United States v. Mills ( 2002 )

United States Court of Appeals
For the First Circuit
No. 01-2702
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Appellee,
v.
EDWARD K. MILLS, a/k/a KWAME MILLS,
Defendant, Appellant.
APPEAL FROM THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS
[Hon. William G. Young, Chief U. S. District Judge]
Before
Torruella, Circuit Judge,
John R. Gibson,* Senior Circuit Judge,
and Howard, Circuit Judge.
Joseph F. Savage, Jr., with whom Richard Myrus, Fred H.
Nemeth, and Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault were on brief, for
appellant.
Kevin P. McGrath, with whom Michael J. Sullivan, United States
Attorney, and Dina Michael Chaitowitz, Assistant U. S. Attorney
were on brief, for appellee.
May 14, 2003
*
Hon. John R. Gibson, of the Eighth Circuit, sitting by
designation.
JOHN R. GIBSON, Senior Circuit Judge. Edward K. Mills
pleaded guilty to a one-count information charging him with
racketeering in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1962(c) (2002). At
sentencing, the district court considered the government's motion
under Sentencing Guideline § 5K1.1 asking for a departure on
account of Mills' substantial assistance, but refused to depart.
Mills argues that (1) the district court misled him at the plea
hearing into believing his disclosures about a murder conspiracy
would be used only for reducing his sentence; (2) the government
breached its plea agreement with him by failing to argue that
information provided by Mills pursuant to the agreement should not
be considered by the court; (3) the district court erred by
invoking a categorical "murder is different" sentencing policy,
ignoring its responsibility to consider the guideline factors as
enumerated in Sentencing Guideline § 5K1.1; and (4) the district
court erred under § 5K1.1 by refusing to consider the full extent
of assistance rendered by Mills' girlfriend at Mills' behest. We
vacate the sentence imposed by the district court and remand for
resentencing consistent with this opinion.
On March 29, 2000, in his plea hearing before the
district court, Edward K. Mills waived his right to a grand jury
and pleaded guilty to a charge under 18 U.S.C. § 1962(c). The one-
count information alleged that Mills agreed to participate with a
group of individuals in an organization whose primary purpose was
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to coordinate the distribution of crack cocaine. The underlying
predicate acts included two acts of money laundering, conspiracy to
murder, and interstate travel in aid of racketeering.
The government had originally offered Mills a plea
bargain in which he would serve a maximum of twenty years, with
credit for state time served. The government had also discussed
with Mills in a proffer letter the possibility of his providing
information about local drug trafficking and several unsolved
murders. Mills chose to cooperate with the government’s
investigation in exchange for a favorable government recommendation
at sentencing, which he hoped would result in a lower sentence than
the twenty years the government offered if he did not cooperate.
Mills and the government eventually arrived at an agreement which
included the following:
Notwithstanding the provisions of U.S.S.G. § 1B1.8(b)(5)
and the commentary thereto, the U.S. Attorney agrees to
take the position that, at the time of sentencing,
information provided by Defendant pursuant to this
Agreement should not be used either in determining where
within the applicable guideline range to sentence
Defendant or in determining whether, or to what extent,
a departure from the Sentencing Guidelines is warranted.
At the plea bargain hearing, the district court stated that under
18 U.S.C. § 1962(c), Mills could face up to a twenty-year sentence
and that the court was under no obligation under the plea agreement
to grant a downward departure.
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Mills cooperated with authorities1 and testified at the
trial of John Tibbs, an associate of Mills who committed several
murders.2 In its § 5K1.1 motion, the government emphasized that
prior to Mills' cooperation, the government had no evidence of who
had committed these murders, and that Mills had helped free an
innocent man who had been wrongly convicted of one of these
murders. The government also stated that Mills had "limited
involvement" in one murder and his involvement in another consisted
only of driving Tibbs to and from the scene. In its supplemental
sentencing memorandum, the government took the position that based
on Mills' cooperation, the danger he exposed himself to, the
relative culpability of his co-defendants, and the sentences they
received, the court should depart downward and Mills should receive
a sentence of ten years. Later, during Mills' sentencing hearing,
the district court acknowledged that Mills had "displayed enormous
personal courage" and that the extent of his cooperation equaled or
exceeded anything the court had ever seen. However, the court
declined to follow the parties' sentencing recommendations in light
of Mills' involvement in several of the murders and his leadership
role in a dangerous, violent enterprise. The court then sentenced
1
Most of the record before us and the briefs have been filed
under seal, and such materials have been fully considered even if
not set out in detail in this opinion.
