Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_16-cv-02049/USCOURTS-casd-3_16-cv-02049-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 510
Nature of Suit: Prisoner Petitions - Vacate Sentence
Cause of Action: 28:2255 Motion to Vacate / Correct Illegal Sentence

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Plaintiff/Respondent, 10cr3044WQH16cv653WQH

16cv2049 WQH

ORDER

 v.

CARLOS COSME (5),

Defendant/Petitioner.

HAYES, Judge:

The matter before the court is the motion to vacate, set aside, or correct sentence

pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255 filed by the Defendant Carlos Cosme. (ECF No. 2301). 

BACKGROUND FACTS

On December 22, 2011, the grand jury issued a two-count second superseding

indictment. The second superseding indictment charged the Defendant Cosme and

others defendants in Count 1 with conspiring to conduct enterprise affairs through a

pattern of racketeering activity, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) and in Count 2 with

conspiring to distribute cocaine, marijuana and methamphetamine in violation of 21

U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A)(ii), 841(b)(1)(A)(vii), 841(b)(1)(A)(viii) and 846. 

On May 21, 2012, Defendant Cosme signed a Plea Agreement. In the Plea

Agreement, Defendant agreed to plead guilty to Counts 1 and 2 of the Second

Superseding Indictment. The parties agreed to jointly recommend a total offense level

of 37 and to recommend that the Court impose a sentence of 235 months. Defendant

initialed each page of the Plea Agreement and signed the Plea Agreement on the last

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page along with his counsel and counsel for the Government. 

The FACTUAL BASIS of the Plea Agreement stated:

Defendant has fully discussed the facts of this case with defense counsel.

Defendant has committed each of the elements of the crime, and admits

that there is a factual basis for this guilty plea. Defendant stipulates and agrees that the facts set forth in the numbered paragraphs below occurred. 

Defendant also stipulates and agrees that if this case were to proceed to trial, the Government could prove the following facts beyond a

reasonable doubt by competent and admissible evidence:

1. Between the time period of November 2008 and July 22, 2010,

defendant Carlos Cosme entered into an agreement with other individuals named in the above-noted charge to participate in the affairs of the Fernando Sanchez Organization (the "FSO"), an "association-in-fact" enterprise as defined in Title 18, United States Code, Section 1961(4). Defendant Carlos Cosme agreed that a member of the FSO would commit

at least two racketeering acts.

2. During the time period noted above, members of the FSO engaged in a pattern of racketeering activity, to include the commission of the

following crimes: murder; conspiracy to commit murder; attempted

murder; kidnaping; conspiracy to kidnap; attempted kidnaping; robbery; conspiracy to commit robbery; attempted robbery; importation of controlled substances into the United States from Mexico; conspiracy to import controlled substances into the United States from Mexico;

distribution of controlled substances; conspiracy to distribute controlled substances; money laundering; and conspiracy to launder money. The FSO's pattern of racketeering activity affected interstate and foreign commerce. During the time period relevant to this guilty plea, the FSO

operated in the Southern District of California and elsewhere.

3. Pursuant to his agreement to participate in the affairs of the FSO, defendant Carlos Cosme was aware that the FSO's racketeering activities included the commission of the crimes specified above in the preceding paragraph, including the crimes of: (a) conspiracy to import and distribute over 50 grams (pure) of methamphetamine; and (b) conspiracy to commit murder.

4. The FSO constitutes an ongoing organization whose members function

as a continuing unit for the common purpose of achieving the objectives of the FSO, which include: (a) enriching the members of the FSO through, among other things, the importation and distribution of illegal

narcotics in the United States, committing robberies, the kidnaping of

individuals in the United States and Mexico, and "taxing" individuals

involved in criminal activities within the geographical areas controlled by the Enterprise, to include Tijuana, Mexico, and areas of San Diego, California; (b) keeping rival traffickers, potential informants, witnesses

against the FSO, law enforcement, the media, and the public-at-large in fear of the FSO, and in fear of its members and associates through threats of violence and violence; (c) preserving, protecting and expanding the

power of the FSO through the use of intimidation, violence, threats of

violence, assaults and murders; (d) preserving the continuity of

membership in the FSO by threatening members, associates and individuals with knowledge of the FSO's illegal activities wishing to

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leave the FSO with violence, assault and murder; and (e) preserving the ongoing viability of the FSO by assaulting law enforcement officers

attempting to arrest FSO members, bribing public officials to secure the release of arrested FSO members and making payments to public officials in order to gain access to confidential law enforcement information

adverse to the interests of the FSO. 

