Opinion
CV 319-069
06-18-2020
ALEXANDER R. JOHNSON, Petitioner, v. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Respondent.
(Formerly CR 318-010)
MAGISTRATE JUDGE'S REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION
Petitioner, an inmate at the Federal Correctional Institution in Jesup, Georgia, 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 June 6, 2018, the grand jury in the Southern District of Georgia indicted Petitioner on one count of felon in possession of firearm in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). United States v. Johnson, CR 318-010, doc. no. 3 (S.D. Ga. June 6, 2018) (hereinafter "CR 318-010"). As originally charged, Petitioner faced a statutory sentence of not more than ten years of imprisonment. CR 318-010, doc. no. 4. The Court appointed attorney I. Cain Smith to represent Petitioner. Id., doc. no. 10.
B. Guilty Plea
On August 17, 2018, Petitioner appeared with counsel and pled guilty to felon in possession of firearms. Id., doc. nos. 23-25. 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. 25, ("Plea Agreement"), p. 1. In exchange for the guilty plea, the government agreed to (1) not object to a recommendation for a two-point acceptance of responsibility reduction; and (2) 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 3-4.
The Plea Agreement contained the following factual basis for Petitioner's guilty plea:
On or about January 31, 2016, in Laurens County, within the Southern District of Georgia, the defendant, ALEXANDER R. JOHNSON, having been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, did knowingly possess, in and affecting commerce, a firearm, to wit, a Taurus, Model PT738, .380 caliber pistol, which had been transported in interstate commerce.Id. at 1-2. 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 10.
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 6. 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. Smith 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 8.
At the guilty plea hearing, United States District Judge Dudley H. Bowen, Jr. first confirmed Petitioner was capable of communicating, attentive to the proceedings, not under the influence of any drugs or alcohol, and competent to enter a guilty plea if he so desired. Id., doc. no. 39 ("Rule 11 Tr."), pp. 5-6. Judge Bowen reviewed the charge against Petitioner in the indictment, as well as the forfeiture allegation against him. Id. at 6-11. Petitioner confirmed he had as much time as he needed to go over the charges with Mr. Smith and no one had pressured or threatened him into changing his plea to guilty. Id. at 6. Petitioner also testified under oath he was satisfied with the assistance he had received from Mr. Smith. Id.
Judge Bowen further explained the rights Petitioner would be waiving by pleading guilty, and Petitioner affirmed he clearly understood those rights. Id. at 7-9. Among the rights explained, Judge Bowen 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 Bowen also specifically reviewed the appeal and collateral attack waiver provisions of the Plea Agreement. Id. at 10. Judge Bowen confirmed that other than the Plea Agreement, no one had promised anything to procure Petitioner's guilty plea. Id. at 11.
Judge Bowen reviewed the statutory penalty of a sentence up to ten years in prison. Id. at 7. 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 Bowen further explained that federal sentencing guidelines would be used to sentence Petitioner upon entry of the guilty plea. Id. at 9. Petitioner stated that he understood the sentencing process described by Judge Bowen and that no one had promised him he would receive a particular sentence. Id. at 9, 11.
Next, Judge Bowen heard a factual basis for the guilty plea from Craig Smith, Special Agent ("SA") with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Id. at 11-13. SA Smith testified that Corporal Roland of the Dublin Police Department initiated a traffic stop on January 31, 2016, in Dublin, Georgia, during which both driver and passenger fled from the vehicle on foot. Id. at 12. Corporal Roland pursued the driver, who dropped a firearm from his torso area during the chase. Id. After apprehending the driver, who was identified as Petitioner, Corporal Roland doubled back along the path of the chase and recovered a Taurus .380 caliber pistol. Id. An ATF agent later examined the firearm, which was the subject of the felon in possession charge brought against Petitioner, and determined it had traveled in interstate commerce. Id. at 12-13. A review of Petitioner's criminal history revealed he had at least one prior felony conviction, thereby prohibiting him from possessing a firearm. Id.
Petitioner stated to Judge Bowen that he did not disagree with the information provided by SA Smith and he was guilty of, and wanted to plead guilty to, the felon in possession charge. Id. at 14. Judge Bowen then summarized the proceedings as follows: Petitioner "has acknowledged his guilt, he's aware of his rights at trial, he knows the maximum penalty, and with full knowledge of the consequences, of his own volition, upon an ample factual basis has elected to plead guilty, I will accept the plea in writing." Id. at 15.