2
Following the plea hearing but before sentencing, Chief Judge
Young observed a portion of Mills' testimony in the Tibbs murder
trial, which transpired in another judge's courtroom.
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Mills to twenty years, with a two-year credit for time served on a
state sentence for drug trafficking.
I.
Mills first argues that the court misled him at the plea
hearing into believing that his disclosures regarding the murder
conspiracy would be used only for the purpose of reducing his
sentence. During the plea hearing, the court discussed the
possibility of using information about the murder conspiracy in its
departure analysis. Mills did not object. Since he did not
object, we have limited power to correct an error that was not
timely raised before the district court. United States v. Olano,
507 U.S. 725, 732 (1993). An error not objected to at the plea
hearing is reversible only where the error is plain, affects the
defendant's substantial rights, and seriously affects the fairness
of the proceeding. Id. See also United States v. Vonn, 122 S. Ct.
1043, 1046, 1048 (2002).
Mills does not dispute that the district court is
permitted, for the purposes of departure, to consider self-
incriminating information he provided pursuant to the plea
agreement (i.e. his involvement in the murder conspiracy). See
USSG § 1B1.8(b)(5). Rather, he claims that the court misinformed
him at the plea hearing about how it would use this information in
its departure calculus:
THE COURT: And I will go into the melange of factors that
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I try to balance and that I take responsibility for.
But, because he’s accepted responsibility, if you will
for this fourth predicate act [the conspiracy to murder]
now, can I consider that at all as to where the
appropriate sentence is? Or, am I not to consider that
at all?
MR. HEINRICH [Assistant U.S. Attorney]: Well, your Honor,
let me answer it this way. In terms of setting your
base, I don’t think that you should consider it. In
terms of considering all the factors and however you
weigh those both, whatever internal processes and
external, Mr. Mills' cooperation would be, would include
in both this instance and in other instances admitting
responsibility for other criminal activity. And I think
that the Court in any case would take account of what it
is he's cooperating on, how he knows about it, whether he
participated in it--
THE COURT: All right.
MR. HEINRICH: --and the like in determining how far to
come down in that connection.
Mills argues that based on the Assistant U.S. Attorney's
description of the law and based on the court's approval of this
description,3 he was led to believe that his involvement in the
murder conspiracy would be used only "in determining how far to
come down" in a departure, not in denying a departure altogether.
Mills cites U.S. v. Conway, 81 F.3d 15 (1st Cir. 1996), in support
3
As stated to the court by Mr. Heinrich, the factors to be
considered regarding departure included not only Mills’ cooperation
in exposing the murder conspiracy but also "how he knows about it,
whether he participated in it." The court could also consider that
Mills' cooperation involved "in both this instance and in other
instances admitting responsibility for other criminal activity."
The court approved this description and asked Mr. Mills
directly: "You understand what Mr. Heinrich and I are talking about
here, Mr. Mills, do you think?" When Mills answered "Yes," the
court pressed him again, "You understand that if you plead guilty
and if they ask me to go down, I'll have to balance a variety of
factors." Again Mills answered "Yes," and again, the court checked
to make sure that Mills understood what Mr. Heinrich had said about
Mills' cooperation.
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of his argument that we should remand for re-sentencing because the
district court misinformed him about its departure calculus.
A district court must not misinform the defendant
entering a guilty plea about the court's role at sentencing. The
court is not bound to comply with the prosecutor's recommendation
for sentencing, and the defendant should be aware of this. See
Conway, 81 F.3d at 17. To prevent confusion on the defendant's
part, Fed. R. Crim. P. 11(c) provides that:
Before accepting a plea of guilty or nolo contendere, the
court must address the defendant personally in open court
and inform the defendant of, and determine that the
defendant understands, the following:
(1) the nature of the charge to which the plea
is offered, the mandatory minimum penalty
provided by law, if any, and the maximum
possible penalty provided by law, including
the effect of any special parole or supervised
release term, the fact that the court is
required to consider any applicable sentencing
guidelines but may depart from those
guidelines under some circumstances
...(emphasis added).
