FI L ED

U.S. COURT OF APPEAL S

EL EVENTH CI RCUI T

OCT 8, 2010

J OHN L EY

CL ERK [ D O N O T P U B L I S H ]

I N T H E U N I T E D S T A T E S C O U R T O F A P P E A L S

F O R T H E E L E V E N T H C I R C U I T

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

N o

. 0 9

- 1 3 3 8 8

N o n

- A r g u m e n t C a l e n d a r

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

D

. C

. D o c k e t N o

. 0 6

- 0 0 4 6 8

- C R

- R W S

- 1

U N I T E D S T A T E S O F A M E R I C A

,

P l a i n t i f f

- A p p e l l e e

,

v e r s u s

B R I D G E T T E L

. D A V I D S O N

,

D e f e n d a n t

- A p p e l l a n t

.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

A p p e a l f r o m t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s D i s t r i c t C o u r t

f o r t h e N o r t h e r n D i s t r i c t o f G e o r g i a

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

( O c t o b e r 8

, 2 0 1 0 )

B e f o r e C A R N E S

, M A R C U S a n d M A R T I N

, C i r c u i t J u d g e s

.P E R C U R I A M :

B r i d g e t t e D a v i d s o n w a s i n d i c t e d o n s i x c o u n t s : h o n e s t s e r v i c e s m a i l f r a u d

i n v i o l a t i o n o f 1 8 U

. S

. C

. § § 1 3 4 1

, 1 3 4 6

, a n d 2 ( c o u n t s 1

– 4 ) ; c o n f l i c t o f i n t e r e s t i n

v i o l a t i o n o f 1 8 U

. S

. C

. § 2 0 8 ( a ) ( c o u n t 5 ) ; a n d m a k i n g a f a l s e s t a t e m e n t i n v i o l a t i o n

o f 1 8 U

. S

. C

. § 1 0 0 1 ( a ) ( c o u n t 6 )

. A j u r y c o n v i c t e d h e r o n a l l c o u n t s

. T h e d i s t r i c t

c o u r t i m p o s e d : a s e n t e n c e o f 3 6 m o n t h s i m p r i s o n m e n t o n e a c h c o u n t t o r u n

c o n c u r r e n t l y ; a $ 5

, 0 0 0 f i n e ; a 3

- y e a r t e r m o f s u p e r v i s e d r e l e a s e o n c o u n t s 1

– 4 ; a

c o n c u r r e n t 1

- y e a r t e r m o f s u p e r v i s e d r e l e a s e o n c o u n t s 5 a n d 6 ; a n d a $ 6 0 0 s p e c i a l

a s s e s s m e n t

. T h i s i s D a v i d s o n ’ s a p p e a l o f h e r c o n v i c t i o n s a n d s e n t e n c e

.

I

.

D a v i d s o n f

i r s t c o n t e n d s t h a t h e r c o n v i c t i o n s f o r h o n e s t s e r v i c e s m a i l f r a u d

o n c o u n t s 1

– 4 o f t h e i n d i c t m e n t m u s t b e r e v e r s e d i n l i g h t o f S k i l l i n g v

. U n i t e d

S t a t e s

, — U

. S

. — , 1 3 0 S

. C t

. 2 8 9 6 ( 2 0 1 0 )

, w h i c h t h e S u p r e m e C o u r t i s s u e d w h i l e

h e r c a s e w a s p e n d i n g o n t h i s d i r e c t a p p e a l

. I n S k i l l i n g t h e C o u r t h e l d t h a t t h e

h o n e s t s e r v i c e s s t a t u t e c r i m i n a l i z e s o n l y b r i b e r y a n d k i c k b a c k s c h e m e s

. I d

. a t

2 9 3 1 ( i n t e r p r e t i n g 1 8 U

. S

. C

. § 1 3 4 6 )

. A s t h e g o v e r n m e n t c o n c e d e s

, b e c a u s e

D a v i d s o n w a s c h a r g e d w i t h a n d c o n v i c t e d o f u n d i s c l o s e d s e l f

- d e a l i n g i n s t e a d o f

b r i b e r y o r k i c k b a c k s

, u n d e r S k i l l i n g h e r c o n v i c t i o n s o n c o u n t s 1

– 4 m u s t b e

r e v e r s e d

. S e e i d

. a t 2 9 3 2 ( r e j e c t i n g t h e a r g u m e n t t h a t u n d i s c l o s e d s e l f

- d e a l i n g b y a

2p u b l i c o f

f i c i a l o r p r i v a t e e m p l o y e e i s a c r i m e c o v e r e d b y § 1 3 4 6 )

.

