Court Opinion

ID: 52198
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-26 01:13:12+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:03:37.769089
License: Public Domain

[DO NOT PUBLISH]

              IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                                                                    FILED
                       FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
                         ________________________ ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
                                                               APRIL 25, 2007
                               No. 06-16340                  THOMAS K. KAHN
                           Non-Argument Calendar                  CLERK
                         ________________________

                 D. C. Docket No. 92-00104-CR-ORL-19-KRS

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                       Plaintiff-Appellee,

                                     versus

KIRK WHITTAKER,

                                                       Defendant-Appellant.

                         ________________________

                  Appeal from the United States District Court
                      for the Middle District of Florida
                       _________________________

                                (April 25, 2007)

Before BIRCH, DUBINA and PRYOR, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:

     Appellant Kirk Whittaker, a federal prisoner proceeding pro se, appeals the
district court’s order denying his motion to compel the government to file a Fed. R.

Crim. P. 35(b) substantial-assistance motion for a reduction in sentence.

      Whittaker argues on appeal that the government promised to file a

substantial-assistance motion and that the prosecuting attorney found his

cooperation to constitute substantial assistance, but that no motion was filed.

      Whether the government can be compelled to file a substantial assistance

motion is a question of law that we review de novo. See United States v. Forney, 9

F.3d 1492, 1498 (11th Cir. 1993).

      Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 35(b) provides that, after a sentence has

been imposed, a district court may, upon motion of the government, reduce a

defendant's sentence based on the defendant’s substantial assistance in

investigating or prosecuting another person. The government has “a power, not a

duty, to file a motion when a defendant has substantially assisted.” Forney, 9 F.3d

at 1500 (U.S.S.G. § 5K1.1 substantial assistance context). We limit our “review of

the government's refusal to file substantial assistance motions to claims of

unconstitutional motive.” United States v. Nealy, 232 F.3d 825, 831 (11th Cir.

2000). A defendant who merely claims to have provided substantial assistance, or

who makes only generalized allegations of improper motive, is not entitled to a

remedy or even to discovery or an evidentiary hearing. Wade v. United States, 504

                                          2
U.S. 181, 186, 112 S. Ct. 1840, 1844, 118 L. Ed. 2d 524 (1992). Thus, judicial

review is generally appropriate only when “there is an allegation and a substantial

showing that the prosecution refused to file a substantial assistance motion because

of a constitutionally impermissible motivation.” Forney, 9 F.3d at 1502.

      After careful consideration of the briefs of the parties, and thorough review

of the record, we find no reversible error. Whittaker’s brief contains unsupported

allegations that the government “discriminated” against him, was “dishonest,” and

acted in “bad faith.” However, Whittaker has failed to offer substantial evidence

indicating that the government’s decision was based on any impermissible ground,

such as race, religion, or the desire to prevent his exercise of constitutional rights.

The district court was therefore without authority to review the government’s

exercise of prosecutorial discretion, and correctly denied Whittaker’s motion to

compel.

      AFFIRMED.

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