# Moss v. Warden

> District Court, S.D. Illinois · February 12, 2024

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/10157320

## Case

- **Court:** District Court, S.D. Illinois
- **Decided:** February 12, 2024
- **Opinion:** 100trialcourt
- **Cited by:** 0 later opinions in the Frix Law Library

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## Opinion text

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS

DAKOTA R. MOSS, )
)
Petitioner )
)
) Case No. 20-CV-358-DWD
vs. )
)
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, )
)
Respondent.

MEMORANDUM & ORDER
DUGAN, District Judge:
Petitioner Dakota R. Moss and a friend stole 39 firearms from a farm-supply store
and conspired to sell them to, among others, protestors in Ferguson, Missouri. Following
his arrest, Moss pled guilty to stealing firearms from a federal firearms licensee in
violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(u) (Count I); conspiracy to interfere with commerce by
violence against person or property in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371 (“Hobbs Act
Conspiracy”) (Count III); carry and use of a firearm during a crime of violence in violation
of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c) (Count IV); and felon in possession of a firearm in violation of 18
U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) (Count VI).
At issue is whether Moss’s § 924(c) conviction for using a firearm during a crime
of violence, which was predicated on conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, is no
longer valid under United States v. Davis, 139 S. Ct. 2319 (2019) and United States v. Taylor,
142 S. Ct. 2015 (2022). (Doc. 1, p. 2; Doc. 4). Moss, in his pro se petition, also claims that the
“overt acts” and “object of conspiracy” stated in the Superseding Indictment as to Count
III of the Superseding Indictment (conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery) “do not
meet the elements required to sustain a Hobbs Act Robbery,” and that counsel was

ineffective for failing to explain this deficiency in the Superseding Indictment. (Doc. 1, p.
4).
I. BACKGROUND1
Moss and a friend stole a pickup truck, used it to ram a gate outside a farm-supply
store, smashed a window to gain access, and stole 39 firearms, candy, and soda. Moss
and his friend were arrested the following day and confessed to conspiring to sell the

stolen firearms either to protestors in Ferguson, Missouri, or to “other criminal elements”
in Centralia, Illinois.
In connection with these events, Moss was arrested and charged with the
following crimes by superseding indictment: stealing firearms from a federal firearms
licensee in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(u) (Count I); carry and use of a firearm during a

crime of violence in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c) (Count II); conspiracy to interfere with
commerce by violence against person or property in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371 (“Hobbs
Act Conspiracy”) (Count III); carry and use of a firearm during a crime of violence in
violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c) (Count IV); possession of stolen firearms in violation of 18
U.S.C. § 922(j) (Count V); and felon in possession of a firearm in violation of 18 U.S.C. §

922(g)(1) (Count VI) (Crim. Case Doc. 24).

1 References to Moss’s underlying criminal case, United States v. Moss, 14-cr-30208-NJR-1, take the form:
Crim. Case --.
On April 29, 2015, Moss entered an unconditional guilty plea pursuant to a written
plea agreement to Counts I, III, IV, and VI of the superseding indictment (Crim. Case Doc.

40). Counts II and V were dismissed on a motion of the Government (Crim. Case Doc.
50). On September 11, 2015, Moss was sentenced to 248 months' imprisonment (120
months on Count I and 60 months on Count III, to run concurrent to each other; 68 months
on Count VI, to run consecutive to Counts 1 and 3; and 60 months on Count IV, to run
consecutive to Count 6) (Crim. Case Doc. 50). Judgment was entered on September 14,
2015 (Crim. Case Doc. 52) As is relevant to the instant petition, Moss’s § 924(c) conviction

and sentence for using and carrying a firearm during a crime of violence (Count IV), was
predicated on conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery (Count III) (Crim. Case Docs. 24,
40).
Moss, proceeding pro se, filed a post-conviction petition under 28 U.S.C. §
2255, arguing that his § 924(c) conviction should be vacated because, under United States

v. Davis, 139 S. Ct. 2319 (2019), conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery no longer
constitutes a crime of violence.2 Moss also alleges there was a defect in the Superseding
Indictment as to Count III (conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery) and that counsel
was ineffective for failing to identify and explain that alleged deficiency.
Because Moss raised an argument under Davis, pursuant to the Court’s policy at

the time, the Court appointed the Federal Public Defender’s Office to file an amended

