Case 1:18-cr-00024-DLF *SEALED* Document 10 Filed 02/12/18 Page 1 of 10 U.S. Department of Justice The Special Counsel's Office Washington, D.C. 20530 February 2, 2018 FEB , 2 20\8 Clerk, U.S. District and Bankruptcy Courts Jeremy Ian Lessem, Esq. Attorney for Richard Pinedo 4515 Shennan Oaks Ave Shennan Oaks, CA 91403 Re: FILED Qr(< l'6-- ~'f United States v. Richard Pinedo Dear Counsel: This letter sets forth the full and complete plea offer to your client, Richard Pinedo (hereinafter referred to as ''your client" or "defendant"), from the Special Counsel's Office (hereinafter also referred to as ''the Government" or ''this Office'). If yow- client accepts the tenns and conditions ofthis offer, please have your·client execute this document in the space provided below. Upon receipt of the executed document, this letter will become the Plea Agreement (hereinafter referred to as "this Agreement"). The terms of the ofter are as follows: 1. Charges and Statutory Penalties Your client agrees to plead guilty to the attached Criminal lnfonmtion, charging your client with identity fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1028(a)(7), (b)(l)(D) & (c)(3)(A). Your client understands that a violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1028(a)(7) & (b)(l)(D) carries a maximum sentence of 15 years' imprisonment; a fine of $250,000, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3571 (b)(3); a term of supervised release of not more than 3 years, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3583(b)(2); and an obligation to pay any applicable interest or penalties on fines and restitution not timely made. In addition, your client agrees to pay a special assessment of$ 100 per felony conviction to the Clerk of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. Your client also lIDderstands that, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3572 and § 5El.2 of the United States Sentencing Guidelines, Guidelines Manual (2016) (hereinafter "Sentencing Guidelines," ''Guidelines," or ''U.S.S.G."), the Court may also impose a fine that is sufficient to pay the federal government the costs of any imprisonment, tenn of supervised release, and period of probation. 2. Factual Stipulations Your client agrees that the attached "Statement of the Offense" fairly and accurately descnbes your client's actions and involvement in the offense to which your client is pleading guilty. Please have your client sign and return the Statement of the Offense as a written proffer of evidence, along with this Agreement. Page 1 of 10 Case 1:18-cr-00024-DLF *SEALED* Document 10 Filed 02/12/18 Page 2 of 10 3. Additional Charges In consideration of your client's guilty plea totlK: above ofreme, your client will oot be further prosecuted criminally by this Office fur the conduct set furth in tre attached Statement of the Ofreme. 4. Sentencing Guidelines Analysis Your client understands that the senterx:e in this case will be detennined by the Court, pursuant to the factors set furth ii 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a), inchxling acomideratim oftre appflcable guidelines 800 policies set furth in th: Senteri;ing Guilelines. Pursuant to Federal Rule of Crinml Procedure l l(cXl)(B), 800 to assist the Com in detennining the approprilte semeree, the pws agree to the fulbwing: A. Estimated Offeme Level Under the Guidelines The parties agree that the fulbwing Senteooilg Guidelines secti:>ns apply: U.S.S.G. §2B1.l(aX2) _. -- Cb)C -,lJ.S.S.G. §2B1.I(bXl)(D) , - '28:C. . '1 10AJ.S.S.G. §2B1.¼41(10) ( 212>_? - -1.lbJ(llJJ·S.S.G. §2Bl.lj(k'.ll) ~ _ ______ .. .... .. _ _ ... . B. Base Ofreme Level: Gain between $40,000 & $60,000 6 +6 )a Offense Outside the Umed States:···12 Identty Theft F.nhancement: +2(min. level 12) -~~tal level) 16 ~ ··-· .. -- --·--·-. ······- . ·--. __ _ . - - ~':°°°°1um Acceptance of Responsibility The Government agrees that a 2-~vel reducti:>n will be appropriate, pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 3El.l, provided that your client cwly dcrromtrates acccptaree of responsibility, to the samfacti>n of the Government, through your client's albcufon, a.dooreooe to every prowbn of dm Agreeroont, aoo corxhx:t between entry of the plea aoo Iq>Osik>n of senteooe. Fll'thennore, assuming your client has accepted responsibility as descri>ed ii the previ>us senteree, the Govermrent agrees that an addmnal 1-~vel reducoon will be appropmte, pursuam to U.S.S.G § 3El.l(b), because your client has assisted autootties by providing ~ly ootce of your client's intentbn to enter a plea of guilty, thereby permitting the Government to avoid prepamg fur trial aoo permitting the Comt to alhcate its resources efficiently. Nothing in this Agreement limits the right of the Government to seek denial of the adjustrrent fur acceptaree of responsibility, pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 