United States v. Cooper

FILED
United States Court of Appeals
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS Tenth Circuit

FOR THE TENTH CIRCUIT December 15, 2014

Elisabeth A. Shumaker
Clerk of Court
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Plaintiff - Appellee,
No. 13-3326
v. (D.C. Nos. 2:12-CV-02710-CM &
2:04-CR-20105-CM-JPO-1)
MICHAEL CRAIG COOPER, (D. Kan.)

Defendant - Appellant.

ORDER DENYING CERTIFICATE OF APPEALABILITY*

Before LUCERO, GORSUCH, and MORITZ, Circuit Judges.

Following a six-week trial, a jury convicted Michael Craig Cooper of

numerous federal charges arising from his role as founder and president of

Renaissance, The Tax People, which developed and sold what proved to be a system

of fraudulent tax deductions for owners of home-based businesses. Cooper appealed

his convictions and his 240-month sentence.1 A panel of this court affirmed his

*
This order is not binding precedent except under the doctrines of law of the
case, res judicata, and collateral estoppel. It may be cited, however, for its persuasive
value consistent with Fed. R. App. P. 32.1 and 10th Cir. R. 32.1.
1
Cooper was convicted of one count each of conspiracy to defraud the United
States, conspiracy to commit mail fraud, and conspiracy to commit wire fraud;
seventeen counts of mail fraud; eleven counts of wire fraud; one count of conspiracy
to launder money; forty-one counts of engaging in monetary transactions in property
derived from an unlawful activity; and two counts of money laundering. The jury
(continued)
convictions. United States v. Cooper, 654 F.3d 1104, 1129 (10th Cir. 2011). Cooper

then filed a pro se motion to vacate, set aside, or correct his sentence pursuant to

28 U.S.C. § 2255, accompanied by a supporting memorandum, a supplemental brief,

and a reply (together, the § 2255 Motion). The district court denied the motion on the

merits and also denied a certificate of appealability (COA).

Again proceeding pro se, Cooper has applied for a COA from this court

(Application) to appeal the denial of his § 2255 Motion. Construing Cooper’s pro se

filings liberally, see Yang v. Archuleta, 525 F.3d 925, 927 n.1 (10th Cir. 2008), we

deny his request for a COA and dismiss this matter.

LEGAL STANDARDS

To appeal the denial of his § 2255 Motion, Cooper must obtain a COA.

See 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(1)(B). We may issue a COA “only if the applicant has made

a substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right.” Id. § 2253(c)(2). To

make such a showing, Cooper must demonstrate “that reasonable jurists could debate

whether . . . the petition should have been resolved in a different manner or that the

issues presented were adequate to deserve encouragement to proceed further.” Slack

v. McDaniel, 529 U.S. 473, 484 (2000) (internal quotation marks omitted).

Cooper seeks a COA on claims that his appointed counsel’s performance at

trial and, in some respects, on direct appeal, was constitutionally ineffective. An

acquitted him of fifty-six counts of assisting in the preparation of false tax returns
and nineteen counts of mail fraud.

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applicant claiming ineffective assistance of counsel must establish “that counsel

made errors so serious that counsel was not functioning as the ‘counsel’ guaranteed

the defendant by the Sixth Amendment” and that “the deficient performance

prejudiced the defense.” Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687 (1984). To

establish prejudice, a “defendant must 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. Cooper also contends the district court erred by not

holding an evidentiary hearing on many of his claims. “When a federal prisoner files

a petition for post-conviction relief, the district court must hold an evidentiary

hearing on the prisoner’s claims ‘unless the motion and the files and records of the

case conclusively show that the prisoner is entitled to no relief.’” United States v.

