2017 national seminar on the federal sentencing guidelines · fraud quick notes 5 ... •10 or more...
TRANSCRIPT
EconomicCrimesMay1,2017Baltimore,MD
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PeterMadsenEducation andSentencingPracticeSpecialist
Presenter
www.ussc.gov (202)502‐4545 @theusscgov [email protected]
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§2B1.1Larceny,Embezzlement,Theft;StolenProperty;Fraud;Forgery
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Fraud Quick Notes
• Theguidelineisdrivenlargelyby“loss”– whichincludes“actualloss”and“intendedloss”
• Specialrulesforcertaintypesofoffenses(e.g.,creditcardfraud)
• Determinationsastowhoqualifiesasa“victim”
• Guideline“loss”andrestitution“loss”aredistinct
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Relevant Conduct & Multiple Counts
•Actsinthesamecourseofconduct,commonschemeorplanastheoffense(s)ofconvictionwillbeincluded
• Therewillonlybeasingleapplicationofthemultiplecountsof§2B1.1,basedonallrelevantconduct
• Lossalsoincludesunchargedandacquittedconduct
§§2B1.1&1B1.3(a)(2)&3D1.2(d)
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Alternative Base Offense Levels
BOL7,if• Stat.max.of20yearsormore
AND• ReferencedbyAppendixAor§2X1.1
BOL6,otherwise
§2B1.1(a)
BOL7 BOL6
50% 50%
1. Whichbaseoffenselevel(BOL)appliesat§2B1.1(a)?
A. BOL7B. BOL6
BOL7 BOL6
50% 50%
2. Whichbaseoffenselevel(BOL)appliesat§2B1.1(a)?
A.BOL7B.BOL6
Yes No
50% 50%
3. Whichbaseoffenselevel(BOL)appliesat§2B1.1(a)?
A.BOL7B.BOL6
11Numerous Specific Offense Characteristics
•Loss:(b)(1)
•Numberofvictims,massmarketing,orsubstantialfinancialhardship:(b)(2)
•Federalhealthcareoffense:(b)(7)
• Sophisticatedmeans:(b)(10)
• “Meansofidentification”:(b)(11)
Sampleof§2B1.1(b)SOCs
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“Loss”
Usegreaterof:
“actual”or“intended”loss
ApplicationNote3(A)
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“Actual Loss”
ApplicationNote3(A)(i)
Causationstandard:“butfor”and“reasonablyforeseeable”
Reasonablyforeseeablepecuniaryharmthatresultedfromtheoffense
$1.9million $1.4million Thereisnoloss,thestateofMNcan’tbeavictim
33% 33% 33%
4. Whatisthelossamount?
A. $1.9millionB. $1.4millionC. Thereisnoloss,
thestateofMNcan’tbeavictim
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“Intended Loss”
•Thepecuniaryharmthatwasintendedtoresultfromtheoffense
• Includesintendedpecuniaryharmthatwouldhavebeenimpossibleorunlikelytooccur(e.g.,governmentsting)
ApplicationNote3(A)(ii)
$1.9million $4million Thereisnoloss
33% 33% 33%
5. Whatistheamountofloss?
A. $1.9millionB. $4millionC. Thereisnoloss
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Definition of Intended Loss
•Amendedthedefinitiontobetterreflectadefendant’sculpability
• “(I)meansthepecuniaryharmthatwasintendedtoresultfromtheoffense thedefendantpurposefullysoughttoinflict and(II)includesintendedpecuniaryharmthatwouldhavebeenimpossibleorunlikelytooccur”
ApplicationNote3
2015 Amendment to §2B1.1
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Estimation of Loss
•Courtneedonlymakeareasonableestimateofloss
• Somefactorsinclude:• Fairmarketvalueofpropertyunlawfullytakenordestroyed
• Costofrepairs• Approximatenumberofvictimsmultipliedbyaveragelosstoeachvictim
§2B1.1,ApplicationNote3(C)
$57million $30million $27million $3.4million
25% 25% 25% 25%
6. Whatistheamountofloss?
A. $57millionB. $30millionC. $27millionD. $3.4million
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Exclusions from “Loss”
Lossdoesnotinclude:• emotionalstress• harmtoreputation• othernon‐economicharms• coststogovernmentorvictimsforinvestigationorprosecution• interest
ApplicationNote3(D)
