# U ni te d S ta te s Co ur t of A pp ea ls

For the Eig hth Circu it

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No. 1 4- 38 02

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Uni te d S ta te s o f Am eri ca

ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll l Pla in ti

ff - App el le e

v.

Alp ha Ras hi di Ms hi hi ri

ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll l Defe nd

an t - Ap pe ll an t

__ __ __ __ __ __

App eal fro m

Uni te d S ta te s Di st ric t Co ur t
fo r th e Dis tri ct of M in ne so ta - St. Pa ul

__ __ __ __ __ __

Su bm it te d: Octo be r 19 , 20 15

Fil ed : M arch 14 , 20 16

__ __ __ __ __ __

Befo re WOL LMAN, BEAM, an d GRUENDER, Ci rcu it Ju dg es

.

__ __ __ __ __ __

W OLLMAN, Circ ui t J ud ge

.

Alp ha Ras hi di Ms hi hi ri was co nv ic te d of on e co un t o f co ns pi racy to c om m it

ba nk frau d, in vi ol at io n of 18 U.S.C. §§ 13 44 an d 13 49 ; th ree co un ts of ba nk frau d,

in vi ol at io n o f 18 U.S.C. §§ 13 44 an d 2; on e co un t of m ai l fr au d, i n v io la ti on of 1 8

U.S.C. §§ 13 41 an d 2; an d on e co un t of wire frau d, in vi ol at io n of 18 U.S.C. §§ 13 43an d 2. The di st ric t co ur t se nt en ced Ms hi hi ri to 15 0 m on th s’ i mp r i s o n m en t an d 1

or de red hi m

to pa y res ti tu ti on in th e am ou nt of $ 1,9 71 ,09 1.9 1. We affi rm

.

I. Gene ral Back gr ou nd

Ms hi hi ri ha s a ba ch el or ’s de gr ee an d ha d wor ke d as a bu si ne ss an a l ys t fo r a

la rg e na ti on al ba nk

, se rv ic in g a no -m on ey -d own m or tg ag e pr od uc t. In 20 03 or 20 04

, Ms hi hi ri fou nd ed a m or tg ag e co m pa ny nam ed GW P Mo rtg ag e (GWP), at w hi ch he

se rv ed as pr es id en t an d ch ie f ex ecu ti ve of fic er. He be cam e a li cen se d m or tg ag e

br ok er i n M in ne so ta in 20 05

.

At GW P, Ms hi hi ri su pe rv is ed th e pr oc es si ng of lo an ap pl ic at io ns ; he was al so

re s p on si bl e fo r co m

pl ia nc e wit h st at e an d fed eral la w; he fo rm ed GW P’s po li ci es , di rect e d it s in it ia ti ve s, an d m an ag ed it s da y -to -d ay op erat io ns

. In Octo be r 20 07

, GW P wen t ou t of bu si ne ss an d fil ed fo r ba nk ru pt cy

. Its op erat io ns , ho wev er, carr ie d

on t h r o u g h t wo su cces so r co m pa ni es , Pri st in e Hom e Loa ns (Pri st in e) an d Pri st in e

Fi na nc e. Pri st in e was lo cat ed in th e bu il d i n g whe re GW P ha d op erat ed

, an d it

em pl oyed m an y of th e in di vi du al s who ha d wor ke d fo r GW P. M s hi hi ri id en ti fie d

hi m se lf as a co ns ul ta nt to Pri st in e an d as CEO of Pri st in e Fi na nc e. Ms hi hi ri al so

fo rm ed Kil im an

ja r o In ve st m en t Gro up (KIG), whi ch bo ug ht an d res ol d fo recl os ed

pr op ert ie s, an d a co m

pa ny cal le d VANY, whi ch was al so us ed i n r e a l es ta te

tra ns act io ns

. As ex pl ai ne d m or e fu ll y be l o w , Ms hi hi ri us ed th es e co m pa ni es in an

el ab or at e m or tg ag e fra ud sch em e.

In Ju ly 2 01 3, a gr an d jury ret ur ne d an in di ct m en t ch arg in g Ms hi hi ri wit h th e

co un ts se t fo rth ab ov e. The in di ct m en t al le ge d th at Ms hi hi ri ha d en ga ge d in a sc he m e

to de f r a ud m or tg ag e le nd ers fro m Ju ne 20 06 th ro ug h Apr il 20 09

. Sp eci fic al ly, th e

The Hon or ab le Dav id S. Dot y , Uni te d St at es Dis tri ct Ju dg e fo r th e Dis tri ct of 1

Mi nn es ot a.

-2

-sc he m e in vo lv ed ob ta in in g fu nd s fro m fin an ci al i n s ti tu ti on s by recr ui ti ng st raw

bu y ers to pa rti ci pa te in th e pu rch as e of res id en ti al p r o p ert ie s an d su bm it ti ng fal se

in fo rm at io n an d do cu m en ta ti on in su p p o r t of th ei r m or tg ag e ap pl ic at io ns

. The

in di ct m en t id en ti fie d fo ur pr op ert ie s in vo lv ed i n t h e sc he m e: a pe nt ho us e

co nd om in iu m in Bl oo m in gt on , Mi nn es ot a (th e Pen th ou se ); a du pl ex in Mi nn eap ol is

, Mi nn es ot a (t he Ing le woo d Du pl ex ); a si ng le -fam il y ho m e in Mi nn eap ol is (th e 33 rd

St reet Pro pe rty); an d Ms hi hi ri’s own si ngl e- fa m ily hom e in Inde pe nd en ce, Mi nn es ot a (th e Bro ad m oo r Res id en ce). W it h in fla te d pu rch as e pr ic es an d, in m os t cas es , sa le s by a co -co ns pi rat or to a st raw bu y er, Ms hi hi ri an d ot h e r s d e r i ve d pr of it s fro m th e

sa le s of th e pr op ert ie s. Rec ru it ers , br ok ers , lo an of fic ers , a n d ot he rs were pa id

ki ck ba ck s fo r th ei r ro le s i n t he sch em e.

Ms hi hi ri ha s rai se d se ve ral arg um en ts on ap pe al

. He co nt en ds th at th e di st ric t

co ur t sh ou ld ha ve su pp r e s s e d ev id en ce se iz ed pu rs ua nt to a warra nt

, as well as

ev id en ce of st at em en ts th at he m ad e to fed eral ag en ts

. He al so arg ue s t ha t th e

go ve rn m en t fai le d to pr ov e a si ng le co ns pi racy an d th at th e ev id en ce in st ead

es ta bl is he d m

ul ti pl e tra ns act io ns or co ns pi raci es

. He co nt en ds th at th e di st ric t co ur t

sh ou ld ha ve su pp res se d hi s pr et ria l an d in -co ur t id en ti fic at io n by a wit ne ss

. Fi na ll y , he cl ai m s th at th e di st ric t co ur t m ad e fact ua l erro rs in de te rm in in g hi s se nt en ce. W e

ad dr es s ea ch arg um en t i n t ur n, re co un ti ng ad di ti on al fact s as ne ces sa ry

.

II. Mo ti on to Su pp res s Ev id en ce

Afte r Ms hi hi ri be cam e a su sp ect in a m or tg ag e frau d in ve st ig at i o n , fed eral

ag en ts ap pl ie d fo r warra nt s to se arch th e Bro ad m oo r Re s i d e nc e, Ms hi hi ri’s la pt op

co m pu te r, an d hi s el ect ro ni c st or ag e de vi ces

. In te rn al Rev en ue Se rv ic e Sp ecial Age nt

J im Sh ou p su bm it te d an affi da vi t in su pp or t of th e warra nt s, st at in g th at he h a d

in te rv ie wed a co nf

id en ti al rel ia bl e in fo rm an t (CRI ) on se ve ral oc cas io ns an d th at th e

CRI ha d im

pl ic at ed hi m s e l f an d Ms hi hi ri in frau du le nt co nd uc t. The affi da vi t se t

fo rth sp eci fic act s co m

pl et ed by t h e C R I in fu rth eran ce of th e m or tg ag e frau d

-3

-co ns pi racy, ex pl ai ni ng th at th e CRI kn ew of Ms hi hi ri’s frau du le nt co nd uc t “ be cau se

CRI #1 co m

m it te d frau d wit h

. . . Ms hi hi ri.” Sh ou p al so st at ed th at he ha d rev ie wed

lo an reco rd s, real es ta te pur ch as e reco rd s, ba nk reco rd s, an d st at e ch arg in g do cu m en ts

th at in di cat ed th at Ms hi hi ri was in vo lv ed in frau du le nt co nd uc t. Sh ou p at te st ed th at

th e CRI ha d id en ti fie d an ot he r in di vi du al

, Olu wale y e Olu watu la

, who ha d as s i s t ed

Ms hi hi ri in frau du le nt act s. W he n in te rv ie wed by Sh ou p, Olu watu la ad m it te d th at he

ha d wor ke d wit h Ms hi hi ri to ob ta in frau du le nt m or tg ag e lo an s. The ap pl ic at io ns fo r

th e se arch warra nt s were gr an te d, an d ag en ts se arch ed th e Bro ad m oo r Res id en ce on

Ju ne 30 , 20 10 , whi le Ms hi hi ri wa s t rav el in g a br oa d.