3El.1, aoo/or ill>ostim of an adjustmmt for obstructi:>n of justce, pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 3C 1.1, regardless of any agreement set furth above, sboul1 your clieti: trove to wahdraw your client's guilty plea after tis entered, or shoul1 , be detennined by the Government that your client has either (a) engaged in conduct, llllknown to the Govenment at tre ure of the signing of this Agreerrent, that comtitutes obstnx:oon of justke, or (b) engaged n addioonal criminal cooouct after signing this Agreement. In accordance with the above, tre applkable Guidelines Ofrensc Level will be at least 13. Page 2 oflO Case 1:18-cr-00024-DLF *SEALED* Document 10 Filed 02/12/18 Page 3 of 10 C. Estimated Criminal History Category Based upon the information now available to this Office, your client has no criminal convictions. Accordingly, your client is estinated to have zero criminal history points and your client's Criminal History Category is estimated to be I. Your client acknowledges that if additional convictions are discovered during the pre-sentence investigation by the United States Probation Office, your client's criminal history points may increase. D. Estimated Applicable Guidelines Range Based upon the agreed total offense level and the estimated criminal history category set forth above, your client's estimated Sentencing Guidelines range is twelve months to eighteen months' imprisonment (the "Estimated Guidelines Range'). In addition, the parties agree that, pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 5El .2, shouki the Court impose a fine, at Guidelines level 13, the estimated applicable fine range is $5,500 to $55,000. Your client reserves the right to ask the Court not to impose any applicable fine. The parties agree that, solely for the purposes of calculating the applicable range under the Sentencing Guidelines, neither a downward nor upward departure from the Estimated Guidelines Range set forth above is warranted, subject to the paragraphs regarding cooperation below. Accordingly, neither party will seek any departure or adjustment to the Estimated Guidelines Range, no~ will either party suggest that the Court consider such a departure or adjustment, except as provided in the preceding sentence. Moreover, your client understands and acknowledges that the Estimated Guidelines Range agreed to by the parties is not binding on the Probation Office or the Court. Should the Court determine that a different guidelines range is applicable, your client will not be pennitted to withdraw his guilty plea on that basis, and the Government and your client will still be bound by this Agreement. Your client understands and acknowledges that the term.5 of this section apply only to conduct that occl.ll'red before the execution of this Agreement. ShouJd your client commit any conduct after the execution of this Agreement that wouki form the basis for an increase in your client's base offense level or justify an upward departure (examples of which include, but are not limited to, obstruction of justice, failure to appear fur a court proceeding, criminal conduct while pending sentencing, and false statements to law enforcement agents, the probation officer, or the Cowt), the Government is free under this Agreement to seek an increase in the base offense level based on that post-agreement conduct. 5. Agreement as to Sentencing Allocution Based upon the information known to the Government at the time of the signing of this Agreement, the parties further agree that a sentence within the Estimated Guidelines Range would constitute a reaso.nable sentence in light of all of the factors set forth in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a), should such a sentence be subject to appellate review notwithstanding the appeal waiver provided below. Page 3 of 10 Case 1:18-cr-00024-DLF *SEALED* Document 10 Filed 02/12/18 Page 4 of 10 6. Reservation of AHocution The Government and yom client reserve the right to descnbe fully, both orally and in writing, to the sentencing judge, the natme and seriousness of yom client's nmconduct, including any nmconduct not descnbed in the charges to which yow client is pleading guihy. 1he parties also reserve the right to inform the presentence report writer and the Court of any relevant facts, to dispute any factual inaccmac ies in the presentence report, and to contest any matters not provided for in this Agreement. In the event that the Court considers any Sentencing Guidelines adjustments, departmes, or calculations different from any agreements contained in this Agreement, or contemplates a sentence outside the Guidelines range based upon the general sentencing factors listed i1 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a), the parties reserve the right to answer any related inquiries from the Court. In addition, if in this Agreement the parties have agreed to recommend or refrain from recommending to the Court a particular resolution of any sentencing issue, the parties reserve the right to full allocution in any post-sentence litigation. 