is Barred by the Valid Collateral Attack Waiver in the Plea Agreement
It is well settled that waiver of the right to attack a sentence and conviction on direct appeal or by habeas petition is enforceable if the waiver is knowing and voluntary. United States v. DiFalco, 837 F.3d 1207, 1219-20 (11th Cir. 2016); United States v. Weaver, 275 F.3d 1320, 1333 (11th Cir. 2001); United States v. Bushert, 997 F.2d 1343, 1345 (11th Cir. 1993); see also United States v. Warner-Freeman, 270 F. App'x 754, 757 (11th Cir. 2008) (per curiam). Moreover, "[a]n appeal waiver includes the waiver of the right to appeal difficult or debatable legal issues or even blatant error." United States v. Grinard-Henry, 399 F.3d 1294, 1296 (11th Cir. 2005) (per curiam). "To establish the waiver's validity, the government must show either that (1) the district court specifically questioned the defendant about the provision during the plea colloquy, or (2) it is manifestly clear from the record that the defendant fully understood the significance of the waiver." Weaver, 275 F.3d at 1333. If the government meets this burden, then the waiver is valid and enforceable. See United States v. Pease, 240 F.3d 938, 942 (11th Cir. 2001) (enforcing waiver provision where defendant was specifically questioned during plea proceedings about waiver); United States v. Howle, 166 F.3d 1166, 1168-69 (11th Cir. 1999); United States v. Benitez-Zapata, 131 F.3d 1444, 1446-47 (11th Cir. 1997).
Here, the Plea Agreement signed and verified by Petitioner explicitly set forth that he was voluntarily waiving his right to a direct appeal of the conviction and sentence, as well as his right to collaterally attack the same on any ground other than ineffective assistance of counsel. Plea Agreement, pp. 5-6. None of the exceptions to the waiver apply because Petitioner's sentence did not exceed the statutory maximum of ten years of imprisonment or the advisory Guidelines range as determined by Judge Hall after reviewing the PSI, and the government did not appeal. Id. Likewise, the Rehaif claim is not based on a claim of ineffective assistance, and therefore does not fall within the only exception to the collateral attack waiver. Id. at 6. Moreover, Judge Hall reviewed the appeal and collateral attack waiver provision in the Plea Agreement during the change of plea proceedings and confirmed Petitioner understood and had agreed to the terms. Rule 11 Tr. 12.
While Petitioner would have the Court ignore his responses to Judge Hall's questions, "solemn declarations in open court carry a strong presumption of verity" and "constitute a formidable barrier in any subsequent collateral proceedings." Blackledge v. Allison, 431 U.S. 63, 74 (1977). The record before the Court demonstrates Petitioner's agreement to the collateral attack waiver was knowing and voluntary, and the Rehaif claim falls within the scope of the waiver. Therefore, enforcement of this valid collateral attack waiver bars Petitioner's Rehaif claim. See United States v. Marc, - F. App'x -, No. 19-10656, 2020 WL 1487670, at *3-4 (11th Cir. Mar. 25, 2020) (enforcing knowing and voluntary appeal waiver to bar Rehaif claim).
B. Petitioner's Collateral Attack Waiver Is Enforceable Because His Guilty Plea Was Knowing and Voluntary
Having determined that Petitioner knowingly and voluntarily waived the right to attack his sentence and conviction on direct appeal or by collateral attack in a § 2255 motion, the Court turns to the knowing and voluntary nature of the guilty plea. For if a guilty plea is not knowingly and voluntarily entered, that "would in turn mean that a court could not enforce a waiver contained within that plea agreement." Vaca-Ortiz v. United States, 320 F. Supp. 2d 1362, 1365 (N.D. Ga. 2004) (citing Bushert, 997 F.2d at 1350-51).
