United States v. Derek James Acree — Plea Agreement, Southern District of Florida (Document 11)
Summary
A Plea Agreement between the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida and Derek James Acree in United States v. Derek James Acree, Case 9:22-cr-80157-AHS, entered on the docket 10/11/2022 as Document 11. The defendant agrees to plead guilty to the one-count Information charging conspiracy to commit wire fraud. It sets out the possible fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross loss or gain, which could be as much as $2,525,200, and the defendant agrees to restitution of $1,262,600.00 and a $100.00 special assessment. The parties will jointly recommend a base offense level of 7 and a 16-level upward adjustment for a loss of more than $1,500,000 but not greater than $3,500,000, with reductions for acceptance of responsibility. The defendant agrees to a forfeiture money judgment of approximately $869,682.83 and waives most appeal rights.
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“United States v. Derek James Acree — Plea Agreement, Southern District of Florida (Document 11).”
Original at ecf.flsd.uscourts.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/plea-agreement-united-states-v-derek-james-acree-dkt-11-s-d-fla-ec69afa3c2/
, SHA-256 d86989b681da4f9469ffef43dd4a429cc27e7499ea735de014cf0cee327c662e.Full text
Case 9:22-cr-80157-AHS Document 11 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/11/2022 Page 1 of 9
UNITED STA TES DISTRICT CO URT
SOU TH ERN D ISTW CT O F FLOR IDA
CASENO. z.z -.
vé?lh--l-Jl//
UN ITED STA TES O F AM ERICA
VS.
DEREK JAM ES A CREE ,
Defendant.
. /
PLEA A GR EEM ENT
TheUnitedStatesAttorney'sOfficefortheSouthernDistrictofFlorida(thistdoffice''land
DerekJamesAcree(hereinaRerreferredtoasthetsDefendanf')ènterintothefollowingagreement:
The defendant agrees to plead guilty to the one-cotmt Inform ation,which charges
conspiracytocommitwirefraud,inviolation of18U.S.C.j1343,al1inviolationof18U.S.C.j
1349.
2. Thedefendantisawarethatthesentencewillbe.imposedbytheCourtafterconsideling
the advisory FederalSentencing Guidelinesand Policy Statements (hereinafter tlsentencing
Guidelines'). The defendantaclmowledges and understandsthatthe Courtwillcompute an
advisory sentence under the Sentencing Guidelines and thatthe applicable guidelines w illbe
determ inedby theCotu'trelying inparton theresultsofapre-sentenceinvestigation by theCourt's
probation office,which investigation w illcom m ence afterthe guilty pleahas been entered. The
defendantisalso aw arethat,tm derceMain circtlm stances,the Courtm ay depart9om the advisory
sentencing guideline range thatithas com ptlted,and m ay raise or low er thatadvisoly sentence
tlnderthe Sentencing Guidelines. The defendantisfurtheraware and tm derstands thatthe Court
isrequired to considerthe advisory guidelinerange determilled underthe Sentencing Guidelines,
Case 9:22-cr-80157-AHS Document 11 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/11/2022 Page 2 of 9
butisnotbound to im poje a sentence w ithin thatadvisory range;the Cotu'tispermitted to tailor
the ultim ate sentence in lightofother statutory concem s,and such ,sentence m ay be either m ore
severeorlessseverethan the Sentencitlg Guidelines'advisory range. Knùwing thesefacts,the
defendantunderstandsand acknow ledgesthatthe Courthasthe authority to impose any sentence
w ithin and up to the statutory m axim um authorized by law fortheoffensesidentitied in paragraph
1and thatthe defendantm ay notw ithdraw theplea solely as aresultofthe sentenceim posed.
