Scott v. United States of America

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF SOUTH DAKOTA
SOUTHERN DIVISION
RODERICK LEON SCOTT,
Movant,
vs.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Respondent.
4:20-CV-04181-KES
ORDER ADOPTING REPORT AND
RECOMMENDATION IN PART, NOT
ADOPTING IN PART, AND GRANTING
RESPONDENT’S MOTION TO
DISMISS
Movant, Roderick Leon Scott, moves to vacate, set aside, or correct his
sentence under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 alleging numerous errors, including that his
trial counsel provided ineffective assistance of counsel. Docket 1. The United
States now moves to dismiss the petition without holding an evidentiary
hearing. Docket 20. The matter was referred to a United States Magistrate
Judge under 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B) and this court’s October 16, 2014,
standing order.
The Magistrate Judge recommends that an evidentiary hearing be
granted as to Scott’s claim that his sentence was disproportionate to that of
Curtis Webb, a co-defendant, in violation of Scott’s Eighth Amendment rights
and his claim that counsel was ineffective in failing to raise this issue by
showing at sentencing that Scott and Webb were similarly situated. Docket 23
at 37. The Magistrate Judge recommends dismissing the remainder of Scott’s
claims. Id. For the following reasons, the court adopts the Magistrate Judge’s
report and recommendation in part and does not adopt it in part, granting
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respondent’s motion to dismiss all claims and dismissing Scott’s § 2255
motion. Scott has also filed a motion to amend his § 2255 motion under
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 15(a) and a motion to supplement under
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 15(d). Dockets 30, 31.
FACTUAL BACKGROUND
Scott was convicted of conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of
cocaine base in 2005. See United States v. Scott, 4:05-CR-40077-1-KES, Docket
76.
Scott’s supervised release was revoked, and he began a second term of
supervised release on September 28, 2018. Scott, 4:05-CR-40077-1-KES,
Docket 116 at 1. On December 4, 2018, he was indicted for conspiring to
distribute methamphetamine in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 846.
United States v. Scott, 4:18-CR-40151-2-KES, Docket 1 at 1. Attorney Jason
Tupman was appointed to represented Scott, and a plea agreement was filed on
August 29, 2019. Scott, 4:18-CR-40151-2-KES, Dockets 21, 57.
The draft presentence report placed Scott in criminal history category VI
and calculated his advisory guideline range as 262 to 327 months’
imprisonment with a mandatory minimum sentence of 120 months. Scott,
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4:18-CR-40151-2-KES, Docket 78 at 15, 24. Scott, through counsel, objected
to the draft presentence report’s drug quantity calculation and his
classification as a career offender. Scott, 4:18-CR-40151-2-KES, Docket 79 at
1-3. Scott filed a motion for a downward variance, arguing that his guideline
range was based on his classification as a career offender and that this status
failed to distinguish between types of criminal records, resulting in an overly
severe sentence. Scott, 4:18-CR-40151-2-KES, Docket 84 at 1-6.
At sentencing, counsel emphasized Scott’s difficult life circumstances
and argued that the Sentencing Commission’s proposed changes pending
before Congress to the career offender enhancement would render the
enhancement inapplicable to Scott. Scott, 4:18-CR-40151-2-KES, Docket 97 at
7-9. Counsel argued that the court should impose a sentence similar to Webb’s
sentence of 210 months, specifically asking for a sentence of 200 months’
imprisonment. Id. at 7, 9. The court noted that Webb was not on supervised
release at the time of his offense, unlike Scott. Id. at 9.
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Citing Scott’s career offender classification, his record of prior drug
convictions, the short period of time between his release from custody and his
new offense, and his likelihood of reoffending, this court denied Scott’s motion
for a downward variance and sentenced Scott to 262 months’ imprisonment,
the bottom of his advisory guideline range. Scott, 4:18-CR-40151-2-KES,
Docket 97 at 12-14. The court also sentenced Scott to 46 months’
imprisonment on the revocation of his supervised release, announcing that the
two sentences would run concurrent for an effective sentence of 262 months’
imprisonment. Id. at 14, 17-18. Scott did not appeal.
Now, Scott raises five grounds in support of his petition under § 2255.
Docket 1. The Magistrate Judge stated the claims were:
1. 	His Fourth Amendment rights were violated by the traffic stop
being unreasonably prolonged.