1. Standard for Enforceability of Guilty Pleas
Once a guilty plea becomes final, unless the record demonstrates that the sentencing court lacked the power to enter the conviction or impose the sentence, a petitioner may only challenge the knowing, voluntary nature of the plea. United States v. Broce, 488 U.S. 563, 569 (1989). In conducting its analysis, the Court starts with the proposition that a trial court may not accept a guilty plea without an affirmative showing on the record that the plea was intelligent and voluntary. Boykin v. Alabama, 395 U.S. 238, 242-43 (1969). The Eleventh Circuit has described the requirements for a valid guilty plea as follows: "The Fourteenth Amendment Due Process Clause requires that a plea of guilty be knowingly and voluntarily entered because it involves a waiver of a number of the defendant's constitutional rights. A plea of guilty cannot support a judgment of guilt unless it was voluntary in a constitutional sense." United States v. Brown, 117 F.3d 471, 476 (11th Cir. 1997). A guilty plea may be involuntary in a constitutional sense if a defendant is coerced into his plea, if a defendant does not understand the nature of the constitutional protections he is waiving, or "if a defendant has such an incomplete understanding of the charge that his plea cannot stand as an intelligent admission of guilt." Id. Thus, a defendant must receive "real notice of the true nature of the charged crime." Id.
The Eleventh Circuit has further explained that, for a guilty plea to be knowingly and voluntarily made, the court accepting the guilty plea must "specifically address three 'core principles,' ensuring that a defendant (1) enters his guilty plea free from coercion, (2) understands the nature of the charges, and (3) understands the consequences of his plea." United States v. Moriarty, 429 F.3d 1012, 1019 (11th Cir. 2005) (per curiam) (citations omitted). In addition, "a defendant who seeks reversal of his conviction after a guilty plea . . . must show a reasonable probability that, but for the error [under Rule 11 of the court accepting the guilty plea], he would not have entered the plea." Id. at 1020 (quoting United States v. Dominguez Benitez, 542 U.S. 74, 83 (2004)).
2. Judge Hall's Colloquy with Petitioner Satisfied the Three Core Principles
Judge Hall reviewed the charges against Petitioner in the indictment, with a particular focus on the felon in possession charge to which the guilty plea applied, as well as the forfeiture allegation against him. Rule 11 Tr. 7-8, 16-17. Judge Hall also provided a detailed explanation of the rights Petitioner would forfeit by pleading guilty, and Petitioner affirmed he understood his decision to plead guilty would result in a waiver of these rights. Id. at 9-11. Petitioner testified that other than the promises the government made in the plea agreement, no one had made promises to get him to plead guilty, and Judge Hall confirmed Petitioner's decision to plead guilty was not the result of force, pressure, threats or promises other than those in the Plea Agreement. Id. at 4, 13. Additionally, Judge Hall informed Petitioner of the possible penalties he faced upon conviction, to include up to ten years in prison. Id. at 13. Finally, Petitioner also testified he was satisfied with the help he had received from Mr. Fleming. Id. at 9; see also Plea Agreement, p. 7 ("Defendant believes that his attorney has represented him faithfully, skillfully, and diligently, and he is completely satisfied with the legal advice given and the work performed by his attorney."); p. 9 ("I have read and carefully reviewed this agreement with my attorney.").
The thorough plea colloquy ensured that Petitioner understood both the nature of the charges and the consequences of his guilty plea, and that Petitioner was not coerced into pleading guilty. See Moriarty, 429 F.3d at 1019. Accordingly, the Court concludes Petitioner entered a knowing and voluntary guilty plea to the felon in possession charge. Thus, the collateral attack waiver is enforceable and as discussed above, bars Petitioner's Rehaif claim. Likewise, as discussed below, the valid plea also bars the non-jurisdictional error of failure to include the mens rea element now required for conviction on a § 922(g), felon in possession charge.
C. The Rehaif Claim Is a Non-Jurisdictional Error Waived by the Knowing and Voluntary Guilty Plea
Petitioner alleges the indictment containing the charge to which he pleaded guilty was inadequate because it failed to include the mens rea element of the offense, i.e., he claims he did not know he "was a convicted felon who was not permitted to possess a firearm." (Doc. no. 1, p. 3.) The record shows otherwise: (1) the indictment listed Petitioner's prior felony convictions, (CR 116-028, doc. no. 1), (2) Judge Hall reviewed those convictions at the change of plea proceedings, (Rule 11 Tr. 8), (3) Petitioner admitted he was already a convicted felon when he possessed firearms in December 2015, (id. at 20); (4) Petitioner signed the Plea Agreement recounting the prior convictions, (CR 116-028, doc. no. 51, p. 2), and (5) the PSI detailed Petitioner's prior criminal history, to which he did not object, (PSI ¶¶ 32, 35, 36).
