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United States v. Waw

United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
May 9, 2011
431 F. App'x 615 (9th Cir. 2011)

Opinion

No. 10-50081.

Argued and Submitted May 4, 2011.

Filed May 9, 2011.

Bruce R. Castetter, Assistant U.S., Scott Michael Lesowitz, Office of the U.S. Attorney, San Diego, CA, for Plaintiff-Appellee.

Gregory Thomas Murphy, Esquire, Trial, Federal Defenders of San Diego, Inc., San Diego, CA, for Defendant-Appellant.

Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of California, Larry A. Burns, District Judge, Presiding. D.C. No. 3:09-cr-03138-LAB-1.

Before: SILVERMAN, TALLMAN, and CLIFTON, Circuit Judges.


George Waw appeals the district court's order denying his request to vacate his conviction on selective prosecution grounds. We affirm.

After weighing the evidence put forth by Waw and the government, the district court concluded that Waw had not established selective prosecution, and, further, that even if he had, vacating Waw's conviction was not an appropriate remedy. We agree.

As to the latter basis, while United States v. Redando-Lemos did not foreclose vacating a conviction as a possible remedy for selective prosecution, the court "caution[ed] . . . against broader . . . remedies." 955 F.2d 1296, 1302-03 (9th Or. 1992). Waw alleged prejudice only with respect to the plea deal he was offered and the consequent amount of time he would serve. His guilt and the decision to prosecute him were not at issue. We cannot fault the district court's conclusion that vacating the conviction would not have been appropriate even if Waw's selective prosecution claim had merit. See United States v. Chapman, 524 F.3d 1073, 1087 (9th Cir. 2008) ("A court may dismiss an indictment under its supervisory powers only when the defendant suffers substantial prejudice, and where no lesser remedial action is available." (internal citations and quotation marks omitted)).

AFFIRMED.


Summaries of

United States v. Waw

United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
May 9, 2011
431 F. App'x 615 (9th Cir. 2011)
Case details for

United States v. Waw

Case Details

Full title:UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. George WAW…

Court:United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit

Date published: May 9, 2011

Citations

431 F. App'x 615 (9th Cir. 2011)

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