2. 	His Sixth Amendment right to effective assistance of counsel
was violated in the following ways:
a. 	counsel failed to show an adversarial stance in
arguing against the career offender enhancement
b. 	counsel 	failed 	to 	object 	to 	the 	use of a 	prior
conviction to enhance his sentence where the prior
conviction resulted in only a sentence of probation
c. 	counsel failed to object to the miscalculation of
his drug quantity
d. 	counsel failed to assert that Mr. Scott’s sentence
was disproportionate to the sentence of a co-defendant,
Curtis Webb, who was on probation for a previous
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methamphetamine 	conviction 	at 	the 	time 	he 	was
arrested in this case with Mr. Scott and Mr. Scott was a
subordinate to Mr. Webb in the conspiracy
e. 	counsel failed to move to suppress the evidence
from the traffic stop
f. 	counsel 	failed 	to 	challenge 	the 	indictment 	as
defective
3. 	Mr. Scott’s Fifth and Sixth Amendment rights were violated
when the court found facts as to drug quantity without a jury where
that drug quantity finding increased Mr. Scott’s sentence
4. 	The indictment was a legal nullity and Mr. Scott’s conviction
thereon must be vacated because the indictment is missing an
essential element of the crime.
5. 	The sentence imposed created a disparity.
Docket 23 at 14-15 (citing Docket 1 at 3-30). Respondent objects to the
Magistrate Judge’s recommendation that an evidentiary hearing is necessary to
resolve claims 2(d) and 5 and to her recommendation to deny in part
respondent’s motion to dismiss. See Docket 28 at 11-12. Scott did not object to
the Magistrate Judge’s recommendation to dismiss the remaining claims.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
The court’s review of a magistrate judge’s report and recommendation is
governed by 28 U.S.C. § 636 and Rule 72 of the Federal Rules of Civil
Procedure. The court reviews de novo any objections to the magistrate judge’s
recommendations with respect to dispositive matters that are timely made and
specific. 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1); Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(b). In conducting its de novo
review, this court may then “accept, reject, or modify, in whole or in part, the
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findings or recommendations made by the magistrate judge.” 28 U.S.C.
§ 636(b)(1); United States v. Craft, 30 F.3d 1044, 1045 (8th Cir. 1994).
DISCUSSION
I. 	Unobjected Substantive Claims
A. 	Claims 1 and 4
The Magistrate Judge found that claims 1 and 4, Scott’s Fourth
Amendment claim regarding his traffic stop and his claim that the indictment
was defective, “do not fall under the umbrella of ineffective assistance of
counsel and . . . concern matters that could have been addressed prior to his
plea.” Docket 23 at 17. The Magistrate Judge concluded that “these two claims
are precluded by Mr. Scott’s knowing, intelligent, and voluntary plea.” Id. This
court agrees with this analysis, and Scott does not object to this
recommendation. Thus, this court adopts the Magistrate Judge’s report and
recommendation regarding claims 1 and 4 and dismisses those claims with
prejudice.
B. 	Claim 3
The Magistrate Judge found that claim 3, Scott’s Fifth and Sixth
Amendment claim that his rights were violated by the court’s calculation of his
drug quantity, “is procedurally defaulted because it was not raised in a direct
appeal.” Id. at 21 (citations omitted).
A movant’s claim is procedurally defaulted if he did not raise the claim
on direct appeal. See United States v. Frady, 456 U.S. 152, 167-68 (1982);
McNeal v. United States, 249 F.3d 747, 749 (8th Cir. 2001). A district court may
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address a procedurally defaulted claim if the movant shows (1) that there was
cause for the default and actual prejudice or (2) actual innocence. Bousley v.
United States, 523 U.S. 614, 622 (1998); McNeal, 249 F.3d at 749.
The Magistrate Judge concluded that Scott could not demonstrate
prejudice because, even if he were correct that the court mistakenly
overcalculated the drug quantity in question, he would have had the same
offense level because of his career offender status. Docket 23 at 22-23. This
court agrees with the Magistrate Judge’s analysis, and Scott does not object to
this recommendation. Thus, this court adopts the report and recommendation
regarding claim 3 and dismisses that claim with prejudice.
