Daniel Mendoza - North Carolina
# 0761748
State: North Carolina
Sentence: 200- 249 months or 16 years 8 months to 20 years 9 months
Offense: 2 counts trafficking cocaine; 2 counts trafficking marijuana; maintaining a place for controlled substances
Court: Wake County
Priors: None
Date of Birth: 12/26/1982
Date of Sentencing: 4/29/2002
Projected Release Date: 1/1/2018
Nature of Offense: Daniel came to the United States when he was sixteen with the hopes of earning money to help support his mother and siblings. He worked on a tobacco farm for a few months before taking a minimum wage job at a fast food restaurant in North Carolina where he earned about $150 a week. Finding it difficult to both support himself and send money to his family on this salary, Daniel began to deliver drugs to earn extra money. He was arrested on May 11, 2001 transporting a package that contained approximately 450 grams of cocaine and 20 pounds of marijuana and was charged with four counts of trafficking. Daniel spoke very little English at the time of his arrest and consequently had difficulty understanding the charges against him and communicating with his court appointed attorney. He reports that the Wake County District Attorney offered to reduce his sentence if he could provide information about other area drug dealers, but since he had no such knowledge he did not get a reduction. Because of his inability to communicate properly with his attorney, Daniel thought he was signing a plea agreement for a 14-year sentenced and was shocked when he found out he would be serving several more years.
Guideline Sentence: In North Carolina, trafficking over 400 grams of cocaine is a Class D felony that warrants a 175-219 month sentence. Since both of Daniel’s cocaine charges were consolidated, he received a total sentence of 175-219 months for the offenses. Daniel was also convicted of two consolidated counts of trafficking 10-50 pounds of marijuana, which is a Class H felony with a 25-30 month sentence. Daniel’s sentences are to be served consecutively for a total sentence of 200-249 months. Upon his release, he will be on parole for an additional 1 year and 8 months for the maintaining a place for controlled substances charge. Without the mandatory penalties, Daniel would have received a sentence of 51-64 months in the presumptive range for each of the cocaine charges and a sentence of 5-6 months for each of marijuana charges.
Personal Background: Daniel was raised in a small village in Mexico. With few employment opportunities available, Daniel’s father often went to the United States for work to support the family. When he was sixteen, Daniel followed his father’s lead and also went to the U.S. for work. Daniel was 18-years-old when he was incarcerated with a 7th grade education level and limited knowledge of the English language. He has since obtained his GED and become fluent in English. He has also dedicated himself to rehabilitation. He completed the DART program and is an active member of Narcotics Anonymous. Daniel has maintained an exemplary prison record with no disciplinary infractions and holds a job.
Compiled from PSR and inmate information.
BA 4/24/06