United States v. Anthony Pipitone, Filippo Gallina, Also Known As "Philip,", 67 F.3d 34, 2d Cir. (1995)

67 F.
3d 34
UNITED STATES of America, Appellant,

v.
Anthony PIPITONE, Defendant,
Filippo Gallina, also known as "Philip," Defendant-Appellee.
No. 1637, Docket 94-1690.
United States Court of Appeals,

Second Circuit.
Argued June 12, 1995.
Decided Oct. 3, 1995.
Allen D. Applbaum, Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern

District of New York, New York City (Mary Jo White, United States
Attorney, Paul G. Gardephe, Assistant United States Attorney, New York
City, of counsel), for Appellant.
Jeffrey Lichtman, New York City (Gerald L. Shargel, Michael S. Pollok,
New York City, of counsel), for Defendant-Appellee.
Before: OAKES, WINTER and MAHONEY, Circuit Judges.
MAHONEY, Circuit Judge:
The United States of America appeals from a second amended judgment

entered November 10, 1994 in the United States District Court for the Southern
District of New York, Whitman Knapp, Judge, that granted the petition of
defendant-appellee Filippo Gallina pursuant to 28 U.S.C. Sec. 2255 to reduce a
previously imposed sentence of sixty-three months by three months so that
Gallina would be eligible for the Bureau of Prison's Shock Incarceration
Program, also referred to as the Intensive Confinement Center Program (the
"ICC Program"), which is authorized by 18 U.S.C. Sec. 4046. 1 In a plea
agreement that preceded his original sentence, Gallina agreed to plead guilty to
conspiring to possess heroin with the intent to distribute it in violation of 21
U.S.C. Sec. 846. Gallina also agreed not to appeal his sentence if it fell within
the sentencing range of 63-78 months calculated in the plea agreement.
We vacate the district court's second amended judgment and reinstate Gallina's
initial sentence of sixty-three months imprisonment on the basis that Gallina's
Sec. 2255 petition is procedurally barred.
Background
3
Gallina was arrested in connection with the investigation of a large heroin

distribution organization headed by Wilfredo Bermudez that operated in upper
Manhattan and the Bronx. On June 3, 1993, Gallina entered into a plea
agreement with the United States (the "Agreement") in which he agreed to
plead guilty to conspiring to possess heroin with the intent to distribute it in
violation of 21 U.S.C. Sec. 846. The Agreement calculated Gallina's sentencing
range as 63-78 months, and the probation department agreed with that range in
its presentence report. The Agreement stated that: "[I]t is specifically
understood and agreed that neither party will appeal a sentence by the Court
that falls within the sentencing range calculated in [the Agreement]."
At the sentencing hearing, the district court expressed its displeasure over the
severity of the applicable sentencing range, stating that "the sentence that I
have to impose is way out of bounds of what would be reasonable for a first
[time] defendant, but there is nothing I can do about that." Indeed, the district
court made further observations to this effect "so that they may be on the
record and in the future, who knows, there may be legislation which will
authorize reduction of sentence."
Although the district court believed that it could not mitigate Gallina's sentence,
Gallina's attorney requested that the district court recommend Gallina for the
ICC Program. Designed to help reduce prison overcrowding, this program
subjects inmates to physical training, drill, and tight discipline, much like basic
training camps in the military. In exchange, an inmate may be considered for
home confinement rather than incarceration after completing the ICC Program.
See Sec. 4046(b) and (c), supra note 1; Federal Bureau of Prisons Operations
Memorandum ("Op.Mem.") 249-93 (Oct. 15, 1993), at 1-2. Consequently, the
ICC Program may enable an inmate to serve a shorter sentence. See H.R.Rep.
No. 681(I), 101st Cong., 2d Sess. 151 (1990) (the "House Report"), reprinted in
1990 U.S.C.C.A.N. 6472, 6557. The government took no position as to whether
Gallina should be recommended for the ICC Program.
At sentencing, however, both the parties and the court were unaware of the ICC
Program's eligibility requirements. Gallina's counsel interpreted Bureau of
Prison policy as permitting an inmate to enter the program after completing all
but thirty months of his sentence. The government informed the court that
Gallina "is not eligible for [the ICC Program] unless he is sentenced to ... not
more than 30 months." Indeed, section 4046 itself limits participation in the
program to those serving thirty months or less. See Sec. 4046(a), supra note 1.
However, due to the lack of eligible inmates, the Bureau of Prisons has
expanded eligibility to include inmates serving up to sixty months. See
Op.Mem. 285-91 (Dec. 13, 1991), at 1; Op.Mem. 249-93, at 4.2 At the initial
sentencing, neither party informed Judge Knapp about, or apparently was aware
of, the Bureau's position.
7
Based upon the available information, the district court recommended that
Gallina be admitted into the ICC Program when he had thirty months left on his
sentence. Then, at the request of the government, Gallina was informed of his
right to appeal his sentence, even though the district court saw no basis for such
an appeal. Gallina made no direct appeal.
On May 26, 1994, Gallina filed the instant Sec. 2255 petition, 3 which requested
a three-month downward departure from his 63-month sentence because both
the district court and the parties had misapprehended the applicable Bureau of
Prisons guidelines at the time of sentencing. Gallina's counsel argued that had
the court been properly informed, it would have been able to depart downward
sua sponte to make Gallina eligible for the ICC Program. Therefore, she
contended, "based on the misunderstanding that we had at the time of
sentencing that you [the district court] had no basis for a downward departure,
it is appropriate now for this court sua sponte to relook at its sentencing in
order to decide that a three month downward departure is not inappropriate."
Gallina's attorneys acknowledged, however, that they had misled the district
court at the sentencing hearing as to its legal authority to depart downward.
At the hearing on Gallina's Sec. 2255 petition, the district court granted the
petition, vacated Gallina's 63-month sentence, and departed downward three
months so that Gallina could be eligible for the ICC Program. The government
now appeals the district court's order.
10
After this appeal was taken, the district court filed an opinion that stated the
reasoning underlying its disposition of Gallina's petition. See United States v.
Gallina, No. 92 Cr. 275 (WK), slip op., 1995 WL 322140 (S.D.N.Y. May 25,
1995). The district court opined that Gallina had not improperly moved for a
downward departure in violation of the Agreement, but rather had invoked the
court's authority to depart sua sponte, id. at 4-6, and explained that it was
providing Sec. 2255 relief because the court had misapprehended its legal
authority at the time of the original sentencing. Id. at 6. The district court
deemed Gallina's undertaking in the Agreement not to appeal a sentence falling

