Opinion ID: 780383
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: background and factual summary

Text: 2 Gilliam was indicted by the Federal Grand Jury for the Western District of Tennessee on March 16, 2000. (J.A. at 8). The two-count indictment charged Gilliam with attempting to possess with intent to distribute a total of approximately 1.5 kilograms of cocaine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846. On June 15, 2000, Gilliam entered a plea of guilty to both counts of the indictment. (J.A. at 10). 3 A sentencing hearing was held on September 28, 2000 wherein Gilliam was sentenced to seventy-eight months of imprisonment to be followed by four years of supervised release. (J.A. at 13). The district court held that Gilliam had abused a position of trust and increased his Guideline base offense level by two, while also imposing a $12,500.00 fine and a $200.00 special assessment. Judgment was entered on September 29, 2000. Gilliam's timely notice of appeal was filed on October 6, 2000. (J.A. at 17). 4 A factual account of the offense conduct perpetrated by Gilliam is contained in paragraphs 5-16 of the presentence report (PSR) prepared by the United States Probation Office. (J.A. at 86-89). The salient portion of this summary revolves around a scheme hatched by Gilliam to surreptitiously obtain a quantity of cocaine on consignment through a reliable confidential informant (CI) to whom he had been assigned to counsel. At the time of the instant offense, Gilliam was employed as a part-time alcohol and drug counselor for Janet Scott, Ph.D. 1 In his capacity as a counselor, Gilliam had been assigned to provide counseling to an individual currently on federal probation supervision. This unnamed individual is also the CI involved in the caper planned by Mr. Gilliam. 5 According to the facts detailed in the PSI, the CI reported that over the span of three weeks Gilliam had contacted him in an effort to obtain several kilograms of cocaine on consignment. (J.A. at 86). Gilliam wished to be set up with the drugs by the CI in order to conduct a transaction with potential buyers. Apparently, Gilliam was persistent in his desire to recruit the CI for this illicit purpose. He even indicated to the CI that he had previous experience in the sale and distribution of illegal drugs and knew of people who would probably buy the drugs. (J.A. at 87). Unbeknownst to Gilliam, the CI decided to apprize authorities with the Organized Crime Unit of the Drug Enforcement Agency (OCU) of the particulars of Gilliam's proposition. At this point, the OCU launched an operation in order to investigate Gilliam's role in this alleged conspiracy. To this end, the CI was instructed to feign cooperation with Gilliam. (J.A. at 86-89). 6 After participating in several meetings and telephone conversations regarding the conspiracy, the CI and Gilliam arranged for a final meeting, at which point Gilliam would take possession of the drugs. On February 22, 2000, the CI phoned Gilliam with instructions to meet a female named Cookie in front of a neighborhood grocery store. The CI informed Gilliam that Cookie would have in her possession a package containing a quantity of cocaine, which she would give to him upon his arrival. Cookie was, in fact, an undercover agent with the OCU. 7 Upon meeting the undercover agent, Gilliam took possession of two marked bundles of imitation cocaine which had been placed in a plastic shopping bag. (J.A. at 88). Gilliam was taken into custody a short time later.