2 In Davis, the Supreme Court held that § 924(c)'s residual clause is unconstitutionally vague. 139 S. Ct. at
2323–24, 2336. Thus, after Davis, an offense constitutes a crime of violence under § 924(c) only if it meets
the definition set forth by the elements clause.
petition as to the Davis claim. The Federal Public Defender filed an amended petition on
Moss’s behalf, expanding on this argument and expressly stating that it was appointed

for the sole purpose of addressing Moss’s claim under Davis. (Doc. 4) (“This amended
petition is intended to amend only the Davis claim and is not intended to address, cede,
or waive any other argument presented in Mr. Moss’s original petition.”). Pursuant to the
Court’s briefing Order, the Government then had 45 days to respond to all of Petitioner’s
arguments, and Petitioner then had 30 days to file a reply. (Doc. 2).
On October 13, 2020, the Government filed its response. (Doc. 8). In its response,

the Government acknowledges that, following Davis, the definition of a
“crime of violence” under subsection B of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c) (the “residual clause”) is
unconstitutionally vague. As such, the Government concedes that if Moss’s § 924(c)
conviction was premised on the residual clause, Moss would be entitled to relief. The
Government notes, however, that Davis did not invalidate subsection A of 18 U.S.C. §

924(c) (the “elements clause”). As a result, the Government argues, Moss’s § 924(c)
conviction, premised on conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, could be sustained
under the elements clause. Additionally, the Government argues that because Moss
stipulated to certain facts in his plea agreement, those facts could serve as a basis for his
§ 924(c) conviction. The Government does not address Moss’s pro se argument regarding

defects in the Superseding Indictment as to Count III. The Office of the Federal Public
Defender filed a reply, further addressing the Davis argument on October 20, 2020 (Doc.
9).
After briefing was completed, the Supreme Court issued its decision in in United
States v. Taylor, 142 S. Ct. 2015 (2022). In Taylor the Court held that attempted Hobbs Act

robbery does not qualify as a “crime of violence” under the elements clause of § 924(c).
Given that the Government’s initial briefing argued that conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act
robbery qualified as a “crime of violence” under the elements clause, the Court allowed
the parties to provide supplemental briefing addressing the impact of Taylor, if any, on
the instant case.
The Government filed a supplemental brief on September 22, 2023. (Doc. 21). In its

supplemental briefing, the Government argues, for the first time, that Moss is precluded
from bringing a collateral attack premised on Davis or Taylor because he entered into an
unconditional plea agreement. Alternatively, the Government contends that Moss’s
petition should be denied because, in his plea agreement, Moss admitted to possessing a
firearm in furtherance of substantive offenses that constitute crimes of violence (and

therefore Moss cannot show actual innocence) and because Moss’s claims are
procedurally defaulted.
The Office of the Federal Public Defender filed a supplemental brief as well,
arguing that the Supreme Court’s decisions in Davis and Taylor make clear that
conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery is not a crime of violence. (Doc. 22). Counsel

also suggests that the Government waived or forfeited arguments as to Moss’s
unconditional plea, the lack of actual innocence, or procedural default by not raising these
arguments in its initial briefing. Additionally, counsel argues that the Petition could not
be denied on the merits absent additional briefing on Moss’s claim as to Count III, which
the Office of the Public Defender was not appointed to address. (Doc. 23).

In reviewing the relevant pleadings, the Court recognized that certain case
management orders may have created confusion regarding briefing as to Moss’s pro se
claim regarding Count III. Accordingly, the Court ordered the parties to file one last
round of briefing to fully develop the record on that claim. The Government filed its
supplemental briefing on November 30, 2023 (Doc. 36), and Moss, through a CJA
attorney, filed his supplemental briefing on December 19, 2023 (Doc. 37).3

II. DISCUSSION
A. Preliminary Matters
1. Unconditional Guilty Plea – Forfeiture or Waiver
As a preliminary matter, the Court will address whether the Government waived
or forfeited4 its argument as to the preclusive effect of Moss’s unconditional plea. The

Government’s initial response addressed the merits of Moss’s § 924(c) argument. The
Government did not raise any arguments as to Moss’s unconditional guilty plea.5
“When a defendant enters an unconditional guilty plea, he waives all
nonjurisdictional defects arising before his plea[.]” United States v. Combs, 657 F.3d 565,
568 (7th Cir. 2011). Some circuits treat unconditional pleas as a procedural waiver, “which

