2006 Decisions

Opinions of the United

States Court of Appeals

for the Third Circuit

7-7-2006

USA v. Holloway

Precedential or Non-Precedential: Non-Precedential

Docket No. 03-4068

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Recommended Citation

"USA v. Holloway" (2006). 2006 Decisions. Paper 778.

http://digitalcommons.law.villanova.edu/thirdcircuit_2006/778
* The Honorable John William Ditter, Jr., Senior District Judge for the Eastern

District of Pennsylvania, sitting by designation.

NOT PRECEDENTIAL

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT

Case No: 03-4068

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

 v.

JAMES HOLLOWAY,

 Appellant

 

On Appeal from the United States District Court

for the Middle District of Pennsylvania

District Judge: Honorable Sylvia H. Rambo

District Court No.: 03-cr-00162

 

Submitted Pursuant to Third Circuit L.A.R. 34.1(a)

May 8, 2006

Before: BARRY and SMITH, Circuit Judges,

and DITTER, District Judge*

(Filed: July 7, 2006)

 

OPINION OF THE COURT

 

SMITH, Circuit Judge.

James Holloway filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C.

§ 2255 seeking to vacate and set aside his guilty plea on grounds that his trial counsel
2

provided ineffective assistance. Although the District Court concluded that the

representation provided by Holloway’s counsel “fell below an objective standard of

reasonableness” under the first prong test set forth in Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S.

668, 688 (1984), it nevertheless held that Holloway failed to establish prejudice as a result

of his attorney’s deficient performance. Accordingly, the Court denied Holloway’s

habeas petition. Holloway filed this timely appeal. In addition to challenging the District

Court’s denial of his habeas petition, Holloway also seeks resentencing. For the reasons

set forth below, we will affirm the District Court’s order denying his petition for habeas

relief and deny his request for resentencing.

I.

Holloway was arrested on June 13, 1997, when Harrisburg Police Officers

discovered approximately a half-pound of marijuana in his car during a routine traffic

stop. He was charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana in violation of

35 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 780-113(a)(3). Following his arrest, Holloway retained private

counsel who represented him in relation to that charge until it was dismissed in August of

1997.

In July of 1997, the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Bureau of Narcotics

Investigation began investigating drug-trafficking activities by Holloway and other

individuals in the Harrisburg area. In the course of conducting the investigation,

Narcotics Agent Thomas Lowe relied heavily on information that he obtained from
1

 The record sometimes refers to the confidential informant as “Shepherd” and

other times as “Shepard.” For purposes of this opinion, we will adopt the spelling used

by the parties.

3

Shawn Shepherd1, a confidential informant. Shepherd had been incarcerated in Dauphin

County prison on a parole violation from February of 1997 through June 25, 1997. On

July 11, 1997, Senior Deputy Attorney General Shawn Wagner approved the electronic

recording of Shepherd’s conversations with Holloway and with other individuals under

investigation. Wagner specifically told Shepherd not to discuss any pending charges that

these individuals might have.

On July 16, 1997, Agent Lowe interviewed Shepherd about Holloway’s drugtrafficking activities with another individual named Lipton Gordon. During this

interview, Shepherd informed Agent Lowe that Holloway had been arrested by

Harrisburg police in June. Agent Lowe subsequently confirmed this information on July

21, 1997.

On July 20, 1997, Shepherd told Agent Lowe that he had visited Holloway’s

residence and observed more than five pounds of marijuana. Based on this information,

Agent Lowe arranged for Shepherd to make a controlled purchase. Accordingly, on July

22, 1997, Shepherd made an electronically-recorded call to Holloway, scheduled a visit to

Holloway’s home, and purchased one pound of marijuana from him. After the purchase,

Shepherd called Holloway to discuss the transaction. That call was also recorded.

Five days later, on July 27, 1997, Shepherd contacted Agent Lowe and notified
4

him that he had observed more than twenty pounds of marijuana in the trunk of

Holloway’s car. Based on this report, Lowe set up another controlled purchase on July

28. The process mimicked that of July 22, except Shepherd purchased three pounds of

marijuana. That same day, Agent Lowe obtained a search warrant for Holloway’s

residence from the Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas. The following day, law

enforcement officials searched Holloway’s home and seized approximately nine pounds

of marijuana. Holloway was not arrested at that time.