The defendant also Jm derstands and aclcnow ledges that the Court m ay im pose a
statutory maximum term ofimprisonmentofup to twenty (20)years,followed by atenn of
supervised release ofthree (3)years. In addition to a term ofimprisonmentand supervised
release,theCourtmayimposeafineoftlp totwohundredandt'
if'
T thousand($250,000)dollars,
ortwice the gross lossorgross gain,which could be asmuch as $2,525,200;and mustorder
restitm ion. The defendantagreesthathe w illm ake restittttion in the am ountofone m illion hvo
hundredsixtptwothousand andsixhundreddollars($1,262,600.00). Thecourtmay alsoorder
forfeihlre.
The defendantfurthertm derstands and aclm ow ledgesthat,in addition to any sentence
imposedunderparagraph 3ofthisapeem ent,aspecialassessm entof$100.00willbeimposedon
thedèfendant. The defendantagreesthatany specialassessm entim posed shallbepaid atthetim e
ofsentencing. If a defendantis financially tlnable to pay the specialassessm ent,the defendant
agreesto presentevidence to thisOffice and the Courtatthe tim e ofsentencing asto the reasons
forthedefendant'sfailureto pay.
This Office reserves the rightto inform the Courtand the probation office ofallfacts
pertinentto the sentencing process,including a1lrelevant inform ation concerning the offenses
com m itted,whether charged or not, as w ell as concem ing the defendant and the defendant's
Case 9:22-cr-80157-AHS Document 11 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/11/2022 Page 3 of 9
background. Subjectonlytotheexpresstenusofanyagreed-uponsentencingrecommendations
contained in thisagreem ent,thisOffice furtherreservestherightto m akeany recom m endation as
to thequality and quantity ofpunishm ent.
This Office and the defendantagree that,although notbinding on the probation
officeortheCourt,theywilljointlyrecommendthattheCourtmakethefollowing findingsand
h conclujions asto the sentence to be imposed:
Base Offense Level:Thatthe base offense level is 7,pursuantto Section 2B 1.1
(a)(1);
b. Specific offense Characte
'ristic; That the defendant should receive a 16-1eve1
upwardadjustmentasthelosswasmorethan$1,500,000butnotgreaterthan$3,500,000,pursuant
toSection281.1(b)(1)(1),
'and
Specificoffense Characteristic:Thatthedefendantshould receiye a2-1eve1upw azd
adjustmentifthe'offenseinvolvedamisrepresentationorotherfraudulentactionduringthecourse
ofabanknlptcyproceeding,pursuanttoSection281.1(b)(9)(B).
TiisOftk e agreesthatitwillrecommend atsentencing thatthe Courtreduce by
hvo levelsthe sentencing guideline levelapplicableto thedefendant'soffense,purstlantto Section
3E1.1(a)oftheSentencing Guidelines,baseduponthedefendant'srecognition and affirmative
and tim ely acceptance of personalresponsibility. lf at the tim e of sentencing the defendant's
offense level is determined to be 16 or grepter, this Office w ill file a m otion requesting an
additionaloneleveldecreaseptlrsuantto Section3E1.1(b)oftheSentencing Guidelines,stating
thatthe defendanthas assisted authorities in the investigation or prosecution of the defendant's
own m iscoriductby tim ely notifying authorities of the defendant's intention to enter a plea of
guilty, thereby permitting the governm ent to avoid preparing for trial and perm itting the
3
Case 9:22-cr-80157-AHS Document 11 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/11/2022 Page 4 of 9
governm entand the Courtto allocate theirresources efficiently. ThisO ffice,how ever,w illnot
berequiredtomakethismotionifthedefendant:(1)failsorrefusestomakea111,accurateand
com pletedisclosure to the probation office ofthe circtlm stances sunounding therelevantoffense
conduct;(2)isfoundtohavemisrepresentedfactstothegovernmentpiiortoenteringintothisplea
agreement;or(3)commitsanymisconductafterenteringintothispleaagreement,includingbut
notlim ited to com m itting a state orfederaloffense,violating any term ofrelease,orm aldng false
statem ents orm isrepresentationsto any governm entalentity orofticial.
