Filed: Apr. 16, 2007
Latest Update: Feb. 21, 2020
Summary: [DO NOT PUBLISH] IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FILED FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT U.S. COURT OF APPEALS _ ELEVENTH CIRCUIT APRIL 16, 2007 No. 06-12516 THOMAS K. KAHN Non-Argument Calendar CLERK _ D. C. Docket No. 03-20483-CR-MGC UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff-Appellee, versus JASMINE DUKHARAN, Defendant-Appellant. _ Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida _ (April 16, 2007) Before WILSON, PRYOR and FAY, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM: Jasmine Dukh
Summary: [DO NOT PUBLISH] IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FILED FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT U.S. COURT OF APPEALS _ ELEVENTH CIRCUIT APRIL 16, 2007 No. 06-12516 THOMAS K. KAHN Non-Argument Calendar CLERK _ D. C. Docket No. 03-20483-CR-MGC UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff-Appellee, versus JASMINE DUKHARAN, Defendant-Appellant. _ Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida _ (April 16, 2007) Before WILSON, PRYOR and FAY, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM: Jasmine Dukha..
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[DO NOT PUBLISH]
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FILED
FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
________________________ ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
APRIL 16, 2007
No. 06-12516 THOMAS K. KAHN
Non-Argument Calendar CLERK
________________________
D. C. Docket No. 03-20483-CR-MGC
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
versus
JASMINE DUKHARAN,
Defendant-Appellant.
________________________
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Southern District of Florida
_________________________
(April 16, 2007)
Before WILSON, PRYOR and FAY, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:
Jasmine Dukharan appeals the denial of her motion to reconsider the district
court’s order granting a 12-month reduction in her sentence following the
government’s motion, pursuant to Rule 35(b) of the Federal Rules of Criminal
Procedure, for a reduction of sentence for substantial assistance. On appeal,
Dukharan argues that the district court abused its discretion in denying an
evidentiary hearing following its ruling on the Rule 35(b) motion. For the reasons
set forth more fully below, we affirm.
We review the denial of a motion to reconsider for abuse of discretion.
United States v. Simms,
385 F.3d 1347, 1356 (11th Cir. 2004). Generally, we
review the district court’s decision on whether to hold an evidentiary hearing for
abuse of discretion. United States v. Arbolaez,
450 F.3d 1283, 1293 (11th Cir.
2006).
When the government filed its Rule 35(b) motion, it sought a five-month
reduction, alleging that Dukharan’s testimony and statements appeared somewhat
truthful, and, despite certain false statements and omissions, her assistance was
useful and, at times, significant. In response, Dukharan argued that a five-month
reduction failed to account for her contribution to cases pending in the Southern
District of Florida and in other jurisdictions. She also requested a hearing on the
motion in order to address the nature and extent of her cooperation and the
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government’s representations concerning false statements.
The district court held a hearing on the motion. No testimony was offered,
but both parties made proffers regarding the extent of Dukharan’s cooperation and
involvement in drug smuggling activities. Dukharan conceded that she initially did
not disclose her participation in a February 2004 drug smuggling trip. However,
she disputed the government’s assertions that she was untruthful regarding
smuggling ventures unrelated to this case. The district court, stating that, “despite
[Dukharan’s] inconsistencies and lack of truthfulness in this case,” she provided
assistance, which resulted in the prosecution of a significant person and the arrest
and conviction of at least two more participants, granted a 12-month reduction of
Dukharan’s sentence.
Dukharan filed a motion to reconsider, requesting either an evidentiary
hearing, or, alternatively, a 23-month reduction in her sentence. With regard to the
alleged untruthfulness about matters other than the February 2004 trip, she argued
that the government’s position was supported only by its statement that other
defendants contradicted information she provided. To the extent the district court
relied upon the government’s proffer regarding her lack of truthfulness with
respect to this information, Dukharan requested “an opportunity to confront this
hearsay information in order to defend herself from same.” The district court
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summarily denied Dukharan’s motion to reconsider.
We discern no abuse of discretion in the court’s decision. Dukharan
requested and received an initial hearing on the Rule 35(b) motion to, inter alia,
address the issues regarding the alleged false statements. At this hearing,
Dukharan made a case for the significance of her cooperation and conceded that
she initially did not disclose the February 2004 smuggling trip. As to possible
unrelated incidents of drug smuggling, the district court heard Dukharan’s proffer,
in which she claimed to have disclosed information voluntarily and she denied
involvement with drugs. After hearing both parties’ arguments, the district court
was in the best position to know whether additional information regarding whether
Dukharan lied about involvement in unrelated drug smuggling activities would
impact its decision regarding the amount of a sentence reduction to award. Under
these circumstances, the district court’s denial of Dukharan’s request for an
evidentiary hearing was not an abuse of discretion. In light of the foregoing, we
AFFIRM.
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