UM TED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA

CASENO.:20-20185-CI&W ILLIAM S(s)

IJM TED s'fAerEsoFAMERICA

VS.

JOE LEW IS M CHOM ES,

Defendant.

/

PLEA AGREEM ENT

TheUnitedStatesofAmedcaandJOELEWISMCHOM F,S(hereinafterrefen'edtoasthe

Gdefendant''),enterintothefollowingagreement:

The defendantagreesto plead gttilty to Count1 ofthe.Superseding Indictm ent,'

whichchargesthedefçndantwithconspiracyto comm itm ailfraudandwirefraud,inviolationof

Title 18,UrlitedStatesCode,Section 1349.

t.e

TheUnitedStateswildismissCotmts2to11oftheSupersedingIndictment,after

sentencing.

h

The defendantis aware thatthe sentence willbe imposed by the Courtafter

considedngtheFederalSentencingGuidelinesandPolicyStatements-(hereinaftertlsentencing

Guidelines''orCGUSSG'). ThedefendantacknowledgesandtmderstandsthattheCourtwil

computean advisorysentencetp dertheSentencingGuidelinesandthattheapplicableguidelines

willbedeterminedby theCourtrelying inpartontheresultsofaPre-sentencelnvestigationby

theCourt'sprobation office,which investigation willcomm ence aftertheguilty pleahasbeen

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entered. Thedefendantisalsoawarethat,tmdercertaincircum stances,theCourtm aydepartfrom

theadvisorysentencingguidelinerangethatithascom putedandm ayraiseorlowerthatadvisoly

sentenceunderthe SentencingGuidelines. Thedefendantisfurtherawareand understandsthat

theCourtisrequired to considerthe advisory guidelinerangedetermined tmderthe Sentencing

Guidelinesbutisnotbotmdtoimposethatsentence;theCourtispermittedtotailortheultim ate

sentenceinlightofotherstatm oryconcerns,andsuch sentencem aybeeitherm oresevereorless

severethan theSentencing Guidelines'advisory sentence. Knowingthesefacts,thedefendant

understandsandacknowledgesthattheCout'thastheauthoritytoimposeanysentencewithinand

uptothestatutozymaximlm authorizedbyiawfortheoffenseidentifiedinparagraph1andthat

thedefendantm aynotwithdraw thepleasolelyasaresultofthesentenceimposed.

Thedefendanttmderstandsandaclcnowledgesthatuponhisconviction on Cotmt1

oftheSupersedingIndictment,theCourtmayimposeamaximllm tenuoftwenty(20)years'

imprisonment,tobefolowedamaximlm term ofthree(3)years'supelwisedrelease. Inaddition

toaterm ofimprisonm entandsupervisedrelease,uponthedefendant'sconvictiononCount1,the

Cotu'tmayimposeafineofup$250,000.

The defendanttm derstandsthatrestitution ism andatory tm der Title 18,United

StatesCode,Section3663A,becausetheoffensesthataretheobjectsoftheconspiracychargedin

Cotmt1oftieSupersedingIndictment(mailfraud,inviolationofTitle18,UnitedStatesCode,

Section 1341,andwiregaud,inviolationofTitle18,UnitedStatesCode,Section 1343)are

offensesagainstproperty underTitle 18,United StatesCode,thatarecom mitted by gaud and

deceit. Further,pursuanttoTitle18,UnitedStatesCode,Section3663(a)(3),thedefendantagrees

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to pay restitution foralllossesrelated to the offensescharged in Count 1 ofthe Superseding

Indictment,andlisrelevantconductasdefinedin Section IB 1.3oftheSentencingGuidelines.

6. The defendant further tm derstands and aclcnowledges that,in addition to any

sentericeimposedunderparagraph4ofthisagreement,aspecialassessmentinthenmotmtof$100

willbe imposed on the defendant. The defendantagreesthatany specialassessm entimposed

shallbepaidatthetim eofsentencing.