II. 	Unobjected Ineffective Assistance of Counsel Claims
A. 	Ineffective Assistance of Counsel Standard
To establish ineffective assistance of counsel, a movant must meet the
two-pronged standard articulated by the United States Supreme Court in
Strickland v. Washington. 466 U.S. 668, 687 (1984). “First, the [movant] must
show that counsel’s performance was deficient.” Id. This “performance prong”
requires the movant to show that counsel’s representation “fell below an
objective standard of reasonableness.” Id. at 688. To show deficiency, the
movant must show “that counsel made errors so serious that counsel was not
functioning as the ‘counsel’ guaranteed the defendant by the Sixth
Amendment.” Id. at 687. This court must assess “whether counsel’s assistance
was reasonable considering all the circumstances.” Id. at 688.
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There is a “strong presumption that counsel’s conduct falls within the
wide range of reasonable professional assistance; that is, the defendant must
overcome the presumption that, under the circumstances, the challenged
action ‘might be considered sound trial strategy.’ ” Id. at 689 (quoting Michel v.
Louisiana, 350 U.S. 91, 101 (1955)). “Thus, a court deciding an actual
ineffectiveness claim must judge the reasonableness of counsel’s challenged
conduct on the facts of the particular case, viewed as of the time of counsel’s
conduct.” Id. at 690. Ordinarily, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals
“consider[s] strategic decisions to be virtually unchallengeable unless they are
based on deficient investigation[.]” Link v. Luebbers, 469 F.3d 1197, 1204 (8th
Cir. 2006) (citing White v. Roper, 416 F.3d 728, 732 (8th Cir. 2005)).
“Second, the [movant] must show that the deficient performance
prejudiced the defense.” Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687. This “prejudice prong”
requires the movant to “show 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. “A reasonable probability is a probability sufficient
to undermine confidence in the outcome.” Id. In other words, “[i]t is not enough
for the defendant to show that the errors had some conceivable effect on the
outcome of the proceeding.” Id. at 693. Thus, “[a]n error by counsel, even if
professionally unreasonable, does not warrant setting aside the judgment of a
criminal proceeding if the error had no effect on the judgment.” Id. at 691. In a
sentencing context, a failure to present evidence that “would barely have
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altered the sentencing profile presented to the sentencing judge” does not
constitute prejudice. Id. at 700.
B. 	Claims 2(a)-(c)
The Magistrate Judge recommended the dismissal of all but one of
Scott’s ineffective assistance of counsel claims. Docket 23 at 33-37.
Specifically, the Magistrate Judge found that counsel did argue against
application of the career offender enhancement raised in claim 2(a) and was
thus not deficient. Id. at 33-34. With regard to claim 2(b), the sentencing court
counted Scott’s two prior controlled substance felonies that only resulted in a
sentence of probation when it determined that the career offender
enhancement applied to Scott. See Scott, 4:18-CR-40151-2-KES, Docket 80 at
10. The Magistrate Judge found that if Scott had objected to their inclusion,
the court would have overruled the objection. Docket 23 at 34-35. Further, the
Magistrate Judge notes that even if the court had sustained the objection, it
would have had no impact on Scott’s career offender status because he had
seven other felony controlled substance convictions. Id. at 35. Thus, counsel
was not deficient in failing to raise this objection.
The Magistrate Judge found that counsel did object to the miscalculation
of Scott’s drug quantity, and this objection was sustained. Id. Because the drug
quantity had no impact on Scott’s sentence, the Magistrate Judge
recommended that claim 2(c) be dismissed because any failure on counsel’s
part to bring drug quantity issues to the court’s attention could not have
prejudiced Scott. Id.
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Scott does not object to these recommendations, and the court agrees
with the Magistrate Judge’s analysis. Thus, this court adopts the report and
recommendation regarding claims 2(a)-(c) and dismisses those claims with
prejudice.
C. 	Claims 2(e) and 2(f)
In discussing claims 1 and 4, the Magistrate Judge explained that “a
guilty plea cuts off all constitutional claims that predate a plea.” Id. at 18.
“Waiving trial entails the inherent risk that the good-faith evaluations of a
reasonably competent attorney will turn out to be mistaken either as to the
facts or as to what a court's judgment might be on given facts.” McMann v.
Richardson, 397 U.S. 759, 770 (1970). A defendant seeking to challenge a
voluntary and intelligent guilty plea must show that the advice of his attorney
was not “within the range of competence demanded of attorneys in criminal
cases.” Id. at 770-71.
