Opinion ID: 397385
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Blair's Sentence

Text: 32 In addition to the search and seizure arguments raised by the defendants, Blair appeals the imposition of his sentence. He argues that the sentencing was an abuse of the district court's discretion and a denial of due process because (1) the court impermissibly held Blair accountable for his failure to provide further information about the smuggling operation to the government, and (2) it improperly considered Moore's and Dodds' failure to disclose that information in sentencing him. 33 In fashioning a sentence, a district court may, under 18 U.S.C. § 3577, consider without limitation information concerning the background, character, and conduct of the person to be sentenced. 4 It may not, however, impose a sentence on the basis of 'misinformation of constitutional magnitude,'  Roberts v. United States, 445 U.S. 552, 556, 100 S.Ct. 1358, 1362, 63 L.Ed.2d 622 (1980), quoting United States v. Tucker, 404 U.S. 443, 447, 92 S.Ct. 589, 591, 30 L.Ed.2d 592 (1972), and it is upon this due process limitation to a district court's sentencing discretion that Blair relies in arguing that consideration of his failure to supply the government with information was improper. He asserts that the district court erroneously believed that he had information about unidentified members of the drug scheme that he was unwilling to divulge, when in actuality he had no information of that sort. 34 Accepting for purposes of argument that such a misunderstanding would qualify as misinformation of constitutional magnitude, we nevertheless are not persuaded by the argument, because we find insufficient factual basis for it in the record. First, contrary to Blair's assertion on appeal that he had no information to give the government, his own remarks to the district court prior to sentencing suggest that he did not reveal the information because he was not asked to do so: he told the court, 35 I have tried to cooperate with the Board. I think I am the only one of the defendants that wrote my own statement-you know; and I wasn't asked to mention any names is the only reason I didn't mention any names. (emphasis added). 36 Second, the record does not support Blair's assertion that the district court actually relied on Blair's failure to divulge information in imposing sentence. The court did state that it was concerned that those who financed and stood behind this criminal venture, those who stood to gain the most, are not here in court. Immediately thereafter, however, it said that a prison sentence for Blair was nevertheless necessary to act as a deterrent to young men like Blair who willingly take the risk for those others who would profit the most. The sentence, thus, was not imposed as retaliation for Blair's failure to divulge names but in order to deter others from acting as fronts in a smuggling operation. Deterrence is clearly a legitimate sentencing objective. See United States v. Moore, 599 F.2d 310, 315 (9th Cir. 1979), cert. denied, 444 U.S. 1024, 100 S.Ct. 687, 62 L.Ed.2d 658 (1980). 37 Blair's contention that the district court improperly considered the failure of Moore and Dodd to reveal information to the government in sentencing him is similarly not persuasive. While it is true that the court openly expressed its concern at all of the sentencing proceedings that the key individuals behind the drug operation were escaping punishment, and that all three of the defendants received identical sentences, it cannot therefore be inferred that Blair was sentenced for Moore's and Dodds' reluctance to talk. 38 Having disposed of these contentions, we further observe that the sentence was within statutory limits and was not mechanistically imposed but was instead the result of discretion exercised in light of societal considerations and Blair's personal circumstances. See United States v. Neidinger, 647 F.2d 408 (4th Cir., 1981). We accordingly affirm the sentence.