3 The Office of the Federal Public Defender could not brief this claim due to a conflict. Accordingly, the
Court appointed a CJA Panel attorney to represent Moss. (Doc. 24).
4 As the Seventh Circuit has explained, waiver “means the intentional relinquishment of a known right,”
while forfeiture means “the failure to timely assert a right.” Kaczmarek v. Rednour, 627 F.3d 586 (7th Cir.
2010).
5 The Court does not reach the Government’s arguments as to actual innocence or procedural default. As
such, the Court need not assess whether these arguments have been waived or forfeited.
can in turn be waived or forfeited by the government[.]” United States v. Adigun, 703 F.3d
1014, 1022 (7th Cir. 2012). The Seventh Circuit is not one of those courts. The Seventh

Circuit has said that because an unconditional guilty plea resolves the issue of factual
culpability, it impacts subject matter jurisdiction. Combs, 657 F.3d at 568-71. As a result,
the preclusive effect of an unconditional guilty plea cannot be waived or forfeited. Id.
Thus, “even when the government fails to assert the waiver effect of a defendant’s
unconditional plea, the appellate court has an independent obligation to reject the appeal
because it no longer has subject-matter jurisdiction.” Adigun, 703 F.3d at 1022.

Accordingly, if Moss’s unconditional guilty plea is valid and enforceable, the Court lacks
jurisdiction to consider any argument raised by Moss involving nonjurisdictional defects
arising before his plea.
2. Validity of Guilty Plea
In the instant case, the Court need not independently analyze the validity of

Moss’s unconditional guilty plea for two reasons. First, Moss does not raise any argument
contesting the validity of his plea agreement. Second, the Seventh Circuit has already
determined that Moss’s guilty plea and the waivers contained in his plea agreement are
valid. (Crim Case, Doc. 69-1, p. 2) (“[Moss’s] guilty plea is valid, and thus, so is the appeal
waiver.’).

B. Petitioner’s Claims
1. Claim: Hobbs Act Conspiracy, the Predicate Offense for Moss’s § 924(c)
Conviction, is not a Crime of Violence6

6 This claim is based on the Supreme Court’s decision in United States v. Davis, 139 S. Ct. 2319 (2019).
As such, it is timely under 28 U.S.C. § 2255(f)(3).
Moss contends that, considering the Supreme Court’s decisions in Davis and
Taylor, conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery is no longer a crime of violence.

Although the Seventh Circuit has not spoken directly on this issue, the Court agrees. See
e.g., Brown v. United States, 942 F.3d 1069, 1075–76 (11th Cir. 2019) (collecting cases); Hall
v. United States, 58 F.4th 55, 62–64 (2d Cir. 2023) (under Davis and Taylor neither Hobbs
Act conspiracy nor attempted Hobbs Act robbery is a valid predicate crime); United States
v. Green, 67 F.4th 657, 662–63 (4th Cir. 2023) (same).
The Government, however, correctly contends that Moss’s challenge to his § 924(c)

conviction is precluded by his unconditional plea agreement. The Seventh Circuit
addressed the issue of waiver, as it applies in this scenario, in Grzegorczyk v. United States,
997 F.3d 743 (7th Cir. 2021). In Grzegorczyk, the defendant pled guilty to one count of
murder-for-hire and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of
violence in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A). Id. at 745. Pursuant to his plea agreement,

Grzegorczyk waived, among other rights, the right to “all appellate issues that might
have been available if he had exercised his right to trial.” Id.7 Grzegorczyk could only

7 Like Grzegorczyk, Moss waived “all appellate issues that might have been available if [he] had exercised
the right to trial.” (Crim. Case Doc. 40, p. 12). He also waived “the right to contest any aspect of the
conviction and sentence that could be contested under Title 18 or Title 28, or under any other provision of
federal law, except that if the sentence imposed is in excess of the Sentencing guidelines as determined by
the Court (or any applicable statutory minimum, whichever is greater)[,] while reserving the right to appeal
the reasonableness of his sentence. (Crim. Case. Doc. 40, p. 13). The Court notes that, pursuant to the plea
agreement, Moss’s waiver of his right to appeal or bring collateral challenges does not apply to “any
subsequent change in interpretation of the law by the United States Supreme Court or the United States
Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit that is declared retroactive by those Courts and that renders the
defendant actually innocent…” (Crim Case Doc. 40, p. 13). But, as is discussed more fully below, given
the admissions in Moss’s stipulation of facts (Crim Case Doc. 41, pp. 2-4) (admitting to a completed Hobbs
Act robbery and to possessing a gun in furtherance of the same), Moss cannot establish actual innocence.
appeal the validity of his guilty plea and the sentence imposed. Id. After his sentencing,
the Supreme Court decided Johnson v. United States, invalidating as unconstitutionally

vague the definition of a “violent felony” under the residual clause of the Armed Career
Criminal Act, see 576 U.S. 591, 606 (2015). The Supreme Court subsequently extended this
reasoning to the residual clause of § 924(c) in Davis, holding that the definition of “crime
of violence” in that statute's residual clause was unconstitutionally vague. Grzegorczyk
filed a petition under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 seeking relief from his § 924(c) conviction in light
of Johnson and Davis. Grzegorczyk, 997 F.3d at 746.

