FILED U.S. COURT OF AP P EALS E LEVEN T HC IRC UIT MARCH 31, 2008 THOMAS K. KAH

N CLERK [ DO NO T P UB L I S H]

I N THE UN I TE D STATE S C OU RT OF APPE ALS F O R T H E E L E V E N T H C IR C U IT

________________________ N o. 07- 12650 N on -A rgum entC al endar

________________________ D . C . D ocketN o. 05 -000 31 -C R -01-1 U N I T E D S T A T E S O F A M E R I C A , P la in tif f - A p p e lle e , v ersu s K H A L I D Z . S A R S O U R , D e f e n d a n t- A p p e lla n t.

________________________ A pp ea l fr om the U ni t ed S t at es D i stri ctC ou rt f o rth e S o u th e rn D is tr ic t o f G e o r g ia

_________________________ ( M ar c h 31, 2008)2

B efo re B IR C H , C A RN E S an d B A R K E T T , C i rcu i tJu d g es. P E R C U R I A M: A fe dera l grand j ury i nd i ct ed K hal i d S ar sour on 5 cou nt s of the un autho ri ze d us e of f ood s t a m p be ne f

i t s w i th ava l ue of

$100 orm or e a nd 5 c ount s of the u n au th o r iz e d u s e o f

f o o d s ta m p b e n e f

its w ith av a lu e o f

$ 1 0 0 o rle s s , a ll in vi ol a t i on of

7 U . S . C . § 2024( b) . S a r s ourpl e d gui l ty on a l l c ount s . O n appe a l , he di s put e s tw o s e nt e nc i ng e nha nc e m e nt s , f ort ot a l l os s a nd f

orabus e of

trus t , a nd one r e d u c tio n d e n ia l, f

o ra c c e p ta n c e o f

r e s p o n s ib ility . W e A F F I R M . I . B AC KG RO UN D A c c or di ng t o the pr e s e nt e nc e i nve s t i ga t i on r e port( “ P S I ” ) a dopt e d by the di stri ctcourt , the fe dera l food st am p p rogram i s a dm i ni st er ed by the U ni t ed S t at es D e pa rtm e ntof

A gr i c ul tur e ( “ U S D A ” ) t o he l p e l i gi bl e f a m i l i e s i n ne e d of

f ood a s s is ta n c e . F o o d s ta m p s a r e is s u e d in G e o r g iath r o u g h th e u s e o f th e E le c tr o n ic B enef i tT ransfe r ( “ E B T ”) sy st em . R ec i pi ent s are cr edi t ed w i th a spec i fi c m on et ary a m o u n t p e rm o n th in th e irE B T a c c o u n t, a n d th e a c c o u n t b a la n c e is e le c tr o n ic a lly r e d u c e d w h e n af

o o d p u r c h a s e is m a d e a t ap a rtic ip a tin g s to r e . S to r e s m u s t ap p ly a nd r e c e i ve author i z a t i on f r om the U S D A be f

or e a c c e pt i ng E B T f

unds . F ood s t a m ps ar e non- tr a ns f

e rr abl e , c a nnotbe us e d t o buy c e rt a i n i t e m s s uc h a s a l c ohol or t oba c c o, a nd c a nnotbe e xc ha nge d f orc a s h.3

S ar so u r o w n ed A ce M ar k et, In c., w h ich o p er ated u n d erth e n am e L ee ’s S u p e rm a rk e t, f

r o m 2 0 0 1 th r o u g h 2 0 0 4 in A u g u s ta , G e o r g ia . U n u s u a l E B T a c tiv ity atL ee ’ s S up erm arket , i ncl ud i ng a hi gh nu m ber of s al es endi ng i n even d ol l ar am ou nt s, such as $8 0, and m ul t i pl e E B T w i thd raw al s i n sho rtperi od s of t i m e, p r o m p te d a n in v e s tig a tio n . A g e n ts in te rv ie w e d an u m b e ro f f o o d s ta m p r e c ip ie n ts dur i ng the i nve s t i ga t i on, a nd m a ny a dm i tt e d t o s e l l i ng the i rE B T be ne f i t s , a l l ow i ng o th e r s to d o s o , o rm is u s in g b e n e f its a t L e e ’s S u p e rm a rk e t b e tw e e n 2 0 0 1 a n d 2 0 0 4 . T he pr oba t i on of

