Case Name: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. John DOE, Defendant-Appellant
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2017-05-18
Citations: 691 F. App'x 375
Docket Number: No. 15-50284
Parties: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. John DOE, Defendant-Appellant.
Judges: Before: PREGERSON and FRIEDLAND, Circuit Judges, and DONATO, District Judge.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 691
Pages: 375–376

Head Matter:
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. John DOE, Defendant-Appellant.
No. 15-50284
United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.
Submitted May 11, 2017 Pasadena, California
Filed May 18, 2017
Helen H. Hong, Assistant U.S. Attorney, Colin M. McDonald, Assistant U.S. Attorney, Office of the US Attorney, San Diego, CA, for Plaintiff-Appellee
Harini P. Raghupathi, Esquire, Federal Defenders of San Diego, Inc., San Diego, CA, for Defendant-Appellant
Before: PREGERSON and FRIEDLAND, Circuit Judges, and DONATO, District Judge.
The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision without oral argument, See Fed, R, App. P, 34(a)(2).
The Honorable James Donato, United States District Judge for the Northern District of California, sitting by designation.

Opinion:
MEMORANDUM
Defendant-appellant John Doe appeals a three-year mandatory minimum sentence imposed after he pleaded guilty to bringing in an illegal alien for financial gain and aiding and abetting in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1324(a)(2)(B)(ii) and 18 U.S.C. § 2. Doe contends that the government arbitrarily refused to file a motion for substantial assistance under 18 U.S.C. § 3553(e) after a debriefing meeting with him. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291 and 18 U.S.C. § 3742(a), and we affirm.
Without a motion by the government, the district court ordinarily lacks authority to grant a reduction of a mandatory minimum sentence for substantial assistance. United States v. Treleaven, 35 F.3d 458, 460 (9th Cir. 1994). The government's refusal to seek a reduction for substantial assistance is not reviewable unless it was motivated by constitutionally suspect reasons such as a defendant's race or religion, constituted a breach of the plea agreement, or was arbitrary and not rationally related to a legitimate government purpose. Id. at 461. To obtain review or an evidentiary hearing, a defendant must make a "substantial threshold showing" on one or more of these grounds that consists of more than just "generalized allegations" of impropriety. Wade v. United States, 504 U.S. 181, 186, 112 S.Ct. 1840, 118 L.Ed.2d 524 (1992); see also United States v. Flores, 559 F.3d 1016, 1020 (9th Cir. 2009).
Doe does not allege an unconstitutional motive behind the government's decision or that it breached a duty under the plea agreement. Nor has he shown that the government's decision was arbitrary, irrational or made in bad faith. The government clearly stated to the district court that it had declined to bring a substantial assistance motion because it did not believe that Doe had been cooperative or truthful at the debriefing meeting. Doe does not contest his lack of cooperation and the district court did not err in accepting the government's explanation as satisfactory. See Flores, 559 F.3d at 1020 ("[wjhether the assistance provided was actually substantial is a decision thaj; better rests with the prosecutor, not the court." (citing United States v. Burrows, 36 F.3d 875, 884 (9th Cir. 1994))).
AFFIRMED.
⅜ pj-jjg disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3.
. Defendant's unopposed motions to be referred to under a pseudonym are granted. United States v. Doe, 655 F.2d 920, 922 n.1 (9th Cir. 1980).