5. In furtherance of his agreement to participate in the affairs of the FSO, defendant Carlos Cosme committed numerous racketeering offenses,

including: (a) conspiracy to import and distribute more than 50 grams

(actual) of methamphetamine and (b) conspiracy to commit murder.

6. Given his personal participation in the affairs of the FSO, defendant

Carlos Cosme knew that members of the FSO would, during the time

frame of the above-noted conspiracy, import and distribute more than 50 grams of actual methamphetamine. Further, defendant Carlos Cosme

personally performed numerous overt acts in furtherance of a conspiracy to commit murder, including the recruitment of codefendant Jose Ortega Nuno to run a "hit squad" on behalf of defendant Cosme.

7. In furtherance of his agreement to participate in the affairs of the FSO, during February 2010, defendant Cosme arranged to sell a confidential informant ("CI") 2 pounds of methamphetamine in Tijuana, Mexico. Defendant Cosme knew that the methamphetamine would thereafter be imported into the United States from Mexico. Once 1 3/4 pounds (1/4

pound was seized at the border by U.S. law enforcement officials) of methamphetamine (758 grams of actual methamphetamine) had been successfully imported into the United States, the CI paid defendant Cosme for the methamphetamine.

(ECF No. 1703 at 5-8). These factual admissions are contained on Pages 5, 6, 7 and 8

of the Plea Agreement. Defendant’s initials appear at the bottom right of each page as

follows: (“Def. Initials CC )”. The Plea Agreement stated that “... the Government will

not be obligated to recommend any adjustment of Acceptance of Responsibility if

defendant engages in conduct inconsistent with acceptance of responsibility including,

but not limited to, the following: ... Materially breaches this plea agreement in any

way.” Id. at 14. The Plea Agreement provided:

Defendant acknowledges, understands and agrees that if defendant

violates or fails to perform any of defendant’s obligations under this agreement, such violation or failure to perform may constitute a material breach of this agreement. Defendant acknowledges, understands and agrees further that the following non-exhaustive list of conduct by defendant unquestionably constitutes a material breach of this plea agreement: ... 4. Attempting to withdraw the plea...

In the event of defendant’s material breach of this plea agreement, defendant will not be able to enforce any of its provisions, and the Government will be relieved of all its obligations under this plea

agreement. 

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Id. at 17.

On May 25, 2012, Defendant appeared before this district court judge for a

change of plea to the second superseding indictment pursuant to the Plea Agreement. 

At the change of plea hearing, Defendant, represented by counsel, acknowledged that

he had been sworn under penalty of perjury and that he could be prosecuted for perjury

if he failed to provide truthful answers in this proceedings. Defendant represented that

he initialed each page of the plea agreement and signed his name on the last page of the

agreement. Defendant represented to the Court that he had an opportunity to review the

plea agreement paragraph by paragraph and line by line with his counsel and that the

agreement was translated to him in the Spanish language. Defendant represented to the

Court that he was satisfied with the services of his counsel and that he had no questions

about the terms of the plea agreement. 

The Court reviewed the elements of the charge in Count One and the elements

of the charge in Count Two. Defendant stated that he understood that by admitting –

or pleading guilty to these offenses he will be admitting to each element of the offenses. 

