Opinion ID: 855073
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Plea Agreement and Proffer

Text: Ms. Montoya contends that her counsel denied her the opportunity to proffer substantial assistance to the government that would have resulted in an additional Guidelines level reduction under § 5K1.1. She alleges that she did not receive the downward departure “because she did not [p]roffer quickly enough,” and accuses her counsel of effectively denying her the opportunity to proffer by delaying the sending of -5- the proffer letter. Motion for COA at 10. At sentencing, however, counsel explained that Ms. Montoya actually submitted multiple proffer letters, but the Government was not interested in the information provided. Neither Ms. Montoya, her counsel, nor the Government, mentioned that the proffer letters were submitted too late. At the sentencing hearing, Ms. Montoya did not dispute any of the representations made about the proffers or ask the court or her counsel any questions related to the proffer letters. Although Ms. Montoya claims her counsel denied her the opportunity to proffer in a timely manner, the record shows that she did timely proffer. She failed to establish in her § 2255 proceeding before the district court or in her motion for COA any basis for finding that her counsel’s treatment of the proffer letters was unreasonable. She therefore has failed to show that her counsel was ineffective or that she was prejudiced by her counsel’s actions with regard to the proffer letter.