United States v. Nesheiwat ( 2013 )

12-2180-cr
United States v. Nesheiwat
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE SECOND CIRCUIT
SUMMARY ORDER
RULINGS BY SUMMARY ORDER DO NOT HAVE PRECEDENTIAL EFFECT. CITATION TO
A SUMMARY ORDER FILED ON OR AFTER JANUARY 1, 2007, IS PERMITTED AND IS
GOVERNED BY FEDERAL RULE OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE 32.1 AND THIS COURT’S
LOCAL RULE 32.1.1. WHEN CITING A SUMMARY ORDER IN A DOCUMENT FILED WITH
THIS COURT, A PARTY MUST CITE EITHER THE FEDERAL APPENDIX OR AN
ELECTRONIC DATABASE (WITH THE NOTATION “SUMMARY ORDER”). A PARTY CITING
A SUMMARY ORDER MUST SERVE A COPY OF IT ON ANY PARTY NOT REPRESENTED BY
COUNSEL.
At a stated term of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, held at the
Thurgood Marshall Courthouse, 40 Foley Square, in the City of New York, on the 3rd day of
May, two thousand thirteen.
Present:
PIERRE N. LEVAL,
ROBERT A. KATZMANN,
PETER W. HALL,
Circuit Judges.
________________________________________________
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Appellee,
v. No. 12-2180-cr
STEPHEN LEWIS,
Defendant,
ISSA NESHEIWAT,
Defendant-Appellant.
________________________________________________
For Appellee: Michael A. Levy, Benjamin Allee, Lee Renzin, Jennifer G.
Rodgers, Assistant United States Attorneys, for Preet Bharara,
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York,
New York, NY
For Defendant-Appellant: Firas E. Nesheiwat, Law Office of Firas E. Nesheiwat,
Poughkeepsie, NY
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
(Seibel, J.).
ON CONSIDERATION WHEREOF, it is hereby ORDERED, ADJUDGED, and
DECREED that the judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED.
Defendant-appellant Issa Nesheiwat appeals from a January 18, 2012 judgment of
conviction entered by the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
(Seibel, J.). Nesheiwat pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute at least 500 grams of
cocaine in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846, and the district court sentenced him to the mandatory
minimum sentence of five years’ imprisonment. On appeal, Nesheiwat challenges the legitimacy
of his guilty plea, the district court’s decision not to apply the safety valve departure to the
mandatory minimum sentence, and the effectiveness of his counsel before the district court. We
presume the parties’ familiarity with the remaining facts and procedural history of this case, as
well as with the issues on appeal.
With respect to Nesheiwat's challenge to the sufficiency of his guilty plea, because
Nesheiwat did not raise an objection to the sufficiency of his plea below, we review the district
court’s Rule 11 finding for plain error. United States v. Torrellas, 455 F.3d 96, 103 (2d Cir.
2006) (citing United States v. Vonn, 535 U.S. 55, 59 (2002)). Under the plain error standard, a
defendant must show that: “(1) there is an error; (2) the error is clear or obvious, rather than
subject to reasonable dispute; (3) the error affected the [defendant's] substantial rights, which in
the ordinary case means it affected the outcome of the district court proceedings; and (4) the
error seriously affect[ed] the fairness, integrity or public reputation of judicial proceedings.”
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United States v. Marcus, 130 S. Ct. 2159, 2164 (2010) (internal quotation marks omitted). In the
context of Rule 11 plain error review, the Supreme Court has instructed that the defendant must
show “a reasonable probability that, but for the error, he would not have entered the plea.”
United States v. Dominguez Benitez, 542 U.S. 74, 83 (2004).
Nesheiwat argues that the conduct he admitted to at his guilty plea fails to satisfy every
element of the crime of conspiracy because he never admitted to entering into an agreement with
others to distribute the cocaine he was purchasing from the government’s confidential witness.
See United States v. Maher, 108 F.3d 1513, 1524 (2d Cir. 1997) (“[Fed. R. Crim. P. 11(b)(3)]
requires the court to assure itself simply that the conduct to which the defendant admits is in fact
an offense under the statutory provision under which he is pleading guilty.”). He first points to
the jury’s acquittal of his codefendant Lewis and argues that Lewis cannot constitute
Nesheiwat’s coconspirator. This argument is meritless. During his plea colloquy, Nesheiwat
admitted to agreeing with friends other than Lewis to distribute the cocaine he purchased from
the confidential witness. Lewis’s role in the conspiracy is irrelevant to Nesheiwat’s guilty plea.
Second, Nesheiwat contends that he is not guilty of conspiracy because the “friends” and
“customers” he referred to during his allocution did not enter into a conspiracy with him. He
makes two arguments with respect to these coconspirators. First, he suggests that because there
are insufficient details regarding the identity of these alleged purchasers or when they entered
into an agreement with him, this allocution was insufficient to show conspiracy as charged in the
indictment. Second, he asserts that he had only a “buyer-seller” relationship with these friends
because he planned only to sell cocaine to them at retail in small amounts, and therefore under
existing case law did not enter into a conspiracy to distribute the cocaine. See United States v.
