IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
v.
DUNN ENGINEERING ASSOCIATES, P.C.
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Criminal No.: 05-128
Filed: 04/29/05
Violation: 18 U.S.C. § 201(c)(1)(A)
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PLEA AGREEMENT
The United States of America and Dunn Engineering Associates, P.C. ("Defendant"), a
professional corporation organized and existing under the laws of New York, hereby enter into
the following Plea Agreement pursuant to Rule 11(c)(1)(C) of the Federal Rules of Criminal
Procedure ("Fed. R. Crim. P."):
RIGHTS OF DEFENDANT
1. The Defendant understands its rights:
- to be represented by an attorney;
- to be charged by Indictment;
- to plead not guilty to any criminal charge brought against it;
- to have a trial by jury, at which it would be presumed not guilty of the
charge and the United States would have to prove every essential element of the charged
offense beyond a reasonable doubt for it to be found guilty;
- to confront and cross-examine witnesses against it and to subpoena witnesses
in its defense at trial;
- to appeal its conviction, if it is found guilty; and
- to appeal the imposition of sentence against it.
AGREEMENT TO PLEAD GUILTY AND WAIVE CERTAIN RIGHTS
2. The Defendant knowingly and voluntarily waives the rights set out in Paragraph
1(b) - (g) above. The Defendant also knows that it has, and voluntarily waives, the right to file
any appeal, any collateral attack, or any other writ or motion, including but not limited to an
appeal under 18 U.S.C. § 3742, that challenges the sentence imposed by the Court if that
sentence is consistent with or below the recommended sentence in Paragraph 8 of this Plea
Agreement, regardless of how the sentence is determined by the Court. This agreement does not
affect the rights or obligations of the United States as set forth in 18 U.S.C. § 3742(b). Pursuant
to Fed. R. Crim. P. 7(b), the Defendant will waive indictment and plead guilty at arraignment to a
one-count Information to be filed in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.
The Information will charge the Defendant with giving something of value to a public official,
not provided for by law for the proper discharge of official duty, for an official act to be
performed by such public official in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 201(c)(1)(A).
3. The Defendant, pursuant to the terms of this Plea Agreement, will plead guilty to
to the criminal charge described in Paragraph 2 above and will make a factual admission of guilt
to the Court in accordance with Fed. R. Crim. P. 11, as set forth in Paragraph 4 below.
FACTUAL BASIS FOR OFFENSE CHARGED
4. Had this case gone to trial, the United States would have presented evidence
sufficient to prove the following facts:
- The Defendant is a professional corporation organized and existing under the
laws of the State of New York.
- From approximately May 24, 2001 to June 07, 2003 the Defendant
performed traffic engineering services for the Traffic Services Administration, a division
of the District of Columbia's Department of Transportation (hereinafter collectively
referred to as the "D.C. D.O.T.") under its $17.5 million Integrated Traffic Management
System ("I.T.M.S.") contract.
- At all times relevant to this Plea Agreement D-1 and D-2 were principals,
officers and owners of the Defendant with supervisory authority for the Defendant's
performance of the I.T.M.S. contract.
- From approximately May 2001 to April 2003 A-1 was the D.C. D.O.T.
Associate Director charged with the administration and oversight of the I.T.M.S. contract.
- On or about October 18, 2002 the Defendant, through D-2 after consultation
with D-1, gave an item of personal value to A-1, to wit, it paid a $1,348.91 hotel bill for
and on behalf of A-1.
- In giving the item of personal value detailed in subparagraph (e) both D-1 and
D-2 were acting within the scope of their respective employment as principals, officers
and owners of the Defendant with an intent to benefit the Defendant.
- The gift of the item of personal value detailed in subparagraph (e) was not
provided for by law for the proper discharge of A-1's official duty.
- The Defendant, through D-1 and D-2, gave the item of personal value detailed
in subparagraph (e) for an official act to be performed by A-1, a public official, to wit,
favorable treatment of the Defendant by A-1 in his future administration and oversight of
the I.T.M.S. contract.