Even if the Court were to presume for the sake of argument Petitioner did not know his status as a convicted felon prohibited him from possessing a firearm, the law in the Eleventh Circuit is clear: failure to include the mens rea element of a § 922(g), felon in possession charge, is a non-jurisdictional defect. See United States v. Moore, 954 F.3d 1322, 1334-35 (11th Cir. 2020); United States v. McClellan, - F.3d -, No. 18-13289, 2020 WL 2188875, at *6 (11th Cir. May 6, 2020). Entry of a valid guilty plea waives all non-jurisdictional defects that occurred prior to entry of the plea, which includes omission of an element of offense such as the mens rea element of a felon in possession charge. See United States v. Ward, 796 F. App'x 591, 599 (11th Cir. 2019) (per curiam); see also United States v. Brown, 752 F.3d 1344, 1354 (11th Cir. 2014) (holding failure to include mens rea element in indictment was non-jurisdictional defect waived by guilty plea); United States v. Patti, 337 F.3d 1317, 1320 (11th Cir. 2003) ("Generally, a voluntary, unconditional guilty plea waives all nonjurisdictional defects in the proceedings.").
D. Petitioner Procedurally Defaulted His Rehaif Claim by Failing to Assert it on Direct Appeal
Even if Petitioner's Rehaif claim were not barred by the valid collateral attack waiver and guilty plea, it is procedurally defaulted. A petitioner seeking collateral relief must clear "a significantly higher hurdle than would exist on direct appeal." Brown v. United States, 720 F.3d 1316, 1333 (11th Cir. 2013) (quoting United States v. Frady, 456 U.S. 152, 166 (1982)). "Generally, if a challenge to a conviction or sentence is not made on direct appeal, it will be procedurally barred in a § 2255 challenge." United States v. Montano, 398 F.3d 1276, 1279-80 (11th Cir. 2005) (citing Mills v. United States, 36 F.3d 1052, 1055 (11th Cir. 1994)). "A ground of error is usually 'available' on direct appeal when its merits can be reviewed without further factual development." Mills, 36 F.3d at 1055. In other words, Petitioner may not use this collateral attack as "a surrogate for a direct appeal." Lynn v. United States, 365 F.3d 1225, 1232 (11th Cir. 2004) (citation omitted).
The procedural bar to claims which could have been raised on direct appeal, but were not, may be avoided if the petitioner establishes one of two exceptions: (1) cause for the default and actual prejudice from the alleged error, or (2) a fundamental miscarriage of justice, covering "an extraordinary case, where a constitutional violation has probably resulted in the conviction of one who is actually innocent." Mills, 36 F.3d at 1055-56 (citing Murray v. Carrier, 477 U.S. 478, 496 (1986)). "Cause" requires a showing of some external impediment that prevented a claim from previously being raised. See Weeks v. Jones, 52 F.3d 1559, 1561 (11th Cir. 1995) (citing McCleskey v. Zant, 499 U.S. 467, 497 (1991)). "[F]utility cannot constitute cause if it means simply that a claim was 'unacceptable to that particular court at that particular time.'" Bousley v. United States, 523 U.S. 614, 623 (1998) (citations omitted); see also United States v. Bane, 948 F.3d 1290, 1297 (11th Cir. 2020) ("[A] claim is not novel when counsel made a conscious choice not to pursue the claim on direct appeal because of perceived futility, or when the building blocks of the claim were available to counsel." (citations omitted)); Lynn, 365 F.3d at 1235 ("In procedural default cases, the question is not whether legal developments or new evidence has made a claim easier or better, but whether at the time of the direct appeal the claim was available at all.")
To demonstrate prejudice, Petitioner "must shoulder the burden of showing, not merely that the errors at his trial [or sentencing] created a possibility of prejudice, but that they worked to his actual and substantial disadvantage, infecting his entire trial [or sentencing] with error of constitutional dimensions." Frady, 456 U.S. at 170. As to the exception for actual innocence, the Supreme Court emphasized, "The miscarriage of justice exception, we underscore, applies to a severely confined category: cases in which new evidence shows 'it is more likely than not that no reasonable juror would have convicted [the petitioner].'" McQuiggin v. Perkins, 569 U.S. 383, 394-95 (2013) (emphasis added). Moreover, "'actual innocence' means factual innocence, not mere legal insufficiency." Bousley, 523 U.S. at 623-24 (citation omitted).