 The Court then reviewed each of the seven paragraphs of the factual basis for the plea

contained in the Plea Agreement starting on page 5 and continuing through page 8. The

plea colloquy provided in part as follows:

THE COURT: Do you agree that pursuant to your agreement to participate in the affairs of the FSO you were aware of the FSO's racketeering activities, including the commission of the crimes specified above that I just referred to, including the crimes of conspiracy to import and distribute over 50 grams pure of methamphetamine and conspiracy to commit murder?

THE DEFENDANT: Yes, Your Honor.

THE COURT: Do you agree that the FSO constitutes an on-going organization whose members function as a continuing unit for the common

purpose of achieving the objectives of the FSO which include enriching

the members of the FSO through among other things the importation and

distribution of illegal narcotics into the United States, committing

robberies, the kidnaping of individuals in the United States and Mexico,

taxing individuals involved in criminal activities within the geographical areas controlled by the enterprise to include Tijuana, Mexico, and areas of San Diego, California?

THE DEFENDANT: Yes, Your Honor.

 THE COURT: It is also includes keeping rival drug traffickers, potential informants, witnesses against the FSO, law enforcement, the media and

the public at large in fear of the FSO, in fear of its members and associates

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through threats of violence and harm?

THE DEFENDANT: Yes, Your Honor.

THE COURT: That includes preserving, protecting, and expanding the power of the FSO through the use of intimidation, violence, threats of

violence, assaults and murders?

THE DEFENDANT: Yes, Your Honor. I understand.

THE COURT: Preserving the continuity of membership in the FSO by

threatening members, associates, and individuals with knowledge of the

FSO's illegal activities wishing to leave the FSO with violence, assault and

murder, and preserving the on-going viability of the FSO, by assaulting

law enforcement officers attempting to arrest FSO members, bribing public officials to secure the release of arrested FSO members, and making payments to public officials in order to gain access to confidential law enforcement information adverse to the interests of the FSO?

THE DEFENDANT: Yes, Your Honor. I understand.

. . . 

THE COURT: Further, do you agree that you personally performed -- performed numerous overt acts in furtherance of a conspiracy to commit murder, including the recruitment of co-defendant Jose Ortega Nuno to run a hit squad on behalf of you? And I am reading from paragraph -- page 8 paragraph 6. Do you understand the question, sir? Do you want me to ask it again?

THE DEFENDANT: Yes, Your Honor.

THE COURT: This is on page 8 of your plea agreement, paragraph 6,

lines 3 through 11. Given your personal participation in the affairs of the FSO, defendant Carlos Cosme knew that members of the FSO would

during the time frame of the above-noted conspiracy import and distribute more than 50 grams of actual methamphetamine. Further defendant Carlos Cosme personally performed numerous overt acts in furtherance of a

conspiracy to commit murder, including the recruitment of co-defendant

Jose Ortega Nuno to run a hit squad on behalf of defendant Cosme. Do

you agree that statement is true? Do you accept that as part of your factual basis, sir, that statement?

THE DEFENDANT: It wasn't like that -- yes, Your Honor. Yes, Your

Honor.

THE COURT: Let me read it again and make sure that I have an answer

that is clear. Here is the statement again, sir, I'll read it to you. Given his personal participation in the affairs of the FSO, defendant Carlos Cosme

knew that members of the FSO would during the time frame of the

above-noted conspiracy import and distribute more than 50 grams of

actual methamphetamine. Further defendant Carlos Cosme personally performed numerous overt acts in furtherance of a conspiracy to commit murder, including the recruitment of co-defendant Jose Ortega Nuno to run a hit squad on behalf of defendant Cosme. Do you agree that statement is true? That statement is in your plea agreement. Do you agree that statement is true?

THE DEFENDANT: Yes, Your Honor.

(ECF No. 1913-1 at 32-37). 

The Court reviewed the sentencing provisions of the plea agreement including

the joint sentencing recommendation. Defendant stated that he understood that the

maximum penalty for the charge in Count 1 included life in prison and that the plea

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agreement provides that the joint recommendation of the parties would be 235 months

in custody. At the conclusion of the plea, the Court stated on the record in open court: 

“The pleas to Count 1 and 2 are accepted. I find the defendant has freely, voluntarily,

and competently entered the pleas; that he understands the plea agreement, including

the forfeiture provision; the charges against him and the consequences of the plea; that

there is a factual basis for the plea and that the defendant has knowingly intelligently

waived his rights.” (ECF No. 1913-1 at 45). 

