U.S. v. Price

• Citation: 95 F.3d 364
• Decision Date: 04 September 1996
• Docket Number: No. 95-50467,95-50467
• Parties: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Ron Sylvester PRICE, Defendant-Appellant.
• Court: United States Courts of Appeals. United States Court of Appeals (5th Circuit)

Page 364

95 F.3d 364

UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Ron Sylvester PRICE, Defendant-Appellant.

No. 95-50467.

United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.

Sept. 4, 1996.

Richard L. Durbin, Jr., Asst. U.S. Attorney, Joan E.T. Stearns, Office of the United States Attorney, San Antonio, TX, James H. DeAtley, Austin, TX, for plaintiff-appellee.

Joanalys B. Smith, Austin, TX, for defendant-appellant.

Appeal from the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas.

Before GARWOOD, BARKSDALE and DENNIS, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:

Defendant-appellant Ron Sylvester Price (Price) appeals his sentence on the grounds that: (1) the Government breached the terms of the plea agreement by refusing to make a motion for downward departure for substantial assistance pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 5K1.1, thereby invalidating the waiver of appeal contained in the agreement and Price's sentence; (2) he received ineffective assistance of counsel because his attorney failed to advise him that the Government could elect not to provide him with the opportunity to offer substantial assistance under the plea agreement; and (3) the trial court erred in refusing to grant a downward departure based on the totality of the circumstances under U.S.S.G. § 5K2.0. We affirm.

Facts and Proceedings Below

In October 1994, a grand jury convened in the Western District of Texas issued a two-count indictment charging Price, Roger Mike Nautu (Nautu), and Kevin Henry Washington (Washington) with conspiracy to possess cocaine base with intent to distribute and possession with intent to distribute cocaine base in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 846.

Price entered into a plea agreement with the Government which was executed on February 6, 1995, and filed with the district court on February 10. Under the agreement, Price agreed to enter a plea of guilty to the possession count (Count Two) in exchange for dismissal of the conspiracy count (Count One). Price was further required under the terms of the agreement to "give a full, complete, and truthful statement to law enforcement authorities concerning his knowledge of criminal activities, both as it relates to the charges in the Indictment as well as any other criminal activity." Price also agreed to waive any right of appeal granted under 18 U.S.C. § 3742, although reserving the right to appeal any upward departure from the sentencing guidelines. The Government reserved the right, inter alia, to "move for upward or downward departure motion as the government sees fit." The plea agreement additionally provided:

"8. The United States agrees to make known to the Court, prior to sentencing, the nature and extent of the Defendant's cooperation concerning this investigation, and of any other matters in which he may provide assistance. If the Defendant fully complies with the terms of this plea agreement, and in addition provides substantial assistance to the United States in this and other criminal investigations, the United States Attorney for the Western District of Texas may file a motion for downward departure pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 5K1.1. The Defendant understands that the decision to file a 5K1.1 motion is in the sole discretion of the United States Attorney for the Western District of Texas...." (Emphasis added).

Price was rearraigned on February 15, 1995. Just prior to rearraignment, Price was interviewed by IRS agent Mike Lambreth (Lambreth) for approximately fifteen minutes. The Government represents that Lambreth questioned Price regarding his familiarity with certain persons in Killeen, Texas, which information was subsequently relayed to the Killeen Police Department. Price asserts that he was told at this time by Lambreth that another interview would be necessary as the individual necessary to interview Price was unavailable at that time. The interview ended when the district judge took the bench to commence the rearraignment.

At the rearraignment, the plea agreement was read in open court; Price indicated that he understood the agreement and agreed to its terms. In addition, he was specifically advised of the provision waiving his right of appeal, and indicated that he had discussed it with his lawyer, understood it, and agreed to it. Price was also properly advised of the rights which he waived by entering a guilty plea. Price's sentencing was set for April 27, 1995. On April 18, 1995, Price's counsel filed a motion to reset the sentencing hearing on the grounds that Price had not yet been afforded an opportunity to provide substantial assistance to the Government pursuant to the plea agreement. The district court reset the sentencing hearing for June 8, 1995.

On June 7, 1995, counsel for Price filed a motion for downward departure based on the totality of the circumstances pursuant to § 5K2.0 based upon the contention that the lack of opportunity to provide substantial assistance, the disparity between his sentence and the sentence imposed on co-defendant Washington, and the United States Sentencing Commission's proposed modifications to the sentencing guidelines for cocaine base combined to justify such a departure.

At the sentencing hearing on June 8, 1995, Price's counsel objected that the Government had failed to provide Price with the opportunity to provide substantial assistance. The Government responded that while it believed Price had been truthful in his statements to the Government, the information which he provided did not rise to the level of substantial assistance because: (1) the Killeen Police Department informed the Government that its investigation had proceeded beyond the point at which the information provided by Price could be of any help; and (2) Price had delayed nearly five months in offering such assistance while his co-defendants were already being debriefed. Therefore, the Government refused to move for a downward departure under § 5K1.1. The Government did advise the court that "based on his [Price's] cooperation, we have no problem with the lower end of the guidelines in this case." However, Price made no motion to withdraw his plea or to invalidate any part of the plea agreement.

The district court declined to depart downward based upon the totality of the circumstances as well. Price was sentenced to 87 months' confinement, a supervised release term of 5 years, and a $15,000 fine, as well as a $50 special assessment. The guidelines confinement sentence range was 87 to 108 months. ¹ Price now appeals his sentence.

Discussion

Whether the Government's actions have breached the terms of a plea agreement is a question of law that is reviewed de novo. United States v. Wittie, 25 F.3d 250, 262 (5th Cir.1994). The proper inquiry is whether the Government's conduct comports with the parties' reasonable understanding of the agreement. Id. The defendant bears the burden of demonstrating the underlying facts that establish the breach by a preponderance of the evidence. Id.

Absent a motion for downward departure made by the Government, a sentencing court is without authority to grant a downward departure on the basis of substantial assistance under § 5K1.1. Wade v. United States, 504 U.S. 181, 184, 112 S.Ct. 1840, 1843, 118 L.Ed.2d 524 (1992). Section 5K1.1 "gives the Government a power, not a duty, to file a motion when a defendant has substantially assisted." Id. Put differently, "s 5K1.1 does not require the government to move for a downward departure if the defendant provides substantial assistance, but rather grants the government discretionary power to make such a motion." United States v. Garcia-Bonilla, 11 F.3d 45, 46 (5th Cir.1993). Generally, the prosecutor's exercise of this discretion is subject only to constitutional restraints, and therefore a federal district court's authority to review the refusal to move for a downward departure based on substantial assistance is limited to determining whether the refusal was animated by an unconstitutional motive. Wade, 504 U.S. at 185, 112 S.Ct. at 1843-44.

However, the government may bargain away its discretion under the terms of a plea agreement, and thereby obligate itself to move for a downward departure in exchange for the defendant's substantial assistance. Garcia-Bonilla, 11 F.3d at 46-47; United States v. Aderholt, 87 F.3d 740, 742 (5th Cir.1996). In those cases in which the government has bargained away its discretion, the only remaining inquiry is whether the aid rendered by the defendant constitutes substantial assistance as that term was reasonably understood by the parties at the time that they entered into the plea agreement. See United States v. Wilder, 15 F.3d 1292, 1296-97 (5th Cir.1994); United States...