Ron's possible plea deal?

[impatientredhead]

Why do you say Ron is facing a 25 year Minimum? He has 5 charges and each of them have a minimum/maximum mandatory.

He is not likely to be sentenced to consecutive sentences. The cases I just linked that had much bigger organization, way larger amounts, more charges on the indictments, and millions of dollars of drugs involved didn't get consecutive sentences.

If he was convicted of all five counts, given the minimum mandatory on each and serves them concurrently (which is the standard) 25 years is the longest minimum on there. And fining Ron $250k or $1.25 million is really about the same thing since no one will ever see that paid.

PS- five charges makes his chances at trial much slimmer though, which is why they are stacked like that. Any single one might get tossed out by a savvy defense attorney but finding a technicality for all five is pretty slim.

 

[Dr.Fessel]

I have to be totally honest, I am biased and am having a hard time seeing the possible outcome of this. I feel he is heavily involved in Haleigh's disappearance and I bet my bottom dollar he is the one that drug Hope into it.

My only hope I guess is the SA and Judge feel the same way I do. I would rather see them go all the way no holds barred and lose then see Ron get the same time Hope did.

 

[impatientredhead]

I have to be totally honest, I am biased and am having a hard time seeing the possible outcome of this. I feel he is heavily involved in Haleigh's disappearance and I bet my bottom dollar he is the one that drug Hope into it.

My only hope I guess is the SA and Judge feel the same way I do. I would rather see them go all the way no holds barred and lose then see Ron get the same time Hope did.

I understand the feeling, I certainly don't want to see any of them walk out those doors. Just trying to be realistic and if Ron goes to trial and the judge sentences him to life for five small pill transactions it can be challenged for unfair application of sentencing.

If armed gang leaders with previous felonies (who injure police officers during an arrest) get 24 years for way more drugs, and dealers bringing in 1.8 million worth of cocaine from puerto rico and get busted with 500 grams on them at arrest get 30 years they are going to have a hard time showing that a life time sentence is just for the charges at hand.

I think what we all want to see is Haleigh's case resolved, in her name, with charges related to her. Not with others charges that will have to make due. If they need to hold him for fifteen years on those other charges while they bring her case to a rightful close I can deal with that.

 

[Cowdaddy]

LE said they had information they were selling pills in the area. They might have to call those people that told them that. Then you have Misty's drug buying, and Ron saying he would just eat those he bought and work for the money and Tommy saying he went along with it for the high. All those things point to using and the likely hood to sell to pay for their habit.

I don't know if Florida has drug court, but in a lot of places, the whole crew would be considered good candidates for drug court. Knowing what I know of these people, they'd probably flunk out of drug court and go to prison.

When Hope told her mother, "They don't like us," she hit the nail on the head. Missing 5 year old or no missing 5 year old, these are not likable people.

 

[Peliman]

No deals, I actually want to see them go to trial and defend themselves.

 

[LaLaw2000]

I hear ya, LA, but just think how PO'd we'd all be if he went to trial and was acquitted.

You are right, bessie! Someone would have to lock me up if Ronald got acquitted! I could not bear it if he walked on this one.

I do understand everyone's point.

 

[dodie20]

If Ron gets a plea for spilling info on Haleigh, I'm gonna be so pizzed. Think about it...a father takes part in a cover up in the murder of his daughter, hinders the investigation for over a year, & is rewarded with a much reduced drug sentence? no, I don't want it. LE should be able to solve this case regardless of what this bunch of non truth tellers has to say. If they can't, well they need to call in the big boys. Hope didn't have a dead child that she was withholding info on-too bad for her, I guess.

 

[viedow]

IMO
I think RC is getting a plea deal for rolling on some drug dealers. LE is totally playing the game on this. I think LE realized a long time ago they were not getting anywhere with RC so they decided to not let in on to RC what they thought of him either. RC lawyered up and IMO did not rush to talk to them everytime LE needed to ask questions.

LE feels that they are real close in having enough evidence in proving RC's guilt and can arrest him but they need more time. 15-25 years will give them more than enough time - heck 10 years will give them enough... IMO

Prosecuters and LE surely do not want him bailed out because they could lose him. Right now they are close to making a plea deal for 15 years and than they are within months for a life sentence for the drug,gun,lifestyle and coverup they caused and he instructed for his daughters demise. All IMO.

 

[krkrjx]

If RC is offered a plea deal, it has nothing to do with drug court. In Florida, drug court is for young first-time offenders; RC does not qualify due to his age and his past record. I think the only deal he might consider would be to snitch on someone higher up, and I am not sure he would risk retaliation that could come from that, even if he does know names. IMO, he is more likely to take this to trial.

 

[Whisperer]

You are right, bessie! Someone would have to lock me up if Ronald got acquitted! I could not bear it if he walked on this one.

I do understand everyone's point.

