Plea Agreement
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT NORTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
The United States of America and Paul L. Sleasman ("defendant") hereby enter into the following Plea Agreement ("Agreement") pursuant to Rule 11(c)(1)(B) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure ("Fed. R. Crim. P."). 1. Defendant understands his rights:
AND WAIVE CERTAIN RIGHTS 2. Defendant knowingly and voluntarily waives the rights set out in Paragraph 1(b)-(g) above. The defendant also knowingly 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 or a motion under 28 U.S.C. § 2241 or 2255, that challenges the sentence imposed by the Court as long as that sentence is not above the Guidelines incarceration range for offense level 13 or a fine of $41,942.13, 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). 3. Pursuant to Fed. R. Crim. P. 7(b), defendant will waive indictment and plead guilty at arraignment to a two-count Information, in the form attached, to be filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York. The Information will charge defendant with one count of violating 15 U.S.C. §1 in connection with a conspiracy to rig bids for, and allocate roofing contracts awarded by, the Waterford, New York plant of the General Electric Company ("GE Waterford"), the Albany Medical Center ("AMC") and other purchasers of roofing products and services in the State of New York from sometime in 1995 until approximately June 2002 and one count of violating 18 U.S.C. §371 in connection with a conspiracy to defraud GE Waterford through the use of the United States mails from sometime in 1995 until approximately June 2002. 4. Defendant, pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, will plead guilty to the criminal charges described in Paragraph 3 above and will make a factual admission of guilt to the Court in accordance with Fed. R. Crim. P. 11. ELEMENTS OF THE OFFENSES 5. Defendant understands that the legal elements of the offense charged in Count One of the Information, a conspiracy to rig bids and allocate contracts in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act (15 U.S.C. § 1), are as follows:
6. Defendant understands that the legal elements of the offense charged in Count Two of the Information, a conspiracy to commit mail fraud in violation of the General Conspiracy Statute (18 U.S.C. § 371), are as follows:
7. Defendant agrees to provide to the United States, on request, all documents, records or other tangible evidence in his possession, custody or control, relating to any matters about which he may be asked, if any such documents or other materials exist. 8. In order to facilitate the collection of financial obligations to be imposed in connection with this prosecution, defendant agrees to fully disclose all assets in which he has any interest or over which defendant exercises control, directly or indirectly, including those held by a spouse, nominee or other third party. Defendant will promptly submit a completed financial statement to the attorneys of the United States. Defendant promises that his financial statement and disclosures will be complete, accurate and truthful. 9. Defendant will not commit any further crime whatsoever, nor will he violate any condition of release or supervision imposed by the Court. 10. If defendant fully complies with the understandings specified in this Agreement, the United States will not bring further criminal charges against him under 15 U.S.C. §1 or 18 U.S.C. §§ 371, 1341, 1343, 1346 (insofar as those statutes relate to mail fraud, wire fraud, or to a conspiracy to commit mail fraud or wire fraud) for any act or offense committed before the date of this Agreement, in connection with a conspiracy to rig bids for or allocate roofing contracts in the State of New York which are known to the United States. 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" as defined by U.S.S.G. § 4B1.2(a). POSSIBLE MAXIMUM SENTENCE 11. Defendant understands that pursuant to 15 U.S.C. § 1 and 18 U.S.C. § 3571, the maximum sentence provided by law to which he is subject for a violation of Section One of the Sherman Antitrust Act (15 U.S.C. § 1), a class E felony, is:
12. In addition, defendant understands that:
13. Defendant understands that pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 371 and 18 U.S.C. § 3571, the maximum sentence provided by law to which he is subject for a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371, a class D felony, is:
14. In addition, defendant understands that:
SENTENCING GUIDELINES 15. Defendant understands that the sentence to be imposed upon him is within the discretion of the sentencing Court, subject to the statutory maximum penalties and the provisions of the Sentencing Reform Act and the United States Sentencing Guidelines ("U.S.S.G.," "Sentencing Guidelines," or "Guidelines") promulgated thereunder, as modified by United States v. Booker and United States v. Fanfan, __U.S. __, 2005 WL 50108 (January 12, 2005). In imposing the sentence, the Court must take into account the Sentencing Guidelines in effect on the day of sentencing, along with the other factors set forth in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a). While the Court is not ultimately bound to impose a sentence within the applicable Sentencing Guidelines range, its sentence must be reasonable based upon consideration of all relevant sentencing factors. The defendant understands that the Guidelines determinations will be made by the Court by a preponderance of the evidence standard. 16. Pursuant to Fed. R. Crim. P. 11(c)(1)(B) and in an effort to assist the Court in its determination of the appropriate Sentencing Guidelines range, the United States and defendant agree that defendant's adjusted offense level applicable to the charges described in Count One in the attached Information is level 12, calculated as follows:
17. Pursuant to Fed. R. Crim. P. 11(c)(1)(B) and in an effort to assist the Court in its determination of the appropriate Sentencing Guidelines range, the United States and defendant agree that defendant's adjusted offense level applicable to the charges described in Count Two in the attached Information is level 14, calculated as follows:
18. The antitrust offense does not involve substantially the same harm as the fraud offense, nor is it of the same general type as the fraud offense. Therefore pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 3D1.2, the antitrust offense is not grouped with the fraud offense charged in Count Two. 19. The antitrust offense, with an offense level of 12, is between one and four levels less serious than the fraud offense and thus, pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 3D1.4(a), counts as one unit. Because there are 2 units, two offense levels are added to the fraud offense level, yielding a combined offense level of 16. 20. Defendant has demonstrated a recognition and affirmative acceptance of responsibility for his criminal conduct, thereby reducing the adjusted offense level by three levels to level 13, pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 3E1.1(a)-(b). 21. 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 Sentencing Commission in formulating the Sentencing Guidelines that should result in a departure under U.S.S.G. § 5K2.0. The parties agree not to seek or support any sentence outside of the advisory Guidelines range nor any Guidelines adjustment for any reason that is not set forth in this Plea Agreement. 22. The United States and defendant stipulate the volume of commerce affected by the antitrust conspiracy is $838,842.50. The Guidelines antitrust fine range for defendant is $20,000.00 - $41,942.13 pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 2R1.1(c)(1). Defendant's Guidelines base fine for the adjusted combined offense level is $3,000 - $30,000 pursuant to § 5E1.2(c)(3). Since the Guidelines antitrust fine range is greater, defendant's Guidelines fine range is $20,000.00 - $41,942.13 pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 5E1.2(b). 23. Defendant understands that the sentence to be imposed on him is within the sole discretion of the sentencing judge. The United States cannot and does not make any promises or representations as to what sentence defendant will receive. Defendant understands that, as provided in Fed. R. Crim. P. 11(c)(3)(B), if the Court does not impose a sentence consistent with the stipulations and recommendations in this Agreement, he nevertheless has no right to withdraw his guilty plea. The United States reserves the right to make any statement to the Court or the Probation Office concerning the nature of the criminal violations charged in the attached Information, the participation of defendant therein, and any other facts or circumstances that it deems relevant. The United States also reserves the right to comment on or to correct any representation made by or on behalf of defendant, and to supply any other information that the Court may require. The United States and defendant are free to recommend or argue for any specific sentence to the Court. REPRESENTATION BY COUNSEL 24. Defendant has reviewed all legal and factual aspects of this case with his attorney and is fully satisfied with his attorney's legal representation. Defendant has thoroughly reviewed this Agreement with his attorney and has received satisfactory explanations from his attorney concerning each paragraph of this Agreement and alternatives available to defendant other than entering into this Agreement. After conferring with his attorney and considering all available alternatives, the defendant has made a knowing and voluntary decision to enter into this Agreement. VOLUNTARY PLEA 25. Defendant's decision to enter into this 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 Agreement. The United States has made no promises or representations to defendant as to whether the Court will accept or reject the recommendations contained within this Agreement. 26. Defendant agrees that, should the United States determine in good faith, during the period that any Federal Proceeding is pending, that defendant has failed to fulfill any of the obligations set out in this Agreement, or has otherwise violated any provision of this Agreement, the United States will notify defendant or his counsel in writing by personal or overnight delivery or facsimile transmission and may also notify his counsel by telephone of its intention to void any of its obligations under this Agreement (except its obligations under this paragraph), and 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 Agreement. Defendant agrees that, in the event that the United States is released from its obligations under this Agreement and brings criminal charges against 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 Agreement and six (6) months after the date the United States gave notice of its intent to void its obligations under this Agreement. 27. Defendant understands and agrees that in any further prosecution of him resulting from the release of the United States from its obligations under this Agreement based on defendant's violation of the Agreement, any documents, statements, information, testimony, or evidence provided by him to attorneys or agents of the United States, federal grand juries, or courts, and any leads derived therefrom, may be used against him in any such further prosecution. In addition, defendant unconditionally waives his right to challenge the use of such evidence in any such further prosecution, notwithstanding the protections of Fed. R. Evid. 410. ENTIRETY OF AGREEMENT 28. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the United States and defendant concerning the disposition of the criminal charges in this case. The United States has made no other promises to or agreements with defendant. This Agreement cannot be modified except in a writing signed by the United States and defendant. 29. The undersigned attorneys for the United States have been authorized by the Attorney General of the United States to enter this Agreement on behalf of the United States.
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