SKYDIVING instructor Robert Wallace has pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute a schedule II controlled substance — cocaine — and was sentenced to two years’ probation by the federal court.
He pled guilty even before the case was filed in the District Court for the NMI, court documents stated.
On Nov. 24, 2020, Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona released Wallace under his own personal recognizance.
At the sentencing hearing on April 7, 2021, Wallace appeared via Zoom and was represented by attorney Joe McDoulett.
Besides sentencing Wallace to two years of probation, Judge Manglona also ordered him to pay a special assessment fee of $100 and a fine in the amount of $2,000 at $200 a month with the first payment due on April 14, 2021.
In his sentencing memorandum, McDoulett said Wallace’s case and sentencing are inextricably tied to the related case of Jeane Bracken.
Although the two were not charged as co-defendants, they were co-conspirators in a single criminal conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, the lawyer added.
Both Wallace and Bracken have pled guilty, McDoulett said, adding that “the criminal conspiracy involved a total amount of 3.468 grams of cocaine. The intent to distribute was based solely on the evidence that Wallace and Bracken intended to share this quantity between themselves.”
McDoulett said the “distribution” element was satisfied simply by Wallace’s intent to deliver the cocaine to Bracken and for her, in turn, to sell a portion of the cocaine to him and others for their personal use.
McDoulett said following Wallace’s arrest, the defendant “immediately provided complete and unconditional cooperation to law enforcement. [He] did not hesitate. He did not minimize his conduct. He did not shy away from full cooperation. Robert also expressed a desire to quickly accept responsibility before this Court for his actions. Robert pleaded guilty before a charging document was in the possession of the United States Marshals….”
Moreover, Wallace “has complied with every request of law enforcement. He has consistently demonstrated his belief in the rule of law and his acceptance of responsibility for his actions,” his lawyer told the court.
Bracken, who pled guilty to possession of cocaine with intent to deliver on Dec. 12, 2020, is scheduled to be sentenced on April 14, 2021.
Her lawyer, David Banes, has asked the court to sentence his client to probation only.
According to court documents, it was on Oct. 21, 2020 when authorities came upon a “suspicious” parcel mailed to a private CNMI mailbox. The parcel contained cocaine and was ordered by Bracken, court documents stated.
