Case ID: f-appx_223/html/0886-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "PER CURIAM:", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Kirk WHITTAKER, Defendant-Appellant.
    No. 06-16340
    Non-Argument Calendar.
    United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit.
    April 25, 2007.
    Kirk Whittaker, Yazoo City, MS, pro se.
    Roberta Josephina Bodnar, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Orlando, FL, for PlaintiffAppellee.
    Before BIRCH, DUBINA and PRYOR, Circuit Judges.
   PER CURIAM:

Appellant Kirk Whittaker, a federal prisoner proceeding pro se, appeals the district court’s order denying his motion to compel the government to file a Fed. R.Crim.P. 35(b) substantial-assistance motion for a reduction in sentence.

Whittaker argues on appeal that the government promised to file a substantial-assistance motion and that the prosecuting attorney found his cooperation to constitute substantial assistance, but that no motion was filed.

Whether the government can be compelled to file a substantial assistance motion is a question of law that we review de novo. See United States v. Forney, 9 F.3d 1492, 1498 (11th Cir.1993).

Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 35(b) provides that, after a sentence has been imposed, a district court may, upon motion of the government, reduce a defendant’s sentence based on the defendant’s substantial assistance in investigating or prosecuting another person. The government has “a power, not a duty, to file a motion when a defendant has substantially assisted.” Forney, 9 F.3d at 1500 (U.S.S.G. § 5K1.1 substantial assistance context). We limit our “review of the government’s refusal to file substantial assistance motions to claims of unconstitutional motive.” United States v. Nealy, 232 F.3d 825, 831 (11th Cir.2000). A defendant who merely claims to have provided substantial assistance, or who makes only generalized allegations of improper motive, is not entitled to a remedy or even to discovery or an evidentiary hearing. Wade v. United States, 504 U.S. 181, 186, 112 S.Ct. 1840, 1844, 118 L.Ed.2d 524 (1992). Thus, judicial review is generally appropriate only when “there is an allegation and a substantial showing that the prosecution refused to file a substantial assistance motion because of a constitutionally impermissible motivation.” Forney, 9 F.3d at 1502.

After careful consideration of the briefs of the parties, and thorough review of the record, we find no reversible error. Whittaker’s brief contains unsupported allegations that the government “discriminated” against him, was “dishonest,” and acted in “bad faith.” However, Whittaker has failed to offer substantial evidence indicating that the government’s decision was based on any impermissible ground, such as race, religion, or the desire to prevent his exercise of constitutional rights. The district court was therefore without authority to review the government’s exercise of prosecutorial discretion, and correctly denied Whittaker’s motion to compel.

AFFIRMED.