On October 5, 2012, Defendant filed a motion to withdraw his plea of guilty and

a request for new counsel. (ECF No. 1868). The Court granted Defendant’s request for

new counsel and provided new counsel with the opportunity to meet with the Defendant

and to decide whether or not to pursue the motion to withdraw his plea. 

On January 25, 2013, Defendant filed a second motion to withdraw his plea of

guilty. (ECF No. 1906). The Court subsequently held an evidentiary hearing at which

prior counsel and the Defendant testified. Defendant testified under oath at the

evidentiary hearing that the factual allegation of a conspiracy to commit murder

including the recruitment of co-defendant Jose Ortega Nuno to run a hit squad “took

[him] by surprise.” (ECF No. 1935 at 13). Defendant testified that when he answered

“It wasn’t like that” to the judge’s questions he felt a “blow from behind” delivered by

his counsel and that “I felt in truth I had to say guilty.” Id. Defendant testified that it

was his understanding from his counsel that he was pleading guilty to “the sale of the

methamphetamine and the RICO.” Id. at 16. Defendant testified as follows:

Defense counsel: Okay. Did you agree at any time to plead guilty to

forming a hit squad as alleged in the plea agreement with co-defendant Antonio Nuno?

Defendant: No, I wasn’t in agreement.

Id. 

On April 19, 2013, the Court entered and order denying the Defendant’s motion

to withdraw his guilty plea. (ECF No. 1940). The Court stated: 

The Court examined each of the factual admissions in the plea agreement independently and thoroughly. The Court informed the Defendant that he

had no obligation to admit any facts in the Plea Agreement, and that he

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could go forward on the trial date. (ECF No. 1913-1 at 35) (“He has no

obligation to admit to it. He has no obligation to admit to that. We can

take it off calendar and have a trial date set and we can pursue that.”) In order to avoid any confusion, the Court stated: “Let me read it again and make sure that I have an answer that is clear.” After reading Paragraph 6 of the Plea Agreement in its entirety, the Court stated: “Do you agree that statement is true? That statement is in your plea agreement. Do you agree that statement is true?” Defendant stated: “Yes Your Honor.” Id. at 37. 

At the time of the plea, the Court found that the Defendant knowingly admitted the factual basis for the plea of guilty. The Court concludes that there is no credible evidence to the contrary in this record. Defendant’s claim that he did not know that the Plea Agreement contained an admission to conspiring to commit murder or that he did not knowingly make those admissions at the plea hearing is directly contradicted by the Plea Agreement, the Defendant’s statements at the plea colloquy, and the credible testimony at the evidentiary hearing. Finally, Defendant contends that “there is no evidence or factual

basis to believe the overt act of organizing a ‘hit squad’ alleged in the plea agreement, actually transpired.” (ECF No. 1906-1 at 5). Defendant asserts that the phone conversations intercepted by the Government have been improperly interpreted. Defendant asserts that any reference to a “hit” that was to occur “was not a murder, but an arrest of the competing street vendors. When Mr. Cosme referred to a ‘knife on them’ the

conversational figure of speech was intended to explain placing a knife on the individual’s person, not in them, a method of taking a person into custody (i.e. pretext arrest).” (ECF No. 1906-1 at 10). Defendant admitted at the evidentiary hearing that he used code words (12,1 and cashing a check) to refer to homicide on the taped conversations, that he advised a person known as Cabo that he had individuals in Mexico who could commit homicides at his request, and that he sold an album of police officer photographs to the confidential informant in this case. Defendant admitted at the evidentiary hearing that he knew that the confidential informant wanted to purchase the photographs so that he could target Mexican police officers for physical attack and murder. Defendant’s plea of guilty to conspiracy to commit

murder is supported by the factual admissions at the time of the guilty plea and the record in this case. 

