Opinion ID: 721317
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Events and Proceedings Leading to the Initial Sentencing

Text: 4 Reed pleaded guilty to the above conspiracy offenses in April 1993 pursuant to an agreement with the government. He agreed to cooperate with the government in the prosecution of his coconspirators, and he was released on bail on April 29, subject to certain conditions. The conditions included the requirements that Reed maintain his then-current residence in Troy, New York, and keep in contact with his probation officer and with an agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) with whom he was to cooperate. Sentencing was to occur on an unspecified date of which Reed was to be notified. 5 In approximately October 1993, after a number of adjournments, sentencing was finally scheduled for November 19, 1993. Prior to the court's setting that date, however, Reed moved from his Troy residence and did not notify his attorney, his probation officer, or any other government agent of his move. On November 19, Reed failed to appear for sentencing, and the district court issued a bench warrant for his arrest. On December 15, 1993, Reed was located by local police and agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) at a house in Albany, New York. Following the arrival of the law enforcement agents, Reed jumped out of a window and ran for some 1 1/2 blocks before being captured. 6 At the ensuing sentencing hearing, which began on March 24, 1994, the government argued that Reed timely knew that his sentencing was scheduled for November 19, 1993, and that the court should adjust Reed's offense level upward for obstruction of justice on the basis of, inter alia, his failure to appear for sentencing on November 19, his failure to turn himself in thereafter, and his flight on December 15 after being located by the authorities. The witnesses included Reed's probation officer, to whom he was supposed to report monthly while on bail, the FBI agent to whom he was supposed to report daily, and a DEA agent to whom Reed did report for a time. According to the respective witnesses, Reed ceased to maintain contact with the FBI agent in July 1993; he ceased to report to his probation officer in August; and his last regular contact with the DEA was in August, though he made occasional contact with DEA agents thereafter and helped to set up the arrest of a drug courier in early September. After failing to appear for the November 19 sentencing, Reed spoke by telephone with a DEA agent who told him that the best thing for him to do would be to turn himself in. (Sentencing Transcript (S.Tr.) dated March 24, 1994, at 46.) 7 Reed maintained that he had not attempted to obstruct justice and sought to explain his conduct. He testified that he had not appeared at the November 19 sentencing because he did not know that that date had been set. Having agreed to cooperate with the authorities, he had been physically attacked and threatened by someone sent to his home by the coconspirators. Reed thereafter left his home in Troy, and his attorney was unable to locate him to advise him of the sentencing date. Reed said that he had not learned of the November 19 date until a week after it had passed and that he then decided that he would turn himself in after Christmas. He said that on December 15, when the authorities broke into the Albany house in which he was staying, he believed them to be emissaries from the coconspirators, and he fled because he feared for his life. 8 The district court concluded that Reed's offense level should be increased for obstruction of justice, considering the conduct of the defendant since the time of his plea and his failure to appear for previously scheduled sentencing hearing. (S.Tr. dated March 25, 1994, at 13.) The court stated to Reed: you have attempted to manipulate people and matters to the best of your ability and have failed to comply with the directions and instructions of the Court accorded by your release. (Id.) Having increased Reed's offense level for obstruction of justice, the court also denied him credit for acceptance of responsibility. The court sentenced Reed to, inter alia, 144 months' imprisonment.