Source: http://mo.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20170417_0000731.EMO.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2018-03-18 19:23:46
Document Index: 622976403

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 2255', '§ 846', '§ 841', '§ 924', '§ 924', '§ 924', '§ 922', '§ 924', '§ 846', '§ 846']

JAMAAL CURRY JOHNSON, Movant,
CAROL E. JACK SON, UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
This matter is before the Court upon the motion of Jamaal Curry Johnson to vacate, set aside, or correct sentence pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255. The United States has filed a response, and the issues are fully briefed.
On May 30, 2012, a jury found Johnson guilty of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine base, MDMA, BZP, and marijuana, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846 and § 841(b)(1)(C) (Count 1); conspiracy to use and carry firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c) and (o) (Count 2); possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime resulting in death, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c)(1)(A) and (j) (Count 3); possession of a firearm discharged in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c)(1)(A)(iii) and (c)(1)(C)(ii) (Count 4); and felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) and § 924(a)(2) (Count 5). He was sentenced on September 27, 2012 to an aggregate term of imprisonment of 240 months. The judgment was affirmed on appeal. United States v. Johnson, 737 F.3d 522 (8th Cir. 2013).
In the instant motion to vacate, Johnson asserts that he was denied effective assistance of counsel and that there was insufficient evidence to sustain his conviction. The government maintains that the ineffective assistance claims are without merit and that the challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence is procedurally barred.
Johnson claims that his attorney's performance was, in a number of respects, constitutionally deficient. To prevail on an ineffective assistance claim, a movant must show that his attorney's performance fell below an objective standard of reasonableness and that he was prejudiced thereby. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 688 (1984). With respect to the first Strickland prong, there exists a strong presumption that counsel's conduct falls within the wide range of professionally reasonable assistance. Id. at 689. In Strickland, the Court described the standard for determining an ineffective assistance claim:
Johnson first asserts that he was denied effective assistance of counsel as a result of his attorney's failure to challenge the sufficiency of the superseding indictment with respect to Count 1. In the memorandum in support of the motion to vacate, Johnson argues that the Count 1 was defective because it included language-“did knowingly and intentionally combine, conspire, confederate and agree”-that does not appear in 21 U.S.C. § 846. Had defense counsel moved to dismiss Count 1 as facially insufficient, he would not have succeeded. The allegations in Count 1 set forth specific facts constituting the charged offense. See United States v. Huggans, 659 F.3d 1210, 1218 (8th Cir. 2011) (indictment charging violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846 which contained facts supporting all of the essential elements of the offense was sufficient). Moreover, it cannot be said (and Johnson does not contend) that the allegations were insufficient to notify Johnson of the charge against him. See United States v. Mann, 701 F.3d 274, 288 (8th Cir. 2012) (indictment is sufficient if it contains all elements of the offense, fairly informs the defendant of the charges he must defend against, and contains sufficient information to allow the defendant to plead a conviction or acquittal as a bar to a subsequent prosecution). Thus, even if defense counsel's failure to challenge the facial sufficiency of the indictment could be deemed performance below an objective standard of reasonableness, Johnson suffered no prejudice.
Further, Johnson cannot show that the outcome of the proceedings would have been different if defense counsel had moved to strike the alleged surplusage in Count 1. At best, a motion to strike would have resulted in removing the language Johnson complains of-the prosecution of the offense charged in Count 1 would have continued. Additionally, the indictment was not submitted to the jury, either as an exhibit or as part of the instructions. Thus, the jury's deliberations and verdict could not have been influenced by the alleged surplusage in Count 1.
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In the reply in further support of his motion to vacate, Johnson contends that his attorney&#39;s failure to object to object to a constructive amendment of Count 1 at trial constitutes deficient performance. Specifically, he argues that &ldquo;he was charged with one thing, but the jury was instructed on another.&rdquo; Reply at p. 3 [Doc. # 8]. This argument lacks merit. Count 1 charged Johnson with conspiring with other individuals to &ldquo;distribute and possess with intent to distribute&rdquo; cocaine base, MDMA, BZP, and marijuana. At trial, however, the jury was instructed only on the charge of conspiring to &ldquo;distribute&rdquo; cocaine base, MDMA, BZP, and marijuana. &ldquo;A constructive amendment occurs when the essential elements of the offense as charged in the indictment are altered in such a manner-often through the evidence presented at trial or the jury instructions-that the jury is allowed to convict the defendant of an offense different from or in addition to the offenses charged in the indictment.&rdquo; United States v. Whirlwind Soldier, 499 F.3d 862, 870 (8th Cir. 2007). The government's decision to proceed only ...