Court filing
Transcript of Hearing on Change of Plea — Cameron P. Henderson — United States v. Renetta Golden-Larimore, et al. (W.D. Mo.)
Filed January 4, 2024 in United States v. Renetta Golden-Larimore, et al.; one of 9 filings from this case.
Record facts
| Court | U.S. District Court, Western District of Missouri |
|---|---|
| Filed | 2024-01-04 |
U.S. District Court, Western District of Missouri · No. 4:23-cr-00098-BCW · Doc. 201 · 2024-01-04 · Docket on CourtListener
Full text
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI WESTERN DIVISION UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ) Case No. 23-00098-04-CR-W-BCW ) Plaintiff, ) Kansas City, Missouri ) January 4, 2024 v. ) ) CAMERON P. HENDERSON, ) ) Defendant. ) ______________________________) TRANSCRIPT OF HEARING ON CHANGE OF PLEA BEFORE THE HONORABLE LAJUANA M. COUNTS UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE APPEARANCES: For the Plaintiff: Mr. Paul S. Becker Assistant United States Attorney 400 E. Ninth St., Ste. 5510 Kansas City, MO 64106 (816) 426-3122 For the Defendant: Mr. J. Justin Johnston 818 Grand Ave., Ste. 101 Kansas City, MO 64106 (816) 739-4538 Court Audio Operator: Ms. Traci Chorny Transcribed by: Rapid Transcript Lissa C. Whittaker 1001 West 65th Street Kansas City, MO 64113 (816) 914-3613 Proceedings recorded by electronic sound recording, transcript produced by transcription service. Case 4:23-cr-00098-BCW Document 201 Filed 01/09/24 Page 1 of 28 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 2 (Court in Session at 9:34 a.m.) THE COURT: All right. We are here on Case No. 23- 00098-04-CR-W-BCW, United States of America vs. Cameron P. Henderson. May I please have entry of appearance by the Government? MR. BECKER: The United States by Paul Becker, Assistant U.S. Attorney. Good morning, Judge. MR. JOHNSTON: Good morning, Your -- THE COURT: Good morning, thank you. And for Mr. Henderson? MR. JOHNSTON: Sorry, Your Honor. THE COURT: That’s okay. MR. JOHNSTON: Justin Johnston on behalf of Mr. Henderson, who also appears in person. THE COURT: All right. Thank you, Mr. Johnston. All right. We are here for the change of plea. The first thing we need to cover here is this case comes before me as a magistrate judge pursuant to what I have before me, which is a written consent by Mr. Henderson and his attorney. It’s entitled “Consent to Entry of Felony Plea before U.S. Magistrate Judge Lajuana M. Counts.” Mr. Henderson, did you have a chance to go over this form? MR. HENDERSON: Yes, ma’am. THE COURT: Okay. And did you have any questions for Mr. Johnston about that waiver? Case 4:23-cr-00098-BCW Document 201 Filed 01/09/24 Page 2 of 28 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 3 MR. HENDERSON: No, ma’am. THE COURT: Okay. Or just the consent form, I’m sorry. All right. I think it’s an order. What it says is that as a Magistrate Judge, you have a -- you’re entitled to have your plea taken before an Article III judge, which is a District Judge. But with this consent you are consenting that I will cover that plea and if the plea is accepted, what I’ll do is I will prepare a Report and Recommendation to a District Judge, Judge Wimes, with a recommendation that a -- that the plea should be accepted. Do you understand that? MR. HENDERSON: Yes, ma’am. THE COURT: Okay. Are you asking the Court to accept this consent? MR. HENDERSON: Yes, ma’am. THE COURT: All right. That’s what I will do. I find that it is in order, today’s date, January the 4th of 2024. All right. We will move forward here. So, I understand that you wish to enter a plea of guilty to Count Five of the Indictment, which is wire fraud, is that correct? MR. HENDERSON: Yes, ma’am. THE COURT: All right. Let me go ahead and have you sworn in. I need to have you sworn in before I ask you some questions, and so I’ll have my courtroom deputy to swear you in. Just raise your right hand. CAMERON P. HENDERSON, DEFENDANT, SWORN Case 4:23-cr-00098-BCW Document 201 Filed 01/09/24 Page 3 of 28 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 4 MS. CHORNY: And if you could say “yes” just for the record. MR. HENDERSON: Yes. MS. CHORNY: Thank you. THE COURT: Okay. Because everything is being recorded so we don’t, -- MR. HENDERSON: Oh. THE COURT: -- it doesn’t record nods or anything of that