The Magistrate Judge found that Scott’s plea was voluntary and
intelligent and thus precluded him from pursuing claims 1 and 4, his Fourth
Amendment claim regarding his traffic stop and his claim that the indictment
was defective. Docket 23 at 20-21. The Magistrate Judge did not otherwise
discuss claims 2(e) and 2(f), in which Scott argued his counsel was ineffective
for failing to raise claims 1 and 4 before his guilty plea. See id. at 20-21, 33-37.
“To the extent that the [movant] challenges his trial counsel's advice, he
may only present claims relating to the plea advice; claims relating to pre-plea
advice are barred.” Whitepipe v. Weber, 536 F. Supp. 2d 1070, 1082 (D.S.D.
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2007) (citing Tollett v. Henderson, 411 U.S. 258, 267 (1973)). “[A] person may,
despite a valid guilty plea, pursue . . . a claim that attacks the [government’s]
power to bring any indictment at all, that protects a defendant’s right not to be
haled into court, and that the charge is one which the [government] may not
constitutionally prosecute[.]” Weisberg v. Minnesota, 29 F.3d 1271, 1279 (8th
Cir. 1994) (internal quotations and citations omitted); see also United States v.
Morgan, 230 F.3d 1067, 1071 (8th Cir. 2000) (applying Weisberg to a federal
inmate’s § 2255 motion). This principle “foreclose[s] claims that raise
‘nonjurisdictional’ issues and . . . permit[s] only claims that question the trial
court’s ‘jurisdiction.’ ” Weisberg, 29 F.3d at 1279. Thus, Scott may only bring
ineffective assistance of counsel claims for counsel’s pre-plea advice regarding
the plea itself or if counsel failed to raise a jurisdictional issue. See id.
Scott makes no claims regarding counsel’s plea advice. See Docket 1 at
9-17. Scott alleges that, but for counsel’s advice, these claims “would have
been presented in the proceeding before a plea was tendered[.]” Id. at 17. He
claims that “[t]he results would have been a lot different” had counsel “put up
and [sic] [a]dversarial defense and challenge[d] the government.” Id. Thus, Scott
expresses his belief that these claims should have been raised before he
pleaded guilty, but he does not state that he would have proceeded to trial but
for counsel’s advice. See id. At most, he states that counsel “was against going
to trial from the onset of his being appointed to this case.” Id. Although he
expresses frustration with trial counsel’s approach, Scott makes no claim that
he was interested in proceeding to trial. See id.
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In claim 2(e), Scott alleges that counsel was ineffective in failing to move
to suppress evidence from his traffic stop. Docket 23 at 14 (citing Docket 1 at
3-30). This claim does not raise a jurisdictional issue. See United States v.
Stewart, 972 F.2d 216, 217 (8th Cir. 1992) (finding that a Fourth Amendment
suppression challenge is a “nonjurisdictional” claim). In claim 2(f), Scott alleges
that counsel failed to argue that the indictment was defective. Docket 23 at 14
(citing Docket 1 at 3-30). The Supreme Court has explained that “defects in an
indictment do not deprive a court of its power to adjudicate a case.” United
States v. Cotton, 535 U.S. 625, 631 (2002). Thus, this claim is not a
jurisdictional issue. Claims 2(e) and 2(f) are dismissed with prejudice.
III. 	Objected Claims
A. 	Claim 2(d)
In claim 2(d), Scott argues that his trial counsel was ineffective at
sentencing because he failed to argue that Scott’s 262-month sentence was
unconstitutionally disproportionate to co-conspirator Webb’s 210-month
sentence. See Docket 1 at 10. The Magistrate Judge found that counsel did
raise this disparity at sentencing in both his motion for downward departure
and at the sentencing hearing. Docket 23 at 36. Scott claims that Webb was on
parole from a state court felony at the time of his sentencing, similar to Scott’s
supervised release, and that his counsel was ineffective in failing to investigate
and raise this similarity between him and Webb. See Docket 1 at 10. The
Magistrate Judge recommended an evidentiary hearing on this issue. Docket
23 at 37.