On Sep te m

be r 16

, 20 10

, Sh ou p an d Uni te d St at es Secr et Serv ic e Sp eci al Age nt

Mi ch ael Ols on co or di na te d wit h Cu st om s an d Bo rd er Pro te ct io n (Cu st om s) of fic ers

t o i nt erv ie w Ms hi hi ri an d to ex ecu te a se arch of hi s la pt op up on Ms hi hi ri’s ret ur n

fro m D a r e s Sal aam , Tan zan ia

. Acco rd in gl y , whe n Ms hi hi ri arri ve d at th e

Mi nn eap ol is -St

. Pau l In te rn at io na l Airp or t, a Cu st om s of fic er in te rcep te d hi m at th e

im m ig rat io n en try po in t, l e d h i m t o ba gg ag e cl ai m , an d th en es co rte d hi m to a

rece pt io n a rea.

Acco rd in g to Ols on , h e an d S ho up m et Ms hi hi ri in th e rece pt io n area , wh ere

th ey id en ti fie d th em se lv es as fed eral ag en ts an d pr es en te d th ei r cred en ti al s. The y

as ke d whe th er Ms hi hi ri would be w ill in g to sp eak wit h th em , ex pl ai ni ng th at Ms hi hi ri

was no t un de r arre st or ob li ga te d to an swe r qu es ti on s. Ols on te st ifi ed th at Ms hi hi ri

ag reed to be in t e r v i e w ed an d vo lu nt ari ly acco m pa ni ed th em to an in te rv ie w ro om

. Th e a g en ts en te red th e ro om fir st an d sa t at a ta bl e acro ss fro m Ms hi hi ri, wh o s a t

“ rig ht ne xt to th e do or .” The ag en ts were weari ng cas ua l cl ot he s, an d Ols on te st ifi ed

th at if he was weari ng hi s se rv ic e weap on , it wou ld ha ve be en co nc eal ed

. Acco rd in g

to Ols on , no Cu st om s o ffi cer was pre se nt du rin g t he in te rv ie w.

Ols on de sc rib ed Ms hi hi ri’s de m ean or as cal m , in qu is it iv e, an d al ert

. Usi ng a

no rm al to ne an d vo lu m e, Sh ou p as ke d Ms hi hi ri se ve ral qu es ti on s ab ou t th e su sp ect ed

-4

-m or tg ag e frau d, in cl ud in g whe th er Ms hi hi ri’s wife w as inv olv ed

. Ms hihir i al so as ke d

qu es ti on s, tryin g to un de rs ta nd th e pu rp os e of th e in ve st ig at io n. Ols on te st ifi ed th at

du rin g th e fo rty-m in ut e in te rv ie w, Ms hi hi ri di d no t req u es t a br eak or try to acce ss

hi s cell ph on e. He al so di d no t as k to co ns ul t a la wy er or as k to cal l hi s wife so th at

sh e co ul d cal l a la wy er on hi s be ha lf. Ols on te st ifi ed th at “ [i]f [Ms hi hi ri] wou ld ha ve

as ke d fo r a l awy er, we wo ul dn ’t hav e q ue st io ne d h im .”

Sh ou p en de d th e in te rv ie w a br up tl y , a fte r ch an gi ng th e to ne of h is vo ic e an d

accu s i ng Ms hi hi ri of lying

. Sh ou p ga ve Ms hi hi ri a co py of th e se arch warra nt an d

ad vi se d hi m th at th e U.S. Att or ne y ’s of fic e ha d is su ed a ta rg et le tt er fo r hi m

. Ols on

co ul d no t rem em

be r whe th er Ms hi hi ri’s la pt op was se arch ed at th e be gi nn in g or th e

en d of th e in te rv ie w, b ut he te st ifi e d t h a t h e an d Sh ou p se arch ed Ms hi hi ri’s pe rs on

aft er th e in te rv ie w en de d. Ols on te st ifi ed th at he an d Sh ou p th en le ft th e ai rp or t an d

th at Ms hi hi ri pr ob ab ly “we n t ou t th e no rm al way , ba ck ou t th ro ug h th e pa ss po rt

co nt ro l ar ea i n t he m ai n t erm in al .”

Acco rd in g to Ms hi hi ri, a Cu st om s offi cer esc or te d hi m to an in te rv ie w ro om , whe re he m et Ols on an d Sh ou p. Ms hi hi ri te st ifi ed th at he w a s e x h au st ed fro m hi s

tra ve ls an d t he ti m e d iff

eren ce. W he n Ms hi hi ri as ke d to cal l hi s wife , t he Cu st om s

of fic er se iz ed hi s cel l p h o n e , a nd th erea fte r to ld hi m , “ You ne ed to co op erat e;

ot he rwis e, y ou r Im

m ig rat io n st at us is go in g to be co m pr om is ed .” Ms hi hi ri cl ai m ed

th at th e ag en ts di sr eg ard ed hi s req ue st fo r an at to rn ey an d hi s req ue st to cal l hi s wife

so th at sh e co ul d co nt act an at to rn ey

. As th e in te rv ie w co nt in ue d, Sh ou p th reat en ed

Ms hi hi ri an d hi s wife

, sa y in g th at th ey were “ go in g do wn” an d th at th ey sh ou ld m ak e

arra ng em en ts fo r th ei r ch il dr en

. The Cu st om s of fic er lo ok ed in si de t h e i n t e rv ie w

ro om nu m ero us ti m es du rin g th e in te rv ie w. Ms hi hi ri te st ifi ed th at he was ne ve r to ld

he was free to le av e an d th at he an swe red th e a g e n ts ’ qu es ti on s be cau se he “ di dn ’t

ha ve a ch oi ce” a nd “ it fel t l ik e [h e] cou ld n’t g et ou t o f th at roo m .”

-5

-Ms hi hi ri m ov ed t o su pp res s th e ev id en ce se iz ed as a res ul t of th e se arch

warra nt s an d th e st at em en ts he m ad e du rin g th e Sep te m be r 16

, 20 10

, in te rv ie w. He

arg ue d th at th e affi da vi t in su pp or t of th e se arch warra nt s was in su ffi ci en t to es ta bl is h

pr ob ab le cau se , th at th e in te rv ie w co ns ti tu te d a cu st od ia l in te rro ga ti on du rin g whi ch

he was no t ad vi se d of hi s rig ht s un de r Mi ran da v. Ariz on a, 38 4 U.S. 43 6 (1 96 6)

, an d

th at th e st at em en ts he m ad e d ur in g t he in te rv ie w were n ot vo lu nt ary. Ado pt in g t he

rep or t an d reco m

m en da ti on of th e m ag is tra te jud ge , th e di st ric t co ur t d e n i e d th e 2

m ot io n.

Ms hi h i r i fir st arg ue s th at th e affi da vi t in su pp or t of th e se arch warra nt was

in su ffi ci en t t o e st ab li sh pro ba bl e cau se be cau se th e affi da vi t wron gl y id en ti fie d t he

CRI as a co nf

id en ti al rel ia bl e in fo rm an t. Acco rd in g to Ms hi hi ri, th e CRI sh ou ld ha ve

be en id en ti fie d a s a c oo pe rat in g wi tn es s, and th e CRI’s m is id en ti fic at io n pre ve nt ed

th e is su in g jud ge fro m m ak in g a fai r pr ob ab le cau se de te rm in at io n. “ As a rev ie win g

co ur t, we pa y ‘great de fere nc e’ to th e pr ob ab le cau se de t erm in at io ns of th e is su in g jud ge or m ag is tra te

, an d ou r in qu iry is li m it ed to di sc ern in g whe th er th e is su in g jud ge

ha d a su bs ta nt ia l ba si s fo r co nc lu di ng th at pr ob ab le cau se ex is te d.” Uni te d St at es v.