I I

.

B e c a u s e h e r c o n v i c t i o n s f o r h o n e s t s e r v i c e s m a i l f r a u d o n c o u n t s 1

– 4 a r e

b e i n g r e v e r s e d i n l i g h t o f S k i l l i n g

, D a v i d s o n c o n t e n d s t h a t h e r c o n v i c t i o n s o n

c o u n t 5 f o r c o n f l i c t o f i n t e r e s t i n v i o l a t i o n o f 1 8 U

. S

. C

. § 2 0 8 ( a ) a n d o n c o u n t 6 f o r

m a k i n g a f

a l s e s t a t e m e n t i n v i o l a t i o n o f 1 8 U

. S

. C

. § 1 0 0 1 ( a ) a l s o s h o u l d b e

r e v e r s e d

. S h e a r g u e s t h a t t h e e v i d e n c e a d m i t t e d t o p r o v e h e r i n t e n t t o c o m m i t t h e

h o n e s t s e r v i c e s m a i l f

r a u d t h a t w a s c h a r g e d i n c o u n t s 1

– 4 p r e j u d i c i a l l y s p i l l e d o v e r

a n d l e d t o h e r c o n v i c t i o n s o n c o u n t s 5 a n d 6

. S h e m a i n t a i n s t h a t s p e c i f i c i n t e n t

e v i d e n c e w o u l d n o t h a v e b e e n a d m i t t e d a t t r i a l t o p r o v e t h e s t r i c t l i a b i l i t y o f f e n s e

o f c o n f l i c t o f i n t e r e s t ( c o u n t 5 ) o r t h e f a l s e s t a t e m e n t o f

f e n s e ( c o u n t 6 )

.

I f D a v i d s o n w a n t e d t o l i m i t t h e u s e o f t h e i n t e n t e v i d e n c e t o t h e h o n e s t

s e r v i c e s m a i l f

r a u d c o u n t s

, s h e s h o u l d h a v e o b j e c t e d t o i t o r r e q u e s t e d a l i m i t i n g

i n s t r u c t i o n

. S h e d i d n o t

. A s a r e s u l t

, w e r e v i e w t h e p r e j u d i c i a l s p i l l o v e r i s s u e a s t o 1

Davidson ar g ues that she did not have an opportunity to reque st a limit ing instruc tion 1

beca use the e vidence was not off ere d under F ed. R. Evid. 404(b) a s evidenc e of othe r cr imes,

wrong s, or ac ts for the purpose of proving intent but inst ead w as off ere d as substantive evide nce

on the honest ser

vices mail fr aud counts. Eve n so, if there was a risk that the jury

would

impermissibly

consider the honest servic es intent evidenc e as e vidence in support of the other

char g es ag ainst her, she could have reque sted a jury instruction to lim it the jury ’s consider ation

of that evide nce to the hone st service s char g es. See F ed. R. Evid. 105 (whe n evidenc e is

admissible for one pur

pose but not another, “ the cour t, upon reque st, shall restrict the e vidence

to its proper scope and instruct the jury acc ording ly ”). B eca

use she did not make tha t reque st,

plain err or re view applies. U nited States v. Smi th, 459 F.3d 1276, 1297 (11th Cir. 2006)

(“[B]eca use F eder al Rule of Evidenc e 105, which pr ovides for limiting instructions in

3c o u n t s 5 a n d 6 o n l y f o r p l a i n e r r o r

. S e e G r i f f i n v

. C i t y o f O p a

- L o c k a

, 2 6 1 F

. 3 d

1 2 9 5

, 1 3 0 1 ( 1 1 t h C i r

. 2 0 0 1 ) ; U n i t e d S t a t e s v

. R o d r i g u e z

, 3 9 8 F

. 3 d 1 2 9 1

, 1 2 9 8

( 1 1 t h C i r

. 2 0 0 5 ) ( “ A n a p p e l l a t e c o u r t m a y n o t c o r r e c t a n e r r o r t h e d e f e n d a n t f a i l e d

t o r a i s e i n t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t u n l e s s t h e r e i s : ( 1 ) e r r o r