Between the end of July and September of 1997, Shepherd made several more

recorded phone calls to Holloway. He discovered that, after the search of Holloway’s

residence, Holloway had begun to use his brother, Ivan, as a middleman for his drug

transactions. On September 11, 1997, Shepherd arranged a controlled buy and purchased

three pounds of marijuana from Ivan Holloway.

On August 31, 1998, nearly one year after the last controlled purchase, the

Pennsylvania Attorney General’s office charged Holloway with four counts of possession

with intent to deliver a controlled substance and one count of conspiracy. Holloway was

originally represented on these charges by the same attorney who represented him in

relation to the June 13, 1997 drug charge. Subsequently, however, Holloway discharged

private counsel and a Dauphin County assistant public defender took over his case.

At a suppression hearing in the Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas,

Holloway argued, among other things, that the recorded telephone conversations were

illegal under Pennsylvania law. He also claimed that law enforcement officers violated
5

his Sixth Amendment right to counsel by eliciting incriminating statements from him

during those recorded conversations despite the fact that he was represented by counsel

on the June 13 drug-related charge. The Court of Common Pleas suppressed the

evidence, concluding that a warrant was required under Pennsylvania law to intercept and

record Holloway’s telephone conversations with Shepherd. The Court did not address

Holloway’s Sixth Amendment Claim. 

As a result of the Court’s decision to suppress the evidence related to the state

charges, the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania agreed to

prosecute the case in federal court. Accordingly, on May 17, 2000, Holloway was

indicted and charged with three counts: distribution and possession with intent to

distribute 100 grams or more of marijuana in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) (Count I),

possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) (Count

II), and conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute 100 kilograms or more

of marijuana in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846 (Count III). With respect to the distribution

and conspiracy charges, the indictment alleged acts spanning from March of 1997 to

September 11, 1997. 

Pursuant to a plea agreement, Holloway pled guilty to Count III–the conspiracy

charge. At a sentencing hearing held on February 9, 2001, the District Court imposed a

125-month term of imprisonment. Holloway filed a timely notice of appeal. His lawyer

submitted an Anders brief, seeking to withdraw his representation, and Holloway filed a

pro se appellate brief. Holloway’s pro se brief addressed both his ineffective assistance
6

of counsel claim and his Sixth Amendment claims.

On December 20, 2001, this Court issued a non-precedential opinion, granting

counsel’s motion to withdraw and affirming the District Court’s judgment of conviction

and sentence. In relevant part, we wrote:

Holloway presents two issues in his pro se brief. He first argues ineffective

assistance of counsel. We refuse to review this claim because we generally

do not review ineffective assistance claims on direct appeal and prefer that

they be raised in a collateral proceeding under 28 U.S.C. § 2255.

Holloway also claims that incriminating statements were elicited

from him in recorded telephone conversations without counsel present, by

Shepard and other government informants, in violation of his Fifth and

Sixth Amendment right to counsel. He also challenges the use of

informants to make drug purchases from him. These arguments lack merit .

. . .

United States v. Holloway, No. 01-1415 (3d Cir. Dec. 20, 2001).

On February 19, 2003, Holloway filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus in the

District Court pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255, arguing that his court-appointed attorney in

the federal criminal action had failed to adequately investigate the law and facts related to

his Sixth Amendment claim. Had counsel done so, Holloway asserted that the evidence

derived from the recorded telephone conversations would have been suppressed and he

would not have pled guilty.

After a hearing on the merits of Holloway’s habeas petition, the District Court

concluded that his counsel’s performance fell below an objective standard of

reasonableness and directed the parties to file additional briefs regarding whether

Holloway was prejudiced as a result of his attorney’s ineffective assistance. On October
1

 The District Court had jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255. We exercise

jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 2253 and 2255.