nature. MR. HENDERSON: Okay. THE COURT: Do you -- okay. Thank you. MR. JOHNSTON: And, Mr. Henderson, I noticed that you are soft-spoken and that’s why I moved the microphone a little closer. But if you could speak up in response to Judge Counts’ questions, that would be helpful. MR. HENDERSON: All right. THE COURT: Okay. You are quite soft-spoken there. Okay. MR. JOHNSTON: Is that a yes? MR. HENDERSON: Yes. Yes. Yes, ma’am. THE COURT: All right. So, do you understand that you are now under oath and that if you answer any of my questions falsely, that you could be later charged and prosecuted for making a false statement or perjury? MR. HENDERSON: Yes, ma’am. Case 4:23-cr-00098-BCW Document 201 Filed 01/09/24 Page 4 of 28 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 5 THE COURT: All right. All right. So, these first set of questions, Mr. Henderson, has to do with your competency to enter a plea and so that’s what these are geared toward. So, what is your full name for the record? MR. HENDERSON: My name is Cameron Perkel Henderson. THE COURT: All right. And were you born here in the United States? MR. HENDERSON: Yes, ma’am. THE COURT: In Kansas City? MR. HENDERSON: Yes, ma’am. THE COURT: All right. Kansas City, Missouri, I should say. MR. HENDERSON: Yes, ma’am. THE COURT: All right. And how old are you? MR. HENDERSON: I’m 27. THE COURT: Twenty-seven. And how far did you go in school? MR. HENDERSON: I went to my junior year of college. THE COURT: Oh, awesome, great. All right. Have you been treated recently for any mental illness or any addiction to narcotic drugs of any kind? MR. HENDERSON: Yes. THE COURT: You have? And what -- MR. HENDERSON: Yes, ma’am. THE COURT: What is that? What kind of a treatment have Case 4:23-cr-00098-BCW Document 201 Filed 01/09/24 Page 5 of 28 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 6 you received? MR. HENDERSON: I recently went to a drug treatment scheduled for -- with -- I forgot his name, but my PO scheduled me to go to a drug treatment class with this person. THE COURT: Are you taking any medications to help with that treatment? MR. HENDERSON: No, ma’am. THE COURT: All right. MR. HENDERSON: It was only -- it was only a one-time thing. THE COURT: A one -- MR. HENDERSON: It was just a one class. THE COURT: Okay. All right. Have you recently been under the care of any, well, physician or psychiatrist? I guess this was -- this was a treatment. It wasn’t a doctor, correct? MR. HENDERSON: No, ma’am. THE COURT: All right. So, are you currently under -- under the influence of any drug or medication or alcoholic beverage of any kind? MR. HENDERSON: No, ma’am. THE COURT: All right. And do you -- do you understand what’s happening here today? MR. HENDERSON: Yes, ma’am. THE COURT: All right. Does either counsel have any doubt as to Mr. Henderson’s competency to plead today? Mr. Case 4:23-cr-00098-BCW Document 201 Filed 01/09/24 Page 6 of 28 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 7 Becker? MR. BECKER: I have no information on that. Thank you. I’m sure it’s -- he appears fine. THE COURT: Okay. Mr. Johnston? MR. JOHNSTON: I have no concerns, Your Honor. THE COURT: All right. The Court doesn’t either based upon, you know, your responses to questions and things of that nature. So, the Court does find that you are competent to understand the proceedings here today and enter a knowing plea. All right. These next questions have to do with your satisfaction with your attorney. Okay? MR. HENDERSON: Yes, ma’am. Have you had enough time and opportunity to discuss your case with your attorney? MR. HENDERSON: Yes. THE COURT: Okay. And are you fully satisfied with his advice and counsel? MR. HENDERSON: Yes, ma’am. THE COURT: Okay. And has he done everything that you’ve asked him to do? MR. HENDERSON: Yes. THE COURT: All right. Perfect. Awesome. Thank you. All right. Next, we need to go over your waiver of rights. There are some constitutional rights that you have under the laws of this -- of this country, and that is the right to a -- a right to a trial by jury. No one can convince you or persuade you or Case 4:23-cr-00098-BCW Document 201 Filed 01/09/24 Page 7 of 28 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 8 to make you waive up that -- waive that right. So, not the -- not the Government, not the judge, not your