f i c e rc a l c ul a t e d the t ot a l l os s f orthe y e a r s 2001 t o 2004 by u s in g a n e q u a tio n w h e r e th e a m o u n t o f lo s s e q u a le d th e to ta l a m o u n t o f b e n e f its r e d e e m e d m in u s th e e s tim a te d to ta l r e ta il v a lu e o f q u a lif y in g g o o d s s o ld . B e n e f its r e de e m e d a tL e e ’ s S upe rm a rke tf r om 2001 t o 2004 e qua l e d $1, 501, 196. 62. T he e s t i m a t e d t ot a l r e t a i l va l ue of qua l i f y i ng goods s ol d by f

ood s t a m ps dur i ng the s a m e p e r io d w a s $ 1 ,0 3 3 ,3 8 0 .2 5 . T h e d if f e r e n c e b e tw e e n th e tw o a m o u n ts is $467, 816. 37. T he pr oba t i on of f i c e re s t i m a t e d the t ot a l of r e t a i l va l ue of

qua l i f y i ng go od s by m ul t i pl yi ng the t ot al am ou ntof qu al i fy i ng go od s bou gh tfor the m arket b y S arso u r’ s o w n est i m at e th at6 4 % o f h i s sal es w ere fro m fo o d st am p s. T he pr oba t i on of

f i c e ra s s i gne d S a r s ouraba s e of f e ns e l e ve l of

s i x, pur s ua nt t o U . S . S . G . § 2B 1. 1( a ) ( 2) ( 2006) . H e r e c e i ve d a14- l e ve l e nha nc e m e ntbe c aus e the am ou ntof l oss e xcee ded $ 40 0, 00 0, U . S . S . G . § 2 B 1. 1(b)(1)(H ), and a tw o-l evel4

e n h a n c e m e n t f

o rab u s e o f

ap o s itio n o f

p u b lic tru s t, in a c c o r d a n c e w ith U .S .S .G . § 3B 1. 3. B as ed on a t ot al offe nse l evel of 22 and a cri m i nal hi st ory c at egory of I , S a r s o u r ’s s e n te n c in g r a n g e w a s 4 1 - 5 1 m o n th s o f im p r is o n m e n t. S a r s o u rf ile d th r e e o b

je c tio n s to th e P S I w h ic h m irr o rh is is s u e s o n ap p e a l. H e obj e c t e d t o the e s t i m a t e d l os s a m ount , the tw o- poi nta dj us tm e ntf orabus e of trus t , a nd the r e f

us a l t o a w a r d athr e e - poi ntr e duc t i on f ora c c e pt a nc e of re spon si bi l i ty. A tthe se nt enci ng hear i ng , the di stri ctcourtbegan b y not i ng that

“ there [w er e] a num ber of obj ec t i on s” t o b e a dd re ss ed. R 3 at3. S ar sour’ s l aw ye r r e s p o n d e d th a t “[ a ]ll o f

o u ro b je c tio n s , in an u ts h e ll, b a s ic a llyg o to h o w m u c h is the l os s . ” I d. a t4. T he pa rt i e s the n s pe nta l m os tthe e nt i r e s e nt e nc i ng he a r i ng di sc ussi ng on l y the l oss det erm i nat i on . T w o o f S ar sour’ s f orm erem pl oyee s t es t i fi ed. T i m othy W ri gh tt es t i fi ed thata l ar ge m aj ori ty of the m arket ’ s c ust om er s ut i l i z e d f ood s t a m ps . V a l e r i e K e y t e s t i f i e d tha tthe r e w e r e thr e e c a s h r e gi s t e r s , a nd e a c h one w a s e qui ppe d w i th E B T t e c hnol ogy . K e y e s t i m a t e d tha t85% of the m a rke t ’ s s a l e s w e r e E B T tr a ns a c t i ons , a nd s he ha d ne ve rr e de e m e d f ood s t a m ps f