, ( 2 ) t h a t i s p l a i n

, a n d ( 3 ) t h a t

a f f e c t s s u b s t a n t i a l r i g h t s

. I f a l l t h r e e c o n d i t i o n s a r e m e t

, a n a p p e l l a t e c o u r t m a y

t h e n e x e r c i s e i t s d i s c r e t i o n t o n o t i c e a f o r f e i t e d e r r o r

, b u t o n l y i f ( 4 ) t h e e r r o r

s e r i o u s l y a f

f e c t s t h e f a i r n e s s

, i n t e g r i t y

, o r p u b l i c r e p u t a t i o n o f j u d i c i a l

p r o c e e d i n g s

. ” ( c i t a t i o n a n d q u o t a t i o n m a r k s o m i t t e d ) )

. A n d

, i n d o i n g s o

, w e k e e p

i n m i n d t h a t “ [ d ] i s m i s s a l o f s o m e c o u n t s c h a r g e d i n t h e i n d i c t m e n t d o e s n o t

a u t o m a t i c a l l y w a r r a n t r e v e r s a l o f c o n v i c t i o n s r e a c h e d o n r e m a i n i n g c o u n t s

. ”

U n i t e d S t a t e s v

. P r o s p e r i

, 2 0 1 F

. 3 d 1 3 3 5

, 1 3 4 5 ( 1 1 t h C i r

. 2 0 0 0 )

.

A s f o r c o u n t 5

, t h e g o v e r n m e n t c o n c e d e s t h a t b e c a u s e c o n f l i c t o f i n t e r e s t i s a

s t r i c t l i a b i l i t y o f

f e n s e

, t h e i n t e n t e v i d e n c e w o u l d n o t h a v e b e e n a d m i s s i b l e t o p r o v e

c o u n t 5

, b u t i t a r g u e s t h a t e v i d e n c e w a s n o t p r e j u d i c i a l f o r t h e v e r y r e a s o n t h a t i t

appropr iate cir cumstance s, only opera tes upon reque st, the failure to give a limiting instruction is

err or only when suc h an instruction is reque sted.” (c itation, quotation marks, and alter ation

omitted)).

Davidson also ar g ues that eve n if the intent evidenc e would have been a dmissibl e under

Fe d. R. Evid. 404(b), it would have be en inadmissible as unfa irly prejudicia l under F ed. R. Evid.

403. As we ha

ve explained in reg ard to pre judicial spillover arg uments, howeve r, “[e]x clusion

of evide nce unde r Rule 403 is within the discretion of the district cour t, and this court will not

specula te on what the district c ourt would have done had a Rule 403 objection bee n raised.”

United States v. Prosperi, 201 F .3d 1335, 1346 (11th Cir. 2000) (c itation omit ted).

4w a s i r r e l e v a n t t o t h e c o u n t 5 c h a r g e

. W e a g r e e

, a t l e a s t i n t h i s p l a i n e r r o r o n l y

c o n t e x t

. F o r t h e s a m e r e a s o n s t h a t t h e e v i d e n c e w a s n o t r e l e v a n t o n c o u n t 5

D a v i d s o n h a s f

a i l e d t o c a r r y h e r b u r d e n o f p e r s u a d i n g u s

, a s s h e m u s t u n d e r t h e

p l a i n e r r o r r u l e

, t h a t t h e r e i s a r e a s o n a b l e p r o b a b i l i t y t h a t b u t f o r t h e s p e c i f

i c i n t e n t

e v i d e n c e s h e w o u l d n o t h a v e b e e n c o n v i c t e d o f t h e c o u n t 5 s t r i c t l i a b i l i t y c o n f l i c t

o f i n t e r e s t c h a r g e

. S e e R o d r i g u e z

, 3 9 8 F

. 3 d a t 1 3 0 2

.