attorney, not law enforcement, no one can force you to give up your constitutional right to a trial by jury. Do you understand that, Mr. Henderson? MR. HENDERSON: Yes, ma’am. THE COURT: Okay. So, these constitutional rights that I will go over are ones that you will be giving up and waiving by entering a plea of guilty today. Do you understand that? MR. HENDERSON: Yes, ma’am. THE COURT: All right. So, these are the rights. You know, you have the right to plead not guilty and to persist in your plea of not guilty, but by entering a guilty plea today, you are giving up that right. Do you understand that? MR. HENDERSON: Yes, ma’am. THE COURT: Okay. You also have the right to be presumed innocent until your guilt is established beyond a reasonable doubt by a jury, but since you’re not going to have that trial, you’re giving up that right. Do you understand that? MR. HENDERSON: Yes, ma’am. THE COURT: Okay. You have the right to a jury trial and at that trial, the right to effective assistance of counsel. Since you won’t have a trial, you’ve giving up that right as well. Do you understand that? MR. HENDERSON: Yes, ma’am. THE COURT: You have the right to confront and cross- Case 4:23-cr-00098-BCW Document 201 Filed 01/09/24 Page 8 of 28 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 9 examine witnesses that the Government would subpoena to testify against you. But since you won’t have a trial, you’re giving up that right. Do you understand that? MR. HENDERSON: Yes, ma’am. THE COURT: Okay. You also have a right to compel or to subpoena witnesses to come and testify on your own behalf at a trial, but by pleading guilty here today, you’re giving up that right. Do you understand that? MR. HENDERSON: Yes, ma’am. THE COURT: Okay. And you also have the right to remain silent at trial, and in that situation, your silence cannot be used against you. Do you understand that? MR. HENDERSON: Yes, ma’am. THE COURT: So, by pleading guilty here today, you are giving up that right to remain silent. Do you understand that? MR. HENDERSON: Yes, ma’am. THE COURT: Okay. Did you have a chance to go over these constitutional rights with your attorney? MR. HENDERSON: Yes, ma’am. THE COURT: Okay. I’m sure he explained everything to you about that. MR. HENDERSON: Yes. THE COURT: Okay. So, after all of that, what we’ve talked about and what you’ve gone over with Mr. Johnston, do you still want to waive your constitutional rights? Case 4:23-cr-00098-BCW Document 201 Filed 01/09/24 Page 9 of 28 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 10 MR. HENDERSON: Yes, ma’am. THE COURT: Okay. All right. Let’s look at the Indictment. Do you have a copy of that Indictment? MR. HENDERSON: Yes, ma’am. THE COURT: All right. Have you had a chance to fully discuss these charges in this case with your attorney? MR. HENDERSON: Yes. THE COURT: Okay. So, what I’m going to do -- this is Count Five, I believe, Mr. Becker, correct? MR. BECKER: Yes, Judge. THE COURT: Okay. So, I’ll just ask you to explain the essential elements, just the elements of the charge that Mr. Henderson will be pleading guilty to and also the punishment for that -- for that charge. MR. BECKER: Yes, it’s a count of wire fraud in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343, which is punishable by not more than 20 years’ imprisonment, not more than a $250,000 fine, not more than three year’s supervised release, and a $100 special penalty assessment. The elements of the offense that he and -- in aiding and abetting with another person executed a scheme to defraud. In this case, it would be the Small Business Administration, SBA, by making a false representation that, in furtherance of the fraud scheme, there was a wire transfer across the state line, and in this case, it would be the wire transfer of funds from the Case 4:23-cr-00098-BCW Document 201 Filed 01/09/24 Page 10 of 28 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 11 funding bank, something called Prestamos, which is in Arizona, to Mr. Henderson’s bank account. And that he, in fact, received $20,832 as a result of this fraud scheme. The Government would prove this case by the documents of the application, which states falsely that he had a business which had gross receipts of $144,080 and profit of approximately $99,000 and submitted a false 2019 