In Conway, this court held that the district court's
explanation of the plea agreement was misleading when the court
made no distinction between the government's obligation to follow
the plea agreement and the court’s freedom to sentence according to
the Guidelines regardless of the parties' recommendations. The
defendant was mistakenly given the impression that information he
gave pursuant to the plea agreement could not be used against him
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by the court, so we remanded for the court to rehear the motion for
departure and to make new findings.
In Mills' case, on the other hand, the district court
made it clear that the court was under no obligation to depart
under the plea agreement. The district court repeatedly told Mills
that a substantial assistance motion by the government did not
guarantee a departure:
THE COURT: Now, if they don’t ask me [for a departure],
assuming what’s said here about how the guidelines work
out is right, then I have no way of going lower than 20
years.
Do you understand that?
MILLS: Yes.
THE COURT: Let’s consider it the other way. Even if they
do ask me, I'm not part of this plea bargain between you
and the government.
Do you understand that?
MILLS: Yes.
THE COURT: And I don’t have to go lower than the 20
years. I know I can’t go higher than 20 years, but I
don’t have to go lower. You understand that?
MILLS: Yes.
THE COURT: And you understand, I mean, I certainly will
try to be fair and just, but I'm not bargaining now, I’m
not part of any of this, I'm just trying to make sure you
know what may happen to you.
Do you understand that?
MILLS: Yes, I do. (emphasis added).
Mills was thus informed that the court was not bound by the plea
agreement, and that in determining how far to depart, the court
could choose not to depart at all. In light of the record as a
whole, Mills could not reasonably have understood the court to have
promised to consider murder-related evidence only for purposes of
deciding the length of a granted departure. We conclude that there
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is no error in this respect.
II.
Second, Mills argues that the government breached its
plea agreement. Mills concedes that he did not raise this issue
below. "When a defendant has knowledge of conduct ostensibly
amounting to a breach of a plea agreement, yet does not bring the
breach to the attention of the sentencing court, we review only for
plain error." United States v. Saxena, 229 F.3d 1, 5 (1st Cir.
2000). In order to show plain error, Mills must establish that (1)
an error occurred, (2) the error was plain, (3) it affected his
"substantial rights," and (4) it "adversely impacted the fairness,
integrity or public repute of judicial proceedings." United States
v. Riggs, 287 F.3d 221, 224 (1st Cir. 2002).
The government had promised to take an affirmative
position that information provided pursuant to the plea agreement
should not be used at sentencing. In particular, the plea
agreement stated:
Notwithstanding the provisions of U.S.S.G. § 1B1.8(b)(5)4
and the commentary thereto, the U.S. Attorney agrees to
take the position that, at the time of sentencing,
information provided by Defendant pursuant to this
4
USSG § 1B1.8(b)(5) states: "The provisions of subsection (a)
[which limit the use of self-incriminating information provided
pursuant to a plea agreement in determining the guideline range]
shall not be applied to restrict the use of information: . . . (5)
in determining whether, or to what extent, a downward departure
from the guidelines is warranted pursuant to a government motion
under § 5K1.1 (Substantial Assistance to Authorities)."
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Agreement should not be used either in determining where
within the applicable guideline range to sentence
Defendant or in determining whether, or to what extent,
a departure from the Sentencing Guidelines is warranted.
Mills argues that the government failed to take the agreed upon
position.
The record shows that the government did, in fact, argue
vigorously that the court should not use the information discussed
in the plea agreement as part of its departure calculus. At
sentencing, the government advanced two arguments in asking the
court not to consider Mills' involvement in the murder conspiracy.
First, the Assistant U.S. Attorney pointed out that "given the
nature of the agreement" and given the nature of law enforcement,
the court should not punish Mills for admitting more serious
conduct in the process of helping solve gang and drug-related
homicides. Second, the prosecutor argued that although the proffer
agreement protected Mills from being prosecuted for self-
incriminating statements, he still took tremendous risks in
confronting and exposing other persons involved in violence.