The Office ofthe United States Attorney forthe Southern DiskictofFlorida

(hereinafter,theçûoflke''lreselwestherighttoirlform theCottrtandtheprobationofficeofa1

factspertinenttothesentencingprocess,includingal1relevantinform ationconcerningtheoffenses

comm itted,whether charged ornot,as wellas concerning the deféndantand the defendant's

background. Subjectonlytotheexpresstermsofanyagreed-uponsentencingrecommendations

containedintlisagreement,thisOfficefurtherreservestherighttom akeanyrecomm endationas

tothequalityandquantityofpmisbment.

8. ThisOfficeagreesthatitwillrecomm end atsentencingthattheCourtreduceby

two(2)levelsthesentencingguidelinelevelapplicabletothedefendant'soffense,ptlrsuantto

Section 3E1.1(a)ofthe Sentencing Guidelines,based upon thedefendant'srecognition and

affirmative and tim ely acceptance ofpersonalresponsibility. Ifatthetim e ofsentencing the

defendant's offense levelis determ ined to be 16 orgreater,tllis Office willm ake a m otion

requestirlganadditionalone(1)leveldecreasepursuanttoSection3E1.1(b)oftheSentencing

Guidelines,statingthatthedefendanthasassistedauthoritiesintheinvestigationorprosecutionof

hisownmisconductbytimelynotifyingauthoritiesofhisintentiontoenterapleaofguilty,thereby

permittingthegovernm enttoavoidpreparingfortrialandperm ittingthegovernmentandtheCourt

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to allocatetheirresotlrcesefficiently.

,aforementionedrecommendationandmotionifthedefendant:(1)failsorrefusestomakeafu1,

accurate and completedisclosureto theprobation office ofthe ciTcllm stances surrounding the

relevantoffenseconduct;(2)isfotmdtohavemisrepresentedfactstothegovernmentpriorto

enteringintothispleaagreement;or(3)commitsanymisconductafterenteringintothisplea

ThisOfficè,however,willnotbe required'to makethe

agreem ent,includingbutnotlimitedto comm itting astateorfederaloffense,violating anyterm

ofrelease,ormnkingfalsestatementsormisrepresentationsiôanygovernmentalentityoroflicial.

9. Thedefendantagreesthatheshalcooperatef'ullywiththisOfficeby:(a)providing

tnzthfuland com plete information and testim ony,and producing docum ents,recordsand other

evidence,whencaleduponbythisOffice,whetherininterdews,beforeag'randjury,oratany

.

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trialorotherCourtproceeding;(b)appearingatsuchgrandjtuyproceedings,hearings,trials,and

otherjudicialproceedings,andatmeetings,asmayberequiredbythisOffice;and(c)ifrequested

by thisOffice,working in anundercoverroletm derthesupervision of,and in compliancewith,

1aw enforcem entofficersand agents. In addition,the defendantagreesthathewillnotprotect

anyperson orentitytllrough falseinform ation orom ission,thathewillnotfalsely implicateany

.

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personorentity,andthathewillnotcom mitanyfurthercrim es.

10. ThisOfficereservestherighttoevaluatethenatureand extentofthedefendant's

cooperation and to m ake thatcooperation,orlack thereof,known to the Courtatthe tim e of

sentencing. IfinthesolealdunreviewablejudgpentoftlisOx ce,thedefendant'scooperation

isofsuchquality andsignificancetotheinkestigationorprosecution ofotherpersonsinthisor

othercriminalmattersastowarranttheCourt'sdownw arddeparturefrom theadvisozy sentencing

range calculated tmder the Sentencing Guidelines,this Office m ay m ake a m otion prior to

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sentenoingptysuanttoUSSG j5K1.1,orsubsequenttosentencingplzrsuanttoRule35ofthe

FederalRules of CriminalProcedure,informing the Courtthat the defendO t has provided

substantial assistance and recomm ending that the defendant's sentence be reduced. The

defendantunderstandsandagrees,however,thatnothinginthisagreementrequiresthisOfficeto

5le any such m otions,and thattllisOfGce'sassessm entofthe quality and signifk ance ofthe

defendant'scooperatioilshallbebindingasitrelatesto theappropriatenessofthisOffce'sfiling

ornyn-filingofam otiontoreducesentence.