POSSIBLE MAXIMUM SENTENCE
5. The Defendant understands that the statutory maximum penalty which may be
imposed against it upon conviction for a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 201(c)(1)(A) is a fine in an
amount equal to the greatest of:
- $500,000 (18 U.S.C. § 3571(c));
- twice the gross pecuniary gain the Defendant derived from the crime (18
U.S.C. § 3571(d)); or
- twice the gross pecuniary loss caused to the victims of the crime by the
Defendant (18 U.S.C. § 3571(d)).
6. In addition, the Defendant understands that:
- pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3561(c)(1), the Court may impose a term of probation
of at least one (1) year, but not more than five (5) years;
- pursuant to § 8B1.1 of the United States Sentencing Guidelines ("U.S.S.G.,"
"Sentencing Guidelines," or "Guidelines"), 18 U.S.C. § 3563(b)(2) or 3663(a)(3), the
Court may order it to pay restitution to the victims of the offense; and
- pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3013(a)(2)(B) the Court is required to order the
Defendant to pay a $400.00 special assessment upon conviction for the charged crime.
SENTENCING GUIDELINES
7. The Defendant understands that the Sentencing Guidelines are advisory, not
mandatory, but that the Court must consider the Guidelines in effect on the day of sentencing,
along with the other factors set forth in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a), in imposing sentence. The
Defendant understands that the Guidelines determinations will be made by the Court by a
preponderance of the evidence standard. The Defendant understands that although the Court is
not ultimately bound to impose a sentence within the applicable advisory Guidelines range, its
sentence must be reasonable based upon consideration of all relevant sentencing factors set forth
in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a).
SENTENCING AGREEMENT
8. Pursuant to Fed. R. Crim. P. 11(c)(1)(C), the United States and the Defendant
agree that the appropriate disposition of this case is, and agree to recommend jointly that the Court
impose, a sentence requiring the Defendant to pay to the United States a criminal fine of $75,000,
payable in full before the thirtieth (30th) day after the date of judgment, with interest accruing
under 18 U.S.C. § 3612(f)(1)-(2) on any amount not paid in full before the fifteenth (15th) day
after the date of judgement, pursuant to the applicable advisory Guidelines calculation set forth in
subparagraph (a) and the downward departure agreement set forth in subparagraph (b). The
parties agree that there exists no aggravating or mitigating circumstance of a kind, or to a degree,
not adequately taken into consideration by the United States Sentencing Commission in
formulating the Sentencing Guidelines justifying a departure pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 5K2.0. The
parties agree not to seek or support any sentence outside of the Guidelines range nor any
Guidelines adjustment for any reason that is not set forth in this Plea Agreement. The parties
further agree that the recommended sentence set forth in this Plea Agreement is reasonable.
- The United States and the Defendant agree that the applicable advisory
Guidelines fine range prescribed for this offense through application of the U.S.S.G. is
$125,000 to $250,000 as follows:
- the base offense level for a gratuity offense wherein the Defendant is
not a public official is nine (9) (U.S.S.G. § 2C1.2(a)(2));
- the recipient of the gratuity, A-1, was, at the time of the offense, a
public official holding a high-level decision-making position, which provides for
an increase of four (4) levels (U.S.S.G. § 2C1.2(b)(3));
- because the adjusted offense level resulting from the calculations of
subsections (I) and (ii) is less than fifteen (15), the offense level is increased to
fifteen (15) (U.S.S.G. § 2C1.2(b)(3)), which provides for a base fine of $125,000
(U.S.S.G. § 8C2.4(d));
- the Defendant is assigned a base culpability score of five (5)
(U.S.S.G. § 8C2.5(a)), which is increased by two (2) points because the Defendant
is an organization with fifty (50) or more employees and an individual within
substantial authority personnel participated in the offense (U.S.S.G. § 8C2.5(b)(4));
and then decreased by two (2) points because the Defendant fully cooperated in the
investigation and clearly demonstrated recognition and affirmative acceptance of
responsibility for its criminal conduct (U.S.S.G. § 8C2.5(g)(2)), resulting in a final
adjusted culpability score of five (5) which provides for a minimum multiplier of
1.0 and a maximum multiplier of 2.0 to be applied to the base fine of $125,000 set
forth in subsection (iii).