Galloway, 56 F.3d 1239, 1240 n.1 (10th Cir. 1995) (brackets omitted) (quoting

28 U.S.C. § 2255(b)).

DISCUSSION

1. Speedy Trial Act

Cooper first seeks a COA on his claim that his trial counsel was ineffective in

failing to move to dismiss the indictment based on a violation of the Speedy Trial Act

(STA). The STA generally requires a federal criminal trial to begin within seventy

days from the date a defendant is charged or makes an initial appearance, but it

excludes certain periods of delay from the calculation. See 18 U.S.C. § 3161(c)(1),

(h). The district court denied relief on the ground that Cooper failed to show that

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seventy nonexcludable days elapsed between his initial appearance and his trial, and

therefore counsel’s performance was not deficient for failing to file a motion to

dismiss. In the alternative, the court concluded that even if Cooper could show an

STA violation, he failed to show the result of the proceeding would have been

different. The court reasoned that if counsel had successfully moved to dismiss the

indictment, the dismissal would have been without prejudice because none of the

factors set out in 18 U.S.C. § 3162(a) warranted dismissal with prejudice,2 and

Cooper did not show that the government would have been precluded from refiling

the charges.

In his Application, Cooper reiterates his argument regarding an STA violation.

But we need not assess that argument because Cooper does not challenge the district

court’s alternative prejudice analysis, the correctness of which is not reasonably

debatable. Accordingly, we deny a COA on this claim.

2. Mistrial/jury taint

Cooper next seeks a COA on his claim that his counsel should have moved for

a mistrial after it came to light during jury deliberations that the jury foreperson had

some outside knowledge of the case and had informed other jurors that she had

caught Cooper in a lie and considered him guilty. The trial court removed the

2
Those factors are “the seriousness of the offense; the facts and circumstances
of the case which led to the dismissal; and the impact of a reprosecution on the
administration of this chapter and on the administration of justice.” 18 U.S.C.
§ 3162(a)(2).

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foreperson from the jury when these circumstances came to light. Cooper also faulted

counsel for not raising the issue on direct appeal. The district court denied relief on

this claim for two reasons.

The district court first concluded trial counsel’s performance was not deficient

based on counsel’s sworn declaration outlining three strategic reasons for not moving

for a mistrial: (1) the trial had gone well, and the government would improve its

preparation of the case the second time around; (2) Cooper strongly believed he could

not select a better jury in a second trial; and (3) the removal of the foreperson

emphasized to remaining jurors the need to be fair and impartial. The district court

also observed that at trial and in open court, Cooper agreed with the court’s decision

to remove the foreperson.

The district court further concluded Cooper could not show Strickland

prejudice because even if his counsel had moved for a mistrial, the district court

would have denied it. The court based this conclusion on the fact that after the court

removed the jury foreperson, it questioned each remaining juror, and each juror

confirmed his or her ability to resolve the case based on the evidence and the court’s

instructions.

Before us, Cooper reiterates his claim that his counsel refrained from moving

for a mistrial because counsel’s law practice could not afford the additional time

necessitated by another six-week trial. Cooper based this assertion on one of several

admissions counsel allegedly made to Cooper, as set forth in Cooper’s declaration

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submitted in support of his § 2255 Motion. However, the district court refused to

credit the alleged admissions, finding an absence of factual support, “such as when

the admissions were made, how the admissions came about, or the context of the

discussion leading to these admissions.” R., Vol. 1 at 873 n.1. Based on this lack of

detail, the court characterized Cooper’s statements as “self-serving, conclusory, and

inherently incredible.” Id.

We conclude Cooper has not demonstrated any error in the district court’s

refusal to credit his declaration statement regarding counsel’s alleged self-interest in

not moving for a mistrial. In any event, counsel’s alleged motivation is irrelevant in

light of the district court’s conclusion that it would have denied a motion for a

mistrial. A COA is not warranted on this claim.

3. Wire fraud jury instruction, defective indictment

Next, Cooper seeks a COA on his claim that his counsel was ineffective in

failing to object to a jury instruction regarding the elements of wire fraud. He argued

the instruction required the jury to find only that he used or caused another person to

use an interstate or foreign wire communications facility for the purpose of carrying

out a fraudulent scheme, not that an interstate or foreign wire transfer had actually

taken place, as required by the statute of conviction, 18 U.S.C. § 1343. Further,

Cooper contended the indictment was defective because it lacked an allegation that

an interstate or foreign wire transfer had actually occurred, and he claimed that

absent an allegation that a wire transfer actually touched the charging district

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(Kansas), venue was improper. Finally, he argued his counsel was ineffective in

failing to raise these issues on direct appeal.

