Moore appeals pro se the denial of his section 2255 motion. He alleges his incarceration is illegal because his convictions were based on insufficient evidence, error in jury instructions, ineffective assistance of trial and appellate counsel, and improper denial of an evidentiary hearing on this motion. We affirm.
FACTS AND PRIOR PROCEEDINGS
In 1977, an informant, Krossman, told the FBI that Moore and others planned to rob a bank in Milwaukie, Oregon. The FBI provided Krossman with a “stolen” car that the others expected to use in the robbery. FBI agents waited in a van near the bank and arrested Moore and another man as they walked toward the bank. Moore wore a ski mask. He carried gloves, two pillowcases in his pocket, and a loaded gun concealed in the waistband of his trousers.
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He and two others were charged with attempted bank robbery, a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2113(a), and with use of a firearm in the commission of a felony,
1
a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1). At trial, Moore admitted that he had a gun, ski mask, gloves and pillowcases, and did not deny participation in the attempted robbery. His defense was that he participated solely at the urging and insistence of Krossman. This court affirmed the convictions on direct appeal.
United States v. Moore,
ANALYSIS
Standard of Review
We review de novo the denial of a section 2255 petition.
United States v. Quan,
I. Sufficiency of the Evidence
Moore contends that there was insufficient evidence to convict him of attempted bank robbery. He argues that the government cannot prove a necessary element of the charge (the use of force, violence or intimidation) because the FBI arrested him before he entered the bank. We reject this argument and find sufficient evidence to support the conviction.
We review a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence “in the light most favorable to the Government to determine if
‘any
rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.’ ”
United States v. Mason,
The record provides ample evidence both of Moore’s culpable intent and of conduct constituting a substantial step toward bank robbery. Before the attempt, an informant provided details of the planned robbery. When agents apprehended Moore, he was walking toward the bank, wearing a ski mask, and carrying gloves, pillowcases, and a concealed, loaded gun.
Conviction under section 2113 requires only that the defendant intended to use force, violence or intimidation and made a substantial step toward consummating the robbery.
United States v. Jackson,
This court found that Moore “used” the concealed gun in the attempted robbery, though he neither brandished nor discharged it.
United States v. Moore,
II. Attempted Bank Robbery Jury Instructions
Moore contends that the district court committed plain error in its jury instructions on attempted robbery. He argues that it should have defined “violence.” A defendant who seeks relief under section 2255 on the basis of faulty jury instructions must demonstrate “(1) ‘cause’ excusing his double procedural default, and (2) ‘actual prejudice’ resulting from the errors
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of which he complains.”
United States v. Dunham,
The trial court properly instructed the jury on the elements of attempted bank robbery. Since “violence” is a concept within the jury’s ordinary experience, there is no prejudice in failing to define it. In addition, the judge did define “force” and “intimidation.” The court stated the law correctly. Moore suffered no actual prejudice.
Ill Entrapment Jury Instruction
Moore also contends that the district court committed plain error in its jury instruction regarding entrapment. He argues that the instruction given improperly placed the burden of proof on him. He relies on
Notaro v. United States,
The entrapment instruction here placed the burden of proof on the government. It was virtually identical to one we approved in
United States v. Abushi,
IV. Ineffective Assistance of Trial Counsel
Moore contends that he was denied effective assistance of counsel at trial because his attorney: (1) failed to move for a directed verdict, even though there was no evidence of Moore’s use of force, violence or intimidation in the attempted robbery, (2) asserted an entrapment defense even though no federal crime had been committed, and (3) submitted an entrapment instruction this circuit had held to be improper in No taro.
The Supreme Court in
Strickland v. Washington,
First, the defendant must show that counsel’s performance was deficient. This requires showing that counsel made errors so serious that counsel was not functioning as the ‘counsel’ guaranteed the defendant by the Sixth Amendment. Second, the defendant must show that the deficient performance prejudiced the defense. This requires showing that counsel’s errors were so serious as to deprive the defendant of a fair trial, a trial whose result is reliable.
Id.
The magistrate found that Moore had not proved he received ineffective assistance of counsel. This is a
mixed
question of law and fact which we review de novo.
Eggleston v. United States,
None of the three errors that Moore alleges satisfies the Strickland requirements. First, the lawyer’s failure to move for a directed verdict did not prejudice Moore because it would have been merit-less. His possession of a gun was sufficient to evidence his intent to use force, violence or intimidation in the bank robbery.
Second, counsel properly advanced an entrapment defense. The evidence showed overwhelmingly that a federal crime had been committed and Moore had no other defense. The magistrate concluded that the trial counsel ably presented that defense.
Third, trial counsel submitted a legally correct entrapment instruction. His performance was not deficient. Moore was not denied effective assistance of trial counsel.
V. Ineffective Assistance of Appellate Counsel
Moore contends his appellate counsel was ineffective because she failed to argue that trial counsel had been ineffective. As we have discussed, trial counsel represented Moore competently. The fail *211 ure of counsel on appeal to question the trial lawyer’s service cannot be deemed deficient performance.
VI. Evidentiary Hearing on the Section 2255 Motion
Moore contends the district court should have conducted an evidentiary hearing on his section 2255 motion. This court has held that an evidentiary hearing is not required if “the motion and the files and records of the case conclusively show that the prisoner is entitled to no relief.”
United States v. Birtle,
CONCLUSION
The judgment is AFFIRMED.
Notes
. The felony in question was the same attempted bank robbery.