The Seventh Circuit held that Grzegorczyk waived his claim. In reaching this
decision, the Appellate Court explained that an unconditional plea of guilty is sufficient
to waive a defendant’s right to contest the proper interpretation of the statute of
conviction. Grzegorczyk, 997 F.3d at 748. Because Grzegorczyk was challenging an issue
of statutory construction – whether murder-for-hire was a “crime of violence” under §

924(c)’s elements clause – his unconditional guilty plea waived that issue.
The same is true in the instant case. Moss asserts that conspiracy to commit Hobbs
Act robbery does not constitute a crime of violence under § 924(c). But Moss’s argument
is waived by his unconditional plea agreement. See e.g.,
Muratovic v. United States, No. 193341, 2022 WL 1741615, at *1 (7th Cir. May 31, 2022)

(reiterating that an unconditional guilty plea waives any contention that an indictment
fails to state an offense); Oliver v. United States, 951 F.3d 841, 844-45 (7th Cir. 2020)
(unconditional guilty plea barred defendants from arguing that their predicate crime of
violence for a § 924(c) conviction no longer qualified after Davis); United States v. Carson,
855 F.3d 828, 830-31 (7th Cir. 2017) (defendant waived the right to challenge whether his
predicate crime of violence qualified under the residual clause); United States v. Wheeler,

857 F.3d 742, 744-45 (7th Cir. 2017) (same); Davila v. United States, 843 F.3d 729, 731-32 (7th
Cir. 2016) (same).8
One final matter warrants the Court’s attention: Pursuant to the plea agreement,
Moss’s waiver of his right to appeal or bring collateral challenges does not apply to “any
subsequent change in interpretation of the law by the United States Supreme Court or
the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit that is declared retroactive by

those Courts and that renders the defendant actually innocent…” (Crim Case Doc. 40, p.
13) (emphasis added). In the instant case, in his stipulation of facts, Moss admitted to
committing a completed Hobbs Act robbery and to possessing a gun in furtherance of the
same. (Crim Case Doc. 41, pp. 2-4). Hobbs Act robbery is still a crime of violence.
Accordingly, Moss’s admissions preclude a finding of actual innocence and provide a

basis for the disputed 924(c) conviction. See United States v. Starwalt, 701 F. App'x 508, 510
(7th Cir. 2017) (fact that defendant admitted “to the robberies,” provided a basis for a
924(c) conviction even though defendant did not plead guilty to Hobbs Act robbery);
Davila v. United States, 843 F.3d 729 (7th Cir. 2016) (a defendant’s admissions to actions
and substantive offenses, even where defendant did not plead guilty to the substantive

offenses, are sufficient to provide a basis for a §924(c) conviction). See also Oliver v. United
States, 951 F.3d 841, 847 (7th Cir. 2020) (rejecting defendants’ argument that enforcing

8 In light of the Court’s finding as to the preclusive effect of Moss’s unconditional plea agreement, the
Court need not address the Government’s arguments as to actual innocence or procedural default.
collateral-attack waivers in their plea agreements would be a miscarriage of justice due
to actual innocence of their § 924(c) convictions, because (1) the government's only

arguable wrongdoing “was failing to anticipate changes in the Supreme Court's
jurisprudence” and (2) the government could have premised the convictions on
uncharged conduct).
2. Claim: Defect in the Indictment and Related Ineffective Assistance of
Counsel as to Count III.

