Jones

I. FACTS

Matthew Jones appeals the denial of his motion to with- draw his plea. We affirm. On June 16, 2005, Jones pled guilty to one count of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343. The plea agreement included a set of stipulated facts upon which the guilty plea was predicated. In particular, the plea agreement established that Jones had learned at some point in 2000 of an investment opportunity known as the “Miracle Car Deal.” Other participants in the Miracle Car Deal informed Jones that a wealthy car collector had recently died, leaving a fleet of luxury cars. As part of an attempt to liquidate the estate, the luxury cars were being sold off at cut rate prices in order to avoid tax consequences. In reality, neither the cars, nor the estate, existed.

Before learning of the Miracle Car Deal’s fraudulent nature, Jones began to solicit other investors. Jones informed the investors that he would collect their money for safe- keeping and that none of the funds would be turned over to the estate until the cars were delivered. Between May 2001 and March 2002, Jones successfully solicited forty-five differ- ent investors, who entrusted him with approximately $1.3 mil- lion.…