within the 63-78 month guideline range as not encompassing a commitment to
forgo Sec. 2255 relief. Id. at 5 & app.
Discussion
11
The government asserts two grounds for dismissing Gallina's petition. First, it
argues that Gallina's petition is procedurally barred. Alternatively, the
government submits that even if the district court misapprehended the law at
sentencing, Gallina presents no cognizable Sec. 2255 claim because this error
does not constitute " 'a fundamental defect which inherently results in a
complete miscarriage of justice.' " United States v. Addonizio, 442 U.S. 178,
185, 99 S.Ct. 2235, 2240, 60 L.Ed.2d 805 (1979) (quoting Hill v. United States,
368 U.S. 424, 428, 82 S.Ct. 468, 471, 7 L.Ed.2d 417 (1962)); see also Hardy v.
United States, 878 F.2d 94, 97 (2d Cir.1989). We hold that Gallina's petition is
procedurally barred, and therefore do not reach the government's argument
regarding the merits of Gallina's petition.4
12
A party who fails to raise an issue on direct appeal and subsequently endeavors
to litigate the issue via a Sec. 2255 petition must "show that there was cause for
failing to raise the issue, and prejudice resulting therefrom." Douglas v. United
States, 13 F.3d 43, 46 (2d Cir.1993) (citing Campino v. United States, 968 F.2d
187, 190 (2d Cir.1992)). A fortiori, such a showing must be made when there is
a complete failure to take a direct appeal. See Scott v. United States, 997 F.2d
340, 342 (7th Cir.1993). "The Supreme Court has stated that ' "cause" ... must
be something external to the petitioner, something that cannot be fairly
attributed to him.' " Marone v. United States, 10 F.3d 65, 67 (2d Cir.1993)
(quoting Coleman v. Thompson, 501 U.S. 722, 753, 111 S.Ct. 2546, 2566, 115
L.Ed.2d 640 (1991)) (emphasis in Coleman ).
13
Gallina asserts two "causes" for his failure to appeal. First, he argues that the
grounds for such an appeal were not discovered until after the time to file a
notice of an appeal had expired. Second, he submits that his plea agreement
precluded him from appealing his sentence. We find no merit in either
contention.
14
The Supreme Court has held that: "Attorney ignorance or inadvertence is not
'cause' because the attorney is the petitioner's agent when acting, or failing to
act, in furtherance of the litigation, and the petitioner must 'bear the risk of
attorney error.' " Coleman, 501 U.S. at 753, 111 S.Ct. at 2567 (quoting Murray
v. Carrier, 477 U.S. 478, 488, 106 S.Ct. 2639, 2645, 91 L.Ed.2d 397 (1986)).
Gallina's counsel conceded that the court's "misapprehension of the law [was]
based on dereliction of defense counsel," and added: "We admit our mistake,
but we are learning." This ignorance of existing legal authority that arguably
would have supported a downward departure for Gallina, see supra note 4,
cannot justify Gallina's failure to take a direct appeal in this case.
15
We might be inclined to temper the rigor of this rule in an unusual case, such as
the present one, where both government and defense counsel were imperfectly
aware of the applicable law at the time of initial sentencing, thereby frustrating
the sentencing court from effectuating its preferred sentencing disposition. We
are dissuaded from such a course in this case, in any event, by Gallina's explicit
undertaking in the Agreement not to appeal a sentence that fell within a
guideline range of 63-78 months.
16
As previously indicated, Gallina cites this undertaking as constituting "cause"