Form, Schedule C, with the application. We have his actual tax returns. He did not have a business with those gross receipts and those profits, and that he, in fact, we have the bank records showing he, in fact, received the money and spent the money. THE COURT: All right. Thank you. All right. Mr. Henderson, do you understand the elements of the charge? MR. HENDERSON: Yes, ma’am. THE COURT: All right. And do you also understand the statutory maximum for this is not more than 20 years’ imprisonment? MR. HENDERSON: Yes, ma’am. THE COURT: Okay. Let me ask these questions. I know there’s a forfeiture allegation. Is that part of this -- this plea, Mr. Becker? MR. BECKER: No, it’s not, Judge. THE COURT: Okay. MR. BECKER: I’ve spoken to the monetary penalties people and we’re not pursuing forfeiture. There would be Case 4:23-cr-00098-BCW Document 201 Filed 01/09/24 Page 11 of 28 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 12 mandatory restitution. THE COURT: Okay. All right. So, I won’t talk about forfeiture then. As Mr. Becker talked about there may be an order of restitution, which means, you know, a paying back of the money. Do you understand that? MR. HENDERSON: Yes, ma’am. THE COURT: Okay. Also, he mentioned the special assessment, which is $100, and that’s mandatory under the statute 18 U.S.C. Section 3013. Do you understand that that must be paid? MR. HENDERSON: Yes, ma’am. THE COURT: All right. Also, there was a term of supervised release of not less than three years’ imprisonment. MR. BECKER: I’m sorry, Judge. That’s a typo on the Indictment. It’s not more than three years’ -- THE COURT: Okay. MR. BECKER: -- supervised release. THE COURT: Okay. Thank you. I’m sure that’s reflected in the Plea Agreement. All right. It just says three years. Okay. So, not more than three years’ imprisonment. I mean, excuse me. Not more than three years’ supervised release. MR. BECKER: Correct. THE COURT: All right. So, you know, with super -- I’m sure Mr. Johnston has talked to you about supervised release, that that would be a period of time after any possible term of Case 4:23-cr-00098-BCW Document 201 Filed 01/09/24 Page 12 of 28 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 13 imprisonment. You would -- basically be on paper, as people would say. Do you understand that? MR. HENDERSON: Yes, ma’am. THE COURT: And for supervised release, if you’re on supervised release and you violate the terms of that supervised release, the court could revoke your supervised release and send you to jail for a period of time. Do you under -- do you understand that? MR. HENDERSON: Yes, ma’am. THE COURT: And even after that, the court could impose an additional term of supervised release after you would get out from that also. Do you understand that? MR. HENDERSON: Yes, ma’am. THE COURT: Okay. All right. Let’s go ahead and go to the Plea Agreement. Do you have a copy of that, Mr. Henderson? MR. HENDERSON: Yes, ma’am. THE COURT: Have you read this document? MR. HENDERSON: Yes. THE COURT: Okay. And did you discuss all of the pages, all of the paragraphs, of the -- of these -- of this Plea Agreement with your attorney? MR. HENDERSON: Yes, ma’am. THE COURT: And you did that before you signed it? MR. HENDERSON: Yes. THE COURT: And you signed it today, I believe, is that Case 4:23-cr-00098-BCW Document 201 Filed 01/09/24 Page 13 of 28 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 14 correct? MR. HENDERSON: Yes. THE COURT: And this is a 13-page document. Yes, with your signature, Mr. Johnston, and Mr. Becker’s signature on page 13. I have the original original, I guess. MR. HENDERSON: Yes, ma’am. THE COURT: Can you see that from here? No. MR. HENDERSON: I can’t. THE COURT: I know you have a copy right in front of you. Look on the -- on the -- on the last page. MR. HENDERSON: Where are you -- THE COURT: And that’s -- and that’s your signature on there? MR. HENDERSON: Yes, ma’am. THE COURT: Okay. All right. And what I’m going to do is -- well, this -- does this Plea Agreement represent all of the -- your understanding of your agreement with the Government? MR. HENDERSON: Yes, ma’am. THE COURT: All right. All right. So, now, Mr. Becker, it’s your turn to go over the essential parts of the Plea Agreement. And, Mr. Henderson, if you want to read along with him, and then I may -- I know I’ll have some additional things I want to talk to you about in the Plea Agreement, but we’ll go ahead and get started. Mr. Becker. MR. BECKER: Thank you, Judge. The defendant agrees to Case 4:23-cr-00098-BCW Document 201 Filed 01/09/24 Page 14 of 28 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 15 plea to Count Five of the Indictment charging him with wire fraud. Paragraph 3 outlines the factual basis for the plea that I’ve previously discussed. That he applied for a PPP loan through a person named Renetta Golden-Larimore and received $20,832 of which he paid some back to Ms. Golden-Larimore. It outlines the statutory maximum penalties that we’ve described. It outlines the sentencing procedure as including the supervised release provisions outlined by the Court. The Government agrees not to bring any further charges against the defendant for anything related to the PPP loan, and also agrees to move at the time of sentencing to dismiss Count One of the Indictment, which charged the defendant with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The Plea Agreement provides that the parties will not be allowed to withdraw their plea of guilty unless there’s some cause between now and the time of sentencing. Paragraph 10 outlines proposed Sentencing Guidelines, which would be a Base Offense Level of 7 for wire fraud with a four-level increase for a loss between 15,000 and 40,000. It envisions that a reduction for acceptance of responsibility and also since we’re post- November 1, 2023, there would be a two-level decrease because the defendant is a zero-point offender. It outlines the defendant’s constitutional rights, which have been reviewed by the Court and he gives up those rights. Paragraph 15 provides that the defendant waives his right to appeal the finding of guilt, except for the grounds of ineffective assistance or prosecutorial Case 4:23-cr-00098-BCW Document 201 Filed 01/09/24 Page 15 of 28 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 16 misconduct. He also waives his right to appeal his sentence, directly or collaterally, except for claims of ineffective assistance, prosecutorial misconduct, or an illegal sentence. There is provisions relating to restitution, many paragraphs. And that is essentially the provisions that are most important in the Plea Agreement. THE COURT: All right. Let me just go over just a couple of things with you, Mr. Henderson. Go back to page 6 and Paragraph 10. Okay. And it’s Paragraph 10(d) that says the parties agree that the court will determine your applicable criminal history category after they receive the Presentence Investigation Report. Do you see that? MR. HENDERSON: Yes, ma’am. THE COURT: Do you understand that? MR. HENDERSON: Yes. THE COURT: All right. And then on Paragraph 10(f) it says that the United States agrees not to seek an upward departure from the guidelines or a sentence outside the guidelines range. Do you -- do you see that? MR. HENDERSON: Yes, ma’am. THE COURT: All right. Also it says the agreement by the Government to not seek a departure from the guidelines is not binding upon the court or the Probation Office, and the court may impose any sentence authorized by law. It could be more than you anticipate or it could be less than you anticipate. Do you Case 4:23-cr-00098-BCW Document 201 Filed 01/09/24 Page 16 of 28 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 17 understand that? MR. HENDERSON: Yes, ma’am. THE COURT: Okay. Go to the next page on page 7 and that’s 10(g). You are consenting to judicial fact-finding by a preponderance of the evidence on issues relating to the Sentencing Guidelines. Do you understand that? MR. HENDERSON: Yes. THE COURT: Okay. In Paragraph 10(h) it says that you understand and agree that the factual omissions contained in Paragraph 3 of the Plea Agreement are your admissions and that that would be used in the calculation of the guidelines. Do you understand that? MR. HENDERSON: Yes, ma’am. THE COURT: Okay. Okay. And go to page 9, and it’s Paragraph 15. I think I have to go over that as well. Mr. Becker did, but I think the Court has to kind of go over that as well. In there you are waiving your right to appeal your finding of guilt that’s directly or collaterally, except on two grounds: ineffective assistance of counsel and prosecutorial