- The United States and the Defendant agree to jointly recommend that the
Court depart downward from the applicable advisory Guidelines fine range set forth in
subparagraph (a) to the fine contained in the recommended sentence set forth in this
paragraph because of the Defendant's substantial assistance in the government's
investigation and prosecution of an individual not directly affiliated with the Defendant.
U.S.S.G. § 8C4.1(a). The Defendant's assistance in the prosecution of this individual has
been timely, significant and useful.
- The Defendant understands that the Court will order it to pay a $400 special
assessment pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3013(a)(2)(B) and U.S.S.G. § 8E1.1 in addition to any
fine imposed.
- The United States and the Defendant jointly submit that this Plea Agreement,
together with the record that will be created by the United States and the Defendant at the
plea hearing, will provide sufficient information concerning the Defendant, the crime
charged in this case, and the Defendant's role in the crime to enable the meaningful
exercise of sentencing authority by the Court under 18 U.S.C. § 3553. The United States
and the Defendant agree to request jointly that the Court, pursuant to Fed. R. Crim. P.
32(c), accept the Defendant's guilty plea and impose sentence without ordering a
presentence report. The Court's denial of this request to impose sentence without a
presentence report will not void this Plea Agreement.
9. Subject to the ongoing, full, and truthful cooperation of the Defendant described in
Paragraph 11 of this Plea Agreement, and before sentencing in the case, the United States will
fully advise the Court and the Probation Office, if a presentence report is ordered by the Court, of
the fact, manner, and extent of the Defendant's cooperation and its commitment to prospective
cooperation with the United States' investigation and prosecutions, all material facts relating to
the Defendant's involvement in the charged offense, and all other relevant conduct.
10. The United States and the Defendant understand that the Court retains complete
discretion to accept or reject the recommended sentence provided for in Paragraph 8 of this Plea
Agreement.
- If the Court does not accept the recommended sentence, the United States and
the Defendant agree that this Plea Agreement, except for subparagraph (b) below, shall be
rendered void.
- If the Court does not accept the recommended sentence, the Defendant will be
free to withdraw its guilty plea (Fed. R. Crim. P. 11(c)(5) and (d)). If the Defendant
withdraws its plea of guilty, this Plea Agreement, the guilty plea, and any statements
made in the course of any proceedings under Fed. R. Crim. P. 11 regarding the guilty plea
or this Plea Agreement or made in the course of plea discussions with an attorney for the
government shall not be admissible against the Defendant in any criminal or civil
proceeding, except as otherwise provided in Fed. R. Evid. 410. In addition, the Defendant
agrees that, if it withdraws its guilty plea pursuant to this subparagraph of the Plea
Agreement, the statute of limitations period for any Relevant Offense, as defined in
Paragraph 13 below, will be tolled for the period between the date of the signing of the
Plea Agreement and the date the Defendant withdrew its guilty plea or for a period of sixty
(60) days after the date of the signing of the Plea Agreement, whichever period is greater.
DEFENDANT'S COOPERATION
11. The Defendant will cooperate fully and truthfully with the United States in the
prosecution of this case, the conduct of the current federal investigation of violations of federal
gratuity and related criminal laws involving the provision of traffic engineering services to the
D.C. D.O.T., any other federal investigation resulting therefrom, and any litigation or other
proceedings arising or resulting from any such investigation to which the United States is a party
("Federal Proceeding"). The ongoing, full, and truthful cooperation of the Defendant shall
include, but not be limited to:
- producing to the United States all documents, information, and other materials
in the possession, custody, or control of the Defendant, requested by the United States in
connection with any Federal Proceeding;
- using its best efforts to secure the ongoing, full, and truthful cooperation, as
defined in Paragraph 12 of this Plea Agreement, of the current directors, officers, and
employees of the Defendant as may be requested by the United States, including making
these persons available, at the Defendant's expense, for interviews and the provision of
testimony in grand jury, trial, and other judicial proceedings in connection with any
Federal Proceeding.