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In considering Scott’s Eighth Amendment claim, the Magistrate Judge
found that the Eighth Circuit “has rejected intra-case proportionality claims
where the sentencing court found ‘meaningful distinctions between the two
defendants’ cases.’ ” Id. at 30 (quoting United States v. Jones, 718 F. App’x 443,
447 (8th Cir. 2017)). But because she found “no ‘meaningful distinction’ ”
between Scott and Webb, the Magistrate Judge recommended denial of
respondent’s motion to dismiss on this claim. Id. at 30-31. The Magistrate
Judge noted that both defendants had “lengthy criminal histories which
included four or more felony drug crimes[,]” were “under supervision for a prior
drug felony[,]” pleaded guilty, and “fell within the career offender classification.”
Id. at 30. Based on these similarities and this court’s failure to acknowledge
that Webb was on parole during comments made at Scott’s sentencing, the
Magistrate Judge concluded that Scott did not fail “to make out a substantial
case” and recommended denying respondent’s motion to dismiss on this claim.
Id. at 30-31.
Respondent objects to the report and recommendation, arguing first that
Scott’s counsel stated at sentencing that the court would be better positioned
to access Webb’s criminal history. Docket 28 at 6 (citation omitted). Thus,
because the court had information regarding Webb’s parole status, counsel’s
failure to investigate this issue could not have prejudiced Scott because, at
best, counsel would have uncovered information already before the court. Id.
Respondent also argues that counsel’s failure to investigate did not fall “outside
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the wide range of competent assistance as compared to deviating from what the
Court may consider to be a best practice” and was thus not deficient. Id. at 7.
In responding to the Magistrate Judge’s recommendation regarding
Scott’s Eighth Amendment claim, respondent argues that there is a
“meaningful distinction” between Webb and Scott. Docket 28 at 10-11.
Respondent notes that Webb had five prior felony convictions at the time of
sentencing, including four drug felonies, while Scott had nine prior felony
convictions, all of which were drug felonies. Id. at 10.
The Supreme Court has explained that the Eighth Amendment prohibits
“sentences that are disproportionate to the crime committed.” Solem v. Helm,
463 U.S. 277, 284 (1983). This proportionality analysis “should be guided by
objective criteria, including (i) the gravity of the offense and the harshness of
the penalty; (ii) the sentences imposed on other criminals in the same
jurisdiction; and (iii) the sentences imposed for commission of the same crime
in other jurisdictions.” Id. at 292. In considering this second factor, the Court
looked at other crimes for which the same punishment was imposed as that for
the crime in question, rather than other criminals who committed the same
crime. See id. at 298-99.
The Eighth Circuit has noted that the Eighth Amendment is implicated
by “the rare case . . . of gross disproportionality” in sentencing. United States v.
Jefferson, 819 F. App’x 474, 475 (8th Cir. 2020) (per curiam) (quoting United
States v. Spires, 628 F.3d 1049, 1054 (8th Cir. 2011)). The Magistrate Judge
found that Eighth Circuit cases have “often noted distinguishing features
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between one co-defendant and another in rejecting claims of intra-case
proportionality, thereby suggesting such comparisons are not rejected
categorically.” Docket 23 at 30.
Although ultimately finding the defendant in question to be
distinguishable from his co-defendants, the Eighth Circuit addressed this
question in United States v. Fry. 792 F.3d 884, 892-93 (8th Cir. 2015). The Fry
court noted that one instance of “relief based on a comparison of co-
conspirators” required the “unusual circumstances” of “an ‘extreme disparity’
in sentencing between similarly situated conspirators, and a consolidated
appeal involving both conspirators that permitted a remand for resentencing of
both parties.” Id. (quoting United States v. Lazenby, 439 F.3d 928, 934 (8th Cir.
2006)). “When a single defendant asserts on appeal that a similarly situated co-
conspirator was sentenced differently, and both sentences are within the range
of reasonableness, there is no principled basis for an appellate court to say
which defendant received the ‘appropriate’ sentence.” Id. at 893 (quoting United
States v. McDowell, 676 F.3d 730, 733 (8th Cir. 2012)). While one sentencing
factor is “the need to avoid unwarranted sentencing disparities among
defendants with similar records who have been found guilty of similar
conduct[,]” 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a)(6), the Eighth Circuit noted that this directive
“refers to national disparities, not differences among co-conspirators.” Fry, 792
F.3d at 892.