Furthermore, the government told the court that without Mills'
assistance, the prosecution would have had no information or
evidence that Mills was involved in these murders. These arguments
indicate that the government was encouraging the court not to
consider Mills' role in the murder conspiracy for purposes of
punishment, but rather to consider his role only insofar as his
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cooperation had aided the murder investigation and prosecution.
Under the Sentencing Guidelines, the government could not
withhold the information about Mills' involvement in the murder
conspiracy from the court5, and the court was free to consider it
on its own under the provisions of and commentary on USSG §
1B1.8(b)(5)--a provision explicitly referred to in the plea
agreement itself.
Moreover, although the government acknowledged Mills'
role in the murder conspiracy by disclosing his involvement,6 the
government could only explain his remarkable assistance in the
context of his involvement. The government did not violate or
renege on its agreement with Mills; instead, it tried to make a
compelling argument to the court as to why Mills deserved a
departure. We conclude that the government did not breach the plea
agreement.
5
Although the court can choose not to consider information at
sentencing, the government has an obligation not to withhold any
relevant information from the court. See USSG § 1B1.8, comment.
(n.1).
6
Mills specifically objects to the government's comment to the
court that Mills should receive a departure "despite the fact that
he was involved in those murders." The Assistant U.S. Attorney
made this statement in response to the court's expressed
reservation about showing leniency to a participant in a murder
conspiracy. The court was not asking the prosecution whether this
involvement should be considered; rather, with the court's decision
to weigh this information, it was asking why Mills' participation
in the murder conspiracy should be discounted.
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III.
Third, Mills argues that the district court based its
decision not to depart on a per se rule that was inconsistent with
Sentencing Guideline § 5K1.1. Mills claims that the district court
erred by stating a categorical rule that a downward departure for
substantial assistance would not be granted, no matter what the
circumstances, in cases involving murder.
In general, a district court’s denial of departure is
discretionary and not appealable. See United States v. Mariano,
983 F.2d 1150, 1153 (1st Cir. 1993). There are, however, three
situations in which a refusal to depart is appealable, including:
"(1) the refusal to depart involves an incorrect application of the
Sentencing Guidelines; (2) the refusal to depart otherwise violates
the law, or (3) the district court mistakenly believed that it
lacked the discretion to depart." United States v. Dewire, 271
F.3d 333, 337 (1st Cir. 2001) (citations omitted). Mills raises a
challenge of the first kind, arguing that the district court failed
to apply or misapplied Sentencing Guideline § 5K1.1 to his
sentence.7
7
We have jurisdiction over this issue on appeal if the
sentence was imposed "in violation of law" or through "an incorrect
application of the sentencing guidelines." 18 U.S.C. § 3742(a)
(2000). In United States v. Saldana, 109 F.3d 100, 103 (1st Cir.
1997), we held that a sensible reading of 18 U.S.C. § 3742(a) is
that "the defendant has a right to appeal to present a claim of
legal error, or at least a colorable claim." In this case, Mills
is arguing that the district court committed a legal error by
invoking a rigid sentencing policy against departures in murder
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Before a court can consider a departure for substantial
assistance, the government must first move for a downward departure
under § 5K1.1. See Wade v. United States, 504 U.S. 181, 185
(1992). The district court must then determine whether or not to
depart from the sentencing guideline range, and if so, how far to
depart. Mariano, 983 F.2d at 1155. Sentencing Guideline § 5K1.1
requires the district court to consider a range of factors in
evaluating a substantial assistance motion. It states:
(a) [t]he appropriate reduction shall be determined
by the court for reasons stated that may include,
but are not limited to, consideration of the
following:
(1) the court’s evaluation of the significance
and usefulness of the defendant's assistance,
taking into consideration the government's
evaluation of the assistance rendered;
(2) the truthfulness, completeness, and
reliability of any information or testimony
provided by the defendant;
(3) the nature and extent of the defendant's
assistance;
(4) any injury suffered, or any danger or risk
of injury to the defendant or his family
resulting from his assistance;
(5) the timeliness of the defendant’s
assistance. (emphasis added).
We have held that a "district court, faced with a section 5K1.1
motion, must at a bare minimum indicate its cognizance of these
factors." Mariano, 983 F.2d at 1156.
cases and ignoring the requirements of § 5K1.1 in evaluating Mills'
substantial assistance. This is a plausible reading of the
district court opinion and a colorable claim of legal error.
