Opinion ID: 177425
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Marks's Motion Seeking to Force the Government to Move for a Downward Departure

Text: First, Marks argues that the district court erroneously denied his motions seeking to force the government to move for a downward departure. This claim is based on Marks's belief that the government should be required to allow him to plead guilty pursuant to the terms of an unspecified plea offer previously made to him during plea negotiations with AUSA Kelly. While there is evidence that a variety of possible dispositions were discussed between Attorney Thompson and AUSA Kelly before January 2004, when AUSA Kelly left for Washington, D.C., on the record presented we see no evidence of an agreement. The district court's finding to that effect is not clearly erroneous. Consequently, there is no basis to enforce the terms of any particular plea offer that may have been discussed during that time. Because Marks did not have a cooperation agreement with the government, we review his claim only to determine whether the government's refusal to file a motion for a downward departure was based on an unconstitutional motive. See Wade v. United States, 504 U.S. 181, 185-86, 112 S.Ct. 1840, 118 L.Ed.2d 524 (1992). The district court properly found that Marks's motions seeking to force the government to recommend a downward departure were meritless because no plea agreement requiring such a motion was ever entered and Marks alleged no unconstitutional motive for the government declining to recommend a downward departure.