Opinion ID: 171033
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Advocating for Sentencing Enhancements

Text: Cudjoe's argument that the government's introduction of evidence at the sentencing hearing, in support of the sentencing enhancements, breached the plea agreement is without merit. The plea agreement specifically provided that the government intended to advocate for both the leadership enhancement, pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 3B1.1(a), and the obstruction of justice enhancement for reckless endangerment during flight, pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 3C1.2. The third enhancement, obstruction of justice based on threats to a witness, pursuant to § 3C1.1, was not specifically mentioned in the plea agreement. The agreement, however, expressly reserves the government's right to advocate for, and present evidence relevant to, other guideline adjustments and sentencing factors for consideration by the U.S. Probation Office and the Court. This case stands in contrast to Scott, in which we held the government breached its plea agreement by advocating for additional sentencing enhancements. 469 F.3d at 1338-39. In that case, the plea agreement listed the positions the government expected to take at sentencing, including factors to be used in sentencing. Id. at 1338. The defendant argued the government breached the plea agreement because a reasonable interpretation was that the government would not argue for other sentencing factors. Id. Although the plea agreement contained a provision reserving the right to take other positions if new facts were developed, the court concluded no new facts had indeed been developed. Id. Cudjoe's plea agreement, however, appears to reserve the right to advocate for other guideline adjustments and sentencing factors and does not condition this right on the development of new facts. Even if the plea agreement was construed to condition the right on the development of new facts, this condition, in fact, occurred. [2] During the course of preparing the PSR, the Probation Office discovered evidence that a witness was threatened, allegedly by Cudjoe. This new evidence, therefore, served as a predicate for the government to advocate for the additional obstruction of justice enhancement, pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 3C1.1. Cudjoe argues the sentencing enhancements, advocated for by the government, increased the likelihood that the court would sentence Cudjoe in excess of thirty years, thus breaching the government's agreement to stand mute. This argument is belied by Cudjoe's understanding of the agreement at the time of his change of plea hearing. First, the government reiterated that it believed Cudjoe should be assigned a leadership role enhancement and an obstruction of justice enhancement. Cudjoe's attorney specifically recognized this position and stated, I do not anticipate at the time of sentencing there would be an objection to the enhancements. Thus, he anticipated that the government would advocate for these enhancements. Second, when Cudjoe filed objections to the PSR, he made legal challenges that the government was entitled to rebut. Cudjoe did not object to the government calling witnesses to establish the predicate for the enhancements. Therefore, we conclude Cudjoe's reasonable understanding of the plea agreement included the proposition that the government would seek and argue for these enhancements.