Opinion ID: 146903
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Proffer Sessions

Text: After his arraignment, Oluwanisola's retained counsel, Leonard Levenson, informed the government that Oluwanisola wanted to participate in a proffer session in the hopes of obtaining a cooperation agreement. A proffer agreement was executed, which provided that the government would not use any of Oluwanisola's statements against him, except: [T]he Office may use any statements made by [Oluwanisola] ... as substantive evidence to rebut, directly or indirectly, any evidence offered or elicited, or factual assertions made, by or on behalf of [Oluwanisola] at any stage of a criminal prosecution ... Oluwanisola participated in two proffer sessions, one on September 13, 2006, and one on October 19, 2006. During the proffer sessions, he admitted that he knew the envelopes contained heroin and that he was part of a heroin smuggling operation. With respect to the quantity of heroin, Oluwanisola admitted to receiving envelopes containing heroin well in excess of one kilogram. The government determined that Oluwanisola was not fully truthful regarding the scope of his involvement with the conspiracy and did not offer him a cooperation agreement. As a result, Oluwanisola declined to plead guilty and the case proceeded to trial.