United States v. Hector Nicholas Serrano

983 F.2d 1079 NOTICE: Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3 provides that dispositions other than opinions or orders designated for publication are not precedential and should not be cited except when relevant under the doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, or collateral estoppel. UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Hector Nicholas SERRANO, Defendant-Appellant. No. 92-15920. United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit. Submitted Jan. 6, 1993. * Decided Jan. 15, 1993. Before REINHARDT, CYNTHIA HOLCOMB HALL and LEAVY, Circuit Judges. 1 MEMORANDUM ** 2 Hector Nicholas Serrano, a federal prisoner, appeals pro se the district court's denial of his 28 U.S.C. § 2255 motion to vacate his sentence for one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and five counts of distribution of cocaine. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 , and we affirm. 3 Serrano contends that he was denied effective assistance of counsel at trial because his counsel failed (1) to prepare adequately for trial, (2) to challenge adequately the veracity of a government witness, and (3) to pursue an alternate trial defense strategy. Serrano also argues that the district court erred by dismissing…