Here, Scott fails to show “unusual circumstances” and an “ ‘extreme
disparity’ in sentencing between similarly situated conspirators” as required
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under Fry because sufficient differences exist between Scott and Webb. See id.
at 892 (quoting Lazenby, 439 F.3d at 934). First, although both co-defendants
were in criminal history category VI, they had different criminal histories. See
Webb, 4:18-CR-40151-1-KES, Docket 65 at 8-10; Scott, 4:18-CR-40151-2-KES,
Docket 80 at 10-14. Scott had been convicted of five more felonies and four
more drug felonies than Webb. Webb, 4:18-CR-40151-1-KES, Docket 65 at 8-
10; Scott, 4:18-CR-40151-2-KES, Docket 80 at 10-14.
Second, the government approached each co-defendant’s motion for a
downward variance differently. In response to Webb’s motion for a downward
variance, counsel for the government opposed the motion but merely “ask[ed]
for a sentence within the guidelines” without further elaboration or argument.
Webb, 4:18-CR-40151-1-KES, Docket 76 at 15. In contrast, counsel for the
government responded to Scott’s motion by emphasizing his criminal history
and his inability to follow the law after being placed on supervised release.
Scott, 4:18-CR-40151-2-KES, Docket 97 at 11-12. Third, while this court did
state that Webb was not on supervised release at the time of his sentence, it
also focused on how close in time Scott’s offense was to his release from
custody. Id. at 13. Scott was indicted less than ten weeks after being released.
See Scott, 4:18-CR-40151-2-KES, Docket 80 at 3, 12-13.
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While similarities exist between the two co-defendants, they are not
sufficiently similar as to constitute the “unusual circumstances” contemplated
by Fry. 792 F.3d at 892 (quoting Lazenby, 439 F.3d at 934). Thus, because
Scott’s sentence was not grossly disproportionate to that of Webb even though
Webb was on parole at the time of his sentencing, Scott was not prejudiced by
his counsel’s failure to investigate Webb’s parole status.1 Respondent’s
objections to the report and recommendation as to claim 2(d) are sustained,
and this claim is dismissed with prejudice.
B. 	Claim 5
In claim 5, Scott alleges that his 262-month sentence violated his Eighth
Amendment rights because Webb, a co-conspirator, was only sentenced to 210
months. See Docket 1 at 26. Respondent argues that this claim is procedurally
defaulted because Scott did not appeal his sentence. Docket 21 at 15.
As discussed above, Scott must show cause for the default and prejudice
to overcome procedural default on this claim. Bousley, 523 U.S. at 622;
McNeal, 249 F.3d at 749. In her report and recommendation, the Magistrate
Judge found that the ineffectiveness of Scott’s counsel in failing to investigate
1 Because Scott’s counsel’s performance was not deficient, this court will not
address prejudice. See Morelos v. United States, 709 F.3d 1246, 1252 (8th Cir.
2013) (citation omitted) (stating that a movant raising an ineffective assistance
claim must establish both prongs of the test outlined in Strickland).
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and raise this issue may serve as cause to overcome procedural default and
recommended an evidentiary hearing to determine counsel’s investigatory
efforts. Docket 23 at 37. Because this court has found that counsel was not
ineffective in failing to raise this claim, counsel’s ineffectiveness cannot serve
as cause to overcome the default.
Further, in order to establish prejudice, a movant must show “that the
error ‘worked to his actual and substantial disadvantage’ ” Jones v. United
States, 39 F.4th 523, 526 (8th Cir. 2022) (quoting Frady, 456 U.S. at 170
(emphasis omitted)). Scott cannot show that the error in question, his failure to
raise his Eighth Amendment claim on appeal, has “worked to his actual and
substantial disadvantage” because, as discussed above, his Eighth Amendment
rights were not violated by his sentence. See Frady, 456 U.S. at 170. Thus,
Scott cannot show cause and prejudice as required to overcome the procedural
default, and claim 5 is dismissed with prejudice.
IV. 	Motion to Amend § 2255 Motion
Scott has filed a motion to amend his § 2255 motion and a motion to
supplement his § 2255 motion.2 Dockets 30, 31. He argues that his “prior
conviction for conspiracy to distribute cocaine and cocaine base under [21
U.S.C.] § 846 could not support” his career offender sentencing enhancement
because § 846 “criminalized a broader range of conduct than that covered by
2 Scott also filed a “Corrected Supplemental Motion to Vacate Conviction
Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255[.]” Docket 32. This document does not appear to
expand on the content of his other two motions. See id. at 1-2. Thus, this
motion (Docket 32) is denied as moot.