1he parties retain the full right of allocution in connection with any post-sentence motion which may be filed in this matter and/or any proceeding(s) before the Bmeau of Prisons. In addition, yom client acknowledges that the Government is not obligated and currently does not intend to file any post-sentence downward departure motion in this case plll"Suant to Rule 35(b) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedme. 7. Court Not Bound by this Agreement or the Sentencing Guidelines Yom client understands that the sentence in this case will be imposed in accordance with 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a), upon consideration of the Sentencing Guidelines. Yow client finther understands that the sentence to be imposed is a matter solely within the discretion of the Court. Your client acknowledges that the Court is not obligated to follow any recorrmendation of the Government at the time of sentencing or to grant a downward departure based on your client's substantial assistance to the Government, even if the Government files a rrotion pursuant to Section 5Kl.1 of the Sentencing Guidelines. Your client understands that neither the Government's recommendation nor the Sentencing Guidelines are binding on the Court. Your client acknowledges that your client's entry of a guilty plea to the charged offense authorizes the Com to impose any sentence, up to and including the statutory maximum sentence, which may be greater than the applicable Guidelines range. The Govennnent cannot, and does not, make any pronme or representation as to what sentence your client will receive. Moreover, it is understood that your client will have no right to withdraw yow client's plea of guihy should the Court impose a sentence that is outside the Guidelines range or if the Court does not follow the Govennnent' s sentencing recommendation. 1be Govennnent and your client will be bolmd by this Agreement, regardless of the ·sentence imposed by the Court. Any effort by your client to withdraw the guilty plea because of the length of the sentence shall constitute a breach of this Agreement. 8. Cooperation Your client agrees to cooperate with this Office on the following terms and conditions : Page 4 oflO Case 1:18-cr-00024-DLF *SEALED* Document 10 Filed 02/12/18 Page 5 of 10 (a) Your client shall cooperate fully, truthfully, completely, and forthrightly with this Office and other Federa~ state, and bcal law enforcement authorities identified by this Office in any and all matters as to which this Office deems the cooperation relevant. Your client acknowledges that your client's cooperation may include, but will not necessarily be limited to: answering questions; providing sworn written statements; taking government-administered polygraph examination(s); and participating in covert law enforcement activities. Any refusal by your client to cooperate fully, truthfully, completely, and forthrightly as directed by this Office and other Federa~ state, and bcal law enforcement authorities kientified by this Office in any and all matters in which this Office deerm your client's assistance relevant will constitute a breach of this Agreement by your client, and will relieve this Office of its obligations under this Agreement, including, but not limited to, its obligation to inform this Court of any assistance your client has provided. Your client agrees, however, that such breach by your client will not constitute a basis for with:irawal of your client's plea of guilty or othetwise relieve your client of your client's obligations under this Agreement. (b) Your client shall promptly turn over to this Office, or other law enforcement authorities, or direct such law enforcemmt authorities to, any and all evidence of crimes about which your client is aware; all contraband and proceeds of such crimes; and all assets traceable to the proceeds of such crimes. Your client agrees to the forfeiture of all assets which are proceeds of crimes or traceable to such proceeds of crimes. (c) Your client shall submit a full and complete accounting of all your client's financial assets, whether such assets are in your client's name or in the name of a third party. (d) Your client acknowledges and understands that, during the course of the cooperation outlined in this Agreement, your client will be interviewed by law enforcement agents and/or Government attorneys. Your client waives any right to have counsel present during these interviews and agrees to meet with law enforcement agents and Government attorneys outside of the presence of counsel I~ at some future point, you or your client desire to have counsel present during interviews by law enforcement agents and/or Government