or c a s h o ra llo w e d p e r s o n s to p u r c h a s e a lc o h o l o rc ig a r e tte s w ith E B T f u n d s . W ith re sp ec t t o th e a m o u n t o f lo ss , S ar so u r’s p rim ary c h allen g e to th e P S I’s ca l cul at i on w as thatthe perce nt age use d for the nu m ber of f oo d sal es thatw er e pa i d by f ood s t a m ps w a s t oo l ow . T he pr oba t i on of f i c e re xpl a i ne d hi s c a l c ul a t i on,5

w hi c h us e d the pe r c e nt a ge tha tS a r s ourha d or i gi na l l y c i t e d a s the num be rof f ood s a l e s c onduc t e d vi af

ood s t a m ps . T he gove rnm e ntc onc e de d tha tS a r s ourw a s not lic e n s e dto r e c e iv e f

o o d s ta m p p a y m e n ts u n til e a r ly2 0 0 3 . I d . a t 4 8 . A s the se nt enci ng hear i ng near ed i t s e nd , the di stri ctcourtno t ed that“ w hat [ i tha d] he a r d thi s m orni ng m or e l i ke l y r e s e m bl e s ac a s e pr e s e nt e d i n the de f e ns e of th e is s u e o f

th e g u ilt o rth e in n o c e n c e its e lf .” I d . a t 1 2 4 . S a r s o u rw a s “th e o n ly o n e w h o [ k n e w ] w h a t h ap p e n e d h e r e a n d th e r e s t o f u s a r e ju s t try in g to p u t it t og ether l oo ki ng throu gh a gl as s thati s a l m ostob sc ured. ” I d. at12 6. T he di stri ct c ourta c know l e dge d tha tthe l os s de t e rm i na t i on w a s a n e s t i m a t e , butba s e d upon the e vi de nc e i tha d he a r d, i tw a s c onvi nc e d tha tthe pr oba t i on of f i c e r ’ s c a l c ul a t i ons w e r e a c c u r a te , a n d S a r s o u rh a d d e f r au d e d th e g o v e rn m e n t o f a t le a s t $ 4 0 0 ,0 0 0 . T he di s tr i c tc ourta dopt e d the P S I ’ s f a c tua l f i ndi ngs a nd gui de l i ne c a l c ul a t i ons a nd s e n te n c e d h im to 4 8 m o n th s o f im p r is o n m e n t. I I . DI S CUS S I ON A . E n h an cem en tfo r T o t al L o ss W e r e v ie w th e d is tr ic t c o u rt’s a m o u n t o f lo s s c a lc u la tio n f

o rc le a re rr o r . U ni t ed S t at es v. M edi na, 48 5 F . 3d 12 91 , 12 97 (11th C i r. 20 07 ). H ow ever , obj ec t i on s r ai se d for the fi rs tt i m e on app ea l ar e r evi ew ed for pl ai n err or. U ni t ed S t a t e s v. M a nga r oo, 504 F . 3d 1350, 1353 ( 11th C i r . 2007) . U nde rthi s s t a nda r d,6