Luc ca, 37 7 F.3 d 92 7, 93 3 (8 th Ci r. 20 04 ) (q uo ti ng Ill in oi s v. Gate s, 46 2 U.S. 21 3, 23 6
(1 98 3) ). An is su in g jud ge co ns id ers two fac to rs whe n co ns id eri ng a co nf id en ti al

in fo rm an t’s in fo rm at io n: th e in fo rm an t’s rel ia bi li ty an d th e ba si s fo r th e in fo rm an t’s

kn owl ed ge

. Id

. Bo th fact o r s , h o w ev er, ne ed no t be pr es en t be fo re a warra nt m ay

is su e. I d

. The is su in g jud ge co ns id ers th e to ta li ty of th e ci rcu m st an ces so th at “ a

de fic ie nc y in on e [fac to r] m ay be co m pe ns at ed fo r

. . . by a st ro ng sh owi ng as to th e

ot he r, or by som e o th er i nd ic ia of r el ia bi li ty.” G at es , 46 2 U.S. at 23 3.

The in fo rm at io n pr ov id ed by th e CRI was s u ffi ci en tl y rel ia bl e to su pp or t a

fin di ng of pr ob ab le cau se , reg ard le ss of m an ne r in whi ch he was id en ti fie d. The CRI

The Hon or ab le Je ffre y J

. K e yes, Uni te d St at es Mag is tra te Ju dg e fo r th e 2

Dis tri ct of M in ne so ta

.

-6

-pa rti ci pa te d in th e m or tga ge fr au d co nspi racy wit h Ms hi hi ri, gi vi ng th e CRI fir st -h an d

kn owl ed ge of Ms hi hi ri’s ro le in th e sc he m e. The in fo rm at io n th e CRI pr ov id ed al so

was co rro bo rat ed by ot he r ev id en ce, in cl ud in g lo an r e c o r d s, real es ta te pu rch as e

reco rd s, ba nk reco rd s, an d st at e ch arg in g do cu m en ts

. Any de fic ie nc y in th e sh owi ng

of th e CRI’s rel ia bi li ty was su ffi ci en tl y co m pe ns at ed fo r by th e st ro ng sh owi ng of th e

ba si s of th e CRI’s kn owl ed ge an d by th e co rro bo rat in g ev id en ce. Mo reo ve r, de sp it e

Ms hi hi ri’s arg um en t to th e co nt rary, th e in fo rm at io n co nt ai ne d in th e affi da vi t li nk ed

Ms hi hi ri to sp eci fic frau du le nt m or tg ag e lo an tra ns act io ns an d pr ov id ed a su bs ta nt ia l

ba si s fo r th e is su in g ju dg e to co nc lu de th at pro ba bl e cau se ex is te d.

Ms hi hi ri ne xt arg ue s th at th e di st ric t c o u rt sh ou ld ha ve su pp res se d th e

st at em en ts he m ad e to Ols on an d Sh ou p be cau se he was in cu st od y whe n he m ad e th e

st at em en ts an d he ha d no t be en ad vi se d of hi s Mi ran da rig ht s. “ Mi ran da req ui res th at

la w en fo rcem en t ag en ts pr ov id e cert ai n pr es cri be d warn in g s be fo re co nd uc ti ng an

in te rro ga ti on of a su sp ect who is in cu st od y .” Uni te d S ta te s v . New, 49 1 F.3 d 36 9,

37 3 (8 th Ci r. 20 07 ). To de te rm in e whe th er a pe rs on is in cu st od y we co ns id er:

“ [F]irs t, wha t were th e ci rcu m st an ces su rro un d i n g th e in te rro ga ti on ; an d se co nd

, gi ve n th os e ci rcu m st an ces , wou ld a reas on ab le pe rs on ha ve fel t he or sh e was at

li be rty to te rm in at e th e in te rro ga ti on an d le av e.” J.D.B. v. Nor th Caro li na , 13 1 S. Ct

. 23 94

, 24 02 (2 01 1) (q uo ti ng Tho m ps on v. Keo ha ne , 51 6 U

. S

. 9 9

, 1 12 (1 99 5) ); se e

al so Uni te d St at es v. Grif fin

, 92 2 F.2 d 13 43

, 13 49 (8 th Ci r. 19 90 ) ( l i s t i n g si x no nex cl us iv e fac to rs for ev al ua ti ng whet he r an in di vi du al is in cu st od y for pu rp os es of

Mi ran da ). W e rev ie w th e di st ric t co ur t’s cu st od y de te rm in at io n de no vo an d it s

fact ua l fin di ng s fo r cl ear erro r. Uni te d St at es v. LeBru n, 36 3 F.3 d 71 5, 71 9 (8 th Ci r.

20 04 ) (en ba nc ).

The di st ric t co ur t mad e t h e fo ll owi ng fin di ng s wit h res pe ct to th e

ci rcu m st an ces su rro un di ng t h e in te rro ga ti on : th e ag en ts in fo rm ed Ms hi hi ri th at he

was no t un de r arre st

, Ms hi hi ri en te red th e in te rv ie w ro om vo lu nt ari ly an d was se at ed

cl os es t to th e do or th ro ug ho ut th e q u e s t i on in g, th e ag en ts were dr es se d in cas ua l

-7

-cl ot hi ng an d di d no t di sp la y th ei r weap on s, m os t of th e fo rty-m in ut e in te rv ie w wa s

cal m an d co nv ers at io na l, an d Ms hi hi ri was ne ve r ha nd cu ffed or pl aced un de r arre st

. Bec au se th es e fin di ng s are no t cl earl y erro ne ou s and are well -s up po rte d by Ols on ’s

te st imo n y, w e co nc lu de th at Ms hi hi ri was no t in cu st od y at an y po in t du rin g th e Sep te m be r 16 , 20 10 , in te rv ie w.

Ms hi hi ri es se nt ia ll y arg ue s th at th e di strict co ur t erre d in it s cred ib il it y fin di ng s

whe n it reject ed hi s te st im on y th at th e ag en ts ne ve r to ld hi m he was free to le av e, th at

t he y ig no red hi s req ue st fo r an at to rn ey , an d th at th ey th reat en ed hi s w i f e a n d

c h il dr en

. “ The di st ric t co ur t, ho wev er, ha s a di st in ct ad va nt ag e in ev al ua t i n g t h e

cred ib il it y of wit ne ss es , an d it s cred ib il it y de te rm in at io ns are vi rtu al ly un rev ie wab le

on ap pe al .” Uni te d St at es v. Vin to n, 63 1 F.3 d 47 6, 48 1 (8 th Ci r. 20 11 ) (in te rn al

qu ot at io n m ark s an d ci ta ti on om it te d)

. The di st ric t co ur t reas on ab ly fo un d th at

Ols on ’s t es ti m on y

was cred ib le an d th at Ms hi hi ri’s te st im on y was in co ns is te nt an d

la ck ed cred ib il it y

.

Ms hi hi ri al so arg ue s th at hi s st at em en ts were no t vo lu nt ary be cau se th e ag en ts

th reat en ed hi s wife an d ch il dr en

. “ A st at em en t is in vo lu nt ary whe n it was ex tra ct ed
by th reat s, vi ol en ce, or ex pr es s or im pl ie d p r o mi s es su ffi ci en t to ov erb ear th e

de fen da nt ’s wil l and cri ti cal ly im pa ir hi s ca pa ci ty for s el f-d et erm in at io n.” LeBru n,

36 3 F.3 d at 72 4 (in te rn al qu ot at io n m ark s an d ci ta ti on o mi t t e d )

. Hav in g al read y

co nc lu de d th at th e di st ric t co ur t reas on ab ly di sc red it ed Ms hi hi ri’s te st im on y th at he

was th reat en ed by th e ag en t s , Ms hi hi ri’s arg um en t fai ls

. See id

. (“ W e rev ie w th e

di st ric t co ur t’s fi nd in gs of f act for cle ar error an d it s leg al co nc lu si on as t o wh et he r a [s ta te m en t] was v ol un ta ry de no vo .”).

III. Co ns pi racy Con vi ct io n

Ms hi hi ri arg ue s th at th e go ve rn m en t fai le d to pr ov e a si ng le co n s p i r acy

invo lv in g th e fo ur pr op ert ie s id en ti fie d in th e in di ct m en t. “ W he th er th e go ve rn m en t’ s

-8

-pr oo f es ta bl is he d a si ng le co ns pi racy or m ul ti pl e co ns pi raci es is a qu es ti on of fact fo r

th e jury.” Uni te d St at es v. Mo ral es , 11 3 F.3 d 11 6, 11 8 (8 th Ci r. 19 97 ). Acco rd in gl y ,

we vi ew th e ev id en ce in th e li gh t m os t fav or ab le to th e v e r d i c t an d dr aw al l

r eas on ab le in fere nc es in fav or of th e ve rd ic t. Id

. at 11 8- 19

. W e reco un t in s o me

de ta il th e fact s rel at ed to each pr op ert y be lo w, ke ep in g in m in d ou r de fer e n ti al

st an da rd of r ev ie w.