Defendant signed a Plea Agreement, swore in open court that he committed the facts as stated in the Plea Agreement, and actually committed the crime charged. The Court found a factual basis for the plea and explicitly accepted the plea of guilty. The Court concludes that

Defendant has not shown any fair and just reason for requesting withdrawal of his plea of his guilty. 

(ECF No. 1940 at 18-19).

Plaintiff United States of America, subsequently, filed a motion for an order

finding Defendant’s material breach of the plea agreement. On June 21, 2013, this Court

granted the motion for an order finding Defendant’s material breach of the plea

agreement. The Court concluded “that the Defendant materially breached the Plea

Agreement by testifying under oath at the evidentiary hearing on the motion to

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withdraw his plea of guilty to facts directly contrary to the facts admitted in the ‘factual

basis’ portion of the Plea Agreement and admitted by the Defendant under oath at the

plea hearing.” (ECF No. 1989 at 11).

On June 28, 2013, the Court sentenced the Defendant to a term of imprisonment

of 262 months in custody as to each count concurrently. (ECF No. 1995 at 2). 

Defendant filed a timely notice of appeal to the Court of Appeals for the Ninth

Circuit on the grounds that the decision of the district court to deny his motion to

withdraw his guilty plea was an abuse of discretion. 

On December 15, 2014, the Court of Appeals dismissed the appeal. The Court

of Appeals concluded that the district court did not abuse its discretion in denying

Defendant’s motion to withdraw his plea and that Defendant knowingly and voluntarily

waived his right to appeal the district court’s order. (ECF No. 2183).

On June 24, 2015, Defendant Carlos Cosme filed a request for the Court to

appoint counsel to assist him in the preparation of a writ of habeas corpus. (ECF No.

2144). Defendant informed the Court that he did not speak or write the English

language and was unable to represent himself. 

On September 1, 2015, this Court entered an order appointing counsel to

represent the Defendant in the preparation of a writ of habeas corpus. (ECF No. 2235). 

On March 14, 2016, Defendant Carlos Cosme, representing himself, filed a

motions pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255. (ECF No. 2283). 

On April 27, 2016, the Court ordered that Defendant Cosme and appointed

counsel for Defendant Cosme shall notify the Court in writing within 45 days of this

order whether Defendant will proceed representing himself or proceed through 

appointed counsel. (ECF No. 2286).

On May 25, 2016, Defendant Cosme notified the Court in writing that he would

proceed through appointed counsel. (ECF No. 2290).

On August 09, 2016, Defendant Cosme, represented by counsel, filed a motion

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pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255. (ECF No. 2301).1

On November 07, 2016, Plaintiff United States filed a response. 

APPLICABLE LAW

28 U.S.C. §2255 provides that “A prisoner under sentence of a court established

by Act of Congress claiming the right to be released upon the ground that the sentence

was imposed in violation of the Constitution or laws of the United States, or that the

court was without jurisdiction to impose such sentence, or that the sentence was in

excess of the maximum authorized by law, or is otherwise subject to collateral attack,

may move the court which imposed the sentence to vacate, set aside or correct the

sentence.” 

CONTENTIONS OF PARTIES

Defendant contends that he received ineffective assistance of counsel during the

plea agreement negotiations, execution of the written plea agreement with the

Government, and at the change of plea hearing held on May 25, 2012. Due to the

ineffective assistance of counsel, Defendant asserts that his plea agreement was not

knowing or voluntary. Defendant asserts that “his counsel did not inform him that, he

was admitting to recruiting for and forming a ‘hit squad’ . . . an allegation which he

vehemently denies.” (ECF No. 2301 at 7). Defendant contends that his counsel

informed him that he was admitting only to the distribution of methamphetamine and

the RICO count in general without any factual allegations related to murder. 