ThedefendantunderstandsandacknowledgesthattheCout'tistmdernoobligation

tograntam otion forreduction ofsentencefiled by thegovernm ent. In addition,thedefendant

.

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furthertm derstandsandacknowledgesthattheCourtistm dernoobligationofanytypetoreduce

thedefendant'ssentencebecauseofthedefendant'scooperation

ThisOfticeandthe defendantagreethat,although notbinding on theprobation

ofliceortheCourt,theywilljointlyrecommendthattheCourtmakethefollowingfindingsand

conclusionsastothesentencetobeim posed:

Applicable Guidelines: The offense guideline forCount 1 ofthe Superseding

lndictmentisUSSG jZXI.I.

BaseO'ffenseLevelfortheGroup: PlzrsuanttoUSSG j2X1.1(a)andapplication

note2,thebaseoffenselevelforCount1isthebaseoffenselevelf'rom theguideline

forthesubstantiveoffensesthedefendantconspired to com mit,plusany specific

offense charaqteristics from that guideline that were specifically intended or

actually occurred. The guideline for the substantive offenses the defendant

consyiredtocommitisUSSG j281.1. PursuanttoUSSG j2B1.1(a)(1)and

applcation nqte 2(A),the base offense levelis 7. Ptzrsuantto USSG j

2B1.1(b)(1)(I)thereshouldbea16-1eve1increajeinthedefendant'soffenselevel

becausethelossattributabletotheconspiracy comm itm ailfraudandwireâaudis

more than $1,500,000,butless than $3,500,000. No other specifc offense

characteristicsfrom USSG j2B1.1shotldapply. Therefore,thedefendant'sbase

offenselevelforUSSG j2X1.1(a)shouldbe23(7+16).

b.

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Specific Offense Characteristics: Plzrsuant to USSG j 2X1.1(b)(2), the

defendant'soffensélevelshouldnotbe'reducedby 3levels,becausethedefendant

andllisco-conspiratorscompletedal1theactstheconspiratorsbelievednecessary

ontheirpal'tforsuccessf'ulcompletionofthesubstantiveoffensesofm ailfraud,in

violation ofTitle 18,United StatesCode,Sections 1341,1346,and 2,and wh'e

fraud,inviolation ofTitle18,UnitedStatesCode,Sections1343,1346,and2.

d. Restitution:Thedefendantshouldpayrestittztioninannmounttobedetermined

toanyvictimsoftheoffenseschargedlnCotmt.1oftheSupersedinglndictm ent.

The defendantklwwingly and vollm tarily agreesto forfeit,ptlrsuantto Title 18,

UnitedStatesCode,Section981(a)(1)(C),asmadeapplicablebyTitle28,UnitedStatesCode,

Section2461(c),anyproperty,realorpersonal,whichconstitutesorwasdelivedâom proceeds

traceableto,theviolationofTitle18,UnitedStatesCode,Section 1349,towhichheagreestoplead

gtéltyherein.

14. The defendantknowingly andvoltmtarily agreesto waivehisrighttp ahearing,

pursuantto Fed.R.Crim.P.32.2(b)(1)(A),todeterminetherequisitenexusbetween such

forfeitable property and offense to which he agreesto plea;d guilty herein,and the defendant

lcnowinglyandvoluntarilyagreesthatheshallnot,inanym anner,actinoppositiontotheUnited

Statesin seeldngforfeitureofsuchproperty.

15. Thedefendantknöwinglyandvoluntarilyagreestowaivethéfollowingrightswith

respecttotheforfeitableproperty:

(a) '.A11constimtional,legal,andequitabledefense'stosuchforfeiture;

(b) Anyconstitutionalorstatutorydoublejeopardy.defenseorclaim regarding

suchforfeiture;

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(c) Anyclaim ordefensetosuchforfeiturebroughtorraisedtmdertheEighth

AmendmenttotheUnitedStatesConsiitmion,including,butnotlimitedto,anyclaim ordefense

ofexçessivefm e;and

(d) Anyrighthemayhavetoanappealofanyrrsultingorderofforfeiture

regardingtheforfdtablep'roperty.