A. Fact ua l Ba ck gr ou nd

In 20 07

, Ms hi hi ri li ve d wit h hi s wife

, Y v ro se Ms hi hi ri (Yv ro se ), an d th ei r

ch il dr en at th e Bro ad m o o r R e s id en ce, an ex pa ns iv e ho m e si tu at ed on a la rg e lo t in

In de pe nd en ce, Mi nn es ot a. Acco rd in g to Ms hi hi ri, th ey pl an ne d to m ov e to Tan zan ia

to pu rs ue bu si ne ss op po rtu ni ti es th ere, an d so he an d Yvr os e de ci de d to se ll th e

Bro ad m oo r Res id en ce an d pu rch as e th e Pen th ou se , as a pl ace whe re th ey co ul d st ay

whe n t he y

vi si te d t he Uni te d S ta te s.

The Apr il 20 07 pu rch as e ag reem en t fo r th e Pen th ou se st at ed a pu rch as e pr ic e

of $1 ,09 0,0 00 an d li st ed on ly Y v r o s e a s th e bu y er. Ms hi hi ri an d hi s br ok er ha d

ne go ti at ed a de al wit h th e se ll ers th at in fla te d th e pu rch as e pr ic e of th e Pen th ou se to

faci li ta te po st -cl os in g ki ck ba ck s. The se ll er te st ifi ed th at he ha d “ ag reed to di st rib ut e

ch eck s aft er th e cl os in g fro m th e fu nd s of th e sa le to e n t it ie s of Alp ha [Ms hi hi ri’s]

ch oo si ng .” The br ok er an d an as so ci at e o f Ms hi hi ri pr ov id ed fu nd s fo r th e do wn

pa y m en t. Ms hi hi ri te st ifi ed th at he an d Yvr os e di d no t pl an on li v i n g i n t h e

Pen th ou se im

m ed ia te ly after t he y

pu rch as ed it

.

Ms hi hi ri pr ov id ed th e in fo rm at io n an d do c u men ta ti on us ed to co m pl et e th e

l oa n ap pl ic at io n. The ap pl ic at io n fal se ly st at ed th at Yvr os e earn ed $2 7,0 00 p e r

mo n t h as an own er of VANY. It in di cat ed th at no pa rt of th e do wn pa y m en t w a s

bo rro wed

, th at Y v ro se pl an ne d to oc cu py th e Pen th ou se aft er cl os in g, an d th at

Yvr os e’s pr im ary res id en ce was a ho m e sh e ren te d i n B ro ok lyn Cen te r, Mi nn es ot a.

-9

-The ap pl ic at io n di d no t di sc lo se Yv r o s e ’s ob li ga ti on on th e m or tg ag e on th e

Bro ad m oo r Res id en c e

. The ap pl ic at io n in cl ud ed a ba nk st at em en t th at ha d be en

al te red to rem ov e Ms hi hi ri’s na m e fro m th e acco un t an d to sh ow Yvr os e’s a dd res s

as be in g in Bro ok lyn Cen te r. It als o in cl ud ed a fal se in ve st m en t acco un t sta te m en t.

Ms hi hi ri u lt im at el y

sec ur ed two lo an s, t og et he r to ta li ng m or e th an $9 87 ,00 0.

The sa le of th e Pen th ou se cl os ed on Ju ne 26

, 20 07

. Afte r th e se ll er’s m or tg ag e

on th e Pen t ho us e was pa id

, th e br ok er rece iv ed $8 7,2 00 an d th e se ll er rece iv ed

$2 84 ,32 7.4 3. Fro m he r pr oc eed s, th e br ok er pa id $4 0,7 50 to V A N Y

. The se ll er

te st ifi ed th at Ms hi hi ri in st ru ct ed hi m to m ak e fo ur pa y m en ts fro m hi s pr oc eed s, whi ch

he di d. The se ll er pa id $2 0,0 00 to th e br ok er; $7 7,0 00 to th e as so ci at e who he lp ed

fu nd th e do wn pa y m en t; $4 0,0 00 t o an ot he r as so ci at e of Ms hi hi ri; an d $6 9,0 00 to

KIG. Ms hi hi ri st op pe d m ak in g pa y m en ts on th e m or tg ag e sh or tl y aft er cl os in g. The

Pen th ou se went in to for ecl os ur e an d was so ld at a sh eri ff’s s al e in Ju ly 200 8.

K I G ’s b a nk acco un t ha d a ne ga ti ve ba la nc e whe n th e pr oc eed s fro m th e

Pen th ou se tra ns act io n were de po si te d. The da y aft er th e $6 9,0 00 was de po si te d, KIG

us ed p a r t o f t h o s e fu nd s to m ak e a m or tg ag e pa y m en t on th e In gl ewo od Dup le x, a

res id en ti al pr op ert y in Mi nn eap ol is th at Jo hn Ml ay ha d pu rch as ed us in g fu nd s fro m

Ms hi hi ri an d o th er m em

be rs of KIG. Th e co -fo un de r of KIG de sc rib ed Ml ay as an

as so ci at e who se na m e an d c red it KIG us ed to bu y pro pe rti es

. KIG, ho wev er, m ad e

th e m or tg ag e p ay m en ts on th e In gl ewo od Dup le x.

Okwu ch wuk wu Ji do fo r (KeKe) r e c r u i t ed Yart ah Kim ba to pu rch as e th e 3

In gl ewo od Dup le x f

ro m Ml ay

. Kim

ba was a ha ir st y li st who ha d he r own sa lo n,

whi ch was lo cat ed in a sp ace th at sh e le as ed

. Sh e m et KeKe at a ni gh tc lu b, an d KeKe

KeKe joi ne d th e co ns pi racy aft er go in g to GW P’s of fic e lo ok in g fo r wor k. 3

Ms hi hi ri to ld hi m th at he co ul d m ak e th ou sa nd s of do ll ars by recr ui ti ng st raw bu y ers

to pu rch as e ho us es an d co ul d, in tu rn , pa y th e bu y ers wha te ve r he wis he d fro m hi s sh are o f th e p ro ceed s.

-1 0-co nv in ced he r to bu y pr op ert y th ro ug h hi m , ev en th ou gh sh e ha d li m it ed in co m e an d

no si gn ifi can t as se ts

. KeKe ob ta in ed Kim ba ’s pe rs on al an d fin an ci al in fo rm at io n an d

br ou gh t it to Ms hi hi ri. Ms hi hi ri ass ur ed KeKe tha t th e de al wou ld pr oc eed

, de sp it e

th e fact th at Kim

ba di d no t ha ve su ffi ci en t as se ts to qu al ify fo r a lo an

. On Nov em be r

13 , 20 07 , Kim

ba en te red in to an ag reem en t t o p ur ch as e th e In gl ewo od Dup le x.

Ms hi hi ri ha nd le d th e do cu m en ta ti on fo r Kim ba ’s lo an

. He ga ve th e do cu m en ts

t o K e K e , who to ok th em to Kim ba to si gn an d th en ret ur ne d th em to Ms hi hi ri’ s

of fic e. Kim ba ’s lo an ap pl ic at io n fals el y st at ed th at sh e earn ed $5 ,22 9 per m on th as

a ge n e r a l m an ag er of a ta x pr ep arat io n se rv ic e pr ov id er, th at sh e ha d m or e th an
$1 5,0 00 in cas h, an d th at no pa rt of th e do wn pa y m en t ha d be en bo rro wed

. Ms hi hi ri

in st ru ct ed KeKe to ta ke th e co m pl et ed ap pl ic at io n to Yis sa Ji na du

, a lo an of fic er fo r

W el ls Farg o. A lo an of m or e th an $2 65 ,00 0 was sec ur ed

.

The sa le of th e In gl ewo od Dup le x to Kim ba cl os ed on Decem

be r 26

, 2 0 0 7.

Afte r Ml ay ’s ex is ti ng m or tg ag e was pa id

, KIG rece iv ed $9 3,2 50 .17 an d pa id $5 5,0 00

to th e co m

pa ny t h a t h a d su pp li ed th e fu nd s fo r Kim ba ’s do wn pa y m en t. At

Ms hi hi ri’s di rect io n, th at co m pa ny, in tu rn , pa id ki ck ba ck s in th e am ou nt s of $2 ,00 0

to Ml ay ; $ 21 ,97 1.0 3 t o KeKe ; an d $ 3,0 00 to Ji na du

.

So m e m or tg ag e pa y m en ts were m ad e on th e I n g l e woo d Dup le x by th e co

fo un de r of KIG. Kim

ba

, ho wev er, was su rp ris ed by th e si ze of th e m or tg ag e an d by

th e u ni nh ab it ab le st at e o f th e In gl ewo od Dup le x. Sh e co ul d no t affo rd to m ak e th e

ne ces sa ry rep ai rs o r th e m or tg ag e pa y m en ts

, an d th e In gl ewo od Dup le x wen t in to

fo recl os ur e.