Plaintiff United States contends that all of the assertions that support the claim

for ineffective assistance of counsel were fully litigated and resolved at the time

Defendant moved to withdraw his plea. Plaintiff United States asserts that the same

factual claims relating to the conduct of prior counsel were adversely decided against

Defendant and that Defendant is not entitled to relitigate these factual issues in this

collateral attack.

1 Motion (ECF No. 2283) filed on March 14, 2016, by Defendant Carlos Cosme,

representing himself, was deemed moot. 

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RULING OF COURT

The Sixth Amendment right to effective assistance of counsel “applies to all

critical stages of criminal proceedings,” including “the entry of a guilty plea.” Missouri

v. Frye, 132 S. Ct. 1399, 1405 (2012). A defendant is entitled to challenge the

intelligent, knowing, and voluntary aspects of his plea by demonstrating that the advice

he received from counsel did not constitute effective representation. See Lambert v.

Blodgett, 393 F.3d 943, 979-80 (9th Cir. 2004). 

In order to prevail on a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, Petitioner must

show that representation of counsel fell below an objective standard of reasonableness,

and that any deficiencies in counsel’s performance were prejudicial. See Strickland v.

Washington, 466 U.S. 688, 690 (1984). Both deficient performance and prejudice are

required before it can be said that a conviction or sentence resulted from a breakdown

in the adversary process that rendered the result of the proceeding unreliable and thus

in violation of the Sixth Amendment. See United States v. Thomas, 417 F.3d 1053, 1056

(9th Cir. 2005). To prevail on the prejudice prong of a claim of ineffective assistance

of counsel, the defendant must show that there is “a reasonable probability that, but for

counsel’s unprofessional errors, the results of the proceedings would have been

different. A reasonable probability is a probability sufficient to undermine confidence

in the outcome.” Strickland, 466 U.S. at 69. 

Defendant sets forth the following three specific factual assertions in support of

his claim of ineffective assistance of counsel: 1) his counsel did not inform him that, he

was admitting to recruiting for and forming a ‘hit squad’ with co-defendant Jose

Antonio Ortega Nuno; 2) his counsel informed him that he was admitting only to the

distribution of methamphetamine and the RICO count in general without any factual

allegations related to murder; and 3) his counsel intimated him during the plea colloquy

to admit the “hit squad” allegation. The identical factual issues were litigated as a basis

for Defendant’s motion to withdraw his plea. During the litigation of this motion, the

parties submitted extensive briefing, and the Court held a two day evidentiary hearing,

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which included the testimony of prior defense counsel and the Defendant. At the

conclusion of the hearing the Court issued an order finding no credible evidence to

support the factual assertions of the Defendant. The Court made the following ruling:

After the Defendant entered his plea, he began to advance a contention that

he was physically coerced by his defense counsel in the courtroom at the

time of the plea. The allegations by the Defendant began with a “pinch” (ECF No. 1868 at 8), moved to “lightly hit or patted me in the back” (ECF

No. 1868 at 15), and became a “punch ... in the side” (ECF No. 1868 at 6). At the evidentiary hearing, Defendant testified that his counsel

delivered a “blow from behind.” (ECF No. 1935 at 13). The Court finds the testimony of the Defendant at the evidentiary hearing that he felt a “blow from behind” delivered by his counsel in open court during the plea colloquy entirely without credibility. The Court further finds the

testimony of the Defendant that “I felt in truth I had to say guilty” was not truthful and that this testimony is contradicted by all of the other evidence in the record. The Court finds that the Defendant did not testify truthfully in specific aspects of his testimony and concludes that the testimony of the Defendant generally lacked credibility. 

. . . The Court finds that all of the credible evidence in the record supports the conclusion that the Defendant fully discussed the factual basis for the

plea with his counsel, understood the factual admissions in the plea

agreement, and understood the factual admission at the plea colloquy.

 The Court finds that the testimony of defense counsel Levine that he

reviewed the plea agreement with the Defendant and an interpreter line by line and page by page is credible and supported by the evidence. Defendant’s initials appear at the bottom of each page of the plea agreement and the Defendant signed the plea agreement on the last page. Counsel for Defendant testified credibly that his practice was to review the plea agreement thoroughly with an interpreter and Spanish speaking

Defendant and that he recalled following these procedures with the Defendant in this case. There is no evidence to the contrary in the record of this case.