attorneys, and you communicate this decision in writing to this Office, this Office will honor this request, and this change will have no effect on any other term.5 and conditions of this Agreement. (e) Your client shall testify fully, completely and truthfully before any and all Grand Juries in the District of Colwnbia and elsewhere, and at any and all trials of cases or other court proceedings in the District of Colwnbia and elsewhere, at which your client's testiroony may be deemed relevant by the Government. (f) Your client understands and acknowledges that nothing in this Agreement allows your client to commit any criminal violation of bca~ state or federal law during the period of your client's cooperation with law enforcement authorities or at any time prior to the sentencing in this case. The commission of a criminal offense during the period of your client's cooperation or at any time prior to sentencing will constitute a breach of this Agreement and will relieve the Government of all of its obligations under this Agreement, including, but not limited to, its obligation to inform this Court of any assistance your client has provided. However, your client Page 5 of IO Case 1:18-cr-00024-DLF *SEALED* Document 10 Filed 02/12/18 Page 6 of 10 acknowledges and agrees that such a breach of thi5 Agreemmt will not entitle your client to withdraw your client's plea of guilty or relieve your client of the obligations Wlder this Agreement. (g) Yolll' client agrees that the sentencing in this case may be delayed lllltil yolll' cl~nt's efforts to cooperate have been completed, as detennined by the Government, so that the Colll't will have the benefit of all relevant information before a sentence is imposed. 9. Waivers A. Venue Your client waives any challenge to and consents to venue in the District of Columbia. B. Statute ofLimitations Your client agrees that, should the conviction following yolll' client's plea of guilty plll'Suant to this Agreement be vacated for any reason, any prosecution, based on the conduct set forth in the attached Statement of the Offense, that is not time-barred by the applicable statute of limitations on the date of the signing of this Agreement (including any counts that the Government has agreed not to prosecute or to dismiss at sentencing pursuant to thi5 Agreement) may be commenced or reinstated against your client, notwithstanding the expiration of the statute of limitations between the signing ofthi5 Agreement and the commencement or reinstatement of such prosecution. It is the intent of thi5 Agreement to waive all defenses based on the starute of limitations with respect to any prosecution of conduct set forth in the attached Statement of the Ofrense that is oot time-barred on the date that this Agreement is signed. C. Trial Rights Yolll' client understands that by pleading guilty in this case your client agrees to waive certain rights afforded by the Constitution of the United States and/or by starute or rule. Your client agrees to forgo the right to any further discovery or disclosures of information not already provided at the time of the entry of your client's guilty plea. Your client also agrees to waive, among other rights, the right to be indicted by a Grand Jury, the right to plead oot guilty, and the right to a jury trial If there were a jury tria~ your client would have the right to be represented by counse~ to confront and cross-examine witnesses against your client, to challenge the admissibility of evidence ofrered against your client, to compel witnesses to appear for the purpose of testifying and presenting other evidence on your client's behalf; and to choose whether to testify. If there were a jury trial and your client chose not to testify at that tria~ your client would have the right to have the jury instructed that your client's failure to testify could not be heki against your client. Your client wouki further have the right to have the jury instructed that your client is presLDned inoocent Wltil proven guilty, and that the blll'den would be on the United States to prove your client's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. If yolll' client were foWld guilty after a trial your client would have the right to appeal your client's convictbn. Your client understands that the Fifth Amendrrent to the Constitution of the United States protects yolll' cl~nt from the use of compelled self:incriminating statements in a criminal prosecution. By entering a plea of guilty, your client Page 6 of 10 Case 1:18-cr-00024-DLF *SEALED* Document 10 Filed 02/12/18 Page 7 of 10 knowingly and voluntarily waives or gives up your client's right against compelled selfincrimina tio n. Your client acknowledges discussing with you Rule 1 l(f) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure and Rule 410 of the Federal Rules of Evidence, which ordinarily limit the admissibility