misconduct. Do you understand that? MR. HENDERSON: Yes, ma’am. THE COURT: Okay. And then in 15(b) you’re waiving your right to appeal your sentence, directly or collaterally, except on three grounds. That’s ineffective assistance of counsel, prosecutorial misconduct, or an illegal sentence. Do you see Case 4:23-cr-00098-BCW Document 201 Filed 01/09/24 Page 17 of 28 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 18 that? MR. HENDERSON: Yes, ma’am. THE COURT: Okay. And also in that 15(b) it says -- it defines what an illegal sentence is. Basically it would be anything that’s above the statutory maximum. Do you understand that? MR. HENDERSON: Yes, ma’am. THE COURT: So, even if you don’t like the sentence that is imposed and it’s within the guideline range, you’re waiving your right to appeal that. Do you understand that? MR. HENDERSON: Yes, ma’am. THE COURT: Okay. Then the last thing I always go over Paragraph 20, which is on page 12. And that’s just -- that’s talking about you are acknowledging that you are entering into your Plea Agreement freely and voluntarily after receiving effective assistance of counsel. Do you agree with that? MR. HENDERSON: Yes, ma’am. THE COURT: Okay. And that you acknowledge that you are satisfied with your attorney’s representation. That he has advised you of your rights and your obligations in connection with this Plea Agreement. Do you understand that? MR. HENDERSON: Yes, ma’am. THE COURT: Do you agree with that? MR. HENDERSON: Yes. THE COURT: Okay. And also in that paragraph that you Case 4:23-cr-00098-BCW Document 201 Filed 01/09/24 Page 18 of 28 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 19 acknowledge that there are no promises or threats other than what’s in this Plea Agreement that has induced you to enter into a plea of guilty. Do you understand that? MR. HENDERSON: Yes, ma’am. THE COURT: Do you agree with that? MR. HENDERSON: Yes, ma’am. THE COURT: Okay. And then also there are no undisclosed terms of this Plea Agreement, is that correct? MR. HENDERSON: Yes, ma’am. THE COURT: So everything is within the -- this Plea Agreement -- MR. HENDERSON: Yes, ma’am. THE COURT: -- that you signed, correct? MR. HENDERSON: Yes. THE COURT: Okay. All right. Just to emphasize, you understand that the court is not bound by the Plea Agreement. I’ve said that before. So, the court -- it’s a contract between you and the Government. So, it doesn’t include the court. The court can impose any sentence below the maximum that it believes is substantively reasonable. Do you understand that? MR. HENDERSON: Yes, ma’am. THE COURT: And the Court does that after looking at a lot of what we call sentencing factors under 18 U.S.C. Section 3553. That’s the need to deter from future crimes, to protect the public, things of that nature. So, it takes all of that into Case 4:23-cr-00098-BCW Document 201 Filed 01/09/24 Page 19 of 28 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 20 consideration and then it will impose a sentence that it -- it believes is reasonable. Do you understand that? MR. HENDERSON: Yes, ma’am. THE COURT: Okay. All right. All right. Let me -- Mr. Johnston, have you conveyed all formal plea offers to Mr. Henderson? MR. JOHNSTON: I have, Your Honor. This was, for purposes of Frye-Lafler, this was the one and only plea offer extended by the Government. I’ve discussed it fully with Mr. Henderson and Mr. Henderson decided to accept that one and only plea. THE COURT: Okay. All right. Thank you. Is that correct, Mr. Becker? MR. BECKER: Yes, Judge, the defendant was given the choice of pleading to the conspiracy count or the substantive count. That’s that. THE COURT: Okay. All right. Thank you. So, the Court does find that the Plea Agreement is in proper form and that it will be filed. Let me advise you of this, Mr. Henderson. This offense is a felony offense, and with felony offenses, there are certain civil rights that you could be deprived of with a felony offense. And that’s the right to vote, the right to hold public office. The right to serve on a jury and the right to possess any firearm or ammunition. Do you understand that? MR. HENDERSON: Yes, ma’am. Case 4:23-cr-00098-BCW Document 201 Filed 01/09/24 Page 20 of 28 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 21 THE COURT: So, those are rights that