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Jaime Calle -- #81354-054
10 Years -- Cocaine Conspiracy
Jamie Calle came to the United States in 1979 from Colombia, "crossing the border to get the American dream." But his dream soon became a nightmare. The dream was to work very hard in the U.S. and send money to his children in Colombia. He was able to do this by selling jewelry and Colombian clothing in the New York area, and by purchasing veterinarian supplies in the U.S. for shipment back to his native country.
Then one day he met a man, and after a few meetings, Calle agreed to "get involved in the business of drugs." On June 7, 1993, the man arranged to pick up 8 kilograms of cocaine from Calle, but little did Calle know, his "friend" had been arrested a few days prior and worked a deal with special agents that identified Calle as a supplier of cocaine.
Calle was arrested, and says, "I thought my life had ended. I have lost everything, including my family."
In a plea agreement, the "United States agree(d) to recommend that the defendant be sentenced at the low end of the applicable guideline range," which, according to his attorney, would have been 60 months. Before sentencing, Calle received his PSI that stated his offense level was in the range of 87 to 108 months. On September 9, Calle was sentenced to 120 months. He asked his attorney what had happened to his plea agreement and was told the laws were going to change and that he would be released soon. He never saw his attorney again, and an appeal was never mentioned.
Upon arrival at F.C.I. Fairton New Jersey in 1994, Calle requested copies of his court transcripts to determine why his sentence had doubled. Despite no response, he continued to make transcript requests in 1997, 1998 and in 1999.
Calle was told by the court in 1996 that he needed to send $3 per page before sentencing transcripts could be produced. In 1997 the court stated that the court reporter had "left the court on disability," and that copies of his transcripts were consequently unavailable. Calle persisted, but he was finally denied in 1999 because "court reporters do use backup recordings of their hearings, however, we are unable to locate any reporters that are able to read (the original court reporter's) notes." In May of 2000 the district court of Charlotte, North Carolina certified that Calle's transcripts of the sentence hearing on September 9, 1994 "cannot be produced."
Calle filed a 2255 motion, but the court stated the absence of transcripts is not enough to support a constitutional violation. Yet without transcripts, where does he begin in seeking justice? Is this another 'catch 22' in our deeply flawed system of justice?
Calle says, "Can you believe this is happening in the United States of America."
10 Years -- Cocaine Conspiracy
Then one day he met a man, and after a few meetings, Calle agreed to "get involved in the business of drugs." On June 7, 1993, the man arranged to pick up 8 kilograms of cocaine from Calle, but little did Calle know, his "friend" had been arrested a few days prior and worked a deal with special agents that identified Calle as a supplier of cocaine.
Calle was arrested, and says, "I thought my life had ended. I have lost everything, including my family."
In a plea agreement, the "United States agree(d) to recommend that the defendant be sentenced at the low end of the applicable guideline range," which, according to his attorney, would have been 60 months. Before sentencing, Calle received his PSI that stated his offense level was in the range of 87 to 108 months. On September 9, Calle was sentenced to 120 months. He asked his attorney what had happened to his plea agreement and was told the laws were going to change and that he would be released soon. He never saw his attorney again, and an appeal was never mentioned.
Upon arrival at F.C.I. Fairton New Jersey in 1994, Calle requested copies of his court transcripts to determine why his sentence had doubled. Despite no response, he continued to make transcript requests in 1997, 1998 and in 1999.
Calle was told by the court in 1996 that he needed to send $3 per page before sentencing transcripts could be produced. In 1997 the court stated that the court reporter had "left the court on disability," and that copies of his transcripts were consequently unavailable. Calle persisted, but he was finally denied in 1999 because "court reporters do use backup recordings of their hearings, however, we are unable to locate any reporters that are able to read (the original court reporter's) notes." In May of 2000 the district court of Charlotte, North Carolina certified that Calle's transcripts of the sentence hearing on September 9, 1994 "cannot be produced."
Calle filed a 2255 motion, but the court stated the absence of transcripts is not enough to support a constitutional violation. Yet without transcripts, where does he begin in seeking justice? Is this another 'catch 22' in our deeply flawed system of justice?
Calle says, "Can you believe this is happening in the United States of America."