Opinion ID: 173282
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Gonzales's Plea Agreement

Text: When Gonzales was initially arrested, he erroneously believed he would not be sent to jail for possessing the methamphetamine found at his apartment. Instead, he was under the impression he would be deported to Mexico. Later, upon learning he could be sentenced to significant jail time, Gonzales changed his story about the origin of the drugs. At a conference to discuss the possibility of a plea agreement, Gonzales admitted to prosecutors he had lied about receiving the methamphetamine from Tony. He stated he had fabricated the name Tony and had actually received the drugs from Cardinas. He claimed Cardinas was planning to sell the drugs and had promised to pay Gonzales $2,000 to hold them. After agreeing to testify truthfully regarding Cardinas's ownership of the drugs, Gonzales executed a plea agreement, pursuant to which the government promised to recommend a lighter sentence to Gonzales's sentencing judge.