9. ThisOffice and the defendantagree that,although notbinding on theprobation oftice
ortheComt theywilljointlyrecommendthattheCourtimpos:asentencewithin theadvisory
sentencing guideline rangeproduced by application ofthe Sentencing Guidelines. Although not
bindingontheprobation officeortheCoult thisOfficeandthedefendantfurtheragreethat,except
asotherwiseexpresslycontemplatedinthisPleaAgreement,theywilljointlyrecommendthatthe
Courtneitherdeparttlpw ard,departdownward norseek avarianceupward ordownw ard from the
applicable Sentencing Guidelines.
The defendantis aw are thatthe sentence hasnotyetbeen determ ined by the Court.
The defendantalso isaw arethatany estim ateoftheprobable sentencing rangeorsentencethatthe
defendantm ay receive,whetherthatestim ate com esfrom thedefendant'satlorney,thisOffice,or
the probation office,isa prediction,nota prom ise,and isnotbinding on thisO ffice,the probation
office orthe Court. The defendanttm derstandsfurtherthatany recom m endation thatthis Oftk e
m akestothe Courtasto sentencing,whetherpurstlantto thisagreem entorothelw ise,isnotbinding
on the Coul'tand the Coul'tm ay disregard the recom m endation in its entirety. The defendant
understands and acknowledges, as previotlsly aclcnowledged ill paragraph 2 above, that the
defendantm ay notw ithdraw hisplea based upon the Court's decision notto accepta sentencing
4
Case 9:22-cr-80157-AHS Document 11 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/11/2022 Page 5 of 9
recommendationmadeby the defendant,thisOffice,orarecommendation madejointly by the
defendantand thisO ffice.
11. The defendant agrees, i.
n an individual and any other capacity,to forfeit to the
United States,voltlntarily and im m ediately,any right,title,and interestto any property,realor
personal,which constitutesorisdel-ived from proceedstraceableto the comm ission oftheoffense,
in violation of18U.S.C.j 1349,ptlrsuantto 18U.S.C.j 981(a)(1)(C),asincorporated by 28
U.S.C.#2461(c),andtheprovisionsof21U.S.C.j853. In addition?thedefendantagreesto
forfeitureofsubstitm epropeo pursuantto21U.S.C.j853(p).Thepropertysubjecttoforlkimre
includej,butisnotlim ited to:
aforfeituremoneyjudgmentinthesum ofapproximately $869,682.83 in
U .S. ctlrrency, w hich sllm represents the value of any property that
constitutes or is derived from proceeds traceable to the défepdant's
commissionoftheoffensets).
12. The defendantflm heragreesthatforfeitureisindependentofany assessm ent,fine,
cost,restitution, or penalty thatm ay be im posed by the Court.The defendant know ingly and
voluntarily agreestowaiveal1constitutional,lejal,and equitabledefensestotheforfeiture,
including excessive tines under the Eighth A m endm ent to the United States Constitution.ln
addition,thedefendantagreestowaive:anyapplicabletimelimitsforadministrativeorjudicial
forfeitureproceedings,therequirementsofFed.Rs.Crim.P.32.2and43(a),andanyappealofthe
forfeiture.
13. The defendantalso agrees to fully and truthfully disclose the existence,nature and
location ofal1assets in which the defendanthasorhad any director indirectfm ancialitlterestor
control,andanyassetsinvolvedintheoffensets)ofconviction. Thedefendantagreestotakea11
steps requested by the United Statesfor the recovery and forfeiture ofa1lassetsidentified by the
Case 9:22-cr-80157-AHS Document 11 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/11/2022 Page 6 of 9
UnitedStatesassubjecttoforfeiture. Thisincludes,butisnotlimitedto,thetimelydeliveryuptm '
requestùf al1necessary and appropdate docum entation to deliver good and marketable title,
consenting to allordersofforfeiture,and notcontesting orimpeding in any w ay with any crim inal,
civiloradministrativeforfeitureproceeding concem ing the forfeiture.
