3d 1392
After the jury returned a guilty verdict, Valenti was sentenced to a 24-month
term of imprisonment, a three-year term of supervised release, a $50 special
assessment, and restitution in the amount of $122,466. On appeal, we affirmed
the judgment of the district court. United States v. Valenti, 60 F.3d 941 (2d
Cir.1995).
Valenti here argues that the district court erred in denying his 2255 motion,
repeating his contention that his Sixth Amendment right to effective assistance
of counsel was violated. We disagree.
criminal defense attorneys would not defend a particular client in the same
way." United States v. Aguirre, 912 F.2d 555, 560 (2d Cir.1990) (quotations
and alterations omitted). We also have stated that "[t]he failure to make a
meritless argument does not rise to the level of ineffective assistance." United
States v. Kirsh, 54 F.3d 1062, 1071 (2d Cir.), cert. denied, 116 S.Ct. 330
(1995).
7
Valenti also contends that his counsel erred in failing to introduce evidence that
the Association was a foreign entity in order to support a defense that Valenti
did not violate 18 U.S.C. 2314. Valenti relies on the part of 2314 that
provides: "This section shall not apply to any falsely made, forged, altered,
counterfeited or spurious representation ... of an obligation, bond, certificate,
security, treasury note, bill, promise to pay or bank note issued by any foreign
government." (Emphasis added). However, evidence at trial showed that
Valenti embezzled United States dollars rather than funds that had been issued
by a foreign government. Because evidence that the Association was a foreign
entity would not exclude Valenti's conduct from the scope of 2314, his
counsel's failure to introduce such evidence was reasonable.
In addition, Valenti argues that the performance of his counsel was deficient for
failure to move for a downward departure from the sentence fixed by the
United States Sentencing Guidelines. Valenti's counsel did move for a
downward departure under U.S.S.G. 5K2.0, but the district court denied the
motion. Valenti does not show that any other Guidelines provision would have
applied. Therefore, we reject Valenti's argument that his counsel erred in failing
to move for a downward departure based on a Guidelines provision other than
5K2.0.
10