Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ca10-87-01778/USCOURTS-ca10-87-01778-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Kenneth Wayne Ruth
Appellant
United States of America
Appellee

Document Text:

FILED 

United Stace, C.OU,r of AppeaJs 

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS Tenth Circuit 

FOR THE TENTH CIRCUIT 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ) 

) 

Plaintiff-Appellee, ) 

) 

v. ) 

) 

KENNETH WAYNE RUTH, ) 

) 

Defendant-Appellant. ) 

ORDER AND JUDGMENT 

FEB 2 3 1988 

ROBERT L HOECKER 

Clerk 

No. 87-1778 

(D.C. No. CR-82-93-W) 

(W.D. Okla.) 

Before MOORE and TACHA, Circuit Judges, and BRIMMER, Chief Judge.* 

*Honorable Clarence A. Brimmer, Chief Judge, United States 

District Court for the District of Wyoming, sitting by 

designation. 

After examining the briefs and appellate record, this panel 

has determined unanimously that oral argument would not materially 

assist the determination of this appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 

34(a); 10th Cir. R. 34.1.8. 

submitt ed without oral argument. 

The cause is therefore ordered 

This is an appeal from an order of the district court denying 

defendant's motion filed pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255. 

In 1982, defendant pled guilty to one count of obstructing 

and retarding the passage of mail in violation of 18 U.S.C. 

§ 1701. Defendant was placed on probation for two years with the 

Appellate Case: 87-1778 Document: 010110027477 Date Filed: 02/23/1988 Page: 1 
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special condition that he make restitution in the amount of $400, 

the amount of the check which defendant wrongfully appropriated. 

Probation was extended twice for a total of five years because 

defendant failed to comply with the special condition. 

In his § 2255 

which the check had 

motion, defendant alleged that the bank upon 

been drawn had "freely and gratuitously 

recompansed [sic]" the drawer of the check and the "case has 

resolved itself." Defendant further alleged that because the bank 

had performed a ''voluntary act" by compensating the drawer, it was 

not entitled to restitution. Additionally, defendant alleged that 

since the bank was now insolvent, the issue was moot. 

The district court denied the motion on the grounds that the 

goal of sentencing was not only to make the victim whole but also 

to relieve defendant of his ill-gotten gains. 

On appeal, defendant argues that because the drawer elected 

to pursue a private remedy, the restitution condition was "a 

nullity ab ini tio" and, therefore, "a gratuity and not an 

obligation under law." 

The purpose of restitution as a condition of probation is not 

just to make the victim whole, but also to serve as a method of 

rehabilitation. United States v. Prescon Corp., 695 F.2d 1236, 

1243 (10th Cir. 1982). Further, a defendant should not be 

permitted to profit from his crime. If the drawer, the primary 

victim of defendant's crime, has, in fact, been made whole, 

restitution can be made to the secondary victim. Cf. United 

States v. Youpee, F.2d , No. 86-3174 (9th Cir. filed 

January 7, 1988); United States v. Richard, 738 F.2d 1120 (10th 

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Appellate Case: 87-1778 Document: 010110027477 Date Filed: 02/23/1988 Page: 2 
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Cir. 1984). If the bank is insolvent, payment can be made to the 

appointed receiver. 

For substantially the reasons stated therein, the judgment of 

the United States District Court for the Western District of 

Oklahoma is AFFIRMED. Defendant's pending motions are denied. 

The mandate shall issue forthwith. 

ENTERED FOR THE COURT 

PER CURIAM 

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