Opinion ID: 196298
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: michael murray's simmons4 argument

Text: 11 Before trial, Michael Murray brought an omnibus motion for relief, which included claims based on an alleged plea bargain with the government for immunity from prosecution and suppression of evidence derived from his cooperation with the government. The plea agreement was not memorialized in any way. Michael Murray contended that the government agreed to advocate the lower end of a zero to five-year sentence if he would change his plea, assist the government in its investigation of a fentanyl manufacturing laboratory, help the government acquire six million dollars in offshore accounts, and be available to testify in this case. The government claimed it had extended two separate offers to Michael Murray: one for complete cooperation and one for partial cooperation. Complete cooperation required Michael Murray to plead guilty, assist the government in any and all investigations which the DEA suggested, be completely debriefed, surrender the six million dollars, and testify as requested. Complete cooperation would result in a government recommendation for five or fewer years incarceration. Alternatively, the government would recommend seventeen years incarceration if Michael Murray pleaded guilty and failed to fully cooperate in any way. 12 The district court held an evidentiary pre-trial hearing to determine what the agreement was and if Michael Murray was entitled to specific performance due to his fulfillment of the agreement as determined. Michael Murray argues that the district court erred in refusing to grant him immunity under Simmons v. United States, 390 U.S. 377, 88 S.Ct. 967, 19 L.Ed.2d 1247 (1968), at this pre-trial hearing, forcing him to elect between his Fifth Amendment due process right to be heard on the question of his plea agreement with the government and his Fifth Amendment right not to be compelled to incriminate himself. 13 At the hearing, the court permitted Michael Murray's counsel to call one of the prosecutors and a DEA case agent. Both testified about the offer and the areas in which they believed Michael Murray's cooperation to be less than complete. Michael Murray's counsel requested Simmons-type immunity for Murray if he testified regarding the plea offer and his performance. The district court refused to grant this immunity, but suggested that Michael Murray testify in two parts: first, on the terms of the government's offer; and then, after the court ruled on the offer's terms, on his performance under that offer. The court made clear that Michael Murray could refuse to testify on his performance of the agreement even if he chose to testify on its terms. Michael Murray declined to testify. The court then granted Michael Murray's request that his affidavit regarding the plea offer be made part of the record of the hearing. 14 The court found that the government had made the plea offers as it alleged and that, although Michael Murray had substantially performed, he had not completely performed. Specifically, the court noted that Michael Murray had not fully cooperated because, among other things: he did not plead guilty; he did not allow the government to debrief him in preparation for testifying against a defendant in the fentanyl case; he did not testify against that defendant; and he refused adequate access to his offshore accounts. The court determined that Michael Murray could accept the government's plea offer by pleading guilty before the jury was impanelled. If Michael Murray did plead, then the question would arise of whether he cooperated completely or partially. At one point during the hearing, the prosecutor also stated, Your Honor, if Mr. Murray's willing to be completely debriefed to testify in any and all matters and to completely cooperate, the government is willing to stand by its offer.... That's been our position throughout. Michael Murray did not plead guilty, did not accept the plea offer, and went to trial on all counts. 15 Entitlement to immunity is a legal question, which we review de novo. See United States v. Hardy, 37 F.3d 753, 756 (1st Cir.1994) (holding that legal questions are reviewed de novo). 16 We affirm the district court's denial of Simmons-type immunity on these facts because Michael Murray did not have to surrender one constitutional right in order to assert another. See Simmons, 390 U.S. at 394, 88 S.Ct. at 976. The procedure followed by the district court did not implicate Michael Murray's Fifth Amendment right prohibiting compelled self-incrimination. If Michael Murray had testified regarding his understanding of the terms of the plea agreement, the district judge stated that he would have limited cross-examination to that topic. We agree with the district judge that what was the deal is a lot more bland [than is the performance issue] and has nothing to do either with this case or, one would imagine, any other investigation. We fail to see how Michael Murray's testimony regarding what the government offered and what he understood would incriminate him in any way in any proceeding. He chose, however, not to testify. 17 After Michael Murray's counsel announced his intent not to testify, the district judge made findings as to the terms of the agreement. The judge specifically stated, and the prosecution agreed, that Michael Murray could still accept the plea offer prior to trial. He did not. Thus, the judge never reached the issue of Michael Murray's performance, which was relevant only to determine whether Michael Murray had completely performed and accepted the more generous governmental offer or had only partially performed and accepted the lesser offer. 18 Because he did not plead guilty prior to trial, Michael Murray failed to cooperate as promised under either version of the plea agreement. See United States v. Baldacchino, 762 F.2d 170, 179 (1st Cir.1985). Thus, the government is released from any obligations under the agreement regardless of whatever it may have promised earlier. United States v. Tilley, 964 F.2d 66, 70-71 (1st Cir.1992). 19 Simmons is inapplicable on these facts.