T h e a n a l y s i s i s s o m e w h a t d i f f e r e n t a s t o t h e c o u n t 6 f a l s e s t a t e m e n t c h a r g e

,

b e c a u s e t h a t c h a r g e d o e s r e q u i r e p r o o f o f i n t e n t

— i n t e n t t o m a k e a f a l s e s t a t e m e n t

t o t h e V A i n v e s t i g a t o r s

. D a v i d s o n ’ s p o s i t i o n i s t h a t t h e e v i d e n c e o f h e r i n t e n t t o

c o m m i t h o n e s t s e r v i c e s m a i l f r a u d w e n t b e y o n d h e r i n t e n t t o m a k e f a l s e

s t a t e m e n t s

, a n d f

o r t h a t r e a s o n t h e r e w a s p r e j u d i c i a l s p i l l o v e r

. T o d e t e r m i n e

w h e t h e r D a v i d s o n ’ s c o n v i c t i o n o n c o u n t 6 w a s t h e r e s u l t o f p r e j u d i c i a l s p i l l o v e r

,

w e c o n s i d e r w h e t h e r t h e r e w a s e v i d e n c e “ ( 1 ) t h a t w o u l d n o t h a v e b e e n a d m i t t e d

b u t f o r t h e d i s m i s s e d c h a r g e s a n d ( 2 ) t h a t w a s i m p r o p e r l y r e l i e d o n b y t h e j u r y i n

t h e i r c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f t h e r e m a i n i n g c h a r g e s

. ” P r o s p e r i

, 2 0 1 F

. 3 d a t 1 3 4 5

. I f t h e

e v i d e n c e a t i s s u e w o u l d h a v e b e e n a d m i s s i b l e a n y w a y u n d e r F e d

. R

. E v i d

. 4 0 4 ( b )

,

t h e n n o p r e

j u d i c i a l s p i l l o v e r o c c u r r e d

. S e e i d

. a t 1 3 4 5

– 4 6

. “ E v i d e n c e o f c r i m i n a l

a c t i v i t y o t h e r t h a n t h e c h a r g e d o f f e n s e i s a d m i s s i b l e f

o r p u r p o s e s o f R u l e 4 0 4 ( b ) i f

i t : ‘ p e r t a i n [ s ] t o t h e c h a i n o f e v e n t s e x p l a i n i n g t h e c o n t e x t

, m o t i v e a n d s e t

- u p o f t h e

5c r i m e [ a n d i s ] l i n k e d i n t i m e a n d c i r c u m s t a n c e s w i t h t h e c h a r g e d c r i m e

, o r f o r m s

a n i n t e g r a l a n d n a t u r a l p a r t o f t h e c r i m e

, o r i s n e c e s s a r y t o c o m p l e t e t h e s t o r y o f

t h e c r i m e f

o r t h e j u r y

. ’ ” U n i t e d S t a t e s v

. L e h d e r

- R i v a s

, 9 5 5 F

. 2 d 1 5 1 0

, 1 5 1 5

– 1 6

( 1 1 t h C i r

. 1 9 9 2 ) ( q u o t i n g U n i t e d S t a t e s v

. V a n D o r n

, 9 2 5 F

. 2 d 1 3 3 1

, 1 3 3 8 ( 1 1 t h

C i r

. 1 9 9 1 ) )

.

C o u n t 6 i n v o l v e d a l l e g a t i o n s t h a t D a v i d s o n m a d e f a l s e s t a t e m e n t s t o

V e t e r a n s A d m i n i s t r a t i o n i n v e s t i g a t o r s a b o u t w h e t h e r s h e h a d a n y f i n a n c i a l i n t e r e s t

i n t h e p e r s o n a l c a r e f

a c i l i t y t o w h i c h s h e a s s i g n e d v e t e r a n s w h o w e r e u n d e r h e r

c a r e a s a V A s o c i a l w o r k a s s o c i a t e

. I n h e r j o b w i t h t h e V A

, D a v i d s o n w a s 2

r e s p o n s i b l e f

o r p l a c i n g s p e c i a l n e e d s m i l i t a r y v e t e r a n s i n p r i v a t e l y o w n e d a s s i s t e d

l i v i n g f a c i l i t i e s o r p e r s o n a l c a r e h o m e s

. V A p o l i c y a n d f e d e r a l l a w p r o h i b i t e d

D a v i d s o n f

r o m p l a c i n g t h e v e t e r a n s i n a p e r s o n a l c a r e h o m e i f s h e o w n e d o r h a d a