w e c an re vers e i f “ there i s ( 1) an error, (2) thati s pl ai n, (3) thataf fe ct s s ub st ant i al r i ght s . . . , a nd ( 4) tha ts e r i ous l y a f f e c t s the f a i rne s s , i nt e gr i ty , orpubl i c r e put a t i on of j ud i ci al proceedi ng s. Id. T he di stri ctcourt ’ s l oss c al cul at i on need on l y be a re as on abl e e st i m at e of the l oss. U . S . S . G . § 2 B 1. 1, com m ent . (n. 3(C )) . S a r s oura s s e rt s tha tthe di s tr i c tc ourte rr e d i n c a l c ul a t i ng the l os s a m ount be c aus e i ti nc l ude d i m pr ope rtr a ns a c t i ons . H e a r gue s ( 1) tha the onl y be c a m e the l i c e ns e d f

ood s t a m p m e r c ha nti n J a nua ry 2003, a nd the r e f or e c oul d notha ve m a de a n y r e q u e s ts f

o rf o o d s ta m p p a y m e n ts p r io rto th a t d a te , a n d ( 2 ) th a t d e s p ite h is i ncapaci t at i on fr om a c arac ci dentfor anu m ber of m on ths i n 2 00 3, the di stri ct c o u rte rr o n e o u s l y i n c l u d e d th e e n t i r e y e a ri n i t s c a l c u l a t i o n o f t o t a l l o s s . He c onc e de s tha tthi s ba s i s f orc ha l l e ngi ng the l os s a m ountw a s notpr e s e nt e d t o the d is tr ic t c o u rt a n d m u s t b e r e v ie w e d f o rp la in e rr o r . A p p e lla n t’s B r . a t 1 6 - 1 7 . 1 . F o o d S t am p L i cen se V i o l at i o n s o f th e fo o d st am p p ro g ram can b e co m m i tt ed b y “ w ho ev er know i ngl y us e s , tr a ns f

e r s , a c qui r e s , a l t e r s , orpos s e s s e s c oupons , author i z a t i on c a r d s , o ra c c e s s d e v i c e s i n a n y ma n n e rc o n tr a ry t o th i s c h ap t e r . ” 7 U . S. C. § 2 0 2 4 ( b ) ( 1 ) ( e m p h a s is a d d e d ) . “I n in te rp r e tin g as ta tu te w e lo o kf ir s t to th e p la in m eani ng of i t s w ords. ” U ni t ed S t at es v. G ri ff i th, 45 5 F . 3d 13 39 , 13 42 (11th C i r. 20 06 ) ( ci t at i on om i tt ed). T he use of the t erm “ w ho ever ” i nstruct s us that7

part i ci pat i on i n the food st am p p rogram i s notre qu i re d t o v i ol at e the st atut e. S ee , e . g. , U . S . v. K ha t i b, 706 F . 2d 213, 218- 19 ( 7th C i r . 1983) ( “ T he l a ngua ge of the s t a tut e i s notr e s tr i c t i ve . ” ) . T he di s tr i c tc ourtpr ope r l y e s t i m a t e d the t ot a l l os s by i nc l udi ng l os s e s f

r om 2001 a nd 2002 be c aus e S a r s ourboughtthe s t or e i n 2001 a nd the n w orke d the r e da i l y . S a r s our ’ s m a j or i ty s ha r e hol de rpos i t i on a nd a c t i ve in v o lv e m e n t w ith th e m a rk e t o n ad a y - to - d a y b a s is u n e q u iv o c a llyim p lic a te h is i nvol ve m e nti n the f

ood s t a m p f

r aud. T he P S I c onf

i rm s S a r s our ’ s r ol e i n 2001 a nd 2002: f o o d s ta m p r e d e m p tio n s a t [ L e e ’s M a rk e t] in c r e a s e d d r a m a tic a llyin 2 0 0 1 . I n th e y e a r2 0 0 0 , r e d e m p tio n s r a n g e d f r o m alo w o f