7

6, 2003, the Court issued a memorandum opinion, explaining that Holloway “failed to

meet his burden of demonstrating that his Sixth Amendment rights were violated.” 

Holloway filed a timely notice of appeal. On November 4, 2003, the Court issued a

certificate of appealability as to Holloway’s Sixth Amendment claim.1

II.

In Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668 (1984), the United States Supreme

Court set forth a two-prong test to evaluate a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel. 

First, a petitioner must establish that counsel’s representation “fell below an objective

standard of reasonableness.” Id. at 688. Second, he must prove that “there is a

reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s unprofessional errors, the result of the

proceeding would have been different.” Id. at 694. Individuals who plead guilty may

nevertheless raise a claim for ineffective assistance of counsel. In such cases, the

question for purposes of evaluating prejudice is “whether counsel’s constitutionally

ineffective performance affected the outcome of the plea process.” Hill v. Lockhart, 474

U.S. 52, 59 (1985).

In this case, the District Court concluded that Holloway’s lawyer failed to

investigate or conduct any research regarding the viability of Holloway’s Sixth

Amendment claim. Accordingly, the Court held that counsel’s representation was

deficient. Nevertheless, in considering the merits of Holloway’s Sixth Amendment claim,
2 Because we conclude that Holloway’s claim of ineffective assistance of counsel

fails under the second prong of Strickland, we need not address whether the District Court

properly concluded that counsel’s representation fell below an objectively reasonable

standard under the first prong. 466 U.S. at 697 (“Although we have discussed the

performance component of an ineffectiveness claim prior to the prejudice component,

there is no reason for a court deciding an ineffective assistance claim to approach the

inquiry in the same order or even to address both components of the inquiry if the

defendant makes an insufficient showing on one.”).

8

the Court noted that the Sixth Amendment right to counsel is offense-specific,

acknowledged that the right attached to his June 13, 1997 charges, but found that there

was insufficient evidence to conclude that “the confidential informant, or any other agent

of the state, spoke with [Holloway] concerning anything connected with his June 13,

1997 arrest and the charges stemming therefrom.” It therefore concluded that Holloway

failed to establish prejudice under the second prong of Strickland and denied his petition

for habeas relief. We agree and, accordingly, will affirm the District Court’s order

denying Holloway’s petition.

III.

Holloway contends that he was prejudiced by counsel’s ineffective representation

because he would not have entered a guilty plea if his attorney had filed a motion to

suppress. Holloway’s claim, however, presupposes that such a motion would have been

granted. Because we conclude that Holloway’s Sixth Amendment claim is without merit,

we cannot find that he was prejudiced by any shortcomings of his attorney.2

The Sixth Amendment provides that “[i]n all criminal prosecutions, the accused
9

shall enjoy a right . . . to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.” U.S. Const.,

amend. VI. In Michigan v. Jackson, 475 U.S. 625, 636 (1986), the Supreme Court held

that, in accordance with the Sixth Amendment, “if police initiate interrogation after a

defendant’s assertion, at an arraignment or similar proceeding, of his right to counsel, any

waiver of the defendant’s right to counsel for that police-initiated interrogation is

invalid.” The right to counsel, however, is “offense specific.” See, e.g., McNeil v.

Washington, 501 U.S. 171, 175 (1991). Accordingly,“[i]t cannot be invoked once for all

future prosecutions, for it does not attach until a prosecution is commenced[.]” Id. In

other words, invocation of the right protects against police-initiated interrogation only

with respect to the particular offense for which the individual is being represented by

counsel. “Incriminating statements pertaining to other crimes, as to which the Sixth

Amendment right has not yet attached, are, of course, admissible at a trial of those

offenses.” Maine v. Moulton, 474 U.S. 159, 180 n.16 (1985).

Holloway argues that Shepherd–an agent of the state–attempted to elicit

incriminating statements regarding an offense which, although uncharged, constituted the

same offense as the June 13, 1997 possession with intent to distribute state charge. 

Holloway’s claim is without merit. 