f i n a n c i a l s t a k e i n i t

. I n v i o l a t i o n o f t h o s e p r o h i b i t i o n s

, s h e p l a c e d f o u r v e t e r a n s i n

J o r d a n ’ s E l i t e P e r s o n a l C a r e H o m e

. T o s h o w t h a t s h e h a d a f i n a n c i a l s t a k e i n t h a t

p e r s o n a l c a r e h o m e

, t h e g o v e r n m e n t p r e s e n t e d e v i d e n c e t h a t D a v i d s o n h a d s i g n e d

a l e a s e a g r e e m e n t f

o r t h e h o m e a n d h a d o b t a i n e d a b u s i n e s s l i c e n s e

, w h i c h l i s t e d

On count 6 Da

vidson was convicte d of making a fa lse materia l statement in a matter 2

within the jurisdiction of a fede ral a g ency . See United States v. L awson, 809 F .2d 1514, 1517

(11th Cir. 1987) (“ To make a ny false or fra udulent statement in any

matter within the

jurisdiction of a fe dera l ag ency is a fede ral c rime under

18 U.S.C. § 1001.”). To sustain a

conviction under

§ 1001, the g overnme nt had to prove the se ele ments: “(1) a statement, (2)

falsity , (3) mate riality , (4) spe cific intent, a nd (5) a g ency

jurisdiction.” I d.

6h e r a s t h e o w n e r o f t h a t b u s i n e s s

. S h e a l s o h a d a b u s i n e s s c h e c k i n g a c c o u n t i n h e r

n a m e f o r t h e h o m e

. T h e r e w a s a l s o e v i d e n c e t h a t s h e m a d e a p r o f i t o f $ 1 6

, 0 0 0

b a s e d o n t h e d i f

f e r e n c e b e t w e e n t h e r e n t s h e p a i d o n t h e h o u s e a n d t h e a m o u n t

c o l l e c t e d f

r o m t h e v e t e r a n s w h o l i v e d t h e r e

.

D u r i n g t h e i n v e s t i g a t i o n t h a t l e d t o t h e f a l s e s t a t e m e n t s c h a r g e c o n t a i n e d i n

c o u n t 6

, V A i n v e s t i g a t o r s a s k e d D a v i d s o n

, w h o w a s u n d e r o a t h a t t h e t i m e

, “ D o

y o u h a v e a n y f

i n a n c i a l i n v o l v e m e n t i n E l i t e P e r s o n a l C a r e H o m e ?

, ” a n d s h e t o l d

t h e m s h e d i d n o t

. T h e y a s k e d h e r i f s h e h a d “ i n a n y w a y

, s h a p e o r f o r m 3

f i n a n c i a l l y g a i n e d f

r o m a n y o f t h e p a t i e n t s b e i n g p l a c e d i n E l i t e P e r s o n a l C a r e

H o m e

. . . [ e ] i t h e r d i r e c t l y o r i n d i r e c t l y

, ” a n d s h e t o l d t h e m s h e h a d n o t

. T h e y

a s k e d h e r i f s h e k n e w w h o o w n e d t h e p e r s o n a l c a r e h o m e o r w h o h a d a f i n a n c i a l

i n t e r e s t i n i t

, a n d s h e t o l d t h e m t h a t

, e x c e p t f o r w h a t t h e i n v e s t i g a t o r s h a d s a i d t o

h e r a b o u t D a r r i c k F r a z i e r

, s h e d i d n o t

.

T h e j u r y h e a r d t e s t i m o n y t h a t D a v i d s o n w a s i n a l o n g

- t e r m r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h

F r a z i e r a n d t h a t t h e y h a d a d a u g h t e r

. F r a z i e r

, w h o w a s D a v i d s o n ’ s c o

- d e f e n d a n t

,

t e s t i f i e d t h a t D a v i d s o n h a d s u g g e s t e d o p e n i n g a b u s i n e s s f o r d i s a b l e d v e t e r a n s

.

D a v i d s o n h a d t o l d h i m t h a t i t w o u l d b e a c o n f l i c t o f i n t e r e s t f

o r t h e b u s i n e s s t o b e

i n h e r n a m e b e c a u s e o f h e r p o s i t i o n w i t h t h e V A

. T h e a s s i g n e d f i d u c i a r i e s f

o r t h e

Transc ript excerpts of Da vidson’s sworn testimony befor e an a dminist rative boa rd of 3

VA investig ators we re r ead into the r ecor d during Davidson’s trial.