As to Count III (conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery), Moss alleges that the
“overt acts” and the “object of the conspiracy” listed in the Superseding Indictment “do
not meet the elements required to sustain a Hobbs Act robbery” because they contain “no
real or attempted force, threats, or violence against another person.” (Doc. 1, p. 4)
(emphasis added). Moss further alleges that Dan Cronin, the Federal Public Defender
representing Moss at the time, failed to explain the “force, threats, or violence”
requirements to him, and that this failure establishes he received ineffective counsel.
The Government contends that Moss’s claim as to Count III must be rejected
because it is untimely. The Court agrees. Moss’s claim as to Count III is barred by the

applicable one-year statute of limitations under 28 U.S.C. § 2255(f)(1)-(4). To that end, the
Seventh Circuit dismissed Moss’s appeal on June 17, 2016. (Crim Case Doc. 69). As a
result, Moss’s conviction was final in September 2016. Moss did not file his § 2255 petition
until April 16, 2020, making it untimely under § 2255(f)(1). In addition, none of the other
possible exceptions set forth in § 2255(f)(2)-(4) apply to this claim.
The fact that Moss is asserting a separate claim that is timely does not alter the
Court’s analysis as to this claim. “[T]he timeliness of each claim asserted in a section

2255 motion ... must be considered independently.” Davis v. United States, 817 F.3d 319,
328 (7th Cir. 2016). “The simple fact that [the petitioner] might have one timely claim to
make under section 2255 based on a Supreme Court precedent issued years after his
conviction otherwise became final does not allow him to tack on additional, otherwise
untimely claims to that one timely claim.” Id. As a result, the claims regarding Count III
are untimely under § 2255(f)(1) and must be dismissed.

In addition, even if Moss’s Count III claim was timely, it would be precluded by
his unconditional guilty plea. Moss claims that Count III of the Superseding Indictment
is defective because it does not state an offense and that counsel was ineffective for failing
to identify the alleged defect. Such a claim pertains to a pre-plea matter and is
nonjurisdictional. United States v. Cotton, 535 U.S. 625, 631, 122 S.Ct. 1781, 152 L.Ed.2d

860 (2002); United States v. Perez, 673 F.3d 667, 670 (7th Cir. 2012); United States v. Lowe,
512 Fed. Appx’ 628, 630 (7th Cir. 2013). Because Moss’s claim as to Count III pertains to
an alleged nonjurisdictional defect arising before Moss’s plea, it is barred by his
unconditional guilty plea. See United States v. Combs, 657 F.3d 565, 568 (7th Cir. 2011). See
also U.S. v. Wheeler, 857 F.3d 742, 745 (7th Cir. 2017), cert. denied, 138 S. Ct. 640, 199 L. Ed.

2d 543 (2018) (“[A]n unconditional guilty plea waives any contention that an indictment
fails to state an offense.”).
Finally, Moss’s contention regarding alleged defects in Count III of the
Superseding Indictment is without merit. Moss contends that Count III is defective
because it did not allege a completed Hobbs Act robbery. But Moss was not charged with
a substantive Hobbs Act violation. Moss was charged with conspiracy to commit Hobbs

Act robbery, and the Superseding Indictment alleges each element of a Hobbs Act
conspiracy. (Crim. Case Doc. 24); 18 U.S.C. § 371.
Moss also appears to argue that Count III is defective because it does not allege
the use of physical violence against a person. But Hobbs Act robbery does not require the
use or threat of force or violence against a person. “[A] person may commit Hobbs Act
robbery by threatening physical violence against any ‘person or property.’” Bridges v.

United States, 991 F.3d 793, 800 (7th Cir. 2021) (emphasis added). See also United States v.
Chapelle, 41 F.4th 102, 109 (2nd Cir. 2022) (Hobbs Act robbery applies to “force or threats
against property, even in the absence of ‘proximity between the person from whom the
taking occurs and the threat to property.’” (quoting United States v. Eason, 953 F.3d 1184,
1190-91 (11th Cir. 2020).

For these reasons, Moss’s arguments regarding alleged defects in Count III are
without merit. Moss cannot establish that his attorney was ineffective for failing to
identify and explain a “defect” in the Superseding Indictment that did not exist. Thus,
the alleged defect in the Superseding Indictment does not provide a basis for an
ineffective assistance of counsel claim.9

III. CONCLUSION

9 The Government raises several additional arguments in opposition to Moss’s claim as to Count III. Given
the Court’s findings herein, it will not address those additional arguments.
For the reasons set forth above, Petitioner Dakota R. Moss’s Petition for Writ of
Habeas Corpus under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 is DENIED. This case is DISMISSED with

prejudice and the Clerk is DIRECTED to close the case and enter judgment accordingly.
The Court declines to issue a certificate of appealability.
SO ORDERED.
Dated: February 12, 2024

/s David W. Dugan
______________________________
DAVID W. DUGAN
United States District Judge

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/10157320. Public record. Not legal advice.