Confession to one s own activities is never enough. A thorough knowledge of the Guidelines, as well as their applicability to the facts at hand, are essential for competent advocacy at the sentencing of a federal defendant. But adequate representation begins long before a client walks into court to be sentenced. No important decision can be made without a careful analysis of all alternatives and their potential consequences. An intelligent and informed decision to cooperate or go to trial simply cannot be made without a careful analysis of likely and alternative Guidelines applications.
Subtle nuances can make a dramatic difference in the potential sentence.
Even fundamental questions such as how to measure the intended loss, the career offender provisions, restitution, and important sentencing options which are available at the lower offense levels, are well beyond the scope of this introductory primer. We haven t even discussed fines. He is a former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. He received his Undergraduate Degree in 1971 and his Law Degree in 1974 from Villanova University.