Yes No Ihavenoidea
33% 33% 33%
7. Cantheseadditionallossesbeincludedinthetotallossdetermination?
A. YesB. NoC. Ihavenoidea
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Credits Against Loss
Lossmaybereducedby:• certainbenefitstransferred• collateralpledgedtothevictimpriortothedetectionoftheoffense
ApplicationNote3(E)
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Valuation and Timing of Credits
•Transferredbenefits:• Fairmarketvalue ofservicesorpropertyreturnedasofdateofdetectionofoffense
•Pledgedcollateral:• Amountrecovered upondisposition;• Ifnotdisposed,fairmarketvalue asofdateofsentencing
ApplicationNote3(E)
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Mortgage Fraud
•Providesarebuttablepresumptionthat,ifthepropertyisnotdisposedofbythetimeofsentencing,themostrecenttaxassessmentatthetimeofpleaisthefairmarketvalue
§2B1.1,App.Note3(E)(iii)
Yes No Ihavenoidea
Whyprosecuteifthereisnoloss?
25% 25% 25% 25%
8. Couldyouhaveamortgagefraudcasewith$0lossdetermination?
A. YesB. NoC. IhavenoideaD. Whyprosecuteif
thereisnoloss?
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Special Rules in the Determination of Loss
• Stolen/counterfeitcreditcards•Governmentbenefitsfraud• Investmentschemes(e.g.,Ponzischemes)•Federalhealthcareoffenses
SampleofRules;ApplicationNote3(F)
27Special Rules in the Determination of Loss (cont.)
•FederalHealthCareOffensesInvolvingGovernmentHealthCarePrograms:
• Theaggregateamountoffraudulentbillssubmittedtothegovernmenthealthcareprogramisprimafacieevidenceoftheamountofintendedloss,ifnotrebutted
ApplicationNote3(F)(viii)
$350,000 $300,000 $150,000 $500,000
25% 25% 25% 25%
9. Whatisthelossamount?
A.$350,000B.$300,000C. $150,000D.$500,000
$350,000 $300,000 $150,000 $500,000
25% 25% 25% 25%
10. Whatistheamountofrestitution?
A.$350,000B.$300,000C. $150,000D.$500,000
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Victims Table
•Revisesthetabletoincorporatesubstantialfinancialhardshiptovictims
• Asrevised,enhancementwillapplyifevenonevictimsuffersafinancialhardship
•Lessemphasisonthenumberofvictims• Eliminated4‐ and6‐ levelenhancementsbasedsolelyonthenumberofvictims;nowbasedonfinancialhardship
§2B1.1(b)(2)
2015 Amendment to §2B1.1
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Victims Table• §2B1.1(b)(2)a) 10ormorevictims;mass‐marketing;orresultedinsubstantialfinancialhardshiptooneormorevictims +2
b) Resultedinsubstantialfinancialhardshiptofiveormorevictims +4
c) Resultedinsubstantialfinancialhardshipto25ormorevictims +6
2015 Amendment to §2B1.1
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“Substantial Financial Hardship”
•Thecourtshallconsiderwhethertheoffenseresultedinthevictim:
• Becominginsolvent• Filingforbankruptcy• Sufferingsubstantiallossofaretirement,education,orothersavingsorinvestmentfund
•Makingsubstantialchangestoemployment•Makingsubstantialchangestolivingarrangements• Sufferingsubstantialharmtotheirabilitytoobtaincredit
ApplicationNote4(F)
2015 Amendment to §2B1.1
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General Definition of “Victim” for §2B1.1
•Anypersonwhosustainedanypartoftheactuallossdeterminedundersubsection(b)(1)
•Anyindividualwhosustainedbodilyinjuryasaresultoftheoffense
§2B1.1,App.Note1
Yes No
50% 50%
11. Didthevictimssufferasubstantialfinancialhardship?
A. YesB. No
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Definition of “Victim” inMeans of Identification Cases
•Forsubsection(b)(2),inacaseinvolvingmeansofidentification,“victim”means:
(i)AnyvictimasdefinedinApplicationNote1
(ii)Anyindividualwhosemeansofidentificationwasusedunlawfullyorwithoutauthority
§2B1.1(b)(2),App.Note4(E)
OR
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General Definition of “Victim” for §2B1.1
•Anypersonwhosustainedanypartoftheactuallossdeterminedundersubsection(b)(1)