Thedefendantlcnowinglyandvoltmtarilyagreesandtm derstandsthatanyforfeiture

madepursuanttothetermsofthisagreementshallnotbetreatedassatisfaction(eitherpartialor

f'ullofanyassessment,fine,restitmion,costofimprisonment,oranyotherpenaltythattheCourt

lhay imposeupon thedefendantin additionto'theforfeittlre. Thedefendantalsoagreesto assist

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thisOficeina11proceedings,administrativeorjudicial,involvingforfeituretotheUnitedStates

ofanyproperty% ,includiùgsubstituteproperty,regardlessofitsnatureorform,realorpersonal, .

'which the defendantorothersknown to the defendant,have accum ulated msaresultofillegal

activities. The assistance shal includeidentification ofany property subjecttoforfeiture,'

agreementtotheentryofanorderenjoiningthetransferorenclmbranceofsuchproperty,andthe

transferofsuchpropertytotheUnitedStatesby deliverytothisOfficeuponthisOffice'srequest,

any necessary and appropriate docllm entation,including consentsto forfeiture and quitclaim

deeds,to delivergoodandmarketabletitleto suchproperty.

ThedefendantisawarethatthesentencehasnotyetbeendeterminedbytheCouri.

Thedefendantalsoisawarethatanyestim at:oftheprobablesentencingrangeorsentencethatthe

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'defendant m ay receive, whethe/ that estimate com es from the defendant's attorney, the

government,ortheprobationoftice,isapiedtction,riotapromise,atldisnotbindingonthe.

governm ent,the probation offce or the Court.The defendantunderstands f'urtherthat mly

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recomm endationthatthegovernm entm akestotheCourtastosentencing,whetherpursuanttotbis

agreem ent or otherwise, is not binding on the Court and the Court may disregard the

recom m endation in itsentirety. The defendanttmderstands and aclcnowledges,aspreviously

acknowledgedinparakraph3above,thatthedefendantmaynotwithdraw hispleabaseduponthe

Court's decision not to accept a sentencing recom mendation m ade by the defendant,the

government,orarecommendationmadejointlybyboththedefendantandthegovernment.

18. ThedefendantisawarethatTitle18,United StatesCode,Section 3742affordsthe

defendanttherighttoappealthesentenceimposedintlliscase. Acknowledgingthij,inexchange

fortheundertnkingsm adebytheUnitedStatesinthispleaagreem ent,thedefendantherebywaives

al1rightsconferred by Section 3742to appealany sentence imposed,including any restitm ion

order7ortoappealthem nnnerinwhichthesentencewasimposed,tm lessthesentenceexceedsthe

m aximllm permittedby statuteoristheresultofanupwarddepartureand/oravariancef'rom the

guidelinerangethattheCourtestablishesatsentencing. Thedefendantfartherunderstandsthat

nothing inthisagreem entshallaffectthegovernment'srightand/ordutytoappealassetforth in

Title 18,Urlited StatesCode,Section 3742419. However,iftheUnited Statesappealsthe

defendant'ssentenceplzrsuanttoSection3742(19,thedefendantshalbereleasedfrom theabove

waiverofappellaterights. By signingthisagreem ent,thedefendantacknowledgesthathehas

discussedtheappealwaiversetforthin thisagreementwith hisattom ey. Thedefendantfurther

agrees,togetherwith theUnitedStates,torequestthatthedistrictCout'tenteraspecificfinding

thatthe defendant'swaiverofllisrightto appealthe sentenceto beim posed in tlziscasewas

knowingandvoltmtary.

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Tlzisistheentireagreem entand tmderstandingbetween theUrlited Statesandthe

defendant. Therearenootheragreem ents,promises,representations,orunderstandings.

.IIJ T I UNZALEZ

UNITE ST E TTOIG EY

By: W

D E W AlkD W ILLIAM S

ASSIST I D STATESATTORNEY

By:

W EISMAN,ESQ

oate,îpzt/zczz

oate:@.2.t,C &

Date:Q .zl.Zr By:

ATTORNEY FOR DEFENDAN T

J LEW ISM C M ES

DEFENDANT

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