# United States Court **of Appeals**  **f or the Fifth Circuit** 

**____________** No. 23

- 20371 Summary Calendar

**____________ United States of America,**  Plaintiff

— Appellee **,**

versus **Kenneth Anim,** Defendant

— Appellant

**.**

**______________________________** Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas USDC No. 4:22

- CR

- 321 -1

**________________________ ______**  Before **Barksdale, Haynes,** and **Wilson,** Circuit Judges

**. Per Curiam**  **:** *****
Kenneth Anim pleaded guilty, pursuant to a written plea agreement containing an appeal waiver, to operating an unlicensed money transmitting business , in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1960. He challenges the restitution order , totaling $2,233,265.25 , as improperly calculated and in excess of the statutory maximum.

**_____________________**

* This opinion is not designated for publication. See **5th Cir . R.**  47.5. United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit 

### FILED July 24, 2024 Lyle W. Cayce Clerk Case: 23-20371 Document: 71-1 Page: 1 Date Filed: 07/24/2024No. 23

- 20371

2 The Government seeks to enforce Anim ’s appeal waiver. He
conten ds the waiver is not enforceable because the restitution order exceeded the statutory maximum. Although the at

- issue waiver contained no exceptions, “an otherwise valid appeal waiver is not enforceable to bar a defendant’s challenge on appeal that his sentence, including the amount of a restitution order, exceeds the statutory maximum, notwithstanding the lack of an express reservation to bring such a challenge”. United States v. Kim , 988 F.3d 803, 811 (5th Cir. 2021). Accordingly, Anim’s “challenge to the legality of his restitution order is not b arred, and we can consider the merits of his argument”. Id. On the other hand, b ecause Anim did not object to the restitution order in district court, review is only for plain error (as he concedes)

. E.g. , United States v. Broussard , 669 F.3d 537, 546 (5th Cir. 2012). Under that standard, he must show a forfeited plain error (clear

- or
- obvious error, rather than one subject to reasonable dispute) that affected his substantial rights. Puckett v. United States , 556 U.S. 129, 135 (2009). If he makes that showing, we have the discretion to correct the reversible plain error, but generally should do so only if it “seriously affect[s] the fairness, integrity or public reputation of judicial proceedings”. Id

. (citation omitted).
Anim first contends the cou rt plainly erred by fail ing to undertake the proximate

- cause analysis outlined i n Paroline v. United States , 572 U.S. 434 (2014). But, a s he recognizes, Paroline addressed how to calculate and apportion restitution for victims of various offenses related to child pornography under 18 U.S.C. § 2259

. See Paroline , 572 U.S. at 439, 443

– 48 (construing statute ) ; United States v. Sheets , 814 F.3d 256, 261 (5th Cir. 2016 ) (“ Paroline solely involve[d] . . . whether restitution may be imposed under the circumstances of that case”.) . He contends Paroline ’s reasoning can be extended to his restitution order under a different statutory provision

. Because “an error is not pla in if it requires the extension of precedent”, Case: 23-20371 Document: 71-1 Page: 2 Date Filed: 07/24/2024No. 23

- 20371

3 however, Anim does not show the requisite clear

- or
- obvious error. United States v. Vargas

- Soto , 700 F.3d 180, 182 (5th Cir. 2012). Next, Anim contends the court erred by holding him responsible for the victi ms’ losses despite his limited role in the conspiracy and lack of assets. As discussed supra , review is again only for plain error.
T he court ordered the restitution under the Mandatory Victims Restitution Act (MVRA), 18 U.S.C. § 3663A( c )(1)(A)(ii), and Anim does not contend that decision was erroneous. “[T]he MVRA imposes joint liability

on all defendants for loss caused by others participating in the scheme.” United States v. King , 93 F.4th 845, 854 (5th Cir. 2024) (alteration in original) (citation omitted), petition for cert. docketed sub nom. Diggs v. United States (U.S. 30 May 2024) (No. 23

- 7592) . The court is required to “order restitution to each victim in the full amount of each victim’s losses . . . without consideration of the economic circumstances of the defendant ” . 18 U.S.C. § 3664(f)(1)(A). Although a court “ may apportion liability among the defendants to reflect the level of contribution to the victim’s loss and economic circumstances of each defenda nt”, An im does not show the court plainly erred by failing to do so. Id. § 3664(h) (emphasis added) ; see also United States v. Havens , 597 F. App’x 785, 787 (5th Cir. 2015) (rejecting similar contention).
**AFFIRMED**

. Case: 23-20371 Document: 71-1 Page: 3 Date Filed: 07/24/2024