United States v. Askia Washington

I agree with the Majority’s thoughtful and persuasive discussion of the discovery and ineffective counsel issues this case presents. I therefore join Part II.A and Part II.C of the Majority Opinion. However, I disagree with my colleagues’ rejection of Washington’s sentencing manipulation claim and his assertion that the mandatory minimum sentence should not apply in these unique circumstances. Accordingly, I must respectfully dissent from Part II.B.

I. Stash-House Sting Operations

Arguably, undercover sting operations, including ones involving fictitious stash houses, can be a valuable…