Ms hi hi ri us ed $3 0

, 0 0 0 o f KIG’s fu nd s fro m th e In gl ewo od Dup le x sa le to

pu rch as e th e 33 rd St reet Pro pe rty, whi ch he la te r tra ns ferr ed to hi s co m pa ny VANY,

reco rd in g a $6 0

, 00 0 m or tg ag e to KIG. So m et im e th erea fte r, KeKe to ld Ms hi hi ri

ab ou t a st ol en id en ti ty t ha t KeKe ha d acq ui red fro m a fri en d, an d Ms hi hi ri de ci de d

-1 1-to us e it to pu rch as e th e 33 rd St reet Pro pe rty fro m VANY. On Ju ly 2, 20 08

, Ms hi hi ri

an d KeKe wen t t o a n As so ci at ed Ban k t og et he r, whe re KeKe o pe ne d a n acco un t in

th e id en ti ty-th eft vi ct im ’s na m e, R.C. Afte r Ms hi hi ri to ld KeKe th at th ey wou ld ne ed

so m eo n e to po se as R.C., KeKe recr ui te d Tris ta n Tric e to th e sc he m e. A lo an in

R.C.’s na m e was br o ke red th ro ug h Pri st in e. Giv en th at R.C.’s id en ti ty ha d be en

st ol e n , th e lo an ap pl ic at io n was en ti rel y fab ric at ed an d su pp or te d by frau du le nt

do cu m en ta ti on

.

On Ju ly 21

, 20 0 8

, Tric e si gn ed th e cl os in g do cu m en ts fo r th e 33 rd St reet

Pro pe rty as R.C., bu t it was to o la te in th e da y fo r Tric e to pu rch as e th e ca sh ie r’s

ch eck s re qu ire d fo r cl os in g. Acco rd in gl y , th e n ex t d ay , KeKe an d Trice went to an

Ass oc ia te d Ban k, whe re Tric e was ab le to pu rch as e a $6 ,00 0 cas hi er’s ch eck as R.C.,

us i n g c a s h g i ve n to hi m by KeKe. KeKe an d Tric e th en wen t to an of fic e bu il di ng

in Bro ok lyn Park , M in ne so ta , wh ere th ey m et Ms hi hi ri, who h a d c a s h f or a se co nd

cas hi er’s ch eck

. Driv in g a bl ack Mer ced es be ari ng pe rs on al iz ed li cen s e pl at es , Ms hi hi ri to ok KeKe and Tric e to an Ass oc ia te d B an k i n S t. Lo ui s Pa rk , Min ne so ta

,

w he re Ms hi hi ri ga ve Tric e an en ve lo pe co nt ai ni ng cas h an d in st ru ct ed hi m t o

pu rch as e a $5 ,00 0 cas hi er’s ch e c k

. M s h ih iri an d KeKe wait ed in th e pa rk in g lo t

whi le Tric e en te red th e ba nk to co m pl et e th e tra ns act io n. Tric e pr es en t e d t h e cas h

an d a wit hd rawal sl ip to th e te ll er in an at te m pt to pu rch as e th e cas hi er’s ch eck

. The ir

su sp ic io ns aro us ed

, ba nk pe rs on ne l cal le d th e po li ce, who arre st ed Tric e. As he was

be in g es co rte d ou t of th e ba nk

, Tric e sa w M s h ih iri dr iv e away. Ano th er as so ci at e

was ab le to pr oc ur e a se co nd cas h i e r ’s c he ck in R.C.’s na m e la te r th at da y

. The

ch eck s were de li ve red to th e ti tl e co m pa ny, whi ch rel eas ed fu nd s to VANY on Ju ly

23 , 20 08

.

F r o m th e $1 87 ,49 3.8 6 pr oc eed s fro m th e sa le of th e 33 rd St reet Pro pe r t y,
$ 6 0

, 0 0 0 was pa id to Pri st in e an d $1 26 ,13 9.5 1 was pa id to VANY. Pri st in e th e n

tra ns ferr ed it s fu nd s to KIG, whi ch in tu rn us ed pa rt of th e fu nd s to faci li ta te Has sa n

Ras hi d’s st raw pu rch as e of th e Bro ad m oo r Res id en ce. Ms hi hi ri is su ed ki ck ba ck s to

-1 2-t h e r e c ru it er, br ok er, an d lo an of fic ers fro m th e VANY acco un t, an d VANY th en

tra ns ferr ed $6 2,5 00 of i ts fun ds to Ras hi d’s b an k a cco un t.

Ms hi hi ri co nv in ced Ras hi d, hi s co us in

, to act as th e st raw bu y er of Ms hi hi ri’s

pr im ary ho m e, th e Bro ad m oo r Res id e nc e. Ms hi hi ri ex pl ai ne d th at he was

co nt em pl a t i ng m ov in g to Tan zan ia an d ha d no t be en ab le to se ll hi s ho us e. He

su gg es te d th at Ras hi d pu rch as e th e ho us e, wit h Ms hi hi ri m ak in g th e do wn pa y m en t

an d fin di ng ren te rs to co ve r th e m on th ly m or tg ag e pa y m en ts

. Ras hi d ag reed to do so , bu t he had no ro le in se tt in g th e pu rch as e pr ic e of $6 40 ,00 0, whi ch he be li ev ed was

arra ng ed by Msh ih iri an d t he lo an off ic er.

Ms hih ir i co m

pleted th e lo an ap pl ic at io n, whi ch

, as wit h th e ap pl ic at io ns re la te d

to t h e ot he r pr op ert ie s, was rep le te wit h m is rep res en ta ti on s an d om is si on s. The

ap pl ic at io n m is rep res en te d Ras hi d’s in co m e an d em pl oyer, s t a t in g th at he earn ed

$1 4,8 24 pe r m on th wor ki ng fo r Pri st in e Fi na nc e. The ap pl ic at io n al so in di cat ed th at

no pa rt of th e do wn pa y m en t was bo rro wed

, th at Ras h i d p l a n n e d to oc cu py th e

Bro ad m oo r Res id en c e a f t e r cl os in g, an d th at Ras hi d rece iv ed $2 ,50 0 pe r m on th in

ren ta l i n c o me, no ne of whi ch was tru e. Ph on y pa y st ub s an d a fal se in ve st m en t

acco un t st at em en t we re su bm it te d in su pp or t of th e ap pl ic at io n. Ras hi d’s lo an

ap pl ic at io n was referre d t o J in ad u, t he W el ls Farg o l oa n o ffi cer wh o had faci li ta te d

th e In gl ewo od Dup le x de al

. As reco un te d ab ov e, Ms hi hi ri pr ov id ed m os t of Ras hi d’s

do wn pa y m en t th ro ug h KIG an d VANY. The sa le cl os ed on Ju ly 31

, 20 08

, fo ll owi ng

whi ch Ms hi hi ri an d hi s fam il y co nt in ue d to li ve at th e Bro ad m oo r Res id en ce, whi ch

ev en tu al ly w en t i nt o fo recl os ur e.

B. Dis cu ss io n

M s h i h i r i a rg ue s th at th e go ve rn m en t fai le d to pr ov e a si ng le co ns pi racy. H e

de sc rib es th e r o l e s di ffer en t in di vi du al s pl ay ed in co m pl et in g th e frau du le nt

tra ns act io ns rel at ed to each of th e fo ur pr op ert ie s, arg ui ng th at th ere were fo ur

-1 3-s e p a r at e sc he m es , on e fo r each pr op ert y

. Den y in g th at he was th e hu b of a si ng l e ,

hu b- an d- sp ok e co ns pi racy, Ms hi hi ri cl ai m s th at KeKe was th e hu b of th e co nspi ra ci es

in vo lv in g th e In gl ewo od Dup le x an d th e 33 rd St reet Pro pe rty an d th at th e Pen th ou se

an d th e Bro ad m oo r Re sid en ce were m erel y “ se pa rat e pe rs on al tra ns act io ns of Mr. an d

M r s

. M s h ih iri .” App el la nt ’s Br. 38

. He rei te rat es th e fact th at no t al l o f t h e

in di vi du al s i nv ol ve d i n t he fou r tra ns act io ns work ed to ge th er an d t ha t h e was oft en

tra ve li ng ou ts id e th e co un try whe n th e tra ns act io ns rel at ed to th e In gl ewo od Dup le x

an d 3 3r d S tre et Pro pe rty were be in g c om pl et ed

.

