Opinion ID: 700972
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Substantial Assistance to Authorities

Text: 3 Salcedo's attorney raises one potential claim. Although Salcedo cooperated with authorities after his arrest, the government did not make a motion that would allow the court to depart downward for substantial assistance under U.S.S.G. Sec. 5K1.1 and 18 U.S.C. Sec. 3553(e). While Salcedo may believe that he provided the government with substantial assistance, the government has no duty to file the motion. Wade v. United States, 504 U.S. 181, 185 (1992). The prosecutor's decision not to file a substantial assistance motion is reviewable only if the refusal was based on an unconstitutional motive. Id. at 185-86; United States v. Durman, 30 F.3d 803, 807 (7th Cir. 1994), cert. denied, 115 S. Ct. 921 (1995); United States v. Kelly, 14 F.3d 1169, 1177 (7th Cir. 1994); United States v. Egan, 966 F.2d 328, 332 (7th Cir. 1992), cert. denied, 113 S. Ct. 1021 (1993). Moreover, a defendant must make a substantial threshold showing of unconstitutional motive before the court will order an evidentiary hearing. Wade, 504 U.S. at 186; Kelly, 14 F.3d at 1177-78; Egan, 966 F.2d at 332. The record contains no evidence that the government acted unconstitutionally by declining to file a substantial assistance motion. Thus, any appeal on this issue would be frivolous. 4