Maximum Sentence:
- DD
- 35 years confinement
- Total forfeiture
- Reduction to E-1
- Federal felony drug conviction
Based on a lengthy and thorough investigation by NCIS, our Marine client was inculpated in a large-scale Ecstasy distribution ring allegedly responsible for importing and distributing tens of thousands of Ecstasy pills onto MCAS Iwakuni, Japan.
Before we were retained on this case, our client gave law enforcement a confession that greatly limited our options in defending this case. Given that confession, the quantity of drugs allegedly imported and distributed, and the numerous co-accused who were lining up to testify against our client for grants of immunity, we elected to travel to MCAS Iwakuni to meet with the prosecutors and work out an alternate disposition.
Initially, the government was seeking over 5 years confinement in return for a plea of guilty, but after we threatened a fully contested trial, we were able to get the charges reduced to Special Court-Martial and negotiate a confinement cap of only 10 months.
At the sentencing hearing, held in Okinawa, we put on a compelling mitigation and extenuation case, and our client was only sentenced to 6 months confinement. Had this case been brought to the US Attorney’s office, the client would have likely faced double-digit confinement with mandatory minimums.
If Bilecki Law Group had not aggressively negotiated with the government, including the in-person travel, this Marine would have likely done 3-5 years in military confinement.