FI L ED

U.S. COURT OF APPEAL S

EL EVENTH CI RCUI T

OCTOB ER 1, 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 4 9 8 5

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

D

. C

. D o c k e t N o

. 0 8

- 0 0 1 8 2

- C R

- C C

- 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

H A S M U K H C

. P A T E L

,

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 1

, 2 0 1 0 )

B e f o r e H U L L

, M A R T I N a n d F A Y

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

.

H U L L

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

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

f r a u d

- r e l a t e d c h a r g e s a n d h i s 4 0

- m o n t h i m p r i s o n m e n t s e n t e n c e

. A f t e r r e v i e w a n do r a l a r g u m e n t

, w e a f f i r m

.

I

. B A C K G R O U N D

T h e j u r y c o n v i c t e d D e f

e n d a n t P a t e l o n 1 2 c o u n t s r e l a t i n g t o h i s h e l p i n g a n

I n d i a n c o u p l e

, J a y e s h a n d D a r s h a n a P a t e l ( “ J a y e s h ” a n d “ D a r s h a n a

, ” r e s p e c t i v e l y )

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

. A l t h o u g h P a t e l r e p r e s e n t e d

t h a t D a r s h a n a w o u l d w o r k a t h i s h o m e

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

e m p l o y m e n t

. T w e n t y w i t n e s s e s t e s t i f i e d f o r t h e g o v e r n m e n t

, i n c l u d i n g J a y e s h 1

a n d D a r s h a n a

. W e r e c o u n t t h e t r i a l e v i d e n c e

.

A

. V i s a F r a u d

D e f e n d a n t P a t e l w a s e m p l o y e d a s a n a d j u d i c a t i o n s o f

f i c e r f o r t h e U n i t e d

S t a t e s C i t i z e n s h i p a n d I m m i g r a t i o n S e r v i c e s ( “ C I S ” ) i n A t l a n t a

, G e o r g i a

. P a t e l

p r o c e s s e d a p p l i c a t i o n s f o r p e r m a n e n t r e s i d e n c y a n d U

. S

. c i t i z e n s h i p

.

K a m l e s h P a t e l ( “ K a m l e s h ” ) w a s a f r i e n d o f D e f

e n d a n t P a t e l ’ s w i f

e

. I n m i d

2 0 0 5 K a m l e s h t o l d D e f e n d a n t P a t e l h e w a n t e d t o b r i n g h i s b r o t h e r

, J a y e s h

, f r o m

I n d i a t o t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s

. D e f e n d a n t P a t e l r e s p o n d e d t h a t h e k n e w s o m e o n e w h o 2

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

o r $ 1 0 0

, 0 0 0

. K a m l e s h a g r e e d a n d

p a i d D e f e n d a n t P a t e l t h e $ 1 0 0

, 0 0 0 i n c a s h i n t h r e e i n s t a l l m e n t s

.

Although the y

share the last name “ Patel,” the de fenda nt is not related to J ay esh or 1

Dar shana Pate l.

Kamlesh wa s a lawf

ul resident of the United States. 2

2F o r t h e f i r s t s t e p i n t h e H

- 2 B w o r k v i s a a p p l i c a t i o n p r o c e s s

, D e f e n d a n t P a t e l

a n d h i s w i f

e a p p l i e d t o t h e U

. S

. D e p a r t m e n t o f L a b o r ( “ D O L ” ) f o r a l a b o r

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

. P a t e l ’ s a p p l i c a t i o n ( 1 ) l i s t e d D a r s h a n a a s t h e 3

e m p l o y e e ; ( 2 ) s t a t e d t h a t P a t e l a n d h i s w i f e n e e d e d a n u n s k i l l e d w o r k e r t o l i v e a n d

w o r k i n t h e i r h o m e i n M c D o n o u g h

, G e o r g i a t o a s s i s t h i s m e d i c a l l y h a n d i c a p p e d

w i f e i n c a r i n g f

o r t h e i r c h i l d r e n a n d r u n n i n g t h e h o u s e h o l d ; a n d ( 3 ) s t a t e d P a t e l a n d

h i s w i f e h a d t r i e d t o f

i n d a q u a l i f

i e d U

. S

. w o r k e r b y a d v e r t i s i n g i n a l o c a l

n e w s p a p e r

, t h e A t l a n t a J o u r n a l

- C o n s t i t u t i o n

, b u t w e r e u n a b l e t o r e c r u i t a s u i t a b l e

c a n d i d a t e

. D O L i s s u e d t h e l a b o r c e r t i f i c a t e

. 4

F o r t h e n e x t s t e p i n t h e H

- 2 B v i s a p r o c e s s

, D e f e n d a n t P a t e l a n d h i s w i f e

, a s

t h e e m p l o y e r s

, f

i l e d a p e t i t i o n f

o r a n o t i c e o f a p p r o v a l w i t h C I S

. T h e y a l s o p a i d a

The H- 2B visa a llows foreig n worke rs to enter the United States for

temporar y 3

employ ment. 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(15) (H)( ii)(b); 8 C.F.R. § 214.2(h) . The H- 2B a pplication

proce ss has three steps. First, the e mploy er a pplies to DOLfor a

labor c ertificate. 8 C.F.R. §§

214.2(h)( 1)(ii)(D ) and 214.2( h)(6) (iii)(A). I n this application, the employ er must advise w hether

or not United States worke rs ca pable of perf orming the tempora

ry service s or labor a

re a vailable

so that DOL

can ma ke the r equire d deter

mination that employ

ment of the for eig n worke r will

not adver sely

aff ect the e mploy

ment of any

simil arly situated U.S. worker

in the are a. I d. §

214.2(h)( 6)(iii)(A) . Second, the e mploy er a pplies to CI S for a notice of appr oval. I d. §

