Opinion ID: 216585
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Gapinski’s First Two Sentencing Hearings

Text: On June 8, 2004, Gapinski was indicted for conspiracy to manufacture more than 100 marijuana plants in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846, 841(a)(1), and 841(b)(1)(B)(vii). This court detailed the substantive facts of that offense in United States v. Gapinski (Gapinski II), 561 F.3d 467, 469–73 (6th Cir. 2009). Gapinksi pleaded guilty on September 27, 2004. Prior to his first sentencing hearing, the government filed a motion based on United States Sentencing Guidelines (U.S.S.G.) § 5K1.1 for a four-level downward departure because Gapinski had provided substantial assistance: The government explained that Gapinski had given a proffer concerning his involvement in the marijuana-grow conspiracy and had provided significant information on the roles played by his three codefendants as well as the two other coconspirators, [Joseph] Hill and [Steven] Mayer. Because of Gapinski’s early cooperation and willingness to testify, the government noted, each of Gapinski’s three codefendants pleaded guilty rather than proceeding to trial, and coconspirators Hill and Mayer were indicted for their role in the conspiracy. The government further explained that Gapinski had agreed to testify against Hill and Mayer should they decide to go to trial. Gapinski II, 561 F.3d at 470. When the district court sentenced Gapinski on December 22, 2004, it departed downward by two, rather than four, offense levels, “anticipat[ing]” that a Rule 35(b) motion would compensate Gapinski for any future assistance. Id. at 477. Gapinski’s adjusted Guidelines range was 151 to 188 months of imprisonment. The district court sentenced Gapinski 2 No. 09-2267 United States v. Gapinski to 156 months of imprisonment or, in the event that the Guidelines were not mandatory, 120 months. This court vacated the sentence following Booker. United States v. Gapinski, 226 F. App’x 592 (6th Cir. 2007) (Gapinski I). On January 18, 2008, the district court resentenced Gapinski to 120 months of imprisonment. At this second sentencing hearing, Gapinski sought “an additional two-level downward departure and/or a variance” for the substantial assistance that he rendered between the first two sentencing hearings. Gapinski II, 561 F.3d at 475. “Specifically, Gapinski made himself available to testify against a coconspirator, Joseph Hill, which led Hill to plead guilty.” Id. The Bureau of Prisons transported Gapinski from Oklahoma to Michigan so that he could testify against Hill. While Gapinski was being held in Michigan awaiting Hill’s trial, Hill pleaded guilty, obviating any need for Gapinski’s testimony. His willingness to stand ready to testify, however, made Gapinski vulnerable because “grapevine gossip” and the website www.whosarat.com made his cooperation with the government public knowledge among inmates. The district court denied Gapinski’s motion. When Gapinski appealed from the second sentencing hearing, this court reversed on two bases, both of which related to substantial assistance. First, the sentencing transcript “does not show that the district court ever considered or explained its reasons for rejecting Gapinski’s argument for a lower sentence based on this substantial additional cooperation.” Id. at 475. Second, at the first sentencing, “the district court . . . erred by improperly looking to the possibility of a post-sentencing reduction under Rule 35(b) in considering the § 5K1.1 motion,” a mistake that the district court did not correct at the second sentencing. Id. at 477. Additionally, this court instructed the district court 3 No. 09-2267 United States v. Gapinski to “consider Gapinski’s arguments for a lower sentence based upon alleged diminished capacity due to ADHD [attention deficit hyperactivity disorder] and the need to avoid unwarranted similarities in the sentences imposed upon codefendants who are not similarly situated.” Id. at 478.