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MATTHEW D. SEGAL (CSBN 190938)
RICHARD B. COHEN (CSBN 79601)
U.S. Department of Justice
Antitrust Division
450 Golden Gate Avenue
Box 36046, Room 10-0101
San Francisco, CA 94102
Telephone: (415) 436-6660
Attorneys for the United States |
Filed Aug. 26, 2003
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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE
EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
FRESNO DIVISION
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff,
v.
DUANE MAYNARD,
Defendant.
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No. CRF-03-5325 OWW
MEMORANDUM OF PLEA AGREEMENT
PURSUANT TO RULE 11(c)(1)(B)
OF THE FEDERAL RULES OF
CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
Date:
Time:
Dept: |
Pursuant to Rule 11(c)(1)(B) of the Federal Rules of Criminal
Procedure, the United States of America, by and through its
attorneys Matthew D. Segal and Richard B. Cohen, and the
defendant, DUANE MAYNARD, and his attorney KENNETH REED, have
agreed as follows:(1)
1. Charges.
The defendant acknowledges that he has been charged by
Information with bid rigging, in violation of Title 15, United
States Code, Section 1.
2. Agreements by the Defendant.
| (a) | The defendant agrees to waive Indictment in this matter
and proceed by way of Information. |
| (b) | The defendant agrees that this plea agreement shall be filed with the Court and become a part of the record in the case. |
| (c) | The defendant agrees to enter a plea of guilty to the
Information, charging him with bid rigging, in violation of Title
15, United States Code, Section 1. The defendant agrees that he
is in fact guilty of this charge and that the facts set forth in
the factual basis of this Plea Agreement are true and accurate. |
| (d) | The defendant understands and agrees that the Court is
not a party to this agreement, that sentencing is a matter solely
within the discretion of the Court, the Court is under no
obligation to accept any recommendations made by the government,
and the Court may in its discretion impose any sentence it deems
appropriate up to and including the statutory maximum stated in
this Plea Agreement. If the Court should impose any sentence up
to the maximum established by the statute, the defendant cannot,
for that reason alone, withdraw his guilty plea, and he will
remain bound to fulfill all of the obligations under this
Agreement. The defendant understands that neither the prosecutor,
defense counsel, nor the Court can make a binding prediction or
promise regarding the sentence he will receive. |
| (e) | The defendant acknowledges that, should the Court fail to
follow any or all of the Government's or defendant's sentencing
recommendations, the defendant will not be allowed to withdraw his
plea. |
| (f) | The defendant agrees to pay a special assessment of
$100.00 at the time of sentencing by delivering a check or money
order payable to the United States District Court to the United
States Probation Office immediately before the sentencing hearing. |
| (g) | In addition to entering a plea of guilty as set forth
above, the defendant will cooperate with representatives of the
federal government in the investigation and prosecution of various
individuals and companies involved in bid rigging and fraud
related to the E-Rate program. This cooperation will include, but
not be limited to: subjecting himself to interviews by
representatives of the government, providing to the government at
the government's request any document in the defendant's
possession, custody, or control, testifying truthfully before a
federal grand jury and in any and all court proceedings when
called by the government. Should the defendant breach his
agreement with the government by (l) refusing to testify at any
court or grand jury proceeding when called by the government, (2)
knowingly giving false testimony or information, or (3) knowingly
withholding information, the government will be released from all
of its promises, but the defendant will not be released from his
guilty plea. Further, any statements made by the defendant after
the execution of this agreement may be used against him in any
subsequent proceeding. |
| (h) | The defendant understands that it is within the sole
discretion of the government to determine whether he has complied
with paragraph 2(g) pursuant to Section 5K1.1 of the Sentencing
Guidelines or Rule 35(b) of the Federal Rules of Criminal
Procedure. He also understands that this agreement confers no
right upon the defendant to challenge a government determination
that he has not complied with the terms of paragraph 2(g). He
further understands that a motion pursuant to Section 5K1.1 or
Rule 35(b) is only a recommendation, and is not binding on the
Court. |
| (i) | If it is determined that the defendant has violated any
provision of this Agreement including paragraph 2(g), or if the
defendant successfully moves to withdraw his plea: (1) all
statements made by the defendant to the government, the Court, or
other designated law enforcement agents, shall be admissible in
evidence in any criminal, civil, or administrative proceedings
