Opinion ID: 3054987
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: underlying criminal proceedings

Text: A. Indictment & October 2007 Change-of-Plea Hearing In June 2007, Balbuena, a Cuban national, was indicted for: (1) attempting to possess 13 kilograms of cocaine with intent to distribute, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(A), and 846 (Count 1); (2) possession of more than 500 grams of cocaine with intent to distribute, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(A), and 846 (Count 2); and (3) possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(C), and 846 (Count 3). Assistant Federal Public Defender Vincent Farina was appointed to represent Balbuena. Following his initial appearance, Balbuena was released on bond. When Balbuena failed to appear for a scheduled change-of-plea hearing in October 2007, the district court issued a bench warrant for his arrest. In March 2008, Balbuena was located and remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. B. May 2008 Change-of-Plea Hearing A rescheduled change-of-plea hearing was held in May 2008. At the start of the hearing, the district court asked the parties whether they were ready to proceed. Attorney Farina responded “not today,” and indicated that there was some uncertainty about whether the government was planning to charge Balbuena for 2 Case: 12-15717 Date Filed: 07/11/2013 Page: 3 of 24 bail jumping, and whether that charge would be filed in a superseding or separate indictment. The government admitted that a final decision had not been made regarding whether to charge Balbuena with bail jumping. But, the government noted that regardless of what the ultimate decision turned out to be, Balbuena could nevertheless choose to plead guilty in full to the current indictment. Farina requested an opportunity to speak with Balbuena, which the district court granted. After consulting with Balbuena, Farina informed the district court that Balbuena was prepared to move forward with his guilty plea. The district court, through a Spanish interpreter, placed Balbuena under oath and warned Balbuena that he was subject to perjury charges for lying. The district court inquired whether Balbuena was a U.S. citizen, and Balbuena admitted that he was a Cuban citizen. Balbuena stated that he had discussed the case with his attorney and was satisfied with his attorney’s representation. Balbuena affirmed that he understood the charges against him, and that no one was threatening him or forcing him to plead guilty. The government proffered that the evidence at trial would show that an undercover Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) agent (later identified as Jalisa Monzon) and a separate confidential informant (“CI”) placed several recorded phone calls to Balbuena. In these calls, Balbuena (1) told the CI that he 3 Case: 12-15717 Date Filed: 07/11/2013 Page: 4 of 24 had gathered enough money to purchase over 10 kilograms of cocaine, and (2) set up a meeting with the CI for the purpose of consummating a cocaine sale. On June 6, 2007, Balbuena met the CI and undercover DEA Agent Monzon in a parking lot. Balbuena told the CI that he had brought $100,000 with him and that the rest of the money was at Balbuena’s home. Balbuena asked to see the cocaine. The CI and Agent Monzon showed Balbuena a large duffel bag that contained 13 brick-shaped objects wrapped in duct tape, intended to simulate kilograms of cocaine. Balbuena was then arrested. The district court asked Balbuena whether he agreed with the government’s proffer. Balbuena responded “[w]ell, there is one thing there that I did not do.” The following discussion then occurred about the quantity of cocaine at issue in Count 1, but Balbuena ultimately agreed to the government’s proffer, as follows: THE COURT: What is that, sir? [FARINA]: Your Honor, I am concerned about the quantity of drugs that was actually negotiated. It was three kilos instead of ten. The agents told them they had ten kilos if he wanted to buy them. He only brought in three. That is a discrepancy in the quantity. [GOVERNMENT]:. . . I can change the proffer to over five kilograms of cocaine. Anything beyond that, I don’t believe is a proffer that complies with what is charged in the indictment THE COURT: That’s what he is charged with in Count 2. [FARINA]: May I have one moment, Your Honor? 4 Case: 12-15717 Date Filed: 07/11/2013 Page: 5 of 24 THE COURT: Yes. [FARINA]: May I have one moment with the interpreter,