Opinion ID: 3171894
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Entering the Proffer Agreements

Text: Section 1B1.8 of the Guidelines restricts the use of self-incriminating information provided to the Government pursuant to a cooperation or proffer agreement in determining the applicable Guidelines range. However, this restriction does not extend to 4 United States v. Grier, 475 F.3d 556, 570 (3d Cir. 2007) (en banc); United States v. Larkin, 629 F.3d 177, 185 (3d Cir. 2010). 5 information known to the Government prior to entering the agreement.5 The District Court found that the spreadsheet used by Mayer, the Government’s witness, was available prior to the Mitchells’ proffers. Having reviewed the record, including Mayer’s testimony stating the same, this Court finds no error in that determination. The Mitchells also cite United States v. Taylor, 277 F.3d 721 (5th Cir. 2001), and argue that the Government has failed to meet its burden of proving that the information in the PSR was not based on protected information. The Government met this burden as it provided a sworn witness, Mayer, who testified that the information in the PSR was derived from the pre-proffer spreadsheet.6 Accordingly, the District Court did not err. Finally, Mayer indicated that at the time of the proffers the Government could not prove with specificity that the Mitchells were connected to 10 or more victims. The Government also acknowledged this throughout the sentencing proceedings. The District Court’s finding that the Government did not act in bad faith was thus not clear error.