Source: http://ks.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20180411_0000546.DKS.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2019-04-21 02:41:14+00:00

Document:
This matter is before the Court on Petitioner Marcus Roberson's Motion to Vacate, Set Aside, or Correct Sentence pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255 (Doc. 817). The Government has responded (Doc. 826). For the reasons explained below, the Court exercises its discretion to order the Government to expand the record as set forth below.
On October 19, 2011, Roberson and seven co-defendants were charged with conspiracy to distribute 280 grams or more of crack cocaine (Count 1) and conspiracy to distribute 5 kilograms or more of powder cocaine (Count 2). Roberson, along with co-defendant Virok Webb, was also charged with one count of murder to prevent another from providing information concerning a federal crime to a law enforcement officer of the United States, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1512(a)(1)(C). Roberson proceeded to trial, with all but one of the other co-defendants entering into plea agreements with the Government. On March 6, 2014, Roberson was convicted by a jury on all three counts. The jury also returned special verdicts determining that Roberson conspired to distribute 280 grams or more of crack cocaine and 5 kilograms or more of powder cocaine. On July 14, 2015, the Court denied Roberson's motions for judgment of acquittal and new trial. On December 2, 2015, this Court sentenced Roberson to a controlling term of Life imprisonment. On November 16, 2016, the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed Roberson's conviction and sentence. The Court subsequently issued an order directing that Roberson file either a motion to withdraw his pending second Rule 33 motion and a notice of his desire not to have the motion re-characterized as a request for § 2255 relief, or a motion amending the Rule 33 motion to include all claims that can be brought under § 2255. Roberson withdrew his motion,  and this timely § 2255 motion followed.
On March 7, 2014, the day after Roberson was convicted by a jury, co-defendant Virok Webb entered a binding guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine. As an appropriate sentence, the parties proposed a term of imprisonment between twenty and thirty years; the Government agreed to dismiss the second drug conspiracy charge as well as the murder charge, and limited its § 851(a)(1) information to one prior felony drug conviction, resulting in a mandatory minimum sentence of twenty years rather than life imprisonment.
I am willing to testify in Marcus Robersons defense in his appeal trial that we had NO illegal drug dealings or he and I had any parts in the homicide attributed to us. Unfortunetly [sic] I was not able to testify at his trial do to my own case that was pending. My attorney advise against it continously. Me and Roberson did not deal in drugs together nor did he ever purchase, receive, or contact me about anything like that. We did not discuss or plot, or plan any homicide. I apologize for not doing this for you or Dewberrys attorney. I recently took a plea so I am free to testify for you and Roberson during his appeal process. I get sentenced May 27th.
TO: Charles Rogers (Attorney for Marcus D. Roberson), I, Virok D. Webb, typed this as a truthful and correct Affidavit, and on my own free will, the information I am about to state is true and accurate. And is willing to testify in court to this information I state in this affidavit. I am willing to testify in Marcus D. Roberson [sic] defense, that he and I “never” had no agreement in no illegal drug activities. Mr. Roberson, never conspired together to purchase any kinda of illegal drugs or any other illegal items, with me or from me. I never sold or gave Mr. Roberson me, any kinda of illegal drugs. On June 29, 2010, I had a interview with Junction City, KS JCPD detective Joshua Brown, and during the interview detective J. Brown asked me specifically about was Mr. Roberson involved in the distribution me and detective J. Brown was discussing, and when I stated Mr. Roberson was not involved with me, I was stating the truth. Mr. Roberson has no involvement in the distribution me and detective J. Brown was discussing. Also me and Mr. Roberson, never discussed, plotted, or plan any homicide. And that goes for the one we was wrongly accused of. I apologize for not being able to relay this information to Mr. Roberson's defense but due to my attorney at the time would not allow me to testify in Mr. Roberson's defense. I recently took a plea back in March 2014, so I am free to testify for Mr.
Roberson's behalf, because what I plead out to Mr. Roberson had no involvement with me.
In his § 2255 motion, Roberson raises eight discrete claims that his trial and appellate counsel were ineffective. Relative to this Order, Roberson claims that both counsel were ineffective by failing to submit Webb's affidavits in further support of the motion filed pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 33. Specifically, Roberson contends that these “affidavits would have proven that there was no conspiracy agreement between [the defendant] and Virok Webb's drug distribution organization.” As related in Webb's affidavits, his counsel prevented him from testifying, as he was awaiting trial.

References: § 2255
 § 1512
 § 2255
 § 2255
 § 2255
 § 851
 § 2255