Defendant’s plea agreement in Paragraph 6 stated that the Defendant stipulates and agrees that the following facts occurred: “[D]efendant Carlos Cosme personally performed numerous overt acts in furtherance of

a conspiracy to commit murder, including the recruitment of co defendant Jose Ortega Nuno to run a ‘hit squad’ on behalf of defendant Cosme.” 

(ECF No. 1703 at 8). Defendant’s initials appear at the bottom of this page. Defense counsel Levine testified that he advised the Defendant

while reviewing the plea agreement that the plea agreement required him to admit that he formed a hit squad with his co-defendant Ortega-Nuno. Levine testified: “I had Mr. Ortega Nuno’s plea agreement as well, and we discussed the contents of that plea agreement which mirrors that part of Mr. Cosme’s plea agreement.” (ECF No. 1935 at 52). The factual admissions of the Plea Agreement for the Defendant Jose Antonio Ortega Nuno signed by Nuno on December 6, 2001 stated in part: “In furtherance of his agreement to participate in the affairs of the FSO, defendant Jose

Antonio Ortega Nuno agreed to operate and supervise a ‘hit squad’ under the direction of Carlos Cosme. Defendant Jose Antonio Ortega Nuno knew that the ‘hit squad’ he agreed to operate and supervise would be

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tasked with murdering individuals on behalf of the FSO.” (ECF No. 1152 at 6). This provision mirrors the provision in Defendant Cosme’s Plea

Agreement and supports the testimony of defense counsel Levine that he

advised that Defendant Cosme that the plea agreement required him to admit that he formed a hit squad with his co-defendant Ortega-Nuno, as well as Levine’s testimony that there was no confusion voiced by the Defendant Cosme that he was required to make this admission regarding the conspiracy to commit murder.

At the time of the Rule 11 plea colloquy, the Court reviewed each of the seven paragraphs of the factual basis of the plea with the Defendant in open court. The Court stated: “Do you agree that pursuant to your

agreement to participate in the affairs of the FSO you were aware of the FSO's racketeering activities, including the commission of the crimes

specified above that I just referred to, including the crimes of conspiracy to import and distribute over 50 grams pure of methamphetamine and

conspiracy to commit murder?” Defendant answered: “Yes, Your

Honor.” The Court asked the Defendant about his personal participation as stated in Paragraph 6 of the Plea Agreement. 

THE COURT: Let me read it again and make sure that I have an answer that is clear. Here is the statement again, sir, I'll read it to you. Given his personal participation in the affairs of the FSO, defendant Carlos Cosme knew that

members of the FSO would during the time frame of the

above-noted conspiracy import and distribute more than 50

grams of actual methamphetamine. Further defendant Carlos

Cosme personally performed numerous overt acts in

furtherance of a conspiracy to commit murder, including the recruitment of co-defendant Jose Ortega Nuno to run a hit

squad on behalf of defendant Cosme. Do you agree that

statement is true? That statement is in your plea agreement. Do you agree that statement is true?

THE DEFENDANT: Yes, Your Honor.

(ECF No. 1913-1 at 41). The Court asked the Defendant in open court to acknowledge his personal participation in the conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and the conspiracy to commit murder. When defense

counsel answered on behalf of the Defendant, the Court asked that the

Defendant personally answer. Reading from the facts stipulated by the Defendant in the Plea Agreement, the Court stated: “[D]efendant Carlos Cosme personally performed numerous overt acts in furtherance of a

conspiracy to commit murder, including the recruitment of co-defendant

Jose Ortega Nuno to run a hit squad on behalf of defendant Cosme. Do

you agree that statement is true? Do you accept that as part of your factual basis, sir, that statement?” Defendant answered: “It wasn't like that -- yes, Your Honor. Yes, Your Honor.” The Court stated:

Let me read it again and make sure that I have an answer

that is clear. Here is the statement again, sir, I'll read it to you. Given his personal participation in the affairs of the 

FSO, defendant Carlos Cosme knew that members of the

FSO would during the time frame of the above-noted

conspiracy import and distribute more than 50 grams of

actual methamphetamine. Further defendant Carlos Cosme

personally performed numerous overt acts in furtherance of

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a conspiracy to commit murder, including the recruitment of co-defendant Jose Ortega Nuno to run a hit squad on behalf of defendant Cosme. Do you agree that statement is true? 