12. The ongoing, full, and truthful cooperation of each person described in Paragraph
11(b) of this Plea Agreement will be subject to the procedures and protections of this paragraph,
and shall include, but not be limited to:
- producing all documents, including claimed personal documents, and other
materials, requested by attorneys and agents of the United States;
- making himself or herself available for interviews, not at the expense of the United States, upon the request of attorneys and agents of the United States;
- responding fully and truthfully to all inquiries of the United States in
connection with any Federal Proceeding, without falsely implicating any person or
intentionally withholding any information, subject to the penalties of making false
statements (18 U.S.C. § 1001) and obstruction of justice (18 U.S.C. § 1503);
- otherwise voluntarily providing the United States with any material or
information not requested in subparagraphs (a) - (c) of this paragraph that he or she may
have that is related to any Federal Proceeding;
- when called upon to do so by the United States in connection with any Federal
Proceeding, testifying in grand jury, trial, and other judicial proceedings fully, truthfully,
and under oath, subject to penalties of perjury (18 U.S.C. § 1621), making false statements
or declarations in grand jury or court proceedings (18 U.S.C. § 1623), contempt (18 U.S.C.
§§ 401-402), and obstruction of justice (18 U.S.C. § 1503); and
- agreeing that, if the agreement not to prosecute him or her in this Plea
Agreement is rendered void under Paragraph 14(c), the statute of limitations period for any
Relevant Offense as defined in Paragraph 13 will be tolled as to him or her for the period
between the date of the signing of this Plea Agreement and six (6) months after the date
that the United States gave notice of its intent to void its obligations to that person under
the Plea Agreement.
GOVERNMENT'S AGREEMENT
13. Upon the Court's acceptance of the guilty plea called for by this Plea Agreement
and the imposition of the recommended sentence, and subject to the cooperation requirements of
Paragraph 11 of this Plea Agreement, the United States agrees that it will not bring further
criminal charges against the Defendant for any act or offense committed before the date of this
Plea Agreement that was undertaken in furtherance of the Defendant's giving of gratuities to D.C.
D.O.T. officials ("Relevant Offense"). The nonprosecution terms of this paragraph do not apply
to civil matters of any kind, to any violation of the federal tax or securities laws, or to any crime of
violence.
14. The United States agrees to the following:
- Upon the Court's acceptance of the guilty plea called for by this Plea
Agreement and the imposition of the recommended sentence and subject to the
exceptions noted in subparagraph (c) below, the United States will not bring criminal
charges against any current director, officer, or employee of the Defendant for any act or
offense committed before the date of this Plea Agreement and while that person was acting
as a director, officer, or employee of the Defendant that was undertaken in furtherance of
the Relevant Offense;
- Should the United States determine that any current or former director, officer,
or employee of the Defendant may have information relevant to any Federal Proceeding,
the United States may request that person's cooperation under the terms of this Plea
Agreement by written request delivered to counsel for the individual (with a copy to the
undersigned counsel for the Defendant) or, if the individual is not known to the United
States to be represented, to the undersigned counsel for the Defendant;
- If a person requested to provide cooperation under subparagraph (b) above
fails to comply with his or her obligations under Paragraph 12, then the terms of this Plea
Agreement as they pertain to that person, and the agreement not to prosecute that person
granted in this Plea Agreement, shall be rendered void;
- Except as provided in subparagraph (e) below, information provided by a
person described in subparagraph (b) above to the United States under the terms of this
Plea Agreement pertaining to any Relevant Offense, or any information directly or
indirectly derived from that information, may not be used against that person in a criminal
case, except in a prosecution for perjury (18 U.S.C. § 1621), making a false statement or
declaration (18 U.S.C. §§ 1001, 1623), or obstruction of justice (18 U.S.C. § 1503);
- If any person who provides information to the United States under this Plea
Agreement fails to comply fully with his or her obligations under Paragraph 12 of this Plea
Agreement, the agreement in subparagraph (d) above not to use that information or any
information directly or indirectly derived from it against that person in a criminal case
shall be rendered void;
- The nonprosecution terms of this paragraph do not apply to civil matters of
any kind, to any violation of the federal tax or securities laws, or to any crime of violence;
and
- Documents provided under Paragraphs 11(a) and 12(a) shall be deemed
responsive to the outstanding grand jury subpoena issued to the Defendant.
