Opinion ID: 556416
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Supposed Five-Year Minimum

Text: 15 Throughout the district court proceedings involving Moon, it was assumed that the minimum term of imprisonment required by Sec. 846 for the count 5 conspiracy was five years. See 21 U.S.C. Sec. 841(b)(1)(B) (person convicted of certain substantive Sec. 841(a) violations shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment which may not be less than 5 years), and id. Sec. 846 (making this penalty applicable to conspiracy to violate Sec. 841(a), effective November 18, 1988). The plea agreement stated that Moon faced a minimum prison term of five years, and it stated that the government would move for a downward departure pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Sec. 3553(e) (1988). That section states, in pertinent part, as follows: 16 (e) Limited authority to impose a sentence below a statutory minimum.--Upon motion of the Government, the court shall have the authority to impose a sentence below a level established by statute as minimum sentence so as to reflect a defendant's substantial assistance in the investigation or prosecution of another person who has committed an offense. 17 The PSR likewise noted that the government would move for a downward departure pursuant to this section. (PSR p 54.) 18 At the sentencing hearing, the court, noting that the Guidelines called for incarceration for 78-97 months and that the Probation Department had recommended a sentence of 60 months, stated that in the court's view, a larger downward departure was warranted. It stated that 19 in imposing this sentence [the court] departs from the guidelines and imposes a sentence below the guidelines in accordance with 5-K-1.1 of the Sentencing Guideline Act 18 United States Code 3553(E) on motion of the Government. 20 (Sentencing Transcript 8.) 21 The court sentenced Moon to, inter alia, a period of 48 months' imprisonment.