Parker, 554 F.3d 230, 234 (2d Cir. 2009) (describing buyer-seller doctrine as “narrow
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exception” to conspiracy, which applies even if seller is aware that the buyer intends to resell the
drugs). Nesheiwat argues that his plea failed to evidence a common purpose “to advance other
transfers, whether by the seller or by the buyer,” sufficient to support a conspiracy conviction.
Id. at 235.
Both of these arguments are contradicted by the details of the plea colloquy. After a
number of questions from the district court and answers by Nesheiwat, the district court
confirmed the details of Nesheiwat’s allocution by summarizing as follows:
THE COURT: I'll clarify, that, before traveling to Rockland and getting arrested,
[Nesheiwat] had agreed in advance with some friends that he was going to go buy drugs and
they agreed they would buy some of it from him. Is that accurate?
THE DEFENDANT: Yes, your Honor.
THE COURT: And you had this understanding with your friends before you set off to
Rockland County with the other person?
THE DEFENDANT: Yes, your Honor.
J. App’x 38-39. From this, it is clear that Nesheiwat admitted to conduct constituting all the
elements of conspiracy: there existed an agreement or plan to distribute narcotics; he entered into
this agreement with his coconspirators willingly and knowingly; and it involved the distribution
or possession with intent to distribute 500 grams and more of cocaine. See United States v.
Story, 891 F.2d 988, 992 (2d Cir. 1989) (“The only elements of a [Title 21,] section 846
narcotics conspiracy offense are the existence of a conspiracy and the defendant’s willful joining
it.”); see also United States v. Gonzalez, 420 F.3d 111, 129 (2d Cir. 2005) (holding drug quantity
is an element of any aggravated narcotics offense under 21 U.S.C. § 841(b) that imposes
increased penalties on defendant).
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Similarly, Nesheiwat does not fall under the “narrow” circumstances of the buyer-seller
exception to conspiracy. Nesheiwat focuses on the fact that there is no evidence of an agreement
that his buyers would be reselling the two kilograms of cocaine Nesheiwat was purchasing. But
this ignores that Nesheiwat and his friends agreed that Nesheiwat would be purchasing cocaine
from the government’s confidential witness in order to resell it to them. See United States v.
Rojas, 617 F.3d 669, 674 (2d Cir. 2010) (holding buyer-seller exception does not apply if parties
“shared a conspiratorial purpose to advance other transfers, whether by the seller or by the
buyer” (emphasis added)). Accordingly, because Nesheiwat agreed to serve in effect as the
middleman in this transaction, the buyer-seller exception does not apply. The district court did
not err in accepting his guilty plea.
Nesheiwat next argues that the district court erred in finding him ineligible for the “safety
valve” departure that would allow the court to sentence him below the five-year mandatory
minimum. See 18 U.S.C. § 3553(f); U.S.S.G. § 5C1.2. The defendant bears the burden of
proving that he has satisfied all of the safety valve criteria. United States v. Tang, 214 F.3d 365,
371 (2d Cir. 2000). These criteria include, inter alia, proving that he truthfully provided to the
government all information and evidence he has concerning the offense. 18 U.S.C. § 3553(f)(5);
U.S.S.G. § 5C1.2(a)(5). Here, the district court determined that Nesheiwat was not eligible for
the safety valve because he had not truthfully described Lewis’s role in the conspiracy. On
appeal, Nesheiwat contends that he was completely truthful and that in fact Lewis had no
knowing role in the conspiracy.
We review for clear error the district court’s factual finding that Nesheiwat was not
truthful regarding the offense conduct and therefore not entitled to the safety valve departure.
See United States v. Ortiz, 136 F.3d 882, 883 (2d Cir. 1997) (per curiam). Moreover, we
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generally defer to a district court’s factual findings at sentencing, especially those regarding a
witness’s credibility. See United States v. Nuzzo, 385 F.3d 109, 118 (2d Cir. 2004). Nesheiwat
has failed to show any clear error here.
The evidence before the district court of Lewis’s role in the conspiracy included, inter
alia, 1) extended phone calls between Lewis and Nesheiwat immediately after Nesheiwat spoke
with the government’s confidential witness; (2) Nesheiwat texting Lewis “call your peeps; I got
those things on deck with the factory stamp,” right before the cocaine deal took place; (3) Lewis
asking Nesheiwat through text message about the price per pound and availability of marijuana;
(4) Nesheiwat attempting to purchase drugs from the cooperating witness within earshot of
Lewis; and (5) Lewis having bookmarked websites on his phone about processing cocaine.
