Opinion ID: 163077
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Pre-Sentence Pleadings

Text: 1 On February 4, 2002, four days before the sentencing hearing, Guzman filed a motion to compel the government to file the § 5K1.1 substantial assistance motion contemplated in ¶ 7(E) of the Plea Agreement. Guzman argued that he had cooperated with law enforcement authorities, but that he was being denied the downward departure in retaliation for his refusal to plant drugs. Motion to Compel, at 2-3. Guzman contended, therefore, that the government's failure to file the downward departure motion was unconstitutional, because it was not rationally related to any government objective. Id. at 3. 2 The government response, filed that same day, denied the allegations regarding planting drugs, noting that it was not filing the § 5K1.1 motion because Guzman was dishonest during his debriefing, and had been uncooperative. Government's Response to Defendant's Motion to Compel, at ¶ 3. The government response stated that Guzman made his drug planting allegations only after he was told that he had violated the Plea Agreement by refusing to cooperate. Id. 3 On February 4, 2002, Guzman also filed a Sentencing Memorandum in which he reiterated his objection to an obstruction of justice enhancement based on the alleged Howze intimidation incident. The Memorandum emphasized the government's promise in the Plea Agreement to oppose an obstruction of justice enhancement, and repeated Guzman's denial that the incident ever occurred. Sentencing Memorandum, at 1-2. Guzman also noted that given his objection, the burden ... shifts to the government to show by a preponderance of the evidence that such an enhancement should be assessed. Id. at 2. Since the Plea Agreement required the government to argue against such an enhancement, Guzman reasoned that his objection should be sustained. Id. 4 The government's February 6, 2002, response to the Sentencing Memorandum asserted that Guzman had violated the Plea Agreement by not act[ing] in good faith with law enforcement since his plea of guilty and by ma[king] false criminal allegations against law enforcement personnel. Government's Response, at ¶ 5. The government argued that, given Guzman's breach of the Plea Agreement, he should not receive a reduction for acceptance of responsibility, should receive an enhancement for obstruction of justice, and should receive a sentence at the upper end of the guideline range. Id. The government specifically recommended a sentence of 121 months, the highest possible sentence consistent with the government's recommendations. Id. at 4. It explained that in making these recommendations — which were contrary to its promises in the Plea Agreement — it was relying on Guzman's drug planting allegations, and his general unwillingness to cooperate. Id. at 3 n. 1.