$ 5 ,3 7 8 in M ayof 20 00 , t o a hi gh of $1 2, 08 6. 87 i n D ec em ber of 200 [0] . B y w ay of c ontr a s t , the r e de m pt i ons a ve r a ge d $14, 818. 33 pe rm onth i n 2001, a nd $43, 496. 44 pe rm onth i n 2002. P S I a t¶ 16. 2 . A b sen ce fro m th e B u si n ess W hi l e S a r s ournow a r gue s tha the w a s i nc apa c i t a t e d f r om ac a ra c c i de nta nd w a s ab s e n t f

r o m th e s to r e f

o rs e v e r a l m o n th s o f

2 0 0 3 , h e d id n o t m a k e th is a r gum e ntt o the s e nt e nc i ng c ourt . A ppe l l a nt ’ s B r . a t16- 17. I nde e d, the de t a i l s of S a r s o u r ’s a c c id e n t a n d b r o k e n a rm a r e o n lyb r ie f lyd is c u s s e d in o n e p le a d in g . A ppe l l a nt ’ s B r . a t3 ( c i t i ng R 1- 27) . T he di s tr i c tc ourtdi d notc om m i tpl a i n e rr or w hen i ti ncl ud ed al l of the m on ths of 20 03 i n the l oss t ot al because the ef fe ctof8

S a r s our ’ s i nj ury on hi s i nvol ve m e nta tthe m a rke tw a s notappa r e ntf r om the r e c o r d . B . D e n ia l o f

A c c e p ta n c e o f

R e s p o n s ib ility W e o r d in a r ilyr e v ie w ad is tr ic t c o u rt’s d e n ia l o f a c c e p ta n c e o f

r e s p o n s ib ility f orc l e a re rr or . U ni t e d S t a t e s v. M or i a rty , 429 F . 3d 1012, 1022 ( 11th C i r . 2005) ( p e rc u r ia m ) . H o w e v e r , w e r e v ie w f o rp la in e rr o rw h e n ad e f e n d a n t d o e s n o t s ta te cl earl y th e g ro u n d s fo r an o b j ect i o n i n th e d i stri ctco u rt . U n i t ed S t at es v . M assey, 443 F . 3d 814, 818 ( 11th C i r . 2006) . I n or de rt o pr e s e rve a n obj e c t i on, ade f e nda nt

“ m us tr a i s e the poi nti n s uc h c l e a ra nd s i m pl e l a ngua ge tha tthe tr i a l c ourtm a y not m is u n d e r s ta n d it.” I d . a t 8 1 9 ( q u o ta tio n o m itte d ) . S a r s o u rm e r e ly“o b je c t[ e d ] to the deni al of ac ce pt ance of re spon si bi l i ty, ” P S I a dd endu m at3, and so w e r evi ew th e d e n ia l f

o rp la in e rr o r . S a r s o u rb e lie v e s th a t h e w a s d e n ie d a n a c c e p ta n c e o f r e s p o n s ib ility re du ct i on sol el y bec ause he changed the m arku p p er ce nt age use d for go od s s ol d at L ee ’ s S up erm arket . B y c hang i ng hi s m arku p h e a ctual l y i ncre as ed hi s pot ent i al l o s s a mo u n t . Sa r s o u rc o n t e n d s th a th i s a c k n o w l e d g me n to f e n g a g i n g i n f

o o d s t a mp f r au d ju s tif

ie s th e g r a n tin g o f

a n a c c e p ta n c e o f

r e s p o n s ib ilityr e d u c tio n . T he G ui del i nes s t at e thati f the defendant“ cl earl y dem on stra t es ac ce pt ance o f r e s p o n s ib ility ,” th e o f

f e n s e le v e l s h o u ld b e r e d u c e d . U .S .S .G . § 3 E 1 .1 ( a ) .9