7v e t e r a n s w r o t e c h e c k s t o F r a z i e r o r t o t h e p e r s o n a l c a r e h o m e

. F r a z i e r t e s t i f i e d t h a t

h e c a s h e d t h e c h e c k s a n d g a v e t h e m o n e y t o D a v i d s o n

.

N o p l a i n e r r o r a s t o c o u n t 6 o c c u r r e d a s a r e s u l t o f t h e a d m i s s i o n o f e v i d e n c e

p e r t a i n i n g t o D a v i d s o n ’ s c r i m i n a l i n t e n t t o c o m m i t t h e h o n e s t s e r v i c e s m a i l f r a u d

o f f e n s e s c h a r g e d i n c o u n t s 1

– 4

. T h e s a m e e v i d e n c e w a s a d m i s s i b l e t o p r o v e t h a t

D a v i d s o n i n t e n t i o n a l l y m a d e f a l s e s t a t e m e n t s t o t h e V A i n v e s t i g a t o r s i n o r d e r t o

c o v e r u p t h e u n d e r l y i n g s c h e m e o f p l a c i n g v e t e r a n s i n a h o m e i n w h i c h D a v i d s o n

h a d a f i n a n c i a l i n t e r e s t

. E v i d e n c e s h o w i n g t h e c o n t e x t a n d m o t i v e f o r t h e c r i m e

w a s n e c e s s a r y f

o r t h e j u r y t o u n d e r s t a n d w h a t h a d l e d t o t h e f a l s e s t a t e m e n t s a n d i t

w a s a d m i s s i b l e u n d e r F e d

. R

. E v i d

. 4 0 4 ( b )

. S e e L e h d e r

- R i v a s

, 9 5 5 F

. 2 d a t

1 5 1 5

– 1 6

. B e c a u s e t h e e v i d e n c e w o u l d h a v e b e e n a d m i s s i b l e u n d e r R u l e 4 0 4 ( b ) i n

a n y e v e n t

, n o p r e

j u d i c i a l s p i l l o v e r o c c u r r e d

. S e e P r o s p e r i

, 2 0 1 F

. 3 d a t 1 3 4 5

– 4 6 ;

s e e a l s o U n i t e d S t a t e s v

. L e e

, 6 1 2 F

. 3 d 1 7 0

, 1 8 0

, ( 3 d C i r

. 2 0 1 0 ) ( “ [ I ] f t h e e v i d e n c e

t o p r o v e t h e o v e r t u r n e d c o u n t w o u l d h a v e b e e n a d m i s s i b l e t o p r o v e t h e r e m a i n i n g

v a l i d c o u n t

, t h e d e f

e n d a n t w a s n o t p r e

j u d i c e d

, a n d t h e r e i s n o n e e d t o c o n s i d e r

w h e t h e r t h e e v i d e n c e i n f l u e n c e d t h e o u t c o m e

. I n o t h e r w o r d s

, i f

, i n c r e a t i n g a

h y p o t h e t i c a l t r i a l a s t o t h e v a l i d c o u n t o n l y

, t h e e v i d e n c e o f t h e i n v a l i d a t e d c o u n t

w o u l d h a v e b e e n a d m i s s i b l e a n y w a y

, t h e a n a l y s i s e n d s t h e r e

. ” ( c i t a t i o n a n d

q u o t a t i o n m a r k s o m i t t e d ) )

. T h e r e w a s n o e r r o r

, m u c h l e s s p l a i n e r r o r

.

8I I I

.

D a v i d s o n a l s o c o n t e n d s t h a t t h e e v i d e n c e w a s i n s u f f i c i e n t t o s u p p o r t h e r

c o n v i c t i o n o n c o u n t 6 f

o r m a k i n g a f

a l s e s t a t e m e n t i n v i o l a t i o n o f 1 8 U

. S

. C

. §

1 0 0 1 ( a )

. “ W e r e v i e w t h e s u f f i c i e n c y o f t h e e v i d e n c e d e n o v o

, v i e w i n g t h e

e v i d e n c e i n t h e l i g h t m o s t f a v o r a b l e t o t h e v e r d i c t

. ” U n i t e d S t a t e s v

. T h o m p s o n

,

4 7 3 F

. 3 d 1 1 3 7

, 1 1 4 2 ( 1 1 t h C i r

. 2 0 0 6 )

