Court Opinion

ID: 9493744
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 15:17:59.504777+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:56:00.784720
License: Public Domain

HEANEY, Circuit Judge,
concurring in part and dissenting in part.
I concur in the majority’s opinion with the exception of Section III. I respectfully dissent on the question of whether Tyler was entitled to a downward departure for substantial assistance. It is clear from the transcript of the February 10, 2000 sentencing hearing that law enforcement officials were not satisfied with receiving information from Tyler with respect to others who were involved in the drug conspiracy with him. They also expected him to make a controlled buy of drugs in order to implicate others in drug dealing. (Sent. Tr. at 14-24.)
In my view, the government has no business asking those who have been arrested for drug dealing to engage in further illegal activity in order to receive a downward departure for substantial assistance under United States Sentencing Guidelines Manual, § 5K1.1, p.s. Of course, the government may ask an arrestee to give, as a condition for such a departure, all of the information that he or she has with respect to their past activity and the activity of others.
Accordingly, I would remand to the district court for a further determination as to whether the government refused to make a § 5K1.1 motion because of Tyler’s unwillingness to participate in additional illegal activities.