for his failure to appeal that justifies his subsequent Sec. 2255 application. In
our view, this position turns the "cause" requirement on its head. Whatever
linguistic distinction may be made between an "appeal" and a Sec. 2255
petition, we are loathe to countenance so obvious a circumvention of a plea
agreement. See United States v. Jones, No. 94-6209, 1995 WL 321263, at * 1
(4th Cir. May 30, 1995) (per curiam) (unpublished opinion) ("Although Jones's
plea agreement prevented him from appealing, this is not sufficient cause for
his procedural default."); Trujillo v. United States, Nos. 92 CIV 6791 (PKL),
91 CR. 575 (PKL), 1993 WL 227701, at * 3 (S.D.N.Y. June 21, 1993)
("Without alleging a constitutional or jurisdictional violation, it is an anathema
to allow one who has voluntarily waived his right to appeal to attack the
sentence collaterally."), aff'd mem., 33 F.3d 49 (2d Cir.1994); cf. United States
v. Abarca, 985 F.2d 1012, 1014 (9th Cir.) (waiver of right to appeal in plea
agreement bars collateral challenge to sentence as to "an issue clearly
contemplated by, and subject to, his plea agreement waiver").
17
We are particularly concerned about the potential impact of a contrary rule

upon plea agreements. The government, this court, the public, and criminal
defendants have legitimate interests in the integrity of the plea bargaining
process and in the finality of sentences thus imposed. See Town of Newton v.
Rumery, 480 U.S. 386, 393 n. 3, 107 S.Ct. 1187, 1192 n. 3, 94 L.Ed.2d 405
(1987) (describing benefits of plea agreements); United States v. NavarroBotello, 912 F.2d 318, 321-22 (9th Cir.1990) (discussing compelling public
policy concerns underlying plea agreements), cert. denied, 503 U.S. 942, 112
S.Ct. 1488, 117 L.Ed.2d 629 (1992); United States v. Kuhl, 816 F.Supp. 623,
632 (S.D.Cal.1993) (same).
18
Gallina points to United States v. Lewis, 392 F.2d 440 (4th Cir.1968), to justify
Sec. 2255 relief in this case. Although Lewis did grant a habeas petition to
rectify a district court's misapprehension of applicable sentencing law, the
Fourth Circuit was not confronted with a defendant who had explicitly agreed
not to appeal the sentence that was initially (and lawfully) imposed by the
district court. Cf. Addonizio, 442 U.S. at 187, 99 S.Ct. at 2241 (otherwise valid
sentence not subject to collateral attack "based not on any objectively
ascertainable error but on the frustration of the subjective intent of the
sentencing judge"). Similarly, King v. Hoke, 825 F.2d 720 (2d Cir.1987), and
United States v. DeLutro, 617 F.2d 316 (2d Cir.1980), also invoked by Gallina,
did not involve an agreement to forgo appeal of the sentence imposed by the
district court.
Conclusion
19
We vacate the district court's second amended judgment and reinstate Gallina's
initial sentence of sixty-three months imprisonment.
Section 4046 provides:

The Bureau of Prisons may place in a shock incarceration program any person
who is sentenced to a term of imprisonment of more than 12, but not more than
30, months, if such person consents to that placement.
(b) For such initial portion of the term of imprisonment as the Bureau of Prisons
may determine, not to exceed 6 months, an inmate in the shock incarceration
program shall be required to-(1) adhere to a highly regimented schedule that provides the strict discipline,
physical training, hard labor, drill, and ceremony characteristic of military basic
training; and
(2) participate in appropriate job training and educational programs (including
literacy programs) and drug, alcohol, and other counseling programs.
(c) An inmate who in the judgment of the Director of the Bureau of Prisons has
successfully completed the required period of shock incarceration shall remain
in the custody of the Bureau for such period (not to exceed the remainder of the
prison term otherwise required by law to be served by that inmate), and under
such conditions, as the Bureau deems appropriate.
Op.Mem. 285-91, which states the rationale and legal justification for this
extension of eligibility, was rescinded by Op.Mem. 249-93, which continues the
extension without reiterating its underlying rationale. Op.Mem. 249-93 initially

