Opinion ID: 809350
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Improper Use of Proffer Agreement

Text: “[A]ny statement made in the course of plea discussions with an attorney for the prosecuting authority which do not result in a plea of guilty” is not admissible against the defendant who “was a participant in the plea discussions.” FED. R. EVID. 410; see also FED. R. CRIM. P. 11(f) (providing that the admissibility of any plea, plea discussion, or any related statement is governed by Rule 410). However, a defendant may waive his rights under Rule 410 and Rule 11, and allow the government to introduce statements made in the course of plea discussions, “as long as there is no „affirmative indication that the agreement [to waive] was entered into unknowingly or involuntarily.‟” United States v. Hardwick, 544 F.3d 565, 569-70 (3d Cir. 2008) (alteration in original) (quoting United States v. Mezzanatto, 513 U.S. 196, 210 (1995)). Here, Webb‟s proffer agreement provided that the government could use at trial statements that Webb made during the proffer, in the event that Webb were to make representations at trial inconsistent with those he had made at the proffer. Webb does not challenge the voluntariness of his proffer agreement. Instead, he raises a more generalized argument that his proffer agreement was invalid because of a lack of consideration. The proffer letter states that the Government “will consider” Webb‟s proffer “in formulating an appropriate resolution to this matter.” Webb might prefer that the proffer letter he signed include some clearer statement of the Government‟s contractual obligation. Although the written statement of the bargain set forth by the Government is minimal, it sufficiently sets forth the benefit the Government confers–an appropriate resolution of the matter. Put another way, the proffer letter, as written, obligated the 6 Government to hear and evaluate Webb‟s statements as an initial step toward a possible compromise. We are, therefore, satisfied that the proffer agreement sets forth consideration and is not invalid on that ground.