Opinion ID: 1207983
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Of the Sentencing

Text: The pre-sentence report recommended a total offense level of 41. Starting with the base level of 38, predicated upon 120,975 kilograms of marijuana, see U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1(a)(3), four levels were added for leadership role, see U.S.S.G. § 3B1.1(a), and two levels were added for obstruction of justice in the concealment of assets, see U.S.S.G. § 3C1.1. From the 44 levels thus arrived at was subtracted 3 levels for acceptance of responsibility, see U.S.S.G. § 3E1.1, with level 41 as the final result. Applying Criminal History Category I as recommended, the Guidelines Sentencing range was 324-405 months of incarceration. Prior to sentencing, the government submitted pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 5K1.1 a letter dated March 4, 2004, setting forth the basis for its recommendation that the Court grant a significant downward departure in formulating Timewell's sentence. The letter, signed by an Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, described in detail Timewell's extensive cooperation with the authorities and noted that the information provided was detailed, corroborated and consistently aided the agents in developing their investigation. According to the letter, Timewell's substantial assistance resulted in the arrest and conviction of major drug violators and the seizure of millions of dollars in drug proceeds. Timewell was sentenced on March 5, 2004. During the sentencing proceeding, Timewell's counsel, urging a substantial Guidelines reduction, recounted at length Timewell's extensive cooperation, assistance to various law enforcement authorities, and testimony provided at the trial of Vondette. Before imposing sentence, the court noted that Timewell had not fully cooperated and therefore was in violation of the Cooperation Agreement. Counsel for Timewell pointed out that the pre-sentence calculation accounted for that by including a two-level upward adjustment for obstruction of justice. The court responded: I saw that. But it doesn't affect the [G]uidelines as such, the [G]uideline computation. As I said in 99 percent of the cases where this happens the government says you don't get any cooperation letter by breaching your opportunity to cooperate fully. And that's a fact I had to take into consideration in this case with respect to other features. The court then observed that, according to the pre-sentence report, information received from the government indicates that between January 1993 and May 1995 Timewell and others conspired to import and distribute 22,000 kilograms of hashish into the United States via Pakistan. This has been going on for many, many years. .... The volume is staggering of what [Timewell] did. It's mind boggling, with the exception of Vondette. It is one of the biggest I have ever come across in my 30 years here. The court further observed: The money involved in addition to the drug quantities [is] mind boggling. It is to me, maybe not to other people: But it is an enormous amount of money involved. Were it not for the government's letter I would have had no hesitancy in imposing 405 months, the upper end of the [G]uidelines and departing upward. .... So I will depart down effectively from the 405 months, and that's to the minimum of 275 months. The court also imposed a term of imprisonment of 60 months on the false statement count, to be served concurrently. A timely appeal followed.