United States v. Rodgers

671 F. Supp. 1176, 1987 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10588
CourtDistrict Court, N.D. Illinois
DecidedOctober 21, 1987
DocketNo. 87 CR 549
StatusPublished

This text of 671 F. Supp. 1176 (United States v. Rodgers) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, N.D. Illinois primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Rodgers, 671 F. Supp. 1176, 1987 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10588 (N.D. Ill. 1987).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER

ALESIA, District Judge.

The defendant has filed a motion to withdraw his plea of guilty. For the reasons [1177]*1177set forth below, the defendant’s motion is denied.

I. FACTS

On August 25, 1987, the defendant, Carl Rodgers, appeared before this Court and’ entered a plea of guilty to a two-count information. Count I of the information charged the defendant with devising a scheme to defraud by using the mails to obtain more than $10,000 in merchandise on the credit card accounts of others without their knowledge or consent, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1341. Count II of the information charged the defendant with knowingly and intentionally using an unauthorized access device, namely, the American Express credit card of another, to obtain merchandise of $1,000 or more, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1029.

When the defendant appeared before the Court for arraignment on these charges, he was accompanied and represented by counsel, James A. McGurk, a member of the Federal Defender Panel. At that time, the defendant and McGurk advised the Court that the defendant wished to plead guilty and waive indictment. They also produced a plea agreement, which the defendant acknowledged and signed in open court.

Before accepting the plea agreement, the Court conducted a hearing to ensure that the defendant’s plea was voluntary and had a basis in fact, as required by Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure. During the hearing, the Court questioned the defendant at length regarding his background, competence, representation by counsel, participation in the alleged crimes, and waiver of various constitutional rights. See Appendix for Transcript of Hearing. After satisfying itself that all of the requirements of Rule 11 had been fulfilled, the Court accepted the plea agreement.

On August 31, 1987, this Court received a letter from the defendant dated August 27, 1987 and entitled “Request for Change of Attorney.” Several days later, this letter was followed by McGurk’s motion to withdraw as counsel for the defendant.

On September 3, 1987, the Court granted McGurk’s motion to withdraw and, pursuant to the defendant’s request, simultaneously appointed new counsel to represent the defendant. The Court also directed new counsel to secure a copy of the transcript of the Rule 11 hearing and granted the defendant leave to file a motion to withdraw his plea.

On September 18, 1987, the defendant filed a verified motion to withdraw his plea of guilty. The Government filed a memorandum in opposition to the defendant’s motion on September 23, 1987. The defendant filed a reply memorandum (labeled a response) on October 2, 1987. In addition, pursuant to this Court’s order, on October 13, 1987, the Government filed a supplemental memorandum containing a verified response from McGurk.

II. DISCUSSION

Rule 32(d) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure governs plea withdrawal. According to that rule, a court may permit withdrawal of a guilty plea before sentencing “upon a showing by the defendant of any fair and just reason.” Fed.R.Crim.P. 32(d) (emphasis supplied). In construing this rule, the courts in this circuit have consistently held that withdrawal of a plea before sentencing is not an absolute right, but is a matter within the broad discretion of the court. See United States v. Ellison, 798 F.2d 1102, 1104 (7th Cir.1986); United States v. Thompson, 680 F.2d 1145, 1150 (7th Cir.1982). In addition, the defendant bears the burden of demonstrating valid grounds justifying withdrawal of his plea. Ellison, 798 F.2d at 1104.

In this case, the defendant has advanced three “reasons” for withdrawal: (1) that he had not read the final draft of the plea agreement before he pleaded guilty, though he advised the Court he had done so because he was nervous and received instructions from his attorney to say “yes” when asked if he understood the Court’s questions; (2) that he did not understand that the Government would recommend an unspecified period of incarceration, but instead thought that he would receive no more than one year of imprisonment plus [1178]*1178some form of probation; and (3) that he believed that a sentence of probation would not result in his automatic deportation from the United States.

In his verified response, McGurk has controverted each of the allegations raised by the defendant as “reasons” for withdrawing his sentence. Supplying specific dates and locations, McGurk stated that he and the defendant reviewed both the initial and final drafts of the information and plea agreement line-by-line. McGurk also stated that he explicitly advised the defendant that the Government would recommend an unspecified period of incarceration at sentencing and did not advise the defendant that he would receive a specific period of incarceration. McGurk further advised the defendant that under the terms of the plea agreement, the Government was free to advise any state or federal agency, including the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service, of the defendant’s convictions.

McGurk’s version of the facts, as set forth in his verified petition, is corroborated by the defendant’s own testimony, as well as this Court’s observations of defendant’s demeanor at the Rule 11 hearing. In contrast, defendant’s version can only be characterized as curiously lacking in specifics, wholly unsubstantiated, and inconsistent. Consequently, based upon our observations of McGurk’s demeanor in court, his ability to substantiate his allegations with dates, times, and documentation, and his extensive experience as a member of the criminal bar, we specifically find that where disputed, his allegations are worthy of belief and the defendant’s are not.

For example, we do not believe that the defendant’s answers to the Court’s inquiries under Rule 11 were attributable to “nervousness.” During the hearing, this Court had the unique opportunity to observe the defendant’s demeanor while testifying and interacting with McGurk. At that time, the defendant did not appear nervous, frightened, intimidated, or confused. On the contrary, the defendant appeared alert, calm, well-composed, and informed. He testified under oath that he is 28 years of age, enjoys good health, holds a master’s degree, and has been employed in various capacities by several different entities, including a law firm. In view of the defendant’s conduct, background, and experience, we do not believe that his responses were not made knowingly and intelligently.

Nor do we believe, as the defendant suggests, that he was blindly parroting affirmative answers to the Court’s questions on advice of counsel.

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Bluebook (online)
671 F. Supp. 1176, 1987 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10588, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-rodgers-ilnd-1987.