hereafter brought against the defendant; and (2) the defendant
shall assert no claim under the United States Constitution, any
statute, Rule 410 of the Federal Rules of Evidence, or any other
federal rule, that statements made by the defendant before or
after this Agreement should be suppressed. |
| (j) | The defendant understands that there is no agreement with
respect to where within the applicable Guideline range the
defendant should be sentenced. |
| (k) | The defendant agrees that his plea is knowing and
voluntary, and that no threats or promises have been made to him,
other than those set forth within this Agreement. |
| (l) | The defendant agrees not to move for a downward departure
of his sentence. The defendant understands and agrees that this
Agreement includes, but is not limited to, not moving for a
downward departure of his offense level, criminal history category
or criminal history points as determined by the United States
Sentencing Guidelines and the Probation Office. |
| (m) | The defendant agrees that the volume of commerce, for
purposes of section 2R1.1 of the Sentencing Guidelines, is between
$2.5 million and $6.25 million. |
| (n) | The defendant agrees to make restitution to the Universal
Services Administrative Company under terms and conditions set by
the Probation Office. |
| (o) | The defendant agrees that his offense level calculation
should include a two-level upward adjustment pursuant to section
3C1.1 of the Sentencing Guidelines (obstructing or impeding the
administration of justice). |
3. Agreements by the Government.
| (a) | The government will recommend that the defendant receive
a two-level reduction in the computation of his offense level due
to his acceptance of responsibility if his adjusted offense level
is below 16; or a three-level reduction in the computation of his
offense level if his adjusted offense level is 16 or greater;
provided that the defendant qualifies for such a reduction in his
interview with the probation officer, and the defendant
demonstrates acceptance of responsibility for his conduct as
defined in Section 3E1.1 of the Sentencing Guidelines. |
| (b) | If the government determines that the defendant has
complied with paragraph 2(g) of this agreement, the government
will move, pursuant to Section 5K1.l of the Sentencing Guidelines,
for a reduction based on the defendant's substantial assistance to
law enforcement authorities and recommend that the Court reduce
his sentence from the sentence that would otherwise be imposed. |
4. Nature, Elements, Possible Defenses, and Factual Basis.
| (a) | The defendant has read the charges contained in the
Information, and those charges have been fully explained to him by
his attorney. |
| (b) | The defendant fully understands the nature and elements
of the crime set forth in the Information with which he has been
charged, together with the possible defenses thereto, and has
discussed them with his attorney. |
| (c) | The elements of the crime of bid rigging, in violation
of 15 U.S.C. § 1, are as follows: The elements of a Sherman Act
offense, each of which the United States must prove beyond a
reasonable doubt, are:
First, the conspiracy charged was formed, and it was in
existence at or about the time alleged;
Second, the defendant knowingly formed or participated in
that conspiracy; and
Third, the activity that was the object of the conspiracy was
within the flow of, or substantially affected, interstate or
foreign commerce. |
| (d) | The defendant will plead guilty because he is in fact
guilty of the crimes set forth in the Information. The defendant
also agrees that the following is true:
On or about February 18, 1999 the defendant, on behalf of his
employer, attended a pre-bid meeting at the West Fresno Elementary
School District ("WFESD"), in the Eastern District of California.
The pre-bid meeting related to a project to provide, among other
things, equipment and services related to telecommunications,
Internet access, and internal connections to the WFESD ("the WFESD
E-Rate Project"). Those present at the pre-bid meeting understood
that the project was related to the E-Rate program, in which the
Universal Services Administrative Company ("USAC") subsidizes the
provision of telecommunications, Internet access, and internal
communications to underprivileged schools.
Competitive bidding was required for the WFESD E-Rate
Project. Nonetheless, the defendant, together with school
district representatives, a consultant, and others representing
potential competitors, combined, conspired, and agreed that:
| 1) | The defendant's employer would be the successful bidder
and have general responsibility for the the WFESD E-Rate
Project;
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| 2) | No co-conspirator other than the defendant's employer
would submit a general bid for the the WFESD E-Rate
Project;
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| 3) | Other co-conspirator companies would be the defendant's
employer's subcontractors for the the WFESD E-Rate
Project; and
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| 4) | any bid competing with the defendant's employer's bid
would be stricken as nonresponsive.
