Source: http://openjurist.org/101/f3d/232/united-states-v-fagge
Timestamp: 2017-05-24 03:08:28
Document Index: 136902870

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 812', '§ 841', '§ 5', '§ 3', '§ 6', '§ 3']

101 F3d 232 United States v. Fagge | OpenJurist
101 F. 3d 232 - United States v. Fagge HomeFederal Reporter, Third Series101 F.3d
101 F3d 232 United States v. Fagge 101 F.3d 232
UNITED STATES of America, Appellee,v.Mohammed FAGGE, Defendant-Appellant.
Argued Oct. 24, 1996.Decided Nov. 25, 1996.
This appeal principally concerns the interaction of a proffer agreement and a subsequent plea agreement. Mohammed Fagge appeals from Judge Baer's sentence of 41 months incarceration, followed by four years of supervised release and a $50 special assessment. The sentence was imposed after Fagge pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute heroin in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 812, 841(a)(1), and 841(b)(1)(B). Appellant challenges his sentence on two grounds: (i) the government breached its proffer agreement by disclosing information it obtained in a proffer session; and (ii) the district court misapplied the Sentencing Guidelines by using the incorrect commentary to deny appellant a minor participant adjustment. We affirm.
On November 22, 1995, Fagge entered into a written plea agreement in which he agreed to plead guilty to one count of the two-count indictment. The plea agreement stipulated to the amount of heroin involved--488 grams; it stipulated that Fagge was entitled to a three-level reduction for acceptance of responsibility; and it provided for another two-level reduction and relief from the mandatory minimum sentence of 21 U.S.C. § 841(b)(1)(B) because Fagge satisfied the provisions of U.S. Sentencing Guidelines § 5C1.2. The plea agreement explicitly stated that there was no stipulation as to whether Fagge's role in the offense was that of a minor participant, pursuant to Guidelines § 3B1.2(b). The agreement reserved Fagge's right to argue for a two-level reduction under this section and gave notice that the government intended to argue against such a reduction. The plea agreement also stated, "[N]othing in this agreement limits the rights of the parties ... to present to the Probation Department or the Court any facts relevant to sentencing...." Furthermore, "[T]here are no promises, agreements or understandings between this Office and the defendant other than as set forth herein." On November 28, 1995, the district court accepted Fagge's guilty plea.
The plea agreement superseded the proffer agreement. The plea agreement plainly stated, "[t]here are no promises, agreements or understandings between this Office and the defendant other than as set forth herein" and that both parties retained the right "to present to the Probation Department or the Court any facts relevant to sentencing." The agreement continued, "In the event that the ... Court contemplates any Guidelines adjustments ... different from those stipulated to above, the parties reserve the right to answer any inquiries and to make all appropriate arguments concerning the same." Thus, the government acted well within its rights and obligations under the scope of the plea agreement when it answered the court's questions during sentencing.
That language affirmatively denies the existence of any side agreement between the parties and plainly states that neither party is limited in presenting to the court all facts relevant to sentencing. If, notwithstanding these representations to the court, the government were bound by an undisclosed agreement to stand mute in the face of Judge Baer's inquiry, the plea agreement would violate Guidelines § 6B1.4.1 That provision requires that where facts are the subject of a plea agreement, all agreed-upon and disputed facts relevant to sentencing must be disclosed in a non-misleading fashion. See United States v. Telesco, 962 F.2d 165, 167-69 (2d Cir.1992). It leaves no room for agreements to conceal facts from the court.2
Nor does Fagge persuade us that Judge Baer erred in considering Fagge's admission to prior drug importation in refusing a full two-point minor participant reduction, pursuant to § 3B1.2(b). Judge Baer decided to grant a one-point reduction, "looking at all the facts," including the prior drug importation. In doing so, Judge Baer acted within his discretion. See United States v. Concepcion, 983 F.2d 369, 388 (2d Cir.1992), cert. denied, 510 U.S. 856, 114 S.Ct. 163, 126 L.Ed.2d 124 (1993) ("the sentencing court remains entitled to rely on any type of information known to it" when determining an appropriate sentence).
We have previously suggested that if a plea "agreement required that arguably relevant information be kept from the district court, 'we would not enforce such an agreement because it would be against public policy.' " United States v. Lovaglia, 954 F.2d 811, 817-18 (2d Cir.1992) (quoting United States v. Williamsburg Check Cashing Corp., 905 F.2d 25, 28 (2d Cir.1990)). "[A]n agreement to keep the judge ignorant of pertinent information cannot be enforceable, because a sentencing court 'must be permitted to consider any and all information that reasonably might bear on the proper sentence for the particular defendant, given the crime committed.' " Williamsburg, 905 F.2d at 28 (quoting Wasman v. United States, 468 U.S. 559, 563, 104 S.Ct. 3217, 3220, 82 L.Ed.2d 424 (1984))