•Anyindividualwhosustainedbodilyinjuryasaresultoftheoffense
§2B1.1,App.Note1
Yes No
50% 50%
12. Doesthedefendantreceiveanincreaseat2B1.1(b)(2)fornumberofvictims?
A.YesB.No
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Number of Victims or Mass Marketing Specific Offense Characteristic
•10ormorevictims,mass‐marketing,orsubstantialfinancialhardshipforoneormorevictims +2
§2B1.1(b)(2)
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General Definition of “Victim” for §2B1.1
•Anypersonwhosustainedanypartoftheactuallossdeterminedundersubsection(b)(1)
•Anyindividualwhosustainedbodilyinjuryasaresultoftheoffense
§2B1.1,App.Note1
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Definition of “Victim” inMeans of Identification Cases
•Forsubsection(b)(2),inacaseinvolvingmeansofidentification,“victim”means:
(i)AnyvictimasdefinedinApplicationNote1
(ii)Anyindividualwhosemeansofidentificationwasusedunlawfullyorwithoutauthority
§2B1.1(b)(2),App.Note4(E)
OR
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“Means of Identification”
• “Meansofidentification”• Hasthemeaninggiventhetermin18U.S.C.§ 1028(d)(7),except thatthemeansofidentificationshallbeofanactual(i.e.,notfictitious)individual,otherthanthedefendantorapersonforwhoseconductthedefendantisaccountableunder§1B1.3(RelevantConduct)
§2B1.1,App.Note1
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Sophisticated Means
•NarrowsthescopeoftheSOCtobemoredefendant‐specific
• “(C)theoffenseotherwiseinvolvedsophisticatedmeansandthedefendantintentionallyengagedinorcausedtheconductconstitutingsophisticatedmeans”
§2B1.1(b)(10)
2015 Amendment to §2B1.1
Yes No
50% 50%
13. Shouldthedefendantreceiveanenhancementforsophisticatedmeans?
A.YesB.No
44Departure Provisions
•Listanumberoffactorsacourtmayconsiderindeterminingwhetheranupwarddepartureiswarranted,e.g.,
• Offensecausedsubstantialnon‐monetaryharm• Substantialamountofinterest
•Downwarddepartureprovision• Offenselevelsubstantiallyoverstatestheseriousnessoftheoffense
§2B1.1,App.Note20
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Aggravated Identity Theft
•18U.S.C.§ 1028Arequiresamandatoryconsecutivetwo‐yearsentence
•AnSOCfortransfer,possession,oruseofameansofidentificationforan“underlyingoffense”willnotbeapplied
• E.g., §2B1.1(b)(11)attheFraudguideline
§2B1.6
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Means of Identification SOC & Aggravated Identity Theft
Count1:§2B1.1
Fraud
7+12+2=19(BOL+loss+IDSOC)
OffenseLevel=19
Count2:§2B1.6
AggravatedIDTheft
18USC§ 1028A
24mos.consecutive
Count2ConsecutivetoCount1
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§ 1028A PLUS the Application of the SOC at §2B1.1(b)(11)
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§2B1.6,App.Note2and§2B1.1(b)(11)
Issue:Ifanoffenseinvolvesboth ameansofidentification,addressedby§2B1.1(b)(11)(C), andotherfactorsaddressedby(b)(11)(e.g.,device‐makingequipmentat(b)(11)(A)), canboth theconsecutivesentenceunder§ 1028A,and the(b)(11)SOCapply?
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§ 1028A PLUS Application of the SOC at §2B1.1(b)(11) (cont.)
•Canapplyboth• U.S.v.Cruz,713F.3d600(11th Cir.2013)• U.S.v.Taylor,2016WL1179745(11th Cir.2016)
Inanunpublishedopinion,the4thCircuitsaidyoucannotapplyboth
§2B1.6,App.Note2and§2B1.1(b)(11)
$212,500– all425creditcard
numbers
$133,500– 267cards
$0– hedidnotuseanyoftheCC
#’s
33% 33% 33%
14. Whatamountofloss?
A. $212,500– all425creditcardnumbers
B. $133,500– 267cardsC. $0– hedidnotuse
anyoftheCC#’s
Yes– groupthem No– useunits
50% 50%
15. Shouldthesetwooffensesbegroupedtogetherandthelossamountsaggregatedoraretheycalculatedseparatelyandunitsassigned?
A. Yes– groupthemB. No– useunits
Yes No
50% 50%
16. Wasthecourt’slosscalculationcorrect?
A. YesB. No
$575,000 $550,000 $545,000 Ihavenoidea
25% 25% 25% 25%
17. Whatisthelossamount?
A. $575,000B. $550,000C. $545,000D. Ihaveno
idea
$350,000 $300,000 $150,000 $500,000
25% 25% 25% 25%
18. Whatisamountofrestitution?
A. $575,000B. $550,000C. $545,000D. Ihaveno
idea