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The defendant, his superiors at his company, and his other
co-conspirators did what they agreed to do to carry out the
conspiracy. They further acted in concert to provide equipment
and services related to the WFESD E-Rate Project and receive from
USAC payment therefor. Equipment provided for this project was
shipped across state lines and payments from USAC were made into
the State of California from banks in New Jersey and Illinois.
The last USAC payment for the WFESD E-Rate Project was made from
the LaSalle Bank, in Illinois, on or about January 17, 2002.
The defendant held the title of Senior Estimator for his
employer during the bidding and subcontracting for the WFESD E-Rate Project. The defendant's actions in relation to the WFESD E-Rate Project were on behalf of, and approved by, his employer.
On December 13, 2002 the defendant testified before a
Northern District of California grand jury investigating, among
other things, the WFESD E-Rate Project. At that time the
defendant, under oath, willfully gave false, material testimony
when he claimed that he could not recall certain events related to
the WFESD E-Rate Project. |
5. Potential Sentence.
The defendant understands that since the offense to
which he is pleading guilty occurred after November 1, 1987, a
sentencing guideline range for his case will be determined by the
Court pursuant to the Sentencing Reform Act of 1984 (18 U.S.C.
§§ 3551-3742 and 28 U.S.C. §§ 991-998). The defendant further
understands that the Court will impose a sentence within that
guideline range. The following is the maximum potential sentence
which the defendant faces:
| (a) | Imprisonment.
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| (b) | Fine.
Maximum: The greatest of Three Hundred
and Fifty Thousand Dollars ($350,000.00),
twice the gross pecuniary gain the
conspirators derived from the crime, or
twice the gross pecuniary loss caused to
the victims of the crime by the
conspirators. |
| (c) | Both such fine and imprisonment. |
| (d) | Term of Supervised Release.
Maximum: One (1) year.
Should the defendant violate any of the terms
of his supervised release, he can be returned
to prison for one (1) year. |
| (e) | Restitution to victims of the offense. |
| (f) | Penalty Assessment.
Mandatory: One Hundred Dollars
($100). |
6. Waiver of Rights.
The defendant understands that by pleading guilty he
surrenders certain rights, including the following:
| (a) | If the defendant persisted in a plea of not guilty
to the charges against him, he would have the right to a public
and speedy trial. The trial could be either a jury trial or a
trial by a judge sitting without a jury. The defendant has a
right to a jury trial. However, in order that the trial be
conducted by the judge sitting without a jury, the defendant, the
government and the judge all must agree that the trial be
conducted by the judge without a jury. |
| (b) | At trial, the defendant would have the right to be
assisted by an attorney, who would be appointed if necessary. |
| (c) | If the trial were a jury trial, the jury would be
composed of twelve lay persons selected at random. The defendant
and his attorney would have a say in who the jurors would be by
removing prospective jurors for cause where actual bias or other
disqualification is shown, or without cause by exercising
peremptory challenges. The jury would have to agree unanimously
before it could return a verdict of either guilty or not guilty.
The jury would be instructed that the defendant is presumed
innocent and that it could not convict him unless, after hearing
all the evidence, it was persuaded of his guilt beyond a
reasonable doubt. |
| (d) | If the trial were held before a judge without a
jury, the judge would find the facts and determine, after hearing
all the evidence, whether or not he was persuaded of the
defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. |
| (e) | At a trial, whether by a jury or a judge, the
government would be required to present its witnesses and other
evidence against the defendant. The defendant would be able to
confront those government witnesses and his attorney would be able
to cross-examine them. In turn, the defendant could present
witnesses and other evidence on his own behalf. If the witnesses
for the defendant would not appear voluntarily, he could require
their attendance through the subpoena power of the Court. |
| (f) | At a trial, the defendant would have a privilege
against self-incrimination so that he could decline to testify,
and no inference of guilt could be drawn from his refusal to
testify. The defendant understands that by pleading guilty he is
waiving all of the rights set forth above and the defendant's
attorney has explained those rights to him and the consequences of
his waiver of those rights. |
| (g) | Waiver of Appeal Rights.