“ A si ng le co ns pi racy is co m po se d of in di vi du al s sh ari ng co m m on pu rp os es or

ob jecti ve s un de r on e ge ne ral ag r e e men t

. ” Mo ral es , 11 3 F.3 d at 11 8- 19 (in te rn al

qu ot at io n m ark s an d ci ta ti on om it te d)

. If t h e e vi de nc e ha s es ta bl is he d on e ov eral l

ag r e e men t to co m

m it an il le ga l act

, th e go ve rn m en t ha s pr ov ed it s cas e. Id

. In

de te rm in in g whe th er th e ev id en ce ha s es ta bl is he d a s i n g le co ns pi racy, we co ns id er

th e to ta li ty of th e ci rcu m st an ces , vi ewin g th e ev id en ce in th e li gh t m os t fav or ab le to

th e ve rd ic t a n d dr awin g al l reas on ab le in fere nc es in fav or of th e ve rd ic t. Uni te d

St at es v. Jo hn so n, 71 9 F.3d 66 0, 66 9 (8t h Cir. 20 13 ). “ Rel ev an t fact or s in cl ud e th e

na tu re of th e act iv it ie s in vo l v e d

, t h e l oc at io n whe re th e al le ge d ev en ts of th e

co ns pi racy too k p la ce, t he id en ti ty of th e co ns pi rat or s in vo lv ed , a nd th e ti m e fra m e

in whi ch th e act s o ccu rred .” Id . (in te rn al qu ot at io n m ark s an d ci ta ti on om it te d) . A

si ng le co ns pi racy m ay ex is t “ ev en if th e pa rti ci pa nt s an d th ei r act iv it ie s ch an ge ov er

ti m e, an d ev en if m an y pa rti ci pa nt s are u n a w a r e o f

, or un in vo lv ed in

, so m e of th e

tra ns act io ns .” Id

.

W he n so vi ewed th e ev id en ce es ta bl is he d a si ng le co ns pi racy, who se pu rp os e

was to se cu re le nd ers ’ fu nd s th ro ug h m at eri al m is rep res en ta ti on s, o mi s si on s, an d

frau du le nt do cu m en ts

. The m an ne r an d m ean s of se cu rin g l e n d e r s ’ fu nd s were

si m il ar acro ss th e tra ns act io ns rel at ed to th e fo ur pro pe rti es

. Sp eci fic al ly, Ms hi hi ri

or a co -co ns pi rat or wou ld id en ti fy a st raw bu y er an d a pr op ert y in th e Twin Ci ti es

m et ro po li ta n area

. The reaf te r , p u rch as e pr ic es were in fla te d, th e st raw bu y er’s

-1 4-in co m e an d as se ts were m is rep res en te d, do wn pa y m en t fu nd s were se cu red

, an d po st

cl os in g ki ck ba ck s were pa id , us ua ll y at M sh ih iri ’s di rect io n. The lo an ap pl ic at io ns

bo r e s i mi la r m is rep res en ta ti on s of in co m e an d as se ts

, an d th e do cu m en ta ti on

su pp or ti ng each ap pl ic at io n was al te red

, fab ric at ed

, or crea te d fro m who le cl ot h.

Ms hi hi ri us ed GW P, Pri st in e, KIG, a n d V A NY, an d in di vi du al s who sh ared

co nn ect io ns to th os e en ti ti es th ro ug ho ut th e Ju ne 20 06 th ro ug h Apr il 20 09

co ns pi racy.

The flo w of th e il l-g ot te n fu nd s us ed to pe rp et ua te th e sc he m e al so su pp or ts th e jury’ s fin di ng of a si ng le co ns pi racy. Pro ceed s fro m th e Pen th ou se cl os in g were us ed

to fu nd m or tg ag e pa y m en ts on th e In gl ewo od Dup le x be fo re i t w a s so ld to st rawbu y er Ki m

ba . Som e o f th e pr oc eed s from th e In gl ewo od Dup le x c lo si ng were t he n

us ed to fu nd Ms hi hi ri’s pu rch as e of th e 33 rd St reet Pro pe rty be fo re it was so ld to th e

fic ti ti ou s st raw-b uyer, R.C. The reaf te r, pr oc eed s fro m th e 33 rd St reet Pro pe rty

cl os in g w e r e u se d to fu nd th e do wn pa y m en t fo r Ras hi d’s st raw pu rch as e of th e

Bro ad m oo r Res id en ce.

F in al ly, we reject Ms hi hi ri’s co nt en ti on th at KeKe was th e hu b of se pa rat e

co ns pi raci es in vo lv in g th e In gl ewo od Dup le x an d th e 33 rd St reet Pro pe rty. Alt ho ug h

KeKe ha d recr ui te d Kim ba an d pr oc ur ed a st ol en id en ti ty, he br ou gh t th os e st raw

bu y ers to Ms hi hi ri, who th en co m pl et ed or faci li ta te d th e co m pl et io n of the ir bo gu s

lo an a p p l i cat io ns , whi ch in tu rn se cu red le nd ers ’ fu nd s th ro ug h m at eri al

m is rep res en ta ti on s and om is si on s. The ov erwh el m in g ev id en ce of his in vo lv em en t
gi ve s th e li e to Ms hi hi ri’s arg um en t th at he was no t res po ns ib le fo r th es e tra ns act io ns

be cau se he was t rav el in g a br oa d.

IV. Mo ti on To Su pp res s Tri ce’s Pre tri al an d In -Co ur t Id en ti fic at io n o f Ms hi hi ri

Ms hi hi ri arg ue s th a t ev id en ce of Tric e’s pr et ria l id en ti fic at io n of Ms hi hi ri

sh ou ld ha ve be en su pp res se d. B e f o r e tri al

, Tric e ha d be en sh own ph ot og rap hs of

-1 5-M sh ih iri an d ha d id en ti fie d hi m on an in ve st ig at iv e flo w ch art

, reco gn iz in g hi m a s

on e o f t h e “b i g gu y s.” It was Ms hi hi ri who in tro du ced th e pr et ria l id en ti fic at io n

ev id en ce, ho wev er, in an at te m pt to de m on st rat e to th e jury th at Tric e kn ew Ms hi hi ri

on ly fro m th e ph ot og rap hs he w a s s ho wn. By in tro du ci ng th is ev id en ce hi m se lf,

Ms hi hi ri ha s waiv ed an y arg um en t th at th e di st ric t co ur t sh ou ld ha ve ex cl ud ed it

. See

Uni te d St at es v. Prec ia do

, 33 6 F.3 d 73 9, 74 5 (8 th Ci r. 20 03 ) (ci ti ng Uni te d St at es v.

Mi hm

, 13 F.3 d 12 00

, 12 04 (8 th Ci r. 19 94 ) (co nc lu di ng th at an un su cces sf ul ta ct ic al

de ci si on waiv es ev en pl ai n e rro r rev ie w)).

M s h i hi ri al so arg ue s th at th e di st ric t co ur t erre d by de nyin g hi s m ot io n t o

s up pr es s Tric e’s in -co ur t id en ti fic at io n of Ms hi hi ri. He co nt en ds th at th e pr et r i a l

id en ti fic at io n pr oc ed ur es were un ne ces sa ril y su gg es ti ve an d ta in te d Tric e’s in -co ur t

id en ti fic at io n, th ereb y vi ol at in g Ms hi hi r i ’s c o ns ti tu ti on al rig ht to du e pr oc es s.

Rev ie win g th is cl ai m de no vo , w e ap pl y th e two -p art te st th at go ve rn s th e

ad m is si bi li ty of id en ti fic at io n ev id en ce. Uni te d St at es v. W il li am s, 34 0 F.3 d 56 3, 56 7
(8 th Ci r. 20 03 ). “ Fi rs t, we de te rm in e if th e id en ti fic at io n pr oc ed ur es were

‘im pe rm is si bl y su gg es ti ve .’ If t h e y were, we ex am in e th e to ta li ty of th e

ci rcu m st an ces to de te rm in e whe th er th e su gg es ti ve pr oc ed ur es crea te d ‘a ve ry

su bs ta nt ia l li ke li ho od of i r r e p arab le m is id en ti fic at io n.’” Id

. (q uo ti ng Si m m on s v.

Uni te d St at es , 3 9 0 U.S. 37 7, 38 4 (1 96 8) ). In de te rm in in g th e li ke li ho od of

mi s i d en ti fic at io n, we co ns id er “ th e op po rtu ni ty of th e wit ne ss to vi ew th e cri m in a l

at th e ti m e of th e cri m e, th e wit ne ss ’ de gr ee of at te nt i o n , t he accu racy of hi s pr io r

de sc rip ti on of th e cri m in al

, th e le ve l of certa in ty de m on st rat ed at th e co nf ro nt at io n,

an d th e ti m e be twee n th e cri m e an d t h e c o n f ro nt at io n.” Id

. (q uo ti ng Man so n v.