of statements made by a defendant in the course of plea discussions or plea proceedings if a guilty plea is later withdrawn. Your client knowingly and voluntarily waives the rights that arise tn1der these rules in the event your client withdraws your client's guihy plea or withdraws from this Agreement after signing it. Your client also agrees to waive all constitutional and statutory rights to a speedy sentence and agrees that the plea of guihy pursuant to this Agreement will be entered at a time decided upon by the parties with the concurrence of the Court Your client understands that the date for sentencing will be set by the Court. D. Appeal Rights Your client understands that federal law, specifically 18 U.S.C. § 3742, affords defendants the right to appeal their sentences in certain circum5tances. Your client agrees to waive the right to appeal the sentence in this case, incWing but not limited to any tenn of ff11)risonment, fine, forfeiture, award of restitution, tenn or condition of supervised release, authority of the Court to set conditions of release, and the manner in which the sentence was determined, except to the extent the Court sentences your client above the statutory maximum or guidelines range determined by the Court or your client claims that your client received ineffective assistance of counse~ in which case your client would have the right to appeal the illegal sentence or aboveguidelines sentence or raise on appeal a claim of ineffective assistance of counse~ but not to raise on appeal other issues regarding the sentencing. In agreeing to this waiver, your client is aware that your client's sentence has yet to be determined by the Court. Realizing the uncertainty in estimating what sentence the Court ultimately will impose, your client knowingly and willingly waives your client's right to appeal the sentence, to the extent noted above, in exchange for the concessions made by the Government in this Agreement. E. Collateral Attack Your client also waives any right to challenge the conviction entered or sentence imposed under this Agreement or otherwise attempt to modify or change the sentence or the manner in which it was determined in any collateral attack, incWing, but not limited to, a motion brought under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 or Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 60(b), except to the extent such a motion is based on newly discovered evidence or on a claim that your client received ineffective assistance of counsel Your client reserves the right to file a motion brought under 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(2), but agrees to waive the right to appeal the denial of such a motion. F. Privacy Act and FOIA Rights Your client also agrees to waive all rights, whether asserted directly or by a representative , to request or receive from any department or agency of the United States any records pertaining to Page 7 oflO Case 1:18-cr-00024-DLF *SEALED* Document 10 Filed 02/12/18 Page 8 of 10 the investigation or prosecution of this case, including and without limitation any records that may be sought under the Freedom of lnfonnation Act, 5 U.S.C. § 552, or the Privacy Act, 5 U.S .C. § 552a, for the duration of the Special Counsel's investigation 10. Restitution Your client understands that the Court has an obligation to detennine whether, and in what amotmt, mandatory restitution applies in this case tmder 18 U.S.C . § 3663A. The Government and your client agree that mandatory restitution does not apply in this case. 11. Breach of Agreement Your client understands and agrees that, if after entering this Agreement, your client fails specifically to perfonn or to fu1fill completely each and every one of your client's obligations mder this Agreement, ot engages in any criminal activity prior to sentencing, your client will have breached this Agreement. In the event of such a breach: (a) the Government will be free from its obligations llll.der this Agreement; (b) your client will not have the right to withdraw the guilty plea; (c) your client will be fully subject to criminal prosecution for any other crimes, including perjury and obstruction of justice; and (d) the Government will be free to use against your client, directly and indirectly, in any criminal or civil proceeding, all statements made by your client and any of the information or materials provided by yow- client, including such statements, information, and materials provided pursuant to this Agreement or during the course of any debriefings conducted in anticipation o( or after entry o( this Agreement, whether or not the debriefings were previously characterized as "off-the-record" debriefings, and including your client's statements made during proceedings before the Court pursuant to Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure. Your client understands and agrees that