15. The Defendant understands that it may be subject to administrative action by
federal or state agencies other than the United States Department of Justice, Antitrust Division,
based upon the conviction resulting from this Plea Agreement, and that this Plea Agreement in no
way controls whatever action, if any, other agencies may take. However, the United States agrees
that it will advise the appropriate officials of any government agency considering such
administrative action of the fact, manner, and extent of the cooperation of the Defendant as a
matter for that agency to consider before determining what administrative action, if any, to take.
REPRESENTATION BY COUNSEL
16. The Defendant has been represented by counsel and is fully satisfied that its
attorneys have provided competent legal representation. The Defendant has thoroughly reviewed
this Plea Agreement and acknowledges that counsel has advised it of the nature of the charge, any
possible defenses to the charge, and the nature and range of possible sentences.
VOLUNTARY PLEA
17. The Defendant's decision to enter into this Plea Agreement and to tender a plea of
guilty is freely and voluntarily made and is not the result of force, threats, assurances, promises, or
representations other than the representations contained in this Plea Agreement. The United
States has made no promises or representations to the Defendant as to whether the Court will
accept or reject the recommendations contained within this Plea Agreement.
VIOLATION OF PLEA AGREEMENT
18. The Defendant agrees that, should the United States determine in good faith,
during the period that any Federal Proceeding is pending, that the Defendant has failed to provide
full and truthful cooperation, as described in Paragraph 11 of this Plea Agreement, or has
otherwise violated any provision of this Plea Agreement, the United States will notify counsel for
the Defendant in writing by personal or overnight delivery or facsimile transmission and may also
notify counsel by telephone of its intention to void any of its obligations under this Plea
Agreement (except its obligations under this paragraph), and the Defendant shall be subject to
prosecution for any federal crime of which the United States has knowledge including, but not
limited to, the substantive offenses relating to the investigation resulting in this Plea Agreement.
The Defendant agrees that, in the event that the United States is released from its obligations
under this Plea Agreement and brings criminal charges against the Defendant for any Relevant
Offense, the statute of limitations period for such offense will be tolled for the period between the
date of the signing of this Plea Agreement and six (6) months after the date the United States gave
notice of its intent to void its obligations under this Plea Agreement.
19. The Defendant understands and agrees that in any further prosecution of it
resulting from the release of the United States from its obligations under this Plea Agreement,
because of the Defendant's violation of the Plea Agreement, any documents, statements,
information, testimony, or evidence provided by it or current directors, officers, or employees of it
to attorneys or agents of the United States, federal grand juries, or courts, and any leads derived
therefrom, may be used against it in any such further prosecution. In addition, the Defendant
unconditionally waives its right to challenge the use of such evidence in any such further
prosecution, notwithstanding the protections of Fed. R. Evid. 410.
ENTIRETY OF AGREEMENT
20. This Plea Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the United States
and the Defendant concerning the disposition of the criminal charge in this case. This Plea
Agreement cannot be modified except in writing, signed by the United States and the Defendant.
21. The undersigned is authorized to enter into this Plea Agreement on behalf of
the Defendant as evidenced by the Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Defendant attached
to, and incorporated by reference in, this Plea Agreement.
22. The attorneys for the United States have been authorized by the Attorney General
of the United States to enter this Plea Agreement on behalf of the United States.
23. A facsimile signature shall be deemed an original signature for the purpose of
executing this Plea Agreement. Multiple signature pages are authorized for the purpose of
executing this Plea Agreement.
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Respectfully submitted,
_______________/s/________________
PETER H. GOLDBERG
Senior Trial Attorney
United States Department of Justice
Antitrust Division
1401 H Street, NW, Suite 3700
Washington, D.C. 20530
(202) 307-5784
DATED: 04/29/05
_______________/s/________________
JOHN SCHMOLL
Senior Trial Attorney
United States Department of Justice
Antitrust Division
1401 H Street, NW, Suite 3700
Washington, D.C. 20530
(202) 307-5780
DATED: 04/29/05
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DUNN ENGINEERING ASSOCIATES, P.C.
BY:_______________/s/________________
WALTER M. DUNN, JR.
President
Dunn Engineering Associates, P.C.
DATED: 04/29/05
_______________/s/________________
ANTHONY V. NANNI
Counsel for Dunn Engineering Associates, P.C.
DATED: 04/29/05
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