you could be giving up. Do you understand that? MR. HENDERSON: Yes, ma’am. THE COURT: Okay. Or losing, I should say. All right. The Plea Agreement, the guidelines, talked about that. Oh, one thing. In the federal system there’s no such thing as parole. Do you understand that? We just have like -- MR. HENDERSON: Yes, ma’am. THE COURT: -- supervised release. So, there’s no parole in federal court. MR. HENDERSON: Yes, ma’am. THE COURT: Okay. All right. Let’s go ahead and go over the factual basis for the guilty plea. You kind of already went over this, Mr. Becker, but just to make sure the record is clear. If you would tell the Court what evidence you would have presented if this case had gone to trial. MR. BECKER: Yes, Judge. We would present the application of -- to something called Blue Acorn which was a portal to take the PPP loan applications that were prepared and submitted on May 21, 2021, by Golden-Larimore. We know that because the IP address that submitted the application comes back to her home. It lists the defendant’s personally identifiable information. It lists the income. We said earlier that he had a business and the bank. We have his tax records showing he did not, in fact, have a business with those gross -- gross income Case 4:23-cr-00098-BCW Document 201 Filed 01/09/24 Page 21 of 28 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 22 and profit. We have the bank records showing that the transfer of 20,832 happened on June 11, 2021, from Prestamos in Arizona to the defendant’s J.P. Morgan Chase account, and then he spent the loan proceeds on personal expenses not associated with any business. THE COURT: And also, Mr. Henderson was here in the Western District of Missouri when that occurred? MR. BECKER: Yes, and, I’m sorry, it was submitted by Golden-Larimore’s IP address which was in Kansas City, Missouri. THE COURT: Okay. All right. Thank you. All right. Mr. Johnston, do you agree that that would be the evidence the Government would present in this case? MR. JOHNSTON: I have reviewed the discovery, Your Honor. I have reviewed it with Mr. Henderson. We do agree that is the evidence that would be presented at a trial and that the Government could meet all of the elements of the charged offense. THE COURT: All right. Mr. Henderson, do you agree with the Government’s summary of what you did? MR. HENDERSON: Yes, ma’am. THE COURT: And that you did what the Government said you did? MR. HENDERSON: Yes, ma’am. THE COURT: Okay. And this is my normal practice. Mr. Johnston, I will have you make a factual basis with Mr. Henderson. Case 4:23-cr-00098-BCW Document 201 Filed 01/09/24 Page 22 of 28 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 23 MR. JOHNSTON: Sure. Mr. Henderson, I’m going to do a little question and answer session with you, so, -- MR. HENDERSON: Okay. MR. JOHNSTON: -- please remember that you are under oath. Mr. Henderson, were you present here in Kansas City, Missouri, in the Western District of Missouri in or about May of 2021? MR. HENDERSON: Yes. MR. JOHNSTON: Did you know Renetta Golden-Larimore? MR. HENDERSON: Yes. MR. JOHNSTON: Did Renetta Golden-Larimore collect personalized information from you to include your Social Security number, date of birth, et cetera? MR. HENDERSON: Yes. MR. JOHNSTON: All right. And did you know that Renetta Golden-Larimore would use that information to submit a loan application to the Small Business Administration? MR. HENDERSON: Yes. MR. JOHNSTON: All right. And did you know that Mr. Renetta Golden-Larimore would represent on your behalf to the Small Business Administration that you had a business that had $144,080 in gross income in 2019? MR. HENDERSON: No. MR. JOHNSTON: You did not know that she would make that representation? Case 4:23-cr-00098-BCW Document 201 Filed 01/09/24 Page 23 of 28 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 24 MR. HENDERSON: No, I didn’t know nothing about no numbers. MR. JOHNSTON: Okay. But you did know that she would represent to the Small Business Administration that you had a business that you did not have, is that correct? MR. HENDERSON: Yes. MR. JOHNSTON: All right. And you did know that she would represent some number on the -- that loan application, correct? MR. HENDERSON: Yes. MR. JOHNSTON: All right. And you did not verify what that number would