. “ T h e j u r y g e t s t o m a k e a n y c r e d i b i l i t y

c h o i c e s

, a n d w e w i l l a s s u m e t h a t t h e y m a d e t h e m a l l i n t h e w a y t h a t s u p p o r t s t h e

v e r d i c t

. ” I d

. F u r t h e r m o r e

, “ t h e i s s u e i s n o t w h e t h e r a j u r y r e a s o n a b l y c o u l d h a v e

a c q u i t t e d b u t w h e t h e r i t r e a s o n a b l y c o u l d h a v e f o u n d g u i l t b e y o n d a r e a s o n a b l e

d o u b t

. ” I d

. D a v i d s o n c o n t e n d s t h a t t h e g o v e r n m e n t f a i l e d t o s h o w t h e f

a l s i t y a n d

s p e c i f i c i n t e n t e l e m e n t s n e c e s s a r y t o p r o v e a v i o l a t i o n o f § 1 0 0 1 ( a )

. S e e L a w s o n

,

8 0 9 F

. 2 d a t 1 5 1 7

.

A s i s e v i d e n t f

r o m t h e d i s c u s s i o n o f i n t e n t e v i d e n c e i n P a r t I I o f t h i s

o p i n i o n

, t h e r e w a s a m p l e e v i d e n c e f o r a j u r y t o c o n c l u d e t h a t D a v i d s o n m a d e f a l s e

s t a t e m e n t s a b o u t h e r f

i n a n c i a l i n t e r e s t i n t h e J o r d a n ’ s E l i t e P e r s o n a l C a r e H o m e

a n d t h a t s h e d i d s o i n t e n t i o n a l l y t o c o v e r u p t h e c o n f l i c t o f i n t e r e s t c r e a t e d w h e n

s h e p l a c e d v e t e r a n s u n d e r h e r c a r e i n t h a t h o m e

. T h e j u r y r e a s o n a b l y c o u l d h a v e

f o u n d

, a s i t d i d

, g u i l t b e y o n d a r e a s o n a b l e d o u b t o n t h e f a l s e s t a t e m e n t c h a r g e

a g a i n s t D a v i d s o n

.

9I V

.

D a v i d s o n c o n t e n d s t h a t t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t p l a i n l y e r r e d b y s e n t e n c i n g h e r t o a

t e r m o f 3 6 m o n t h s i n p r i s o n f o r h a v i n g a c o n f

l i c t o f i n t e r e s t a s a f

e d e r a l e m p l o y e e

i n v i o l a t i o n o f 1 8 U

. S

. C

. § 2 0 8 ( a )

. A f e d e r a l e m p l o y e e c a n n o t “ p a r t i c i p a t e [ ]

p e r s o n a l l y a n d s u b s t a n t i a l l y a s a G o v e r n m e n t o f f i c e r o r e m p l o y e e ” i n m a t t e r i n

w h i c h s h e h a s a f

i n a n c i a l i n t e r e s t

. 1 8 U

. S

. C

. § 2 0 8 ( a )

. I f a n e m p l o y e e v i o l a t e s t h a t

l a w

, s h e c o m m i t s a m i s d e m e a n o r

, s u b j e c t t o a m a x i m u m t e r m o f i m p r i s o n m e n t o f

o n e y e a r

. 1 8 U

. S

. C

. § 2 1 6 ( a ) ( 1 )

. A w i l l f u l v i o l a t i o n

, h o w e v e r

, i s a f e l o n y

, s u b

j e c t

t o a m a x i m u m s e n t e n c e o f f i v e y e a r s

. I d

. § 2 1 6 ( a ) ( 2 )

.

B e c a u s e t h e i n d i c t m e n t d i d n o t c h a r g e t h a t D a v i d s o n h a d a c t e d w i l l f u l l y

, t h e

s t a t u t o r y m a x i m u m s e n t e n c e f o r h e r m i s d e m e a n o r c r i m e w a s o n e y e a r

. A s a r e s u l t

,

t h e g o v e r n m e n t c o n c e d e s t h a t t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t d i d p l a i n l y e r r w h e n i t s e n t e n c e d

D a v i d s o n t o 3 6 m o n t h s o n h e r c o n v i c t i o n f o r a § 2 0 8 ( a ) ( 1 ) v i o l a t i o n

