Opinion ID: 777315
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Findings Regarding Acceptance of Responsibility

Text: 20 Under the Sentencing Guidelines, a defendant qualifies for a two-level reduction in his Offense Level if he clearly demonstrates acceptance of responsibility for his offense. U.S.S.G. § 3E1.1(a) (1998). The sentencing judge is in a unique position to evaluate a defendants's acceptance of responsibility. For this reason, the determination of the sentencing judge is entitled to great deference on review, id. application note 5, and will not be disturbed unless it is without foundation, United States v. Defeo, 36 F.3d 272, 277 (2d Cir.1994) (internal quotation marks omitted). 21 In the instant case, McLean admitted responsibility for selling marijuana to DeLuca on five to seven occasions between November and December 1997. He insisted, however, that each sale consisted of, at most, one to two pounds of drugs. McLean also admitted responsibility for the single shipment of marijuana to Jean-Baptiste for which the District Court ultimately held him responsible. In light of the District Court's findings concerning drug quantity (findings that are not clearly erroneous, see Part II.A, ante ), however, the Court's determination that McLean had not clearly demonstrated acceptance of responsibility for his offense was not without foundation and, accordingly, should not be disturbed. 22 United States v. Oliveras, 905 F.2d 623 (2d Cir.1990), upon which McLean relies, is not to the contrary. The issue in Oliveras was whether section 3E1.1(a) of the Guidelines required a defendant to accept responsibility for crimes other than those to which he has pleaded guilty (or of which he has been found guilty) to qualify for a two-point reduction in his Offense Level. 905 F.2d at 626. We answered that question in the negative. Id. In this case, the District Court only considered whether McLean had accepted responsibility for the full scope of the conspiracy that formed the basis for Count I of the indictment, to which McLean pleaded guilty. Oliveras, therefore, is not relevant here.