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The use of the phrase "may include, but are not limited
to" in § 5K1.1 indicates that the district court may also examine
factors beyond those enumerated in § 5K1.1(a)(1)-(5). See United
States v. Chestna, 962 F.2d 103, 106-107 (1st Cir. 1992). And
since the court is not limited to the § 5K1.1 factors alone, the
court may also look at other factors which touch upon the degree,
efficacy, timeliness, and circumstances of the defendant's
cooperation. Mariano, 983 F.2d at 1156.
In Mariano, we explained that in authorizing departures
for substantial assistance, section 5K1.1 serves a dual purpose.
"In addition to permitting ex post tailoring of defendants'
sentences to reflect meaningful assistance rendered between the
dates of apprehension and sentencing, it provides defendants, ex
ante, with an incentive to cooperate in the administration of
justice." 983 F.2d at 1156 (emphasis in original). This second
purpose--encouraging and obtaining cooperation--is particularly
important in the government investigation and prosecution of gang
violence and drug trafficking.
In Mills' case, the district court showed its awareness
of the requirements of § 5K1.1. The court explained how it would
hear arguments in evaluating the government's motion:
There is a motion under 5K. That motion is allowed. As
you understand, don’t anyone take any particular comfort
from that. What that does is give me the discretion to
depart downward.
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14
The court looked at Mills' sentencing memorandum, paying particular
attention to the section of Mills' memorandum which analyzed
reductions for substantial assistance. The court found that the
information provided was accurate by a fair preponderance of the
evidence. In addition, the district court discussed the
government’s 5K1.1 motion and found that Mills' assistance as
described in the government’s motion was "as great, if not greater
than any other case with which I am personally aware or which has
been referenced here." However, despite this remarkable
cooperation, the court was troubled by Mills' case. The court
explained to the parties:
My problem is that this man has been involved in crimes
of violence of murder. That's one. And the second thing
is, I really do think he's the leader here. I've so
found. He's the leader. And to me that makes a
difference here. And so that's really where the argument
should be.
The district court listened to the government and defense counsel
make arguments as to why Mills' substantial assistance should still
result in a 5K1.1 departure. The government explained that while
Mills was a leader of the organization, he was one of several
leaders, and that although he was directly involved in several
murders, he was neither the instigator nor the driving force behind
the decision to resort to violence.8 Mills' counsel followed up on
8
The Assistant U.S. Attorney stated that although Mills was
directly involved in the murders, there were several mitigating
circumstances. The murders occurred during a particularly violent
three-month fight between rival gangs. Two of the murders were
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15
these comments by re-emphasizing Mills' "truly unique" cooperation
and the substantial benefits that resulted from his assistance.9
Based on these circumstances, the government argued for a sentence
of ten years and defense counsel for a sentence of eight years and
four months.
In the end, the district court remained unconvinced and
refused to depart. In explaining the resulting eighteen year
sentence, the court concluded:
Here’s what’s driving the sentence. I treat murder
different. I think that’s the appropriate judgment of
society. I recognize that your sentence is a maximum of
20, and I have discounted the 24 months for the time
you’ve already served as part of this conspiracy. But I
truly treat murder different. I see no way to do
otherwise.
Alternatively, I believe and I have found you were
the leader of this dangerous, violent enterprise. And so
that’s an appropriate sentence--
part of a dispute between Mills' group and another gang which was
"ten times more violent that the Mills organization was." The
third murder, the homicide of Steven Sealey, was devised and
carried out by Tibbs, who "was the one who was promoting the
violence, counseling that we need to get these, quote, unquote,
these people in order to prevent them from getting us first. And
that he [Tibbs] was the violent force behind [Mills'
organization]." Furthermore, while it was unwise of Mills to
associate himself with Tibbs, at some point, according to the
Assistant U.S. Attorney, Mills "got in over his head."
9
Mills' counsel pointed out that Mills volunteered, without
any suggestion from the government, to wear a recording device and
speak with Tibbs in prison in order to provide the government with
sufficient evidence to convict Tibbs for murder; that Mills
provided exculpatory evidence for Marlon Passley who otherwise
would have served a life sentence for a crime he didn't commit; and
that because of his extensive cooperation, Mills had been subject
to threats and been attacked in prison.