. D a v i d s o n h a s

a l r e a d y s e r v e d h e r s e n t e n c e o n t h i s c o u n t

, w h i c h r a n c o n c u r r e n t l y w i t h h e r

s e n t e n c e s o n t h e o t h e r c o u n t s

, b u t h e r j u d g m e n t o f c o n v i c t i o n

— a n d t h u s h e r

c r i m i n a l r e c o r d

— i n c o r r e c t l y i n d i c a t e t h a t s h e w a s c o n v i c t e d o f a f e l o n y o n t h i s

c o u n t

. U n d e r t h e s e c i r c u m s t a n c e s

, t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t o n r e m a n d s h o u l d c o r r e c t t h e

j u d g m e n t t o r e f

l e c t t h a t D a v i d s o n w a s c o n v i c t e d o f a m i s d e m e a n o r o n t h e f e d e r a l

e m p l o y e e c o n f

l i c t o f i n t e r e s t c o u n t u n d e r § 2 0 8 ( a ) ( 1 )

, i n s t e a d o f a f e l o n y

10c o n v i c t i o n u n d e r § 2 0 8 ( a ) ( 2 )

. F o r t h e s a m e r e a s o n

, t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t s h o u l d r e v i s i t

t h e s p e c i a l a s s e s s m e n t i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e s t a t u t o r y l i m i t s i m p o s e d b y 1 8

U

. S

. C

. § 3 0 1 3 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ) ( i i i ) a n d ( a ) ( 2 )

. 4

V

.

D a v i d s o n a l s o c o n t e n d s t h a t t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t e r r e d b y a p p l y i n g a U

. S

. S

. G

. §

3 A 1

. 1 ( b ) ( 1 ) v u l n e r a b l e v i c t i m e n h a n c e m e n t i n s e n t e n c i n g h e r

. S h e a r g u e s t h a t h e r

v i c t i m w a s t h e V A

, n o t t h e v e t e r a n s s h e p l a c e d i n t h e h o m e a n d a s s e r t s t h a t s h e d i d

n o t s p e c i f

i c a l l y c h o o s e v u l n e r a b l e p e o p l e b e c a u s e a l l o f t h e v e t e r a n s s h e w o r k e d

w i t h a t t h e V A f

i t i n t o t h a t c a t e g o r y

. S h e a l s o a r g u e s t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t s h o u l d n o t

h a v e c o n s i d e r e d t h e c o n d i t i o n o f t h e p e r s o n a l c a r e h o m e i n w h i c h s h e p l a c e d t h e

v e t e r a n s

. 5

The g overnme nt points out that the district court on re mand should reduc e the spe cial 4

assessment fr om $600 to $525 in accor dance with the limit s imposed by 18 U.S.C. §

3013(a) (1)( A)(iii) a

nd (a) (2).

The PSI quoted an incide nt report wr itten by a Cobb County

police off

icer , which 5

descr ibed these c onditions i n the home:

The house a

nd the living c onditions were de plorable. The house wa s scar cely

furnished a

nd the furniture that was ther e wa s badly stained. The c arpe t was

stained with fec es and c iga rette a shes. The c arpe t on the stairwell wa s detac hed

and a ha zard to walk on. The bathrooms were absolutely filthy and the only

food

in the house wa s a larg e pac k of hotdog s.

PSI at 4–5, ¶ 16. The PSI , howeve r, did not rec ommend a vulner able victim enha nceme nt,

rea soning tha t the VA wa s the victim of the offe nse and the indictment did not charg e Da vidson

with any offe nse ar ising fr om the quality of ca re pr ovided to the veter ans. See id. a t 9, ¶ 29. The

g overnme nt objected, a

nd the district court rule d that the vulnera ble victim enhanc ement

applied.

11T h i s i s s u e i s m o o t b e c a u s e t h e v u l n e r a b l e v i c t i m e n h a n c e m e n t a p p l i e d t o t h e

h o n e s t s e r v i c e s m a i l f

r a u d c o n v i c t i o n s

, w h i c h a r e b e i n g r e v e r s e d

. F u r t h e r m o r e

,

D a v i d s o n h a s a l r e a d y s e r v e d h e r s e n t e n c e

.

R E V E R S E D i n p a r t

, A F F I R M E D i n p a r t

, a n d R E M A N D E D f o r

p r o c e e d i n g s c o n s i s t e n t w i t h t h i s o p i n i o n

.

12