Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-5_04-cv-03340/USCOURTS-cand-5_04-cv-03340-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 510
Nature of Suit: Prisoner Petitions - Vacate Sentence
Cause of Action: 28:2255 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus (Federal)

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ORDERS RE MOTIONS UNDER 28 U.S.C. § 2255

NO. C-04-03340-RMW 

NO. C-05-03721-RMW

*E-FILED - 3/2/07*

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 

Plaintiff,

v.

CLIFFINA JOHNSON,

Defendant.

No. C-04-03340-RMW

No. C-05-03721-RMW

Related to: CR-99-20092-RMW

ORDERS RE MOTIONS UNDER 28

U.S.C. § 2255

Movant Cliffina Johnson was sentenced on January 24, 2001 for her conviction for

conspiracy to bribe a public official and bribery of a public official. She, as a pro se litigant,

has filed two motions to attack her conviction and sentence under 28 U.S.C. § 2255; the

first motion was filed on August 16, 2004 ("'04 Motion")(case # C-04-03340) and the

second on September 15, 2005 ("'05 Motion")(case # C-05-03721). Both assert, among

other claims, that the government failed to provide her with Brady/Giglio material pertaining

to the government’s primary prosecution witness, Clarence Walker. She specifically claims

that on June 26, 2004 Walker was indicted for various offenses including structuring and

bribery, and that she is informed and believes "that the investigation of Mr. Walker was ongoing during the time period of (her) alleged actions." '04 Motion ¶ 9. The court ordered the

government to respond to the '04 motion and it did so on September 9, 2004. The court

then ordered the government to file "declarations based upon first hand knowledge as to

Case 5:04-cv-03340-RMW Document 5 Filed 03/02/07 Page 1 of 4
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ORDERS RE MOTIONS UNDER 28 U.S.C. § 2255

NO. C-04-03340-RMW 

NO. C-05-03721-RMW

when the government first suspected Walker." Order dated September 9, 2004. Johnson

was given the opportunity to respond by filing "any information that suggests the

government suspected Walker of any wrongdoing before June 25, 2001." Id. In

accordance with the court's order, the government filed the declaration of Anthony

Armentano, the case agent in Walker's case, wherein Armentano states that an

investigation of Walker was commenced on June 27, 2001 based upon information

received on June 25, 2001. Johnson filed no response to Armentano's declaration. 

Although a letter dated February 19, 2007 from Lupe Martinez, Johnson's trial counsel,

indicates that the '04 Motion was denied, the court finds no record of such denial.

No action has been taken on Johnson's '05 motion.

On October 4, 2006 Fred Shirley, Johnson's co-defendant, filed a similar motion

attacking his conviction and sentence (case # C-06-06276 RMW). He is represented by

attorney Suzanne Luban. The motion is pending.

Movant Johnson has requested that Lupe Martinez, a former federal public defender

now in private practice, be appointed to represent her. As noted, attorney Martinez was

Johnson's trial counsel. The court hereby appoints Attorney Martinez to represent

Johnson, subject to Johnson's waiver of any potential conflict in having her trial attorney

represent her in her § 2255 claims. The court finds the appointment justified by the

questions raised about Walker's status and its effect on his credibility and the potential

procedural hurdles if Johnson's initial '04 Motion was denied.

Johnson '05 motion is hereby dismissed as successive pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §

2255.

On January 19, 2007 Johnson filed "Cliffina Johnson's Joinder and Request for EFiling Status." E-filing status is hereby granted. The court denies without prejudice

Johnson's purported "joinder" with co-defendant Shirley's motion.

The court hereby sets a case management conference for March 30, 2007 at 10:30

a.m. Johnson is to file with the government a joint case management statement setting

forth what, if any, discovery is requested and whether an evidentiary hearing will be

Case 5:04-cv-03340-RMW Document 5 Filed 03/02/07 Page 2 of 4
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ORDERS RE MOTIONS UNDER 28 U.S.C. § 2255

NO. C-04-03340-RMW 

NO. C-05-03721-RMW

needed. If the government has any record of Johnson's '04 Motion having been previously

denied, it is to bring that fact to the court's attention.

All future filings in the pending '04 Motion should be made in case # 04-03340 RMW

with a reference to the related criminal case # CR-99-20092.

DATED: March 2, 2007

_____________________________

RONALD M. WHYTE

United States District Judge

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ORDERS RE MOTIONS UNDER 28 U.S.C. § 2255

NO. C-04-03340-RMW 

NO. C-05-03721-RMW 4

Copy of Order E-Filed and Mailed on 3/2/07 to:

Lupe Martinez

3564 Juergen Drive

San Jose, CA 95121

Counsel for Cliffina Johnson

Cliffina Johnson

745 Dutton Ave.

San Leandro, CA 94577

Movant

Carlos Singh

Assistant United States Attorney

150 Almaden Blvd., Suite 900

San Jose, CA 95113

Counsel for United States of America

Case 5:04-cv-03340-RMW Document 5 Filed 03/02/07 Page 4 of 4