I don't want to get insecure. They won't acquit him. He is on video selling, buying and talking of distributing for dealer. He's toast.

I guess we may become worried thinking he will garner sympathy while he waits but the jurors can't deny the video. He could get worse than a plea deal. I'm betting he pleads not guilty, takes it all the way to trial and then pleads out before it goes to court.

 

[Natal]

From the link below, this January, leader of a large drug trafficking gang, two year investigation, multiple felonies including trafficking, violent arrest that involved shooting the defendant (oh yeah, and a firearms aggravating factor to the trafficking charges), he got 10.33 years. That was the heaviest sentence of the 17 people that were charged. The original indictment docs are linked at the bottom.



http://www.usfra.org/group/prisonblock/forum/topics/member-of-opalocka-drug-gang

Jeffrey H. Sloman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, John V. Gillies, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Miami Field Office, Hugo Barrera, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Mark R. Trouville, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration, Miami Field Division, James K. Loftus, Interim Director, Miami-Dade Police Department, and Rodney Ballentine, Chief, City of Opa-Locka Police Department, announced the sentencing of the final defendant in Operation Cold Turkey. On January 5, 2010, U.S. District Court Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks sentenced defendant Erick Hinds to 248 months in prison, following his October 2009 trial on gun and drug charges in connection with a drug trafficking gang that operated in the City of Opa-Locka. Hinds was arrested on December 17, 2008, after he violently resisted arrest, and was himself shot and wounded by Miami Dade Police Officers executing a search warrant.

This sentencing effectively concludes Operation Cold Turkey, a two-year investigation that resulted in charges against 17 defendants in connection with drug trafficking. The investigation and prosecution resulted in the seizure of approximately 40 firearms, including assault weapons and machine guns, and a ballistics vest. Others charged and convicted were:

Vashawn I. Young: 135 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release;

Delvin Robinson: 135 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release;

Audrei Butler: 4 years’ probation, with 18 months’ home detention;

Luther Boykin: 96 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release;

Anthony Smith: 120 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release;

Quinton McGhee: 120 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release;

Marcus Carroll: 180 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release;

Vance Williams: 120 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release;

Tavaris Hall: 72 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release;

Montcello Cooper, Jr.: 126 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release;

Hollis K. Oliver: 84 months in prison, followed by 2 years of supervised release;

Pernell D. Scott: 120 months in prison, followed by 2 years of supervised release;

Jonathan Daniels: 120 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release;

Shane Ricardo Brown: 180 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release;

Maurice Williams: 84 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release; and

Patrick McKinnon: 92 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release.

According to statements made in court in the Hinds trial and in various guilty pleas, it is estimated that this gang trafficked in approximately 8,200 grams of marijuana, 560 grams of crack cocaine, 700 grams of powder cocaine, and 500 MDMA in just a one month period.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/fls/PressReleases/Attachments/081217-01.Indictment-B.pdf

Wow! Does that mean that Hope is a significantly greater threat to society than these guys? :waitasec:

 

[4Jacy]

If Ron gets a plea for spilling info on Haleigh, I'm gonna be so pizzed. Think about it...a father takes part in a cover up in the murder of his daughter, hinders the investigation for over a year, & is rewarded with a much reduced drug sentence? no, I don't want it. LE should be able to solve this case regardless of what this bunch of non truth tellers has to say. If they can't, well they need to call in the big boys. Hope didn't have a dead child that she was withholding info on-too bad for her, I guess.

Dodie, the big boys needed to be called in long ago. I don't understand what is going on with case. The screen door should have been removed immediately. If, in fact, the dogs hit on the dumpster, then the landfil should have been searched. There are just too many things that should have been taken care of from the very start. Also, TN should have never been allowed in the MH. The police knew she wasn't one of their's no matter what she had on. I thought no one is ever allowed into a crime scene.

 

[impatientredhead]

Wow! Does that mean that Hope is a significantly greater threat to society than these guys? :waitasec:

Not really, just means Hope took a no contest on a charge with a minimum sentence which NO ONE does when it is the only charge you are facing. That was just amazingly stupid. I wonder what will happen at her rehearing.

 

[raisincharlie]

If RC is offered a plea deal, it has nothing to do with drug court. In Florida, drug court is for young first-time offenders; RC does not qualify due to his age and his past record. I think the only deal he might consider would be to snitch on someone higher up, and I am not sure he would risk retaliation that could come from that, even if he does know names. IMO, he is more likely to take this to trial.

JMO, playing the snitch is something Ron has done in the past to get out of trouble. I suspect he will do it again as he does not seem to be a big picture guy. He changed the locks on the mh "so this wouldn't happen".

Time will tell what he does. These folks have no qualms about tattling on other folks, even their own family members in an effort to save their backsides. They obviously have no qualms about repurcusions against family members resulting from their actions either.