the Government shall be required to prove a breach of this Agreement only by a preponderance of the evidence, except where such breach 5 based on a violation of fudera~ state, or local criminal law, which the Government need prove only by probable cause in order to establish a breach of this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to permit your client to commit perjury, to make fulse statements or declarations, to obstruct justice, or to protect your client from prosecution for any crimes not included within this Agreement or committed by your client after the execution ofthis Agreement. Your client mderstands and agrees that the Government reserves the right to prosecute your client for any such offenses. Your client further tmderstands that any perjury, raise statements or declarations, or obstruction of justice relating to your client's obligations tmder this Agreement shall constitute a breach of this Agreement. In the event of such a breach, your client will not be allowed to withdraw your client' s guihy plea. 12. Government's Obligations The Government will bring to the Court's attention at the time of sentencing the nature and extent of your client's cooperation or lack of cooperation 1he Government will evaluate the full nature and extent of your client's cooperation to detennine whether your client has provided Page 8 oflO Case 1:18-cr-00024-DLF *SEALED* Document 10 Filed 02/12/18 Page 9 of 10 substantial assistance in the investigation or prosecution of another person who has conmitted an offense. If the Goverrnrent determines that your client has provided such substantial assistance, this Office shall file a departure irotion pursuant to Section 5K 1.1 of the Sentencing Guidelines, which would afford your client an opportunity to persuade the Court that your client should be sentenced to a lesser period of incarceration and/or fine than indicated by the Sentencing Guidelines. 1he determination of whether your client has provided substantial assistance warranting the filing of a irotion pursuant to Section SK 1.1 of the ·sentencing Guidelines is within the sole discretion of the Government and is not reviewable by the Court. In the event your client should fail to perfonn specifically and fulfill completely each and every one of your client' s obligations under this Agreement, the Government will be free · from its obligations under this Agreement, and will have no obligation to present your client's case to the Departure Guideline Corrnnittee or file a departure irotion pursuant to Section SKl.l of the Sentencing Guidelines. 13. Complete Agreement No agreements, promises, understandings, or representations have been made by the parties or their counsel other ·than those contained in writing herein, nor will any such agreements, promises, tmderstand ings, or representations be made unless conmitted to writing and signed by your client, defense counse~ and the Special C_ounsel's Office. Your client further understands that this Agreement is binding only upon the Special Counsel's Office. This Agreement does not bind any other United States Attorney's Office, nor does it bind any other state, loca~ or federal prosecutor. It also does not bar or compromise any civil, tax, or administrative claim pending or that may be made against your client. If the foregoing tenns and conditions are satisfactory, your client may so indicate by signing this Agreement and the Statement of the Offense, and returning both to me no later than February 7, 2018. Sincerely yours, ROBERTS. MUELLER, III Special Cmmsel By: L. Rush Atkinson Ryan K. Dickey Assistant Special Counsels The Special Counsel's Office Page 9 of 10' Case 1:18-cr-00024-DLF *SEALED* Document 10 Filed 02/12/18 Page 10 of l C DEFENDANTS ACCEPTANCE I have read every page of tlm .Agreenm am have ~ it with my attorney, Jeremy Ian I.essem. I fully umerstml tm Agreement am agree to it with>ut reservati>n. I do 1his whmtarily and of my own iec will, .intending to be 1egaly bound. No threats have been made to me oor am I under 1he influeo;e of aeything that couki ~ede ~ ability to ucderstand this Agreement fully. I am pleading guilty because I am in met guilty of~ oflense ilemficd in this Agreeam. I reaffirm that absomtely oo promises, agreements, tmderstmiin~ or commm mve been made or eatcred DiD n conoecti>n Mb my decmm to p1cad PY except tb>se set i>rth in this Agrccnm. I am satisfied with the qal servces proviied by my atto~ys in connecti>n with thi; ·Agreement and tlJltterS related to it. ATIORNm"S ACKNOWLEDGMPNT Ihave read every page oftlm Agreemmt, reviewed tlm Agreement with rrtf client, Rchard Pinedo, ml fully dmcussed the provmk>ns of~ Agreemmt wnh my elicit. Tbesc pages acc1ntely and cotq>letely set furth the entire Agreement. I comr in my client's desire to plead guilty as set i>rth in t!m Date: z. I z_ ( (~ ~ .PCL XL error Error: warning: IllegalMediaSiZe