Brat hwa it e, 43 2 U.S. 9 8, 1 14 (19 77 )).

Eve n if we were to as su m e th at th e pr oc ed ur e he re was som eh ow im pe rm is si bl y

su gg es t i ve , th e ci rcu m st an ces do no t su gg es t a su bs ta nt ia l li ke li ho od th at Tric e

m is id en ti fie d Ms hi hi ri. Tric e ob se rv ed M s h i h i r i twi ce: whe n Tric e fir st

im pe rs on at ed R.C., an d ag ai n ap pr ox im at el y a week aft er th ei r fir st en co un te r, whe n

-1 6-Ms hi hi ri dr ov e Tric e fro m an of fic e bu il di ng l o c a te d in Bro ok lyn Park to a ba nk

lo cat ed in St

. Lou is Park

. Tric e ap pa ren tl y pa id cl os e at te nt io n to Ms hi hi ri, be cau se

he was ab le to reco un t th ei r m ee t i n g s i n d et ai l an d accu rat el y de sc rib e th e m ak e,

co lo r, an d pe rs on al iz ed li cen se pl at e of Ms hi hi ri’s v eh ic le

. Acco rd in g to Ms hi hi ri,

whe n Tric e was sh own th e in ve st ig at iv e flo w ch art m or e th an th ree y ears aft er he ha d

la st see n M sh ih iri , he i de nt ifi ed Ms hi hi ri a s o ne of th e “ bi g gu y s,” bu t lat er seem ed

to co nf us e Olu watu la an d Ms hi hi ri. Giv en th e to ta li ty of th e ci rcu m st an ces , ho wev er,

we fin d no su bs ta nt ia l li ke li ho od of irr ep arab le m is id en ti fic at io n, an d th us th e di st ric t

co ur t d id no t er r in all owi ng Trice to id en ti fy Ms hi hi ri a t t ria l.

V. Sent en ci ng

At se nt en ci ng , th e go ve rn m en t in tro du ced a su m m ary ch art sh owi ng th e lo ss es

fo r th irt een pr op ert ie s th at were in vo lv ed in th e ov eral l sc he m e to de frau d— th ree of

th e pr o p e r t i e s th at were th e su bjec t of th e tri al an d te n ot he r pr op ert ie s. Fo r each 4

pr op er t y, t he ch art li st ed th e ad dr es s, bo rro wer, cl os in g da te

, le nd er, fin an ci al lo ss

vi ct im

, lo an am ou n t

, un pa id pr in ci pa l ba la nc e, sa le s pr ic e, sa le s pr oc eed s, an d

real iz e d lo ss

. To cal cu la te th e am ou nt of lo ss , th e go ve rn m en t to ok th e po st

fo recl os ur e sa le s pr ic e or sa le s pr oc eed s fo r each pr op ert y , whi ch ev er was hi gh er, an d

s u b t r a c t ed it fro m th e un pa id pr in ci pa l ba la nc e on th e frau du le nt ly ob ta in ed

m or tg ag es , whi ch res ul te d in a to ta l real iz ed lo ss of $1 ,97 1,0 91 .91

. A sp eci al ag en t

wit h t h e Uni te d St at es Dep art m en t of Hou si ng an d Urb an Dev el op m en t (HUD)

te st ifi ed reg ard in g th e te n pr op ert ie s th at were no t id en ti fie d in th e i n d i c t ment

,

co nn ect in g e ach pro pe rty and ass oc ia te d t ran sa ct io n t o t he co ns pi racy.

The di st ric t co ur t de te rm in ed th at M s h ih iri ’s rel ev an t co nd uc t in vo lv ed th e

th irt een pr op ert ie s li st ed on th e su m m ary ch art an d fo un d th at th e am ou nt of lo ss was

The 33 rd St reet Pro pe rty di d no t ha ve a real iz ed lo ss whe n Ms hi hi ri was 4

se nt en ced an d was no t i nc lu de d i n t he lo ss cal cu la ti on

.

-1 7-$ 1

, 9 7 1,0 91 .91

. The di st ric t co ur t ap pl ie d se ve ral en ha nc em en ts to Ms hi hi ri’s ba s e

of fen se le ve l: a lo ss of m or e th an $1 m il li on bu t no t m or e th an $2 .5 mill io n; us in g

so ph is ti cat ed m ean s; m ak in g un au th or iz ed us e of a m ean s of id en ti fic at io n to ob ta in

an ot he r m ean s of id en ti fic at io n; de riv in g m or e th an $1 m il li on in gr os s rece ip ts fro m

on e or m or e fin an ci al in st it ut io ns ; act in g as an or ga ni zer or le ad er of cri m in al act iv it y

th at in vo lv ed fiv e or m or e pa rti ci pa nt s; a n d o b s t ru ct in g jus ti ce. The di st ric t co ur t
reject ed Ms h i h i r i ’s r e qu es t th at th e am ou nt of lo ss be di sc ou nt ed by th irt y pe rcen t

ba se d on un fo res eeab le m ark et ch an ge s. The di st ric t co ur t de te rm in ed th at Ms hi hi ri’s

to ta l o f f e n s e le ve l was 35

, hi s cri m in al hi st or y cat eg or y was I, an d hi s ad vi so ry

se nt en ci ng ran ge was 16 8 to 21 0 m on th s ’ im pr is on m en t. As se t fo rth earl ie r,

Ms hi hi ri was se nt en ced to 15 0 m on th s’ im pr is on m en t an d or de red to pa y res ti tu ti on

in th e am ou nt of $ 1,9 71 ,09 1.9 1.

Ms hi hi ri ar gue s that th e di st ric t co ur t erre d in de te rm in in g hi s rel ev an t co nd uc t,

th e act ua l lo s s am ou nt

, an d th at Ms hi hi ri ha d ob st ru ct ed jus ti ce. Ms hi hi ri fir st 5

arg ue s t ha t t he go ve rn m en t fail ed to pro ve an y joi nt ly und ert ak en cri m in al act iv it y

. He co nt en ds th a t t he tra ns act io ns rel at ed to each of th e pr op ert ie s de sc rib ed in th e

in di ct m en t were sep arat e frau ds an d no t pa rt of an ov erar ch in g co ns pi racy. He al so

arg ue s th at th e tra n s a c t i o n s r el at ed to th e te n ot he r pr op ert ie s sh ou ld no t be

co ns id ered rel ev an t co nd uc t.

Ms hi hi ri ha s m ad e no m ean in gf ul arg um en t reg ard in g th e d is tri ct co ur t’s 5

im po s it io n of of

fen se -le ve l en ha nc em en ts fo r us e of so ph is ti cat ed m ean s, us e of

id en ti fic at io n to ob ta in an ot he r m ean s of id en ti fic at i o n , an d ro le in th e of fen se

. Acco rd in gl y , he ha s waiv ed an y su ch arg um en t. See Fed

. R. App

. P. 28 (a)( 8 )(A) (s ta ti ng th at an ap pe ll an t’s br ie f sh ou ld co nt ai n “app el la nt ’s co nt en ti on s an d th e

reas on s fo r th em , wit h ci ta ti on s to th e au th or it ie s an d pa rts of th e reco rd on whi ch th e

ap pe ll an t rel ie s” ); Uni te d St at es v. Ali

, 79 9 F.3 d 10 08

, 10 26 (8 th C ir. 20 15 ) (fo reg oi ng co ns id erat io n of an arg um e n t t h a t was m en ti on ed bu t no t m ean in gf ul ly

arg ue d)

.

-1 8-W e rev ie w th e di st ric t co ur t’s rel ev an t co nd uc t fin di ng s fo r cl ear erro r. Uni te d

St at es v. W hi ti ng , 52 2 F

. 3 d 8 4 5

, 85 0 (8 th Ci r. 20 08 ). Fo r se nt en ci ng pu rp os es , rel ev an t con du ct in cl ud es al l acts an d o m is si on s o f th e d efen da nt th at were “ pa rt o f

th e sa m e co ur se of co nd uc t or co m m on sc he m e or pl an as th e of fen se of co nv ic ti on ”

an d “ al l reas on ab ly fo res e e a b l e a c ts an d om is si on s of ot he rs in fu rth eran ce of th e joi nt ly un de rta ke n cri m in al a c t i v i ty.” U.S.S.G. § 1B 1.3 (a)( 1) an d (2 ). The di st ric t

co ur t di d no t cl earl y err in fin di ng th a t Ms hi hi ri’s rel ev an t co nd uc t in cl ud ed th e

pr op ert ie s lis te d on th e su m m ary ch art

. The pr op ert ie s th at were th e su bjec t o f tr ia l

are be y on d ch al le ng e. As fo r th e rem ai ni ng te n pr op ert ie s, th e HUD sp eci al ag en t’s

te st i mo ny co nn ect ed th os e pr op ert ie s to th e co ns pi racy an d es ta bl is he d th at th e

le nd ers wit h res pe ct to th os e pr op ert ie s were de frau de d du rin g th e ti m e pe rio d al le ge d

in th e in di ct m en t by m ean s of a sc he m e su bs ta nt ia ll y si m il ar to th e on e al le ge d in th e

in di ct m en t. Ms hi hi ri m ak es no sp eci fic al le ga ti on s o f erro r as to an y of th e

pr op ert ie s, b ut arg ue s t ha t h e di d no t ful ly co nt ro l th e m or tg ag e frau d, th at he sp en t

s e ve ral m on th s ab ro ad be twee n 20 07 an d 20 09

, an d th at he be ga n ex it in g t h e r e a l

es ta te bu si ne ss du rin g th at ti m e pe rio d. W ha te ve r th e tru th of th os e as se rti on s, th ey

do no t es ta bl is h th at th e di st ric t co ur t cl earl y erre d in de te rm in in g Ms hi hi ri’s rel ev an t

co nd uc t.