The district court concluded Cooper’s counsel was not ineffective in failing to

object to the instruction because the instruction was derived from this circuit’s

pattern criminal jury instructions. Further, the court concluded Cooper failed to show

prejudice as the government presented ample evidence of his guilt, including witness

testimony, emails, and facsimile transmissions. For these reasons, the district court

rejected Cooper’s arguments about the indictment and lack of venue.

Cooper does not address the district court’s conclusion regarding counsel’s

failure to object to the jury instruction, and we do not find the resolution of that

portion of the claim reasonably debatable. Further, all eleven counts of the indictment

alleged interstate wire communications, ten of which were received in Kansas, so

reasonable jurists could not debate whether counsel was ineffective in failing to seek

dismissal of either the indictment as defective or the case for lack of venue. We deny

a COA on this claim.

Additionally, Cooper contends the government failed to present evidence of

wire transfers to the jury. See Brief in Support of Application at 24. But Cooper did

not present this argument in his § 2255 Motion, either as an insufficiency complaint

or as a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel in failing to challenge the

sufficiency of the evidence regarding the wire transfers on direct appeal. Because we

could not consider this argument on appeal, a COA is not warranted. See Schrock v.

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Wyeth, Inc., 727 F.3d 1273, 1284 (10th Cir. 2013) (stating that “[a]rguments that

were not raised below are waived for purposes of appeal,” including “when a litigant

changes to a new theory on appeal that falls under the same general category as an

argument presented [in the district court]” (internal quotation marks omitted)).3

4. Mail fraud jury instruction, defective indictment

Along the lines of the previous claim, Cooper seeks a COA on his claim that

counsel was ineffective for failing to object to the jury instruction on mail fraud. In

relevant part, the instruction required the jury to find that Cooper “mailed something

or caused another person to mail something through the United States Postal Service

[(Postal Service)] or United Parcel Service for the purpose of carrying out the

scheme.” R., Vol. 1 at 392. Cooper argued this instruction misstated the law as set

out in the charging statute, 18 U.S.C. § 1341, which he argued does not criminalize

“a person who might ‘cause’ mail matter to be sent or delivered by the Postal

Service.” R., Vol. 1 at 727. He claimed the instruction permitted the jury to convict

him on a finding that he “merely ‘caused’ someone else to place certain described

matter into the post office or a mailing receptacle.” Id.

3
Given our view that this argument would be forfeited in an appeal from the
denial of Cooper’s § 2255 Motion, we need not determine whether it also would be
precluded by res judicata or the law-of-the-case doctrine based on this court’s
rejection of a sufficiency challenge to the wire-fraud charges in his direct appeal. See
Cooper, 654 F.3d at 1116-19.

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 As with the previous claim, the district court concluded counsel was not

ineffective in failing to object to the instruction because it was derived from this

circuit’s pattern criminal jury instructions, and Cooper has not addressed that

conclusion in his Application. The court also determined Cooper failed to show

prejudice because he was charged with aiding and assisting the commission of mail

fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2, implying it was sufficient that the evidence

showed Cooper caused someone to place something in furtherance of the scheme

with the Postal Service for delivery. We conclude reasonable jurists could not debate

the correctness of the district court’s stated rationales for denying relief as to the

instruction.

Further, we note that the district court’s rationale is bolstered by a provision in

§ 1341 that Cooper fails to mention. That provision criminalizes the conduct of a

person who “knowingly causes to be delivered by mail or [private or commercial

interstate] carrier” any matter or thing for the purpose of executing the fraudulent

scheme. We conclude the jury instruction accurately reflected the statute, and

reasonable jurists could not debate whether counsel was ineffective in failing to

object to the instruction.