That statement is in your plea agreement. Do you agree that statement is true?

(ECF No. 1913-1 at 41). Defendant unequivocally answered: “Yes, Your Honor.” The Court examined each of the factual admissions in the plea agreement independently and thoroughly. The Court informed the

Defendant that he had no obligation to admit any facts in the Plea

Agreement, and that he could go forward on the trial date. (ECF No. 1913-1 at 35) (“He has no obligation to admit to it. He has no obligation to admit to that. We can take it off calendar and have a trial date set and

we can pursue that.”) In order to avoid any confusion, the Court stated: “Let me read it again and make sure that I have an answer that is clear.” 

After reading Paragraph 6 of the Plea Agreement in its entirety, the Court stated: “Do you agree that statement is true? That statement is in your plea agreement. Do you agree that statement is true?” Defendant stated: “Yes

Your Honor.” Id. at 37. 

At the time of the plea, the Court found that the Defendant knowingly

admitted the factual basis for the plea of guilty. The Court concludes that there is no credible evidence to the contrary in this record. Defendant’s claim that he did not know that the Plea Agreement contained an

admission to conspiring to commit murder or that he did not knowingly

make those admissions at the plea hearing is directly contradicted by the Plea Agreement, the Defendant’s statements at the plea colloquy, and the credible testimony at the evidentiary hearing. 

(ECF No. 1940 at 17-19).

In this case, the Court has found the factual assertions that defense counsel did

not properly inform the Defendant of the facts admitted in the Plea Agreement and

intimidated the Defendant at the time of the plea lack any credibility and denied the

Defendant’s motion to withdraw his plea. Defendant filed an appeal and the Court of

Appeals affirmed the decision. Having litigated these same factual issues regarding the

conduct of his counsel on direct appeal, Defendant may not relitigate the same issue

under 28 U.S.C. § 2255. Foster v. Chapman, 136 S.Ct. 1737, 1758 (2016), Alito

concurring (“As a general rule, federal prisoners may not use a motion under 28 U.S.C.

§ 2255 to relitigate a claim that was previously rejected on direct appeal.”), Onley v.

United States, 433 F.2d 161, 162 (9th Cir. 1965) (“Having raised this point

unsuccessfully on direct appeal, appellant cannot now seek to relitigate it as part of a

petition under § 2255.”) . The Court concludes that are no facts asserted in this motion

that would support the claim that representation of counsel fell below an objective

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standard of reasonableness. 

CONCLUSION

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that motion pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255 (ECF No.

2301) on the grounds of ineffective assistance of counsel filed by the Defendant is

denied. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Gerardo A. Gonzalez is relieved from further

representation of the Defendant on this matter. 

A certificate of appealability must be obtained in order to pursue an appeal from

a final order in a Section 2255 habeas corpus proceeding. 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(1)(B). 

A certificate of appealability may issue “if the applicant has made a substantial showing

of the denial of a constitutional right.” 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(2). A certificate should

issue where the prisoner shows that jurists of reason would find it debatable whether the

petition states a valid claim of the denial of a constitutional right, and whether the

district court was correct in its procedural ruling. See Slack v. McDaniel, 529 U.S. 473,

484 (2000). The Court finds that reasonable jurists could not find Defendant’s claim

that he was entitled to relief under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 to be debatable. 

A certificate of appealability is denied. 

DATED: January 11, 2017

WILLIAM Q. HAYES

United States District Judge

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