Opinion ID: 658352
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Disproportionate Sentencing

Text: 194 Appellants allege that the district court abused its discretion in sentencing them to lengthy prison terms while rewarding codefendants who cooperated with the government with lenient sentences or dismissal of charges. The offenses in this case were committed prior to November 1, 1987, the effective date of the Sentencing Guidelines. Prior to the Guidelines' enactment, the district court had virtually unfettered discretion in imposing sentence. United States v. Barker, 771 F.2d 1362, 1364 (9th Cir.1985). A pre-Guidelines sentence that falls within statutory limits is generally not reviewable unless there are constitutional concerns. United States v. Citro, 842 F.2d 1149, 1153 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 488 U.S. 866, 109 S.Ct. 170, 102 L.Ed.2d 140 (1988). 195 Our review of the sentencing transcripts makes clear that the district court properly assessed each defendant's culpability individually and attempted to fashion sentences that were proportionate to those of other defendants. The court repeatedly recognized that defendants should not be penalized for going to trial and stated its goal of proportionate sentences. Whatever disproportionality did exist between Appellants and their cooperating codefendants was within the court's discretion. Most of the Appellants were convicted of multiple counts and more serious offenses than those who pled guilty. Furthermore, lenient sentencing in exchange for cooperation with the government is a valid exercise of discretion. United States v. Brown, 761 F.2d 1272, 1278 (9th Cir.1985). Finally, the mere fact of disparate sentences does not indicate an abuse of discretion because a sentencing court will generally have access to considerably more information after a trial than after a guilty plea, particularly in a trial of this magnitude. See Alabama v. Smith, 490 U.S. 794, 801, 109 S.Ct. 2201, 2205, 104 L.Ed.2d 865 (1989) ([I]n the course of the proof at trial the judge may gather a fuller appreciation of the nature and extent of the crimes charged.).