A ppr opr i a t e c ons i de r a t i ons i n de t e rm i ni ng w he the rade f e nda ntqua l i f

i e s f orthe r e duc t i on i nc l ude truthf ul l y a dm i tt i ng the c onduc tc om pr i s i ng the of f e ns e of co n v i ct i o n , th e t i m el i n ess o f th e d efen d an t ’ s co n d u cti n accep t i n g resp o n si b i l i ty, a n d a s s is ta n c e to au th o r itie s in r e c o v e r in g th e f ru its o f th e o f f e n s e . I d ., c o m m e n t. ( n. 1) . A de f

e nda ntm a y not“ f

a l s e l y de n[ y ] orf

r i vol ous l y c ont e s t [ ] , r e l e va nt cond uctthatthe courtdet erm i nes t o b e true. ” I d. T he di stri ctcourtdese rves “ grea t defe re nce” on re vi ew . Id. , com m ent . (n. 5). D ur i ng s e nt e nc i ng, the c ourts t a t e d tha t , “ w ha t[ i tha d] he a r d thi s m orni ng m or e l i ke l y r e s e m bl e [ d] ac a s e pr e s e nt e d i n the de f e ns e of the i s s ue of

the gui l tor the i nnoc e nc e i t s e l f

. ” R 3 a t124. “ A de f

e nda ntw ho e nt e r s agui l ty pl e ai s not e nt i t l e d t o a n a dj us tm e ntunde rthi s s e c t i on a s am a tt e rof r i ght . ” U . S . S . G . § 3E 1. 1, c om m e nt . ( n. 3) . B a s e d on the t e s t i m ony be f or e the c ourta nd the a s s e rt i ons of the P S I , it w a s n o t p la in e rr o rto d e n y th e a c c e p ta n c e o f r e s p o n s ib ilityr e d u c tio n . C . A bus e of

T rus tE nha nc e m e nt T he abus e of

trus te nha nc e m e ntappl i e s “ [ i ] f the de f e nda ntabus e d apos i t i on o f p u b lic o rp r iv a te tru s t, o ru s e d as p e c ia l s k ill, in am a n n e rth a t s ig n if ic a n tly f a c i l i t a t e d the c om m i s s i on orc onc e a l m e ntof the of f e ns e . ” U . S . S . G . § 3B 1. 3. T he g o v e rn m e n t m u s t e s tab lis h th a t ( 1 ) th e d e f e n d a n t h e ld ap la c e o f

p r iv a te o rp u b lic trus t , a nd ( 2) abus e d tha tpos i t i on i n aw a y tha ts i gni f i c a nt l y f a c i l i t a t e d the10

com m i ss i on of the offens e. U ni t ed S t at es v. W ar d, 22 2 F . 3d 90 9, 91 1 (11 th C i r. 20 00 ). W e have hel d thatthe enhancem enton l y app l i es w hen the vi ct i m conferr ed the trust . U ni t ed S t at es v. W al ker, 49 0 F . 3d 12 82 , 13 00 (11th C i r. 20 07 ). W e r e v ie w ad is tr ic t c o u rt’s f a c tu a l f in d in g s f o rc le a re rr o ra n d its appl i ca t i on of the G ui del i nes de nov o. W al ker, 49 0 F . 3d at12 99 . H ow ever , o b je c tio n s r a is e d f

o rth e f ir s t tim e o n ap p e a l a r e r e v ie w e d f o rp la in e rr o r . M a n g a r o o , 5 0 4 F .3 d a t 1 3 5 3 . S in c e th is is th e f ir s t tim e S a r s o u rh a s a d v a n c e d th is a r g u m e n t, w e r e v ie w it f o rp la in e rr o r . S arso u r assert s th atth e ab u se o f tru sten h an cem en tw as erro n eo u s b ecau se there w as a f

i sc al i nt erm edi ary betw ee n h i m and the U S D A . R el yi ng up on U ni t ed S ta te s v . G a rr is o n , 1 3 3 F .3 d8 3 1 ( 1 1 th C ir . 1 9 9 8 ) , h e c o n te n d s th a t h is r e la tio n s h ip w i th the vi ct i m , the U S D A , w as t oo att enuat ed t o app l y the enhancem ent . In G a rr i s on, w e he l d tha tthe c hi e f e xe c ut i ve of