Petitioner did not raise his mens rea claim at his change of plea hearing, at his sentencing, or on direct appeal. Petitioner points out as justification for this failure that the claim was foreclosed by Eleventh Circuit precedent before the Supreme Court's Rehaif decision. However, as explained above, that a claim was previously unacceptable to a court does not satisfy the cause requirement. Id. at 623. Moreover, the building blocks for the claim were available. Bane, 948 F.3d at 1297. As the Eleventh Circuit has explained, the Supreme Court's Rehaif decision did not announce a new rule of constitutional law but instead clarified the requirements for prosecuting an individual under 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g) and 924(a)(2). See In re Palacios, 931 F.3d at 1315.
Petitioner points to nothing that prevented him from raising what may have seemed at the time to be a losing argument. After all, as a sister circuit aptly explained, "[T]he difficulty in prevailing on a particular argument does not excuse the failure to make it in the first place." Prost v. Anderson, 636 F.3d 578, 592 n.11 (10th Cir. 2011) (Gorsuch, J.). Indeed, successfully challenging circuit precedent all the way to the Supreme Court is the reward to litigants who "took the trouble to challenge adverse circuit precedent." Id. at 590-91. As Petitioner cannot satisfy the cause and prejudice standard, his procedural default is not excused. See Mills, 36 F.3d at 1055.
For the sake of completeness, the Court notes a collateral attack waiver cannot serve as cause to excuse procedural default. See Lester v. United States, No. 3:17-CR-76-J-32JBT, 3:18-cv-1076-J-32JBT, 2020 WL 1911462 (M.D. Fla. Apr. 20, 2020).
Nor can Petitioner satisfy the rigorous fundamental miscarriage of justice exception. He presents no evidence, much less new evidence, to suggest no juror, acting reasonably, would have voted to find him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt had he gone to trial and required the government to prove the mens rea element. See McQuiggin, 569 U.S. at 386. This is particularly true in light of Petitioner's criminal history detailed in Part II(C). Prior to the offense conduct at issue here, Petitioner accrued a criminal history that included three felony convictions and two prison sentences of four and three years. The indictment listed Petitioner's multiple prior felony convictions; Judge Hall reviewed those convictions at the change of plea proceedings; Petitioner admitted he was already a convicted felon when he possessed firearms in December 2015; Petitioner signed the Plea Agreement recounting the prior convictions; and the PSI detailed Petitioner's prior criminal history, to which he did not object. "It is the law of this circuit that a failure to object to allegations of fact in a PSI admits those facts for sentencing purposes. United States v. Wade, 458 F.3d 1273, 1277 (11th Cir. 2006).
Petitioner never objected or otherwise expressed any surprise or confusion over his status as a felon. "Where the record clearly demonstrates that it would be implausible for the defendant to not have been aware of his felony status, a Rehaif error does not affect his substantial rights." McClellan, 2020 WL 218875, at *6 (citing United States v. Reed, 941 F.3d 1018, 1022 (11th Cir. 2019)); see also Ward, 796 F. App'x at 600-01 (finding prior criminal history can show defendant's knowledge of status as belonging to group prohibited from possessing a firearm). Stated otherwise, a bare Rehaif claim, made in the face of an established criminal history showing a petitioner belongs to the group prohibited from possessing a firearm, does not support an actual innocence claim. See In re Wright, 942 F.3d 1063, 1065 (11th Cir. 2019); Reed, 941 F.3d at 1021-22.
In addition, because Petitioner pleaded guilty to the felon in possession charge in exchange for the government dismissing the remaining counts, including the more serious drug distribution charge in Count One with a maximum penalty of twenty years in prison, Petitioner must also show actual innocence as to the dismissed charges. See Bousley, 523 U.S. at 624. As explained in detail in the PSI, and as explained by SA Stricklin at the change of plea proceedings, members of the Richmond County Sheriff's Department narcotics unit executed a search warrant on December 4, 2015, at the residence Petitioner shared with his girlfriend. PSI ¶¶ 5-10; Rule 11 Tr. 18. The search uncovered firearms, ammunition, currency, telephones, documents, a suspected drug ledger, and quantities of cocaine, heroin, and pills. PSI ¶¶ 5-10; Rule 11 Tr. 18-19. Petitioner did not object to the information in the PSI or offered by SA Stricklin. Nor does he now offer any evidence regarding actual innocence of the dismissed charges.