bore a cancellation date of October 15, 1994, but that cancellation date has been
extended to Oct. 15, 1995 by Op.Mem. 227-94 (Nov. 1, 1994)
The Bureau interprets 18 U.S.C. Secs. 3621(b) and 4042(a)(3) as vesting it with
"full authority to designate inmates with sentences of over 30 months to the
ICC provided that the home confinement aspect of the program does not exceed
six months or 10 percent of their total term as authorized by 18 U.S.C. Sec.
3624(c)." Op.Mem. 285-91, at 1. Because we hold that Gallina's petition is
barred, we need not decide whether the Bureau of Prisons has the authority to
go beyond the authorizing language of Sec. 4046(a). See supra note 1.
The remainder of this footnote reflects only the views of the writer of this
opinion, and is not joined by Judges Oakes and Winter. See United States v. All
Assets of G.P.S. Automotive Corp., 66 F.3d 483, 497 n. 13 (2d Cir.1995). The
Bureau's authority to vary the thirty-month limitation expressed in Sec. 4046(a)
is certainly not free from doubt. Sections 3621(b) and 4042(a)(3) simply invest
the Bureau with general authority to designate the place where a prisoner will
be confined, and provide general criteria for such designations. The legislative
history of Sec. 4046 states that the Director of the Bureau "has authority under
Sec. 4042 to issue regulations establishing other reasonable eligibility criteria."
House Report at 152 n. 7, reprinted in 1990 U.S.C.C.A.N. at 6558 n. 7
(emphasis added). The Bureau apparently takes the view that notwithstanding
the pertinent statutory language and legislative history, Sec. 4046(a) does not
state exclusive criteria (as to length of prison terms) for admission to the ICC
Program. This interpretation is surely questionable. See Eze v. United States,
No. 93 CIV 5278, 1994 WL 132242, at * 2 (S.D.N.Y. Apr. 14, 1994)
("Pursuant to the United States Sentencing Guidelines and the United States
Code a 'shock incarceration program' (or a 'boot camp') may be made available
to 'any person who is sentenced to a term of more than 12, but not more than 30
months.' 18 U.S.C. Sec. 4046(a) (1994); see also U.S.S.G. Sec. 5F1.7. Since the
mandatory minimum sentence for Eze was 60 months, he is not eligible for
such a program...."); USSG Sec. 5F1.7, p.s. ("The court, pursuant to 18 U.S.C.
Sec. 3582(a) and 3621(b)(4), may recommend that a defendant who meets the
criteria set forth in 18 U.S.C. Sec. 4046 participate in a shock incarceration
program.").
3
Section 2255 provides in pertinent part:

A prisoner in custody under sentence of a court established by Act of Congress
claiming the right to be released upon the ground that the sentence was imposed
in violation of the Constitution or laws of the United States, or that the court
was without jurisdiction to impose such sentence, or that the sentence was in
excess of the maximum authorized by law, or is otherwise subject to collateral

attack, may move the court which imposed the sentence to vacate, set aside or
correct the sentence.
Gallina claims no constitutional or jurisdictional error or violation of federal
law, and his sentence does not exceed the maximum authorized by law.
Therefore, his Sec. 2255 petition may be granted only if his sentence "is
otherwise subject to collateral attack."
4
We also do not address the question whether a district court has the legal
authority, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Sec. 3553(b), to depart downward so that a
defendant may qualify for the ICC Program. See United States v. Martin, 827
F.Supp. 232 (S.D.N.Y.1993) (departing downward eighteen months from the
applicable guideline range so that a defendant could qualify for the ICC
Program); cf. United States v. Williams, 65 F.3d 301, 305-07 (2d Cir.1995)
(approving downward departure to render defendant eligible for drug treatment
program)

United States v. Anthony Pipitone, Filippo Gallina, Also Known As "Philip,", 67 F.3d 34, 2d Cir. (1995)

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67 F.

UNITED STATES of America, Appellant,

United States Court of Appeals,

Allen D. Applbaum, Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern

The United States of America appeals from a second amended judgment

Gallina was arrested in connection with the investigation of a large heroin

deemed Gallina's undertaking in the Agreement not to appeal a sentence falling

As previously indicated, Gallina cites this undertaking as constituting "cause"

We are particularly concerned about the potential impact of a contrary rule

Section 4046 provides:

extension without reiterating its underlying rationale. Op.Mem. 249-93 initially

Section 2255 provides in pertinent part:

excess of the maximum authorized by law, or is otherwise subject to collateral

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