(Rule 11 as amended and in effect December 1, 1999
requires the district court to inform the defendant of
his rights to appeal on the record in the Rule 11
proceeding).
The defendant is aware that Title 18, United States
Code, Section 3742 affords a defendant the right to appeal the
sentence imposed. Acknowledging this, the defendant knowingly and
voluntarily agrees to waive all Constitutional and statutory
rights to appeal his conviction and sentence, including, but not
limited to an express waiver of appeal of this plea (including
venue and statute of limitations) and to attack collaterally his
mental competence, and his plea, whether by way of a motion
pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §2255, 18 U.S.C. §3742, or otherwise. This
waiver includes any appeal of his sentence on the grounds set
forth under Title 18, United States Code, Section 3742 or any
other ground whatever, including, but not limited to, a motion
brought under Title 28, United States Code, Sections 2241 or 2255.
If the defendant's conviction on the count to which he is
pleading is ever vacated at the defendant's request, or his
sentence is ever reduced at his request, the government shall have
the right (1) to prosecute the defendant on any of the counts to
which he pleaded guilty; (2) to reinstate any counts that may be
dismissed pursuant to this agreement; and (3) to file any new
charges that would otherwise be barred by this agreement. The
decision to pursue any or all of these options rests solely in the
discretion of the Antitrust Division of United States Department
of Justice. By signing this agreement, the defendant agrees to
waive any objections, motions, and defenses he might have to the
government's decision, including Double Jeopardy. In particular,
he agrees not to raise any objections based on the passage of time
with respect to such counts including, but not limited to, any
statutes of limitation or any objections based on the Speedy Trial
Act or the Speedy Trial Clause of the Sixth Amendment. |
7. Questions by Court.
The defendant understands that if the court questions
him under oath, on the record and in the presence of counsel,
about the offenses to which he has pleaded guilty, his answers, if false, may later be used against him in a prosecution for perjury
or false statement.
8. Entire Agreement.
The defendant and his attorney acknowledge that no
threats, promises or representations have been made, nor
agreements reached, other than those set forth in the Agreement,
to induce defendant to plead guilty.
9. Court not a Party.
It is understood by the parties that the sentencing
Court is neither a party to nor bound by this Agreement and the
sentencing judge is free to impose the maximum penalties as set
forth in paragraph 5 above. Also, should the Court fail to follow
any or all of the government's sentencing recommendations, the
defendant will not be allowed to withdraw his plea.
10. Right to Counsel.
The defendant understands that he has a right to counsel
throughout his case from his initial appearance through his trial
or guilty plea or dismissal of the case against him and through
and including any sentencing. Unless waived in the agreement, the
defendant also has a right to counsel for a direct appeal in his
case. The defendant understands that the right to counsel
includes the provision of defense counsel through the Court if the
defendant cannot afford to hire counsel.
11. Presentence Report.
The defendant understands that the United States
Probation Office is not a party to this agreement and will conduct
an independent investigation of the defendant's activities and his
background and prepare a presentence report which it will submit
to the Court as its own sentencing recommendation. In addition,
the government will fully apprise the Probation Office, as well as
the Court, of the full and true nature, scope and extent of the
defendant's criminal activities concerning the charge to which the
defendant is entering a plea of guilty, including information on his background, criminal history and activities which may not have
been charged in the Information or were the subject of dismissed
counts.
DATED: August 26, 2003
DATED: August 26, 2003
DATED: August 26, 2003
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_______________/s/________________
MATTHEW D. SEGAL
RICHARD B. COHEN
Trial Attorneys
_______________/s/________________
KENNETH REED, ESQ.
Attorney for Duane Maynard
_______________/s/________________
DUANE MAYNARD
Defendant
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FOOTNOTES
1. The defendant acknowledges that this plea agreement is with
the Antitrust Division of the United States Department of Justice
and cannot bind any other federal, state, or local prosecuting,
administrative, or regulatory authorities.
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