In sum, Petitioner procedurally defaulted his Rehaif claim. See United States v. Sanders, No. 4:14CR81-RH-CAS, 2020 WL 1876335, at *2 (N.D. Fla. Apr. 15, 2020) (rejecting § 2255 Rehaif claim as procedurally defaulted when not raised at trial or on direct appeal and petitioner failed to satisfy cause and prejudice or actual innocence exception).
E. Petitioner Is Not Entitled to Relief on the Merits Because Omission of the Mens Rea Element Was Harmless Error
Even if Petitioner's Rehaif claim were not barred by the valid collateral attack waiver, barred by entry of a valid guilty plea, and procedurally defaulted, he is not entitled to relief because the Rehaif error was harmless. It is long-settled that to obtain collateral relief, Petitioner must identify "a fundamental defect which inherently results in a complete miscarriage of justice, [or is] an omission inconsistent with the rudimentary demands of fair procedure." Hill v. United States, 368 U.S. 424, 428 (1962). On collateral review, relief cannot be granted unless there is "grave doubt" that the error "had substantial and injurious effect or influence" on the outcome of the underlying proceedings. Al-Amin v. Warden Georgia Dep't of Corr., 932 F.3d 1291, 1298 (11th Cir. 2019) (citations omitted), cert. denied sub nom. Al-Amin v. Ward, No. 19-573, 2020 WL 1668291 (U.S. Apr. 6, 2020). The Eleventh Circuit has explained that when applying the appropriate harmless error analysis under Brecht v. Abrahamson, 507 U.S. 619, 637-38 (1993), "[i]f, when all is said and done, the [court's] conviction is sure that the error did not influence, or had but very slight effect, the verdict and the judgment should stand." Ross v. United States, 289 F.3d 677, 683 (11th Cir. 2002) (citations omitted).
Petitioner cannot shoulder his heavy burden because the uncontroverted record establishes Petitioner knew he was a felon when he possessed the firearms forming the basis of his § 922(g) conviction on Count Three. As discussed in Part II(C) & (D), supra, Petitioner had twice been convicted of felonies resulting in prison sentences of four and three years, respectively. PSI ¶¶ 30, 32. The PSI recounted Petitioner admitted, "I possessed the firearms after being convicted of a felony." PSI ¶ 9. Petitioner did not object to any of the information in the PSI, nor did he object at any time when he signed the Plea Agreement listing his prior felonies, Judge Hall reviewed the charges at the change of plea hearing, or SA Stricklin testified about Petitioner's prior criminal history. Petitioner also specifically told Judge Hall he was "already a convicted felon" when he possessed the firearms in December 2015. Rule 11 Tr. 20.
That Petitioner had multiple prior felony convictions and on two occasions had sentences imposed that required him to serve more than one year in prison shows he knew his status as a felon prior to his federal offense date. See Reed, 941 F.3d at 1022 (citing eight prior felonies, stipulation to felony conviction prior to offense date, and trial testimony to show knowledge of status as felon); United States v. Caldwell, - F. App'x -, No. 18-15987, 2020 WL 914922, at *4 (11th Cir. Feb. 26, 2020) (per curiam) (finding no plain error affecting substantial rights on direct appeal where defendant responded affirmatively to district court questions if he knew what a felony was and if he had previously pled guilty to a felony); United States v. Green, 798 F. App'x 527, 533 (11th Cir. 2020) (per curiam) (finding no plain error affecting substantial rights on direct appeal after concluding prior conviction of multiple felonies and serving three-year prison sentence shows knowledge of status as a felon); United States v. Gilcrest, 792 F. App'x 734, 736 (11th Cir. 2019) (per curiam) (finding no plain error affecting substantial rights on direct appeal where defendant had served more than one year in prison multiple times, had a prior felon-in-possession conviction, did not object to portions of PSI recounting prior felony history, and stipulated at trial to being felon at time of offense).
In sum, pursuant to a harmless error analysis, Petitioner has not shown the Rehaif error was "a fundamental defect which inherently result[ed] in a complete miscarriage of justice," and he is not entitled to relief. See Brecht, 507 U.S. at 634 & n.8.
III. CONCLUSION
For the reasons set forth above, the Court REPORTS and RECOMMENDS the § 2255 motion be DENIED, this civil action be CLOSED, and a final judgment be ENTERED in favor of Respondent.
SO REPORTED and RECOMMENDED this 14th day of May, 2020, at Augusta, Georgia.
/s/_________
BRIAN K. EPPS
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF GEORGIA