As part of this claim, Cooper also argued his counsel was ineffective in failing

to move to dismiss Count 58—mail fraud arising from the use of the United Parcel

Service (UPS)—because there was no evidence at trial to establish that the

underlying conduct occurred within the five-year statute of limitations or that UPS

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was an “interstate carrier” within the meaning of § 1341. The district court did not

address these contentions, but we see no arguable merit in them. First, as the

government pointed out in its response to the § 2255 Motion, Count 58 alleged the

use of UPS on August 31, 1999, to deliver an item from Kansas to Missouri, and the

original indictment was returned less than five years later, on August 13, 2004.

See United States v. Dunn, 961 F.2d 648, 650 (7th Cir. 1992) (finding no violation of

five-year limitations period for mail-fraud charge when indictment was returned less

than five years after date of mailing). Second, although we find no definition of the

term “commercial interstate carrier” as used in § 1341, Cooper has not advanced, nor

can we conceive, an argument that UPS falls outside this statutory term.

5. Summary testimony and exhibits

Next, Cooper seeks a COA on his claim that counsel was ineffective in failing

to object to summary testimony and exhibits on the ground that there was no proper

foundation and that “the exhibits had no support as to their authenticity or

relevance.” R., Vol. 1 at 731. The district court denied relief because Cooper failed to

support his argument by explaining “how any specific piece of evidence lacked

foundation, authenticity, or relevance,” id. at 877, and he did not attempt to show

prejudice. Cooper’s argument in his Application is similarly deficient, and we

therefore conclude he has not shown an entitlement to a COA on this claim.

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6. Appellate ineffectiveness

In another claim, Cooper argued his attorney was ineffective on direct appeal

by failing to present any of the claims raised in the § 2255 Motion, specifically

referring to the wire- and mail-fraud instructions and counsel’s alleged self-interest

in not moving for a mistrial based on the jury foreperson’s statements to other jurors.

The district court addressed only those two specific issues, concluding counsel

focused on the strongest arguments on appeal and Cooper failed to demonstrate

prejudice because there was no reasonable probability he would have prevailed on

appeal as to either the jury-instruction or mistrial issues.

In his Application, Cooper targets only the two specific issues addressed by

the district court. Because we have denied a COA on those issues, we conclude the

lack of prejudice is dispositive, and a COA is not warranted on this claim.

7. Failure to prepare defense

Cooper also seeks a COA on his claim that his trial counsel was ineffective in

failing to prepare any defense, prepare Cooper to testify, make an opening statement,

and interview any of the more than 600 potential defense witnesses, who would have

testified that they endorsed the Renaissance tax system. The district court found no

evidence that Cooper identified to his counsel any specific potential witness prior to

trial and further concluded it was unclear what information any of the witnesses

could have provided that would specifically relate to the charges or the legality of

Cooper’s conduct. The court also noted that, among other things, counsel hired a

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private investigator, billed more than 900 hours over two-and-one-half years of

representation, meaningfully cross-examined witnesses, made relevant and necessary

objections, and obtained an acquittal on half of the charges. The court further

observed that Cooper had not shown prejudice in any failure to prepare him to testify.

A COA is not warranted on this claim. Even if counsel’s performance was

deficient, Cooper’s arguments (in both his § 2255 Motion and his Application) lack

the specificity required to demonstrate prejudice.

8. Sentencing

In another claim, Cooper asserted his counsel was ineffective in failing to

object to a sentencing enhancement under Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466

(2000). The district court denied relief on this claim because Cooper did not explain

how Apprendi applied to his case and did not identify any basis supporting a

downward departure in sentence. In his Application, Cooper offers no further

explanation. Consequently, he has not shown entitlement to a COA.

9. Plea agreement

The district court conducted an evidentiary hearing on Cooper’s claim that his

counsel did not present him with two plea offers. After hearing the testimony from

counsel and Cooper, who was then represented by an attorney, the district court

orally ruled from the bench. Based in part on its observation of the witnesses’

demeanor, the court found counsel credible and Cooper not credible. Specifically, the

court credited counsel’s testimony that he had presented and explained both plea

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offers (although the explanation of the first came prior to receipt of the written offer),

including the elements of the charges, but Cooper adamantly rejected the offers,

insisting on his innocence and instructing counsel to focus on the trial. R., Vol. 4

at 1083.