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generic conspiracy.” Docket 30 at 1. In support of this proposition, Scott cites
Norman v. United States, 935 F.3d 232 (4th Cir. 2019), a Fourth Circuit Court
of Appeals case that supports his position. Id. Scott asks this court to
resentence him without the career offender sentencing enhancement. Id. In his
motion to supplement, Scott also makes this argument based on Norman.
Docket 31 at 1-2.
The Eighth Circuit has explained that if an amendment to a timely-filed
§ 2255 motion “does not relate back to [the initial motion], it is a “second or
successive § 2255 motion that cannot be considered until [the Eighth Circuit]
grants permission in accordance with the requirements under 28 U.S.C.
§ 2255(h).” Nelson v. United States, 909 F.3d 964, 981-82 (8th Cir. 2018). “An
amendment to a pleading relates back to the date of the original pleading when
. . . the amendment asserts a claim or defense that arose out of the conduct,
transaction, or occurrence set out—or attempted to be set out—in the original
pleading . . . .” Id. at 982 (omission in original) (quoting Federal Rule of Civil
Procedure 15(c)(1)(B)). “An amended motion may raise new legal theories only if
the new claims relate back to the original motion by arising out of the same set
of facts as the original claims.” Id. (quoting Dodd v. United States, 614 F.3d
512, 515 (8th Cir. 2010) (cleaned up)).
In his initial § 2255 motion, Scott claimed that his counsel was
ineffective for failing to challenge his career offender enhancement. Docket 1 at
9. This court construes Scott’s motion as seeking to bolster this argument by
citing Norman and to bring a new substantive claim that the career offender
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enhancement was incorrectly applied. See Docket 30 at 1-2. Thus, this
amendment relates back to his original pleading because it “aris[es] out of the
same set of facts as the original claims” and is not a second or successive
§ 2255 motion. Nelson, 909 F.3d at 982 (quoting Dodd, 614 F.3d at 515).
Because the amended pleading was filed more than 21 days after service of a
responsive motion under Rule 12(b), Scott requires respondent’s written
consent or the court’s leave to amend his § 2255 motion. See Fed. R. Civ. P.
15(a)(2).3 The court is to “freely give leave [to amend] when justice so requires.”
Id. Thus, Scott’s motion for leave to amend his pleading (Docket 30) is granted.
Because it makes the same claim, Scott’s motion to supplement (Docket 31) is
denied as moot.
In Norman, the Fourth Circuit found that Ҥ 846 criminalizes a broader
range of conduct than that covered by generic conspiracy, and [defendant]’s
conviction under § 846 [could not] support the six-level enhancement he
received.” 935 F.3d at 238. Scott, through counsel, raised this issue in his
objections to the presentence report, citing a different Fourth Circuit case for
the same proposition. Scott, 4:18-CR-40151-2-KES, Docket 79 at 2 (citing
United States v. Whitley, 737 F. App’x 147, 149 (4th Cir. 2018) (per curiam).
Scott argued that the Eighth Circuit has acknowledged a circuit split on this
issue but “has not addressed the issue in a case where it was preserved for de
3 Under Rule 12 of the Rules Governing Section 2255 Proceedings, the Federal
Rules of Civil Procedure may be applied to § 2255 motions “to the extent that
they are not inconsistent with any statutory provisions or these rules[.]”
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novo review.” Id. (citing United States v. Merritt, 934 F.3d 809, 811-12 (8th Cir.
2019)).
Scott claims that his counsel was ineffective in failing to argue against
the career offender sentencing enhancement. Docket 1 at 9. The Magistrate
Judge considered this claim in her report and recommendation and found that
counsel did raise this issue. Docket 23 at 33-34. Counsel made the exact
argument Scott seeks to bring here in his objections to the presentence report
and at Scott’s sentencing hearing. See Scott, 4:18-CR-40151-2-KES, Docket 79
at 2 (citing Whitley, 737 F. App’x at 149); Scott, 4:18-CR-40151-2-KES, Docket
97 at 3. This court overruled Scott’s objection at sentencing, finding that he
pleaded guilty to a “conspiracy that deals with an attempt to distribute a
controlled substance” rather than to “generic conspiracy[.]” Scott, 4:18-CR-
40151-2-KES, Docket 97 at 4. Thus, counsel did not fail to raise this claim and
was not deficient. Further, Scott cannot show prejudice because Fourth Circuit
law does not bind the court, and counsel acknowledged that the Eighth Circuit
has not adopted the Fourth Circuit’s position. See Scott, 4:18-CR-40151-2-
KES, Docket 79 at 2 (citing Merritt, 934 F.3d at 811-12). Scott’s ineffective
assistance of counsel claim in his amended § 2255 motion is dismissed with
prejudice.