14. Infurtheranceofthesatisfaction ofaforfeituremoneyjudgmententeredby the
Courtin this case,the defendantagreesto the follow ing:
subm itafinancialstatem entto thisO ftice upon request,within 14 calendar
daysfrom therequest;
maintain any assetvalued in excessof$10,000,andnotsell,hide,waste,
'
.
encumber,destroy,orothenvisedevaluesuch assetwithoutjriorapproval
ofthe United States;
provide infoimatiôn about any transfer of an assetvalued in excess of
$10,000sincethecommencementoftheoffenseconductinthiscasetodate;
d. cooperate fully in the investigation and Jhe identification of assets,
including liqtlidating assets,m eeiing with reprej'
entatives ofthe United
States,and providing any docum entation reqtlested;and
notify,w ithin 30 days,the Clerk ofthe Courtforthe Southem D istrictof
Flolidaand thisOfficeof:(i)any changeofname,residence,ormailing
address,and(ii)anymaterialchangeineconomiccircumstances.
The defendantfurther tm derstands thatproviding false oy incomplete infonnation about
assets,concealing assets,m aldngm aterially false statem entsorrepresentations,orm akipg orusing .
falsew ritingsordocum entspertaining to assets,taking any action thatw ould im pedethe forfeiture
6
Case 9:22-cr-80157-AHS Document 11 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/11/2022 Page 7 of 9
ofassets,orfailinjtocooperatefullyintheinvestigationandidentificationofassetsmaybeused
asabasisfor:(i)separateprosectltion,incltlding,tmder18U.S.C.51001,
'or(ii)recommendation
ofadenialofareduction foracceptance ofresponsibility pursuantto theUnited States Sentencing
Guidelinesj3E1.1.
15. The defendantisawarethatTitle28,United StatesCode,Section 1291andTitle 18,
United StatesCode,Section 3742 afford the defendanttherightto appealthesentence im posed in
this case. A clcnow ledging this,in exchange for the undertakings m ade by the United States in
thisplea agreem ent,the defendanthereby w aivesal1rightsconferred by Sections 1291 and 3742
to appealany sentence im posed,including any restim tion order,orto appealthe m annerin which
the sentence w asim posed,unlessthe sentence exceedsthem axim um perm itted by statute oristhe
resultofan tlpward departure and/oran upwar
'd valiancefrom the advisoly guidelinerangethat
the Court establishes at sentencing. The defendant further tm derstands that.nothing in this
.
agreem entshallaffectthe governm ent'slightand/orduty to appealassetforth in Title 18,United
StatesCode,Section 3742(1$ andTitle28,United StatesCode,Section 1291. However,ifthe
United States appeals the defendqnt's sentence pursuantto Sections 3742(b)and 1291,the
defendantshallbereleasedfrom theabovewaiverofhisrighttoappealhissentence.
ed by Title28,United StatesCode,
The defendantfurtherhereby waivesa11rightsconfen' .
Section 1291to assertany claim that(1)thestatutets)towhich thedefenjantispleading guilty
is/are unconstitmional;and/or(2)the aflmitted conductdoesnotfallwithin the scope ofthe
statutets)ofconviction.
By signing this agreem ent,the defendantacltnow ledges thatthe defendanthasdiscussed
theappealW aiversetforth in thisagreem entwith thedefendant'satlorney. The defendantfurther
Case 9:22-cr-80157-AHS Document 11 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/11/2022 Page 8 of 9
agrees, together with this Office, to request that the Court enter a specific finding that the
defendént-sw aiverot-hisrightto appealthe sen'
tence im posed in thiscase and hisrightto appeal
hisconviction illthe m arm erdescribed abovew asknow ing énd voluntary.
Case 9:22-cr-80157-AHS Document 11 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/11/2022 Page 9 of 9
This is the entire agreem ent and understanding between this Offk e and the
defendant. Thereareno otheragreem ents,prom ises,representations,orunderstandings.
JUAN AN TONIO G ON ZA LEZ
UN ITED S TES A TTORN EY
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DAV ID ROTH
ATTORN EY FOR DEFEN D N T
Date: 0 tz By: / z2
DE AM ES
D FEN DAN T
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