Opinion ID: 41663
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Roa’s Guilty Plea

Text: In December 1991, a federal grand jury indicted Roa, along with three codefendants, charging him with: (1) conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute “a detectable amount of cocaine,” in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846 and 841(a)(1) (Count 1); and (2) possession with the intent to distribute “a detectable amount of cocaine,” in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and 18 U.S.C. § 2 (Count 2). In March 1992, Roa pled guilty to Count 1 pursuant to a written plea agreement in which the government agreed to dismiss Count 2. The plea agreement did not discuss the quantity of drugs involved. However, the agreement stated that: “The Defendant understands and agrees that the court must impose a statutory minimum term of ten (10) years and may impose a statutory maximum term of imprisonment of up to life.” (emphasis added). 3 Roa, who was out on bond, did not appear for sentencing on May 12, 1992, and a warrant was issued for his arrest. Roa was subsequently extradited from the Dominican Republic and placed under arrest on November 18, 2004.