As the District Court explained, although there was apparently some discussion of

the June 13, 1997 offense between Holloway and Shepherd, there is insufficient evidence

in the record to establish that Shepherd initiated a discussion regarding the June 13 arrest

or attempted to elicit incriminating statements regarding the specific offense of possessing
10

marijuana with intent to distribute on that date. There is also insufficient evidence to

establish that Shepherd questioned Holloway about any offense which could be

considered the “same offense” under the Supreme Court’s test in Blockburger v. United

States, 284 U.S. 299, 304 (1932). In Blockburger, the Court articulated a test to

determine whether “the same act or transaction” constitutes “two offenses or only one.” 

Id. It explained that “where the same act or transaction constitutes a violation of two

distinct statutory provisions, the test to be applied to determine whether there are two

offenses or only one, is whether each provision requires proof of a fact which the other

does not.” Id; see also Texas v. Cobb, 532 U.S. 162, 173 (2001) (holding that the

Blockburger test is properly applied to determine whether two acts constitute the “same

offense” under the Sixth Amendment).

Holloway argues that because the drug conspiracy with which he was charged

encompassed the June 13, 1997 arrest and drug-related offense, it should be considered

the “same act or transaction.” Moreover, he contends that because the federal indictment

charged him with a violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846, which includes both attempt and

conspiracy to possess marijuana with the intent to distribute, and attempt is a lesser

included offense of possession with intent to distribute, Count III of the federal

indictment should be considered the “same offense” as the June 13 state charge for Sixth

Amendment purposes. We disagree. 

First, although the federal indictment charged Holloway with conspiracy for
11

numerous acts spanning from March of 1997 to September 11, 1997, there is no evidence

in the record to establish that any of the alleged acts included Holloway’s possession of

marijuana on June 13, 1997, nor is there any evidence that drugs that were confiscated

from Holloway during the June 13 arrest were calculated as part of his sentence. We

therefore cannot conclude that acts for which he was charged in the federal indictment

constitute the “same act or transaction” as that underlying the June 13, 1997 offense.

Second, conspiracy–the specific offense for which Holloway was charged and pled

guilty–is different than the possession with intent to distribute offense for which he was

charged in connection with his June 13, 1997 arrest: Proof of an agreement is necessary to

establish conspiracy, but no such proof is required for the possession with intent to

distribute charge. The June 13 charge and the subsequent federal charge therefore cannot

be considered the “same offense” under Blockburger and Cobb.

Because we conclude that Holloway’s Sixth Amendment claim is meritless, we

agree with the District Court that he failed to establish prejudice under the second prong

of Strickland, and accordingly, affirm the denial of his habeas petition.

IV.

In the alternative, Holloway argues that his case should be remanded for

resentencing because the District Court imposed sentence based on unconstitutional

federal sentencing guidelines. See Appellant’s Br. at 22-36. Since Holloway filed his

brief on appeal, the Supreme Court has held that the United States Sentencing Guidelines

are unconstitutional when applied mandatorily and has excised those provisions which
3 The Government argues that we have no jurisdiction to consider Holloway’s

resentencing argument because the District Court did not issue a certificate of

appealability with respect to that question. It nevertheless concedes that this Court could

issue such a certificate if Holloway made a substantial showing that the imposition of his

sentence constituted the denial of a constitutional right. We note at the outset that the

District Court issued the certificate prior to the Supreme Court’s decision in Blakely and

Booker and, consequently, had no opportunity to consider the constitutional relevance of

those rulings to a habeas petition. At all events, our decision in Lloyd is dispositive of the

matter, and we need not issue a certificate on the issue or remand the case for

resentencing.

12

require their application. See United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220 (2005) (declaring

that United States Sentencing Guidelines are only advisory). Nevertheless, in Lloyd v.

United States, 407 F.3d 608 (3d Cir. 2005), we concluded that Booker does not apply

retroactively to § 2255 petitions where the judgment was final as of the date Booker

issued. Holloway’s judgment of conviction and sentence became final on November 26,

2001, long before the Supreme Court issued its opinion in Booker. Accordingly, there is

no need to grant a certificate of appealability with respect to this issue or to remand the

case for resentencing.3