C. Sentencing
The United States Probation Office then prepared a Presentence Investigation Report ("PSI") which set Petitioner's Total Offense Level at twelve, Criminal History Category at VI, and Guidelines imprisonment range at thirty to thirty-seven months. PSI ¶¶ 21-22, 39, 65. The criminal history section listed at least seventeen prior felony convictions. PSI ¶¶ 24, 27, 29-34. The base offense level of fourteen was reduced two points for Petitioner's acceptance of responsibility. PSI ¶¶ 19, 21-22. No transcript of the sentencing has been prepared. Judge Bowen imposed a term of imprisonment of thirty months, a $ 1,500 fine, a mandatory period of three years of supervised release, and a $ 100 special assessment. CR 318-010, doc. no. 30.
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 review. Id.
Petitioner argues his indictment was defective for failing to allege he "had actual knowledge of his status [as a felon] to be in violation of § 922(g)(1)." (Doc. no. 1, p. 4.) Therefore, he argues the indictment failed to inform Petitioner his conduct was unlawful. (Id.) 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. (Doc. no. 3.)
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, p. 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 Bowen after reviewing the PSI, and the government did not appeal. Id. Likewise, the Rehaif claim is not based on a claim of ineffective assistance. Id. Moreover, Judge Bowen 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., pp. 10-11.
While Petitioner would have the Court ignore his responses to Judge Bowen'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 Bowen's Colloquy with Petitioner Satisfied the Three Core Principles
Judge Bowen reviewed the felon in possession charge against Petitioner in the indictment, as well as the forfeiture allegation against him. Rule 11 Tr., pp. 6-10. Judge Bowen 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 7-11. 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 Bowen 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 9, 11. Additionally, Judge Bowen informed Petitioner of the possible penalties he faced upon conviction, to include up to ten years in prison. Id. at 7. Finally, Petitioner also testified he was satisfied with the help he had received from Mr. Smith. Id. at 6; see also Plea Agreement, p. 8 ("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. 10 ("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 the indictment does not "allege that [Petitioner] had actual knowledge of his status [as a convicted felon] . . . in violation of § 922(g)(1)." (Doc. no. 1, p. 4.) The record shows otherwise: (1) the indictment alleged Petitioner's prior conviction of a felony, (CR 318-010, doc. no. 3, p. 1); (2) Judge Bowen reviewed this charge at the change of plea proceedings with SA Smith, (Rule 11 Tr., p. 13); (3) Petitioner admitted he did not disagree with SA Smith's recitation of facts, i.e. that Petitioner had previously been convicted of at least one felony, (id. at 14); (4) Petitioner plead guilty to possessing a firearm as a felon, (id.; see also Plea Agreement); (5) Petitioner signed the Plea Agreement which stated Petitioner had a prior felony conviction, (Plea Agreement, pp. 1-2), and (6) the PSI detailed Petitioner's lengthy criminal history, to which he did not object, (PSI ¶¶ 24, 27, 29-34; PSI Add.).
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 in the indictment 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 "had not yet occurred." (Doc. no. 1, p. 4.) 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 the Tenth 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, at *4 (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 seventeen felony convictions which carried prison sentences ranging from twelve months to twenty years. The indictment alleged Petitioner's prior felony conviction; Judge Bowen reviewed the felony conviction element of the offense at the change of plea proceedings; Petitioner agreed with SA Smith's factual statement at the Change of Plea hearing that Plaintiff was a convicted felon; Petitioner signed the Plea Agreement stating a prior felony conviction as an element of the offense; 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 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 firearm forming the basis of his § 922(g) conviction. As discussed in Part II(C) & (D), supra, Petitioner had been convicted of seventeen felonies resulting in prison sentences ranging from five to twenty years. PSI ¶¶ 24, 27, 29-34. The PSI recounted Petitioner accepted responsibility for his § 922(g)(1) conviction, "including the conduct comprising the offense." PSI ¶ 11. 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 stating his status as a convicted felon, Judge Bowen reviewed the indictment at the change of plea hearing, or SA Smith testified about Petitioner's prior criminal history.
That Petitioner had multiple prior felony convictions and 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 18th day of June, 2020, at Augusta, Georgia.
/s/_________
BRIAN K. EPPS
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF GEORGIA