Opinion ID: 931960
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Eastern District Indictment and Guilty Plea

Text: On May 18, 2010, Tien was indicted in the Eastern District on one count of furnishing a forged passport, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1543. The parties consented to transfer the case to Judge Sharpe in the Northern District. On May 24, 2011 (about sixteen months after he pleaded guilty to the bribery charges), Tien entered a plea of guilty to the single forged passport count, pursuant to a plea agreement. At the plea, Judge Sharpe confirmed that Tien had reviewed the plea agreement with his attorney. The Court then told Tien: Mr. Tien, this is the same kind of proceeding that we did based upon the charge here in the Northern District of New York. And just as in the former charge here in the Northern District, I need to be satisfied that you understand the consequences of pleading guilty to this Eastern District charge, that it’s your free choice to do so and there are facts that would support your admission to the crime. (A-332.) Tien said he understood and was sworn. The Court then said: Since I accepted Mr. Tien’s plea to the Northern District charge, I will incorporate into the record of these proceedings all the answers he gave me during the prior proceedings. I will, therefore, focus on those events that are relevant to this charge out of the Eastern District. 6 (A-333.) Judge Sharpe reviewed Tien’s right to a trial, the maximum penalties connected with his guilty plea, and the various rights he waived by entering a guilty plea. The Government then proffered the factual allegations as described in the plea agreement, which Tien acknowledged as true upon pleading guilty. (A-334-337.) After accepting the plea, the district court observed the following: As I always do, I’ve watched Mr. Tien as he and I have spoke. I may have said this the last time, but I repeat it this time: It’s clear to me that Mr. Tien has some fundamental understanding of English, but I have watched as he and the interpreter have spoken and it is clear to me that he understands the consequences of pleading guilty, it’s his free choice to do so, and there is a factual basis that would support his plea. (A-337.) Judge Sharpe sentenced Tien to eight months on the forged passport case, six of which were to run consecutively to a sixty-three month sentence imposed in the bribery case. (A-194195.)