ahom e he a l thc a r e pr ovi de rw a s “ not di r e c t l y i n apos i t i on of

trus ti n r e l a t i on t o M e di c a r e . W hi l e M e di c a r e m a y ha ve b e e n th e v ic tim in [ th a t] c a s e , th e [ ab u s e o f tru s t] e n h a n c e m e n t [ w a s ] u n a v a ilab le be c aus e G a rr i s on di d notoc c upy as uf f i c i e nt l y pr oxi m a t e pos i t i on of trus tr e l a t i ve to M ed icar e.” 1 3 3 F .3 d at 8 4 1 . M o st im p o rtan t t o o u r a n alys is w as th at G arriso n ’s M edi care re qu es t s had t o b e r evi ew ed and app roved b y athi rd party, A etna, before b e in g s u b m itte d to M e d ic a r e f o rr e im b u r s e m e n t. I d .11

T he f ood s t a m p pr ogr a m doe s us e athi r d pa rty , w hi c h i s i nvol ve d i n the E B T syst em . C i t i b an kP ro d u ct i o n S yst em (“ C i t i b an k ”) m o n i t o rs E B T acco u n t s, a n d it ap p r o v e s d e b it r e q u e s ts if th e r e a r e s u f

f ic ie n t f u n d s in ar e c ip ie n t’s a c c o u n t. C itib a n kth e n d e p o s its f u n d s in to th e r e ta il s to r e ’s a c c o u n t a n d la te rr e c e iv e s c r e d it f r o m th e Fe d e r a l Re s e rv e Ba n k . Ci t i b a n kd i d ap p r o v e th e d e b i t s f r o m EBT a c c ount s a nd f

a c i l i t a t e the m one t a ry tr a ns a c t i ons be tw e e n L e e ’ s S upe rm a rke ta nd the U S D A . C i t i bank ’ s r es po nsi bi l i ty, ho w ever , w as on l y t o ensure thatm on eyw as a va i l abl e i n ar e c i pi e nt ’ s a c c ount . F r om the r e c or d, i tdoe s notappe a rtha tC i t i ba nk had a res po nsi bi l i ty t o d et erm i ne w hether the use of the food st am p w as for an ac ce pt abl e i t em , i f the re qu es t ed sum w as a s uspi ci ou sl y r ou nd nu m ber, or i f there w e r e m a ny l a r ge s um r e que s t s i n as hortpe r i od of t i m e . B e c aus e C i t i ba nk di d not e xa m i ne a nd r e vi e w the unde r l y i ng va l i di ty of e a c h f ood s t a m p r e que s t , the c om pa r i s on t o G a rr i s on i s i nappos i t e . S e e G a rr i s on, 133 F . 3d a t841 ( e m pha s i z i ng th a t m e d ic a r e r e q u e s ts w e r e r e v ie w e d a n d ap p r o v e d b y A e tn ab e f o r e s u b m is s io n to th e g o v e rn m e n t) . S a r s o u rh a d to r e c e iv e ap p r o v a l f r o m th e U S D A to p a rtic ip a te in th e f o o d s t a mp p r o g r a m, a n d th a tap p r o v a l a l l o w e d h i m t o e n g a g e i n f o o d s t a mp frau d . T h e d i stri ctco u rtd i d n o tp l ai n l y err i n d et erm i n i n g th atth e ab u se o f tru st e n h a n c e m e n t w a s ap p lic ab le in th is c a s e .12 I I I . CONCL US I ON S ar sour pl ed gu i l ty t o the un autho ri ze d u se of food st am ps, i n v i ol at i on of 7 U . S . C . § 2 02 4(b). O n app ea l , he di sput es the se nt ence i m po se d b y the di stri ct c o u rt. A s w e h a v e e x p la in e d , th e c o u rt d id n o t e rrin ap p ly in g th e G u id e lin e s to S arso u r. A cco rd i n g l y, S arso u r’ s sen t en ce i s AF F I RME D.