My name is Shellee.  I was arrested at the Super 8 Motel, along with my codefendant, Chad.  Chad was charged with possession with intent to distribute, felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of a firearm while in furtherance of drug crime.  While Chad had been charged with these charges, I was left at the county jail on a state parole violation.  While at the county jail, I had a visit from the AUSA Attorney and Marc Detec, questioning me about purchasing methamphetamine from a man named Elias Mendoza.  I told them both I had never purchased anything from this man, and because they could not get what they were trying to get out of me, they became mad, slamming their book and stormed out the door, telling me I would regret not telling them anything.  They also wanted me to sign and say that I bought dope from Mr. Mendoza, but I refused to do it because I did not, and I was not going to lie for them.  I was released from the county jail 30 days later and on February 2016, the FEDS came to Temple, Texas to serve a 20-man indictment, and I was one of the people on the list, along with Mr. Mendoza.  When I was arrested, the same AUSA Attorney and Marc Detec was there telling me I was not part of the big conspiracy, I am on the case with Chad.  After arraignment, I waved my bond hearing and 2 months after my arrest, the files were unsealed.  I get a letter shortly after reading: “they have 676 wire taps between me and Mr. Mendoza”.  My lawyer told me so far, I was not being charged with the big conspiracy case (and I still have those letters from my lawyer to prove this).  He also told me with the evidence I would get slammed with a lot of time.  Since the moment I was arrested, everyone told me I was not a part of the big conspiracy case, but the evidence the lawyer presented to me was from the conspiracy case!!!  And the last wire tap was almost 5 months before my arrest on November 3, 2015.  In the meantime, during my time at the detention center, I sat and waited to hear something.  I never sat down with anyone or signed any statements.  Finally, my lawyer was informed that my co-defendant, Chad, wants to sign an affidavit stating that the drugs and guns found in the hotel room were his and even though the hotel room was in my name, I was not staying at the room with him because I had my own house.  When my lawyer receives the signed affidavit signed by Chad, he shows it to me and then proceeds to take it the AUSA Attorney, and shortly after, came back to me with a plea agreement, aka dummy deal.  The Plea Agreement basically stated if I plead guilty to the Possession of Meth with intent to distribute; aiding and abetting and possession of firearm as convicted felon, they would drop the 924 (c) and not charge me with any other known 18 U.S.C., which I assumed was a gun charge code.  My lawyer tells me this way I would not get charged with “the big conspiracy case” so I signed the plea agreement.  Later, I get a letter from my lawyer telling me someone will come to see me for my PSI report and to just admit to knowing what was in the room and they would give me 3 points reduction for accepting responsibility.  Next thing I know, I get my PSI report and they have added 12 ounces ghost dope from an informant off the conspiracy case to my 100.4 grams they found in the room.  They tell me since two of the guys were from Mexico, they gave me an importation enhancement and a dangerous weapon enhancement.  Here is where I am confused:  How can they tie 2 cases together which have nothing to do with each other???  My co-defendant did not get an importation or ghost dope enhancement, and I am supposed to be aiding and abetting him.  I have never seen anything in black or white saying he co-operated against me, only thing I saw was in my PSR saying “a confidential informant said I bought 2 ounces of meth from E. Mendoza” and they multiplied that and added ghost dope.  I was not dealing with E. Mendoza and besides, the old wire taps of short conversations did not even have anything on them tying the hotel incident to E. Mendoza.  There was NO CONNECTION AT ALL. I know at this point because I lied and said I knew of the contents in the room I could be looking at perjury, but my lawyer told me to say I knew of the contents to get the 3-point reduction, I am prepared for this.  At this point, where do I stand?  If anything, I understand I was at the room when they found the drugs and gun so the aiding and abetting may stick, but the extras coming from the conspiracy????  I would like to get the evidence from the conspiracy case severed but I do not how to go about doing this.  I am petitioning to you to please look at my case as simply one where I was misled every step of the way, sort of tricked into saying one thing when it was another way, out of fear of going to prison for the rest of my life.  I have left behind children, parents, siblings, and this sentence was not fair to me at all.  Please find it in your heart to have compassion on me and give me clemency to return to my family. Thank you kindly, Shellee Collingsworth

My name is Shellee Collingsworth