be? MR. HENDERSON: No. MR. JOHNSTON: Okay. And you understood that that would be submitted in furtherance of obtaining what’s called a PPP loan? MR. HENDERSON: Yes. MR. JOHNSTON: All right. And did you receive the funds from that PPP loan? MR. HENDERSON: Yes. MR. JOHNSTON: All right. And you understood that as part of that process material false representations were made to the Small Business Administration? MR. HENDERSON: Yes. MR. JOHNSTON: All right. And you aided and abetted Ms. Case 4:23-cr-00098-BCW Document 201 Filed 01/09/24 Page 24 of 28 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 25 Golden-Larimore in going so? MR. HENDERSON: Yes. MR. JOHNSTON: All right. THE COURT: All right. Thank you. All right. Just to kind of wrap this up. Mr. Henderson, has -- has anyone attempted in any way to force you to plead guilty or otherwise threaten you? MR. HENDERSON: No. THE COURT: Okay. Has anyone made any promises or assurances of any kind outside of the Plea Agreement to get you to plead guilty? MR. HENDERSON: No, ma’am. THE COURT: Okay. And are you pleading guilty because you are, in fact, guilty? MR. HENDERSON: Yes. THE COURT: Okay. And are you doing this of your own free will? MR. HENDERSON: Yes, ma’am. THE COURT: All right. And so let me specifically ask you, Mr. Henderson, as to Count Five of this Indictment for wire fraud, how do you plead, guilty or not guilty? MR. HENDERSON: I plead guilty. THE COURT: All right. All right. So the Court does find that there is indeed a factual basis for the plea of guilty, and that, Mr. Henderson, since you acknowledge that you are, in Case 4:23-cr-00098-BCW Document 201 Filed 01/09/24 Page 25 of 28 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 fact, guilty as charged in Count Five of this Indictment, and since you know your right to a trial by jury, you know what the maximum possible punishment is, and since you are knowingly and voluntarily pleading guilty, I do accept your plea of guilty to Count Five. So, this Court -- I will -- I’ll prepare a Report and Recommendation for Judge Wimes recommending an entry of judgment on your plea of guilty. So, the next step here is the Probation Office will be talking with you. They have to prepare what they call a Presentence Investigation Report before sentencing occurs. So, they’re be asking you questions. And that’s just to get a total picture of everything. And so they -- they’ll prepare that and give that to the court, to the Government, to your attorney, and you’ll get to see a copy as well. If you have any changes or corrections or objections to that report, your attorney can, you know, submit that. If that’s -- and the Government also. If those issues cannot be resolved, the District Court will resolve those issues at sentencing. Do you understand that? MR. HENDERSON: Yes, ma’am. THE COURT: Okay. All right. Do you have any questions about anything that we’ve discussed here today? MR. HENDERSON: No, ma’am. THE COURT: Okay. All right. I think we’ve covered everything. Anything else you can think of, Mr. Becker? MR. BECKER: Nothing else. You’ve covered it. Thank Case 4:23-cr-00098-BCW Document 201 Filed 01/09/24 Page 26 of 28 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 27 you. THE COURT: Okay. All right. Mr. Johnston, anything else you can think of? MR. JOHNSTON: No, Your Honor, thank you. THE COURT: All right. All right. So, Mr. Henderson, you are on bond that will continue on. As I said, I’m sure you will be talking with the Probation Officer who’s here today, and get this -- it will be set for sentencing as soon as possible before Judge Wimes. I don’t know when that will be, but Mr. Johnston will keep you informed of that. Okay? MR. HENDERSON: Yes, ma’am. THE COURT: All right. All right. Thank you all. We’ll be in recess. MR. JOHNSTON: Thank you, Judge. THE COURT: Thank you. (Court Adjourned at 10:04 a.m.) Case 4:23-cr-00098-BCW Document 201 Filed 01/09/24 Page 27 of 28 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 28 I certify that the foregoing is a correct transcript from the electronic sound recording of the proceeding in the above-entitled matter. /s/ Lissa C. Whittaker January 9, 2024 Signature of transcriber Date Case 4:23-cr-00098-BCW Document 201 Filed 01/09/24 Page 28 of 28
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