Opinion ID: 1455882
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Parisi's Conviction

Text: In the spring of 2000, law enforcement began investigating Parisi, who owned and operated subscription-based pornographic websites, after agents found sexually explicit images that appeared to be of underage girls. During the course of the investigation, law enforcement executed a search warrant and seized media containing sexually explicit images of minors. On February 5, 2001, the Government filed a criminal complaint charging Parisi with five counts of using a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of that conduct, 18 U.S.C. ß 2251(a). The Government also filed a separate complaint charging Parisi's wife, Melody, with three counts of the same offense. Parisi was arrested, and shortly thereafter he was released on bond. Almost 200 days later, on August 15, 2001, the Government indicted Parisi for eighteen offenses. Under the Speedy Trial Act, [a]ny information or indictment charging an individual with the commission of an offense shall be filed within thirty days from the date on which such individual was arrested or served with a summons in connection with such charges. 18 U.S.C. ß 3161(b). The statute excludes several periods of time from the thirty-day limit, and among the periods excluded is [a]ny period of delay resulting from a continuance granted by any judge on his own motion or at the request of the defendant or his counsel or at the request of the attorney for the Government, if the judge granted such continuance on the basis of his findings that the ends of justice served by taking such action outweigh the best interest of the public and the defendant in a speedy trial. Id. ß 3161(h)(8)(A). Between February 5, 2001 and August 15, 2001, the district court entered three ß 3161(h)(8) ends-of-justice continuance orders. In all three instances, the district court so-ordered a Stipulation/Order filed by the parties. Each such agreement stated that the parties stipulated to an exclusion of time from speedy trial computations. Each one also included a stipulated explanation of the need for additional time: February 16, 2001 (60 days): to allow defense counsel the opportunity to review evidence which is in the possession of the United States, to consider the charges herein, and to continue further discussions regarding a change of plea for his client. April 16, 2001 (60 days): to negotiate a disposition of the charges against the defendant. June 20, 2001 (60 days): to negotiate a disposition of the charges against the defendant. Finally, following the text of the above explanation and before the signatures of the parties' attorneys, each Stipulation/Order stated that the ends of justice to be served by the granting of said continuance will outweigh the interest of the public and of the defendant in a speedy trial. On September 3, 2003, Parisi pleaded guilty to three counts of producing sexually explicit images of minors, one count of advertising child pornography, and one count of tampering with a witness. In return for Parisi's guilty plea, the Government withdrew the other thirteen charges and charged Parisi's wife with only a single violation. Under a separate heading labeled Waiver of Appeal and Collateral Attack, the plea agreement stated that Parisi understands the extent of his rights to appeal, and/or to collaterally attack his conviction and sentence in this case, and further that he waiv[ed] any and all rights, including those conferred by 18 U.S.C. ß 3742 and/or 28 U.S.C. ß 2255, to appeal or collaterally attack his conviction and any sentence of imprisonment of 151 months or less. The district court sentenced Parisi principally to 150 months' incarceration.