Ms hi hi ri co nt en ds th at th e te n pr op ert ie s ad dr es se d at se nt en ci ng sh ou ld no t

ha ve be en in cl ud ed in th e lo ss cal cu la ti on s. He fu rth er argu es th at th e di st ric t co ur t

sh ou ld ha ve co ns id ered on ly t h e lo ss su ffer ed by th e or ig in al le nd er. If th e le nd er

pa ck ag ed th e m or tg ag e an d so ld it to a di ffer en t fin an ci al in st it ut io n fo r a pr of it

, th e

arg um en t go es , no lo ss sh ou ld be at tri bu te d to Ms hi hi ri. Fi na ll y , he co nt en ds th at th e

di st ric t co ur t erre d whe n it co ns id ered he ars ay ev id en ce an d whe n it reject ed hi s so

cal le d bl ack swa n arg um en t— th at is

, th at th e am ou nt of lo ss sh ou l d b e r e du ced by

th irt y pe rcen t t o a cco un t fo r th e u nf or es eeab le co ll ap se of t he real est at e m ark et

.

The di st ric t co ur t di d no t cl earl y err in fin di ng an act ua l lo ss of $1 ,97 1,0 91 .91

. Uni te d St at es v. Eng el m an n, 7 20 F.3 d 10 05

, 10 13 (8 th Ci r. 20 13 ) (s ta nd ard of

-1 9-rev ie w). As an in it ia l m at te r, th e di st ric t co ur t pr op erl y in cl ud ed th e lo ss es fro m th e

te n p r o p e r t i es ad dr es se d at se nt en ci ng in it s lo ss cal cu la ti on

. See Uni te d St at es v. Que ve do

, 65 4 F.3 d 81 9, 82 3 (8 th Ci r. 20 11 ) (“ A se nt en ci ng co ur t m us t in cl ud e in it s

cal cu la ti on an y

lo ss es cau se d b y

‘ rel ev an t co nd uc t.’”). W e h av e h el d t ha t a d is tri ct

co u rt do es no t cl earl y err “ in ba si ng it s act ua l lo ss cal cu la ti on on th e di ffer en ce

be twee n th e un pa id lo an ba la nc es an d th e pr ic es ob ta in ed fo r t h e p r o pe rti es at

sh eri ff’s sa le s or sh or t sa le s.” Eng el m an n, 72 0 F.3 d at 10 13 -1 4 (ci ti n g U.S.S.G.

§ 2B 1.1 cm t. n.3 (E)(i i))

. Acco rd in gl y , t h e r e c a n be no cl ear erro r he re, whe re th e

di st ric t co ur t en ga ge d in a m or e co ns erv at iv e cal cu la ti on by su bt ract in g th e hi gh er of

th e po st -fo recl os ur e sa le s pr ic e or th e sa le s pr oc eed s fro m th e un pa id pr in ci pa l

ba la nc e.

Mo reo ve r, th e lo ss he re m eet s th e U.S. Sen te nc in g G ui de li ne s Man ua l’s

de fin it io n of “ act ua l lo ss ” be cau se th e lo ss was “ th e reas on ab ly fo res eeab le pe cu ni ary

ha rm th at res ul te d fro m th e of fen se .” See U.S.S.G. § 2B 1.1 cm t. n.3 (A)(i ) (d efi ni ng

“ act ua l lo ss ”). The Gui de li ne s de fin e “ reas on ab ly fo res eeab le pe cu n i a r y ha rm ” as

“ pe cu ni ary ha rm th at th e de fen da nt kn ew or , un de r th e ci rcu m st an ces , reas on ab ly

sh ou ld ha ve kn own , was a po te nt ia l r e s u l t of th e of fen se ,” U.S.S.G. § 2B 1.1 cm t.

n.3 (A)(i v)

, an d we ha ve reco gn iz ed th at “ [i]t was reas on ab ly fo res ee a bl e ‘tha t a

s c h e me pr em is ed on fal se lo an ap pl ic at io ns an d in fla te d real es ta te pr ic es wou l d

un rav el

, an d th at m ark et co nd it io ns co ul d exa cerb at e th e lo ss es .’ ” Eng el m an n, 72 0

F.3 d at 10 14 (q uo ti ng Uni te d St at es v. Spen cer, 70 0 F.3d 31 7, 32 3 (8t h Cir. 20 12 )).

Mo reo ve r, it is im m at eri al th at th e lo ss vi ct im s were so m et im es ot he r th an th e or ig in al

le nd er. Reg ard le ss of whe th er th e vi ct im was th e or ig in al le nd er or a su bs eq ue nt

ho ld er of th e m or tg ag e, th e pe cu ni ary ha rm “ res ul te d f r om ” Ms hi hi ri’s co ns pi racy

of fen se

. Fi na ll y , th e di st ric t co ur t di d no t err in co ns id eri ng th e he ars ay te st im on y of

th e HUD sp eci al ag en t. Uni t e d St at es v. Sh ack el fo rd

, 46 2 F.3 d 79 4, 79 6 (8 th Ci r.

2 00 6) (p er cu ria m ) (“ Hears ay ev id en ce, ev en do ub le he ars ay , can be us ed a t

se nt en ci ng pr oc eed in gs if it be ars su ff ic ie nt in di ci a of rel ia bi li ty to su pp or t it s

pr ob ab le accu racy.” (in te rn al qu ot at io n m ark s an d c it at io n o m it te d) ).

-2 0-W it h res pe ct to th e en ha nc em en t fo r ob st ru ct io n of jus ti ce, th e di st ric t co ur t

fo un d th at Ms hi hi ri ga ve fal se te st im on y bo th at th e su pp res si on he ari ng an d at tri al

. Bec au se “ [c]om m it ti ng pe rjury at tri al is a reas on to ap pl y a two -le ve l en ha nc em en t

fo r ob st ru ct io n of jus ti ce” an d be cau se th ere was no cl ear e r r o r i n t h e fin di ng th at

Ms hi hi ri ha d co m

m it te d pe rjury, th e di st ric t co ur t pr op erl y ap pl ie d th e en ha nc em en t.

See Uni te d St at es v. W at ers ,79 9 F.3 d 96 4, 97 4 (8 th Ci r. 20 15 ) ( c it in g U.S.S.G.

§ 3 C1 .1 cm t. n .4(B )).

Thro ug ho ut hi s se nt en ci ng arg um en ts

, Ms hi hi ri ci te s App ren di v. New Je rs ey , 53 0 U.S. 46 6 (2 00 0)

, an d All ey ne v. Uni te d St at es , 13 3 S. Ct

. 21 51 (2 01 3)

. In
App ren di

, th e Su pr em e Co ur t he ld th at “ [o ]the r th an th e fact of a pr io r co nv ic ti on , an y

fact th at in crea se s th e pe na lt y fo r a cri m e be y on d th e pr es cri be d st at ut or y m ax im um

m us t b e su bm it te d to th e jury, an d p ro ve d b ey on d a reas on ab le do ub t.” 5 30 U.S. at

49 0. In All ey ne , th e Co ur t hel d th at an y fact th at in crea se s t he st at ut or y m an da to ry

m in im um se nt en ce to whi ch a de fen da nt is ex po se d is an “ el em en t” of th e cri m e an d

m us t be su bm it te d to th e jury. 13 3 S. Ct

. at 21 55

. Neit he r cas e ap pl ie s he re, be cau se

th e d is tri ct co ur t’s fin di ng s di d no t in crea se th e st at ut or y m ax im um sen te nc e o r th e

st at ut or y m an da to ry

m in im um sen te nc e.

VI. Con cl us io n

The jud gm en t i s af

fir m ed

.

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

-2 1-