Notably, the district court specifically commented that although “possibly not

completely captured on the written transcript,” Cooper’s testimony appeared

“self-serving, deliberate, measured, and calculated. [He] seemed willing to say

anything to reduce his sentence.” Id. The court pointed out several inconsistencies in

Cooper’s testimony, including that in his original § 2255 declaration, Cooper averred

that “at no time prior to my trial did my attorney . . . ever present me with a plea

offer from the government.” Id. at 1084. But when confronted at the hearing with two

letters conveying the offers to him, Cooper admitted he might have seen them.

Consequently, the court concluded counsel had not rendered deficient performance.

The court further determined that even if counsel performed deficiently,

Cooper was not prejudiced. Although Cooper stated he would have accepted the first

plea offer (which included a binding ten-year sentence) if counsel had advised him

about the “concert of action” theory of conspiracy, the court found Cooper could not

have acknowledged his responsibility in open court as part of accepting a plea offer

because he had so adamantly proclaimed his innocence from indictment through

appeal, and even continued to dispute at the hearing some of the factual bases set

forth in the plea agreements. As to the second plea offer, which included a

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fifteen-year maximum sentence, Cooper testified he was unsure whether he would

have accepted it given that he would probably receive a ten- or fifteen-year sentence

if found guilty.

In his Application, Cooper’s arguments focus on the fact that counsel’s

explanation of the first plea agreement came before receipt of the written offer, and

he faults counsel for not explaining the written terms. He also contends his counsel

failed to explain the “concert of action” theory of conspiracy, which would have

altered his view of his own innocence. But the district court found credible counsel’s

testimony that he explained that offer and the elements of conspiracy but Cooper was

not interested in the offer. Cooper has not shown that reasonable jurists could debate

whether the court’s credibility findings were clearly erroneous. See United States v.

Rantz, 862 F.2d 808, 810 (10th Cir. 1988) (reviewing for clear error a district court’s

factual findings after an evidentiary hearing). Nor has he shown that the court’s legal

conclusions are reasonably debatable. We therefore deny a COA on this claim.

10. Cumulative error

Finally, Cooper urges us to grant a COA on cumulative error. “A

cumulative-error analysis aggregates all errors found to be harmless and analyzes

whether their cumulative effect on the outcome of the trial is such that collectively

they can no longer be determined to be harmless.” United States v. Toles, 297 F.3d

959, 972 (10th Cir. 2002) (internal quotation marks omitted). The only errors to be

aggregated are those that we or the district court assumed could have involved

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deficient performance by counsel: the STA claim and the “failure to prepare a

defense” claim. But as noted above, Cooper has not challenged the district court’s

prejudice analysis on the STA claim, and his arguments regarding the failure to

prepare a defense claim lacked the specificity to show prejudice. Accordingly,

reasonable jurists could not debate whether the cumulative effect of those errors

substantially impaired Cooper’s right to a fair trial.4

CONCLUSION

For the foregoing reasons, we deny a COA on all claims. We further conclude

the district court did not abuse its discretion in refusing to provide an evidentiary

hearing on any claim other than the plea-agreement claim. See United States v.

Whalen, 976 F.2d 1346, 1348 (10th Cir. 1992) (setting forth abuse-of-discretion

standard of review for denial of § 2255 evidentiary hearing). We therefore dismiss

this matter.

Entered for the Court

Nancy L. Moritz
Circuit Judge

4
The district court did not rule on cumulative error, perhaps because Cooper did
not clearly raise the issue in his § 2255 Motion. Instead, he alluded to such error only
in his § 2255 reply brief, where he argued the cumulative prejudicial effects of
counsel’s alleged failures regarding the jury instructions and the mistrial. But
because we readily conclude a COA should not be granted on cumulative error, we
need not determine whether Cooper adequately presented the issue to the district
court.

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