 

[nomoresorrow]

Dodie, the big boys needed to be called in long ago. I don't understand what is going on with case. The screen door should have been removed immediately. If, in fact, the dogs hit on the dumpster, then the landfil should have been searched. There are just too many things that should have been taken care of from the very start. Also, TN should have never been allowed in the MH. The police knew she wasn't one of their's no matter what she had on. I thought no one is ever allowed into a crime scene.

That, IMO, is a large part of the problem here; I don't think that LE treated the MH as a crime scene at the onset. As I recall, Gma Sykes mentioned in an interview, she also went into the MH after her arrival early that morning to help "look around". Not smart at all on the part of LE...

 

[debs]

That, IMO, is a large part of the problem here; I don't think that LE treated the MH as a crime scene at the onset. As I recall, Gma Sykes mentioned in an interview, she also went into the MH after her arrival early that morning to help "look around". Not smart at all on the part of LE...

On the original police report we saw, it indicated that the crime happened "outside the home."

 

[rileysmom]

Is Ron getting sentenced on Thursday? Or is it to have another hearing?

 

[krkrjx]

JMO, playing the snitch is something Ron has done in the past to get out of trouble. I suspect he will do it again as he does not seem to be a big picture guy. He changed the locks on the mh "so this wouldn't happen".

Time will tell what he does. These folks have no qualms about tattling on other folks, even their own family members in an effort to save their backsides. They obviously have no qualms about repurcusions against family members resulting from their actions either.

I am sure RC has tattled in the past but I must consider that someone may have retaliated against him for this. Not to go into too much detail and get off topic here, but RC's situation now is different than it was in the past. His child is missing and even though it is not likely this was the result of him having turned on the wrong person at some point, it remains a possibility, imo. Until Haleigh's disappearance is solved I am still holding onto all possible scenarios.

 

[grandmaj]

If it it is the parking lot don't bring it upstairs please.

 

[1Chump]

From the link below, this January, leader of a large drug trafficking gang, two year investigation, multiple felonies including trafficking, violent arrest that involved shooting the defendant (oh yeah, and a firearms aggravating factor to the trafficking charges), he got 10.33 years. That was the heaviest sentence of the 17 people that were charged. The original indictment docs are linked at the bottom.



http://www.usfra.org/group/prisonblock/forum/topics/member-of-opalocka-drug-gang

Jeffrey H. Sloman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, John V. Gillies, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Miami Field Office, Hugo Barrera, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Mark R. Trouville, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration, Miami Field Division, James K. Loftus, Interim Director, Miami-Dade Police Department, and Rodney Ballentine, Chief, City of Opa-Locka Police Department, announced the sentencing of the final defendant in Operation Cold Turkey. On January 5, 2010, U.S. District Court Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks sentenced defendant Erick Hinds to 248 months in prison, following his October 2009 trial on gun and drug charges in connection with a drug trafficking gang that operated in the City of Opa-Locka. Hinds was arrested on December 17, 2008, after he violently resisted arrest, and was himself shot and wounded by Miami Dade Police Officers executing a search warrant.

This sentencing effectively concludes Operation Cold Turkey, a two-year investigation that resulted in charges against 17 defendants in connection with drug trafficking. The investigation and prosecution resulted in the seizure of approximately 40 firearms, including assault weapons and machine guns, and a ballistics vest. Others charged and convicted were:

Vashawn I. Young: 135 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release;

Delvin Robinson: 135 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release;

Audrei Butler: 4 years’ probation, with 18 months’ home detention;

Luther Boykin: 96 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release;

Anthony Smith: 120 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release;

Quinton McGhee: 120 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release;

Marcus Carroll: 180 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release;

Vance Williams: 120 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release;

Tavaris Hall: 72 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release;

Montcello Cooper, Jr.: 126 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release;

Hollis K. Oliver: 84 months in prison, followed by 2 years of supervised release;

Pernell D. Scott: 120 months in prison, followed by 2 years of supervised release;

Jonathan Daniels: 120 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release;

Shane Ricardo Brown: 180 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release;

Maurice Williams: 84 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release; and

Patrick McKinnon: 92 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release.

According to statements made in court in the Hinds trial and in various guilty pleas, it is estimated that this gang trafficked in approximately 8,200 grams of marijuana, 560 grams of crack cocaine, 700 grams of powder cocaine, and 500 MDMA in just a one month period.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/fls/PressReleases/Attachments/081217-01.Indictment-B.pdf

Inder the drug trafficking statutes, the penalties for illegal drugs are not as harsh as the penalties for prescription medication. You need a much larger quantity of illegal drugs to be looking at the 15/25 year minimum mandatory. While a very small amount, a personal use amount of prescription drugs, will get you 15 to 25 years.

So you really cannot compare sentences involving illegal drugs with sentencing involving prescription drugs.