Although the jury concluded that this evidence did not demonstrate beyond a reasonable doubt
that Lewis was guilty of conspiracy, Nesheiwat bore the burden here of proving to the district
court by a preponderance of the evidence that he was telling the truth when he denied that Lewis
was part of the conspiracy. Tang, 214 F.3d at 371. The district court did not clearly err when it
rejected Nesheiwat’s contention that Lewis had no knowing role in the conspiracy based on the
evidence before it.
Finally, Nesheiwat argues that he received constitutionally ineffective assistance of
counsel before the district court. He argues that his prior counsel: (1) unduly delayed the entry
of the guilty plea; (2) failed to move to dismiss the indictment: (3) failed to argue that the United
States Attorney’s Office had breached a plea agreement; and (4) failed to ask the district court
for a downward departure on the grounds of entrapment and sentencing manipulation. To prove
ineffective assistance of counsel, Nesheiwat must show that his “counsel’s representation fell
below an objective standard of reasonableness” and that there is a reasonable probability that,
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but for the deficiency in counsel’s performance, the result of the proceeding would have been
different. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687-88, 694 (1984). In the context of a case
where the defendant pleads guilty, the adequacy of counsel’s performance “depends on whether
counsel’s advice was within the range of competence demanded of attorneys in criminal cases.”
Hill v. Lockhart, 474 U.S. 52, 56 (1985) (internal quotation marks omitted). To show prejudice,
“the defendant must show that there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s errors, he
would not have pleaded guilty and would have insisted on going to trial.” Id. at 59; see also
Lafler v. Cooper, 132 S. Ct. 1376, 1384-85 (2012), and Missouri v. Frye, 132 S. Ct. 1399,
1407-08 (2012) (holding that Sixth Amendment requires effective assistance during plea
bargaining).
We frequently decline to reach claims of ineffective assistance of counsel on the ground
that such claims are better suited to resolution through a habeas petition. See Massaro v. United
States, 538 U.S. 500, 505 (2003). Nevertheless, where the record is sufficiently developed on
direct appeal, we will address an ineffective assistance claim if its “resolution is beyond any
doubt or to do so would be in the interest of justice.” United States v. Khedr, 343 F.3d 96, 100
(2d Cir. 2003) (internal quotation marks omitted). Here, we agree with the parties that
Nesheiwat’s claims can be resolved on direct appeal. We find that all are without merit.
First, the claim that Nesheiwat’s counsel provided ineffective assistance by delaying the
entry of his guilty plea is specious. Nesheiwat argues that this delay prejudiced him because he
was not sentenced until after Lewis’s trial ended in an acquittal. He fails to explain how this
delay had any bearing on either his guilty plea or the district court’s conclusion that Nesheiwat
was not truthful with respect to Lewis’s role in the conspiracy.
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Next, Nesheiwat argues that his counsel should have moved to dismiss the indictment
after Lewis was acquitted on the ground that there was no longer a “conspiracy” between the two
of them. Putting aside that this claim entirely undercuts his previous argument that he was
prejudiced by the delay of his sentencing until after Lewis’s acquittal, the acquittal of one
coconspirator does not render the prior conviction infirm. See United States v. Garcia, 882 F.2d
699, 704–05 (2d Cir. 1989). His counsel cannot be deemed ineffective for not pursuing a legally
unsupportable motion. See United States v. Doe, 537 F.3d 204, 210 (2d Cir. 2008) (discussing
standards for the withdrawal of a guilty plea).
Third, Nesheiwat contends that his counsel was ineffective because he failed to request
specific performance of the plea agreement Nesheiwat signed with the government. Again, this
argument is specious. Nesheiwat did not sign a plea agreement with the government; he signed
only a proffer agreement. Moreover, although Nesheiwat contends that the government agreed
not to oppose his request for safety valve relief and “explicitly supported a downward
departure,” the proffer agreement he cites in fact states that “The Client [Nesheiwat] understands
and agrees that in the event the Client seeks to qualify for a reduction in sentence under [the
safety valve], the [United States Attorney’s] Office may offer in evidence, in connection with the
sentencing, statements made by the Client at the meeting and all evidence obtained directly or
indirectly therefrom.” J. App’x 78. The government charitably chalks up Nesheiwat’s position
to “confusion”; we think it comes dangerously close to misrepresenting the record to this Court.
Regardless, his claim fails.
Fourth, Nesheiwat argues that he received ineffective assistance because his counsel
failed to seek downward departures for entrapment and sentencing manipulation. The district
court, however, sentenced Nesheiwat to the five-year mandatory minimum. Absent a safety
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valve departure or a motion by the government pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3553(e), the court could
not sentence Nesheiwat to any less than the five years he received. See United States v.
Oliveras, 359 F. App’x 257, 258 & n.1 (2d Cir. 2010) (summary order) (citing Kimbrough v.
United States, 552 U.S. 85, 108 (2007)). Therefore, Nesheiwat cannot show prejudice.
We have considered all of the defendant’s remaining arguments and find them to be
without merit. Accordingly, for the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the district court is
AFFIRMED.
FOR THE COURT:
CATHERINE O’HAGAN WOLFE, CLERK
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