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16
The Sentencing Guidelines do not contain any rule making §
5K1.1 departures unavailable to defendants involved in murder
conspiracies or to defendants who are leaders in violent or
dangerous criminal enterprises. Rather, the Sentencing Commission
has directed the district court, upon receiving a § 5K1.1 motion,
to review the extent of cooperation and exercise its discretion in
determining the extent of the departure on "an individual basis."
See U.S.S.G. § 5K1.1, comment. (backg'd.).
The district court's use of a self-imposed sentencing practice
or policy in evaluating a substantial assistance motion presents
the possibility, if not the likelihood, that the mandate of § 5K1.1
of the Sentencing Guidelines to conduct an individualized
evaluation may be violated. See United States v. King, 53 F.3d
589, 590 (3d Cir. 1995); see also United States v. Johnson, 33 F.3d
8, 10 (5th Cir. 1994).
In its supplemental brief, the government observed that if the
district court had refused to consider the 5K1.1 motion altogether,
such conduct probably would have been appealable. For example, if
the court had stated, "I will not grant a 5K1.1 departure for
someone who has been involved in crimes of murder, regardless of
the extent of cooperation and regardless of the circumstances
surrounding the murder," then the court would have failed to
properly exercise its discretion.
While the district court did not explicitly say that it would
never depart where the defendant was guilty of murder conspiracy,
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17
its comments could be interpreted as amounting to the same thing.
And if so, the court avoided making the individualized evaluation
required by § 5K1.1. The Assistant U.S. Attorney provided very
specific information regarding Mills' involvement in the murders.
In addition, the defense counsel gave detailed information
concerning the circumstances of Mills' cooperation. Because the
district court's response to this extensive information was simply:
"I treat murder different," we are unable to determine whether the
court engaged in an appropriate § 5K1.1 individualized evaluation.
Not every ambiguity warrants a remand, but there are additional
circumstances in this case that suggest that the district court may
well have used a per se rule, and upholding such a rule could have
serious implications for the workings of the substantial assistance
departure scheme and for future defendants considering plea
bargains with the government. We hereby vacate the sentence and
remand for resentencing consistent with this opinion.
IV.
Finally, Mills argues that the district court erred by
failing to credit him with the assistance rendered by his
girlfriend in the court's determination whether or not to depart.
Essentially, he argues that the district court stated that it was
precluded as a matter of law from granting a downward departure.
He points to the district court’s statement: "I do not take into
account in imposing this sentence the devotion of the young lady
who loves you so much that she puts her ownself at risk."
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18
In determining whether a sentencing court stated a legal
conclusion or simply exercised its discretion, we look at the
entire record. United States v. Morrison, 46 F.3d 127, 130 (1st
Cir. 1995). We do not consider a single statement in a vacuum, but
instead, consider the statement within the context of the hearing
as a whole. Id. at 131.
The court concluded the sentencing hearing by
acknowledging the extraordinary nature of Mills' cooperation:
I recognize, and I do not think Mr. Savage
overstated, that you have displayed enormous personal
courage. I found and I stand by it, that the extent of
your cooperation equals or exceeds anything I have seen.
I do not take into account in imposing this sentence the
devotion of the young lady who loves you so much that she
puts her ownself at risk.
The court’s insistence on not taking into account Mills'
girlfriend's assistance appears to have been an effort to emphasize
that Mills’ own assistance was unique and provided enough evidence
to support a § 5K1.1 motion by itself. § 5K1.1(a)(3) states that
the court may consider the "nature and extent of the defendant’s
assistance." § 5K1.1(a)(4) adds that the court may take into
account "any danger or risk of injury to the defendant or his
family resulting from his assistance." Even though his
girlfriend's cooperation might constitute part of the substantial
assistance provided by Mills, the district court’s decision to
focus on Mills' own contributions, rather than his girlfriend's
assistance, fell within its mandate to look at the "nature and
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19
extent" of the defendant’s assistance. This decision was within
the court's discretion. We therefore dismiss this final claim for
lack of jurisdiction.
For the foregoing reasons, we vacate the sentence of
Edward K. Mills and remand for resentencing consistent with this
opinion.
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20