Although this court advised Scott after it imposed his sentence that he
could appeal this issue to the Eighth Circuit, Scott did not appeal his
sentencing enhancement. See Scott, 4:18-CR-40151-2-KES, Docket 97 at 4.
Thus, Scott’s substantive claim regarding the enhancement is procedurally
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defaulted, and he must show either cause and prejudice or actual innocence to
overcome the default. See McNeal, 249 F.3d at 749. Scott argues that his
counsel’s ineffectiveness is cause to overcome the default. See Docket 1 at 17.
But Scott cannot show prejudice because the Eighth Circuit has not yet
adopted the Fourth Circuit’s position on this issue. See Merritt, 934 F.3d at
811-12.
Further, as explained in the response to Scott’s objections to his
presentence report, Scott pleaded guilty to both conspiracy to distribute a
controlled substance under § 846 and to distribution of a controlled substance
under 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), and his career offender enhancement relied on a
prior conviction under both of these statutes. See Scott, 4:18-CR-40151-2-KES,
Docket 81 at 3. The response notes that Scott “admitted distributing a
controlled substance in both cases, which is reflected in both Factual Basis
Statements.” Id.
Scott argues that his sentencing enhancement is “plain error” under
Norman and thus preserved. Docket 30 at 2. Even construed as a claim of
actual innocence, this does not overcome default because the actual innocence
“exception requires proof that [the movant] was factually innocent of the crime,
not merely that there was error in imposing a sentence enhancement.”
Roundtree v. United States, 885 F.3d 1095, 1098 n.3 (8th Cir. 2018). Thus,
Scott’s substantive claim is dismissed with prejudice.
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CERTIFICATE OF APPEALABILITY
When a district court denies a movant’s § 2255 motion, the movant must
first obtain a certificate of appealability before an appeal of that denial may be
entertained. See Miller-El v. Cockrell, 537 U.S. 322, 335-36 (2003). This
certificate may be issued “only if the applicant has made a substantial showing
of the denial of a constitutional right.” 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(2). A “substantial
showing” is one that proves “reasonable jurists would find the district court’s
assessment of the constitutional claims debatable or wrong.” Slack v. McDaniel,
529 U.S. 473, 484 (2000). Stated differently, “[a] substantial showing is a
showing that issues are debatable among reasonable jurists, a court could
resolve the issues differently, or the issues deserve further proceedings.” Cox v.
Norris, 133 F.3d 565, 569 (8th Cir. 1997). Scott has made a substantial
showing that his claims are debatable among reasonable jurists and that
another court could resolve the issues raised in his claims differently. Thus, a
certificate of appealability is issued on the issues of whether an evidentiary
hearing is necessary to determine if Scott’s trial counsel was ineffective in
failing to investigate Webb’s parole status and, if so, whether counsel’s
ineffectiveness serves as cause to overcome the procedural default of Scott’s
claim that his sentence violated his Eighth Amendment rights.
CONCLUSION
Thus, it is ORDERED that:
1. 	Scott’s motion to amend his § 2255 motion (Docket 30) is granted.
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2. 	The report and recommendation (Docket 23) is adopted in part and
rejected in part.
3. 	Respondent’s objections to the report and recommendation (Docket
28) are sustained.
4. 	Respondent’s motion to dismiss (Docket 20) is granted. Scott’s
§ 2255 motion (Docket 1) is dismissed in its entirety with prejudice
and without an evidentiary hearing.
5. 	A certificate of appealability is issued.
6. 	Scott’s motion to supplement his § 2255 motion (Docket 31) is
denied as moot.
7. 	Scott’s corrected supplemental motion (Docket 32) is denied as
moot.
Dated February 1, 2023.
BY THE COURT:
/s/ Karen E. Schreier
KAREN E. SCHREIER
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
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