United States v. Friedman

436 F. Supp. 1033, 1977 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 15808
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. New York
DecidedMay 19, 1977
DocketNo. 76 Cr. 441
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 436 F. Supp. 1033 (United States v. Friedman) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Friedman, 436 F. Supp. 1033, 1977 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 15808 (S.D.N.Y. 1977).

Opinion

OPINION AND ORDER

KEVIN THOMAS DUFFY, District Judge.

On July 27, 1976, Gilbert Andrew Friedman withdrew his plea of not guilty and entered a plea of guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute certain schedule 3 narcotic substances. The defendant was represented by private counsel. On September 17, 1976, after exercising his right of allocution, he was remanded by this Court to the custody of the Attorney General for a period not to exceed three years to be followed by a special parole term of three years. Thereafter his original counsel was discharged and new counsel was retained. On October 29, 1976, the new counsel moved under Rule 35, Fed. R.Crim.P., to reduce the sentences. Accompanying the motion were letters of support from friends and associates of Mr. Friedman. I denied the motion on December 16, 1976.

Following the denial, second counsel was discharged and third counsel was retained. A motion has now been made to permit the withdrawal of the plea of guilty pursuant to Rule 32(d) of the Fed.R.Crim.P. on the grounds that the plea was constitutionally defective, defendant was ineffectively assisted by counsel, and errors were present in the presentence report.

I.

It seems a futile exercise to quote from the plea minutes at length. They speak for themselves. I note that Friedman through [1035]*1035his attorney waived a reading of the indictment, and that Friedman was infdrmed that he had a right to a public trial before a judge or judge and jury; that at such a trial he had the right to confront witnesses and cross-examine them; that he would be presumed innocent until proven guilty; and that he would be entitled to call his own witnesses and, if necessary, the Court would issue orders to have such witnesses produced. At four separate junctures, Friedman expressly acknowledged that he understood these rights.

I then asked the defendant if he understood that the indictment charged him with distributing or possession with intent to distribute valium and amphetamines. Friedman expressed his awareness of the charge by stating that as far as he knew, only valium was involved in the conspiracy. When asked whether he did in fact possess the valium, he answered in the affirmative.

Friedman further indicated that no threats or promises had been made to induce him to plead guilty and that no one made any predictions as to the sentence that might be imposed. He indicated that he was not under the present influence of any narcotic drug or alcohol and that he was not then under the present care of a psychiatrist or physician.

Defendant’s initial argument is that he did not “understand . . . the essential elements of the crime charged.” McCarthy v. United States, 394 U.S. 459, 471, 89 S.Ct. 1166, 1173, 22 L.Ed.2d 418 (1969). However, when I asked Friedman whether he wished the first count read to him, his private counsel responded, “Your Honor, we waive the reading. It has been explained to him.” The record also indicates that Friedman heard the plea allocution of his co-defendant, Alan Gassberg.

I explained to Friedman the count to which he was pleading in the following manner:

“Q. The first count of this indictment basically charges you with conspiring with your co-defendant and possibly with others to possess with intent to distribute, and/or to distribute, certain schedule 3 narcotic drugs basically valium and amphetamines.

Do you understand that, sir?

“A. Excuse me, your Honor?

MR. PASSIN: Your Honor, my client explains to me there were no amphetamines at all.

THE COURT: As far as he was concerned, but as part of the conspiracy.

“Q. Do you agree it was part of the conspiracy?

“A. There was no amphetamines, your Honor, not to my knowledge.

“Q. But did you know about the valium?

“A. Yes, sir.

MR. PASSIN: Yes.”

Thus, Friedman was informed of and understood the criminal object of the conspiracy and that the participation of more than one person was required. The follow-up question pointed out the distinction between his personal involvement with amphetamines and involvement by other members of the conspiracy. Although the plea minutes alone satisfy me that Friedman understood the charge, Irizarry v. United States, 508 F.2d 960, 964 (2d Cir. 1974), other factors reinforce this opinion. Friedman, at age 29, is a knowledgeable businessman with some college training; he has served as assistant comptroller of a large well known corporation, and chief accountant for a smaller one. After leaving these positions, Friedman purchased and operated a licensed medical and dental center in Spanish Harlem and leased and operated a second clinic.

Friedman’s degree of sophistication, coupled with the inquiry conducted on the record, lead me to reject his claim of lack of understanding of the nature of the proceedings and of the charges.

Counsel next complains that Friedman was incorrectly informed at the time of plea that a special parole term of two years could be imposed when, in fact, a three year special parole term is required. The simple answer to this argument is that defense counsel erroneously states the proper sen[1036]*1036tence. For first offenders, a maximum sentence of five years and/or $15,000 and a minimum special parole term of two years is provided, 21 U.S.C. § 841(b)(1)(B).

Although not directly raised in the moving papers, I note that Friedman was never informed that the special parole term of two years is the required minimum if a period of incarceration is imposed. While the word “minimum” was not used, I did inform Friedman that he “could go to jail for five years and pay a $10,000 fine and two years special parole.”

When the crime charged so dictates, a district court must determine whether a defendant who seeks to enter a guilty plea understands that he may be subject to a mandatory minimum special parole term. To my knowledge, the Court of Appeals for this Circuit has applied this standard in but a few instances. In Michel v. United States, 507 F.2d 461 (2d Cir. 1974), which enunciated the rule, the court reviewed the plea minutes and concluded that the district court had properly advised the defendant concerning special parole. Thereafter, in Ferguson v. United States, 513 F.2d 1011 (2d Cir. 1975) a vacatur of a guilty plea was ordered where no mention whatsoever was made of a special parole term. A third case, Aviles v. United States, 405 F.Supp. 1374 (S.D.N.Y.1975), aff’d 538 F.2d 307 (2d Cir. 1976), although not binding precedent,

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Related

United States v. Friedman
573 F.2d 1297 (Second Circuit, 1978)

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Bluebook (online)
436 F. Supp. 1033, 1977 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 15808, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-friedman-nysd-1977.