214.2(h)( 6)(iii)(E) . Finally , the alien- employ ee a pplies to the Depa

rtment of State for

the work

visa. For non-re sident alien-e mploy ee a pplicants, such as Jay esh and D arsha na, this final step is

done at the U .S. consulate in the alien’ s curr ent country of re sidence

. The spouse of

an H- 2B visa- holder may obtain an H- 4 visa to acc ompany the other

spouse to the United States.

The pe rson who re sponded to Def endant Patel’ s newspape r ad, Te resa Fr uit L ong o, 4

testified that she wa s available for the position bec ause she was a bout to end a similar position as

a live-in na

nny . During her inter

view at Patel’ s home, L ong o found Patel to be a brupt and c old,

and she thoug ht Patel did not want her to fill the position.

3$ 1

, 0 0 0 f

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

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

a n d w o r k i n D e f

e n d a n t P a t e l ’ s h o u s e h o l d a n d t h a t t h e e m p l o y m e n t t i m e f r a m e

w o u l d b e f

r o m D e c e m b e r 2 2

, 2 0 0 5 t o A u g u s t 3 0

, 2 0 0 6

. C I S a p p r o v e d D a r s h a n a

f o r a n H

- 2 B v i s a a s a n u n s k i l l e d

, t e m p o r a r y w o r k e r

.

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

, J a y e s h a n d D a r s h a n a a p p l i e d f o r t h e i r

v i s a s a t t h e U

. S

. c o n s u l a t e i n M u m b a i

, I n d i a

. B e f o r e t h e y a p p l i e d

, D e f

e n d a n t P a t e l

a d v i s e d J a y e s h b y e

- m a i l t h a t D a r s h a n a w a s s u p p o s e d t o w o r k a t h i s h o m e a s a

h o u s e k e e p e r

. D e f

e n d a n t P a t e l a l s o t o l d J a y e s h t h a t

, i n t h e i r v i s a i n t e r v i e w s

, h e a n d

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

, w h e r e t h e y p l a n n e d t o l i v e

, a n d

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

, w h i c h

w a s n o t t r u e

. 5

A t f i r s t

, J a y e s h a n d D a r s h a n a ’ s v i s a a p p l i c a t i o n s w e r e d e n i e d b e c a u s e t h e y

f a i l e d t o s h o w s u f

f i c i e n t t i e s t o I n d i a a n d t h e i r i n t e n t t o r e t u r n t h e r e w h e n t h e i r

v i s a s e x p i r e d

. W h e n D e f e n d a n t P a t e l l e a r n e d t h e a p p l i c a t i o n s w e r e d e n i e d

, h e

c a l l e d t h e U

. S

. c o n s u l a t e i n M u m b a i a n d s p o k e w i t h A n g e l a K e r w i n

, a f o r e i g n

s e r v i c e o f

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

. P a t e l i d e n t i f i e d h i m s e l f t o K e r w i n

a s a D e p a r t m e n t o f H o m e l a n d S e c u r i t i e s ( “ D H S ” ) e m p l o y e e a n d e x p l a i n e d t h a t h e

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

. P a t e l a s s u r e d K e r w i n t h e p e t i t i o n

I n I ndia, Dar shana ta

ug ht various subjects to third- to fifth-g rade -ag ed childre n in her 5

home. She had a

master’ s deg ree in chemistry

.

4w a s b a s e d o n h i s l e g i t i m a t e n e e d f o r a c a r e g i v e r b e c a u s e o f h i s w i f e ’ s h e a l t h a n d

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

.

K e r w i n t o l d P a t e l t h a t

, i f D a r s h a n a a n d J a y e s h r e a p p l i e d f o r t h e i r v i s a s

, s h e w o u l d

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

. K e r w i n d i r e c t e d o n e o f h e r e m p l o y e e s t o

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

. P a t e l t h e n s e n t

J a y e s h a n e

- m a i l

, a d v i s i n g J a y e s h a n d D a r s h a n a t h a t w h e n t h e y r e a p p l y f o r t h e i r

v i s a s

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

t h e i r t i e s t o I n d i a a n d i n t e n t t o r e t u r n t h e r e

.

J a y e s h a n d D a r s h a n a r e a p p l i e d f o r t h e i r v i s a s

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

a p p r o v e d

. K e r w i n

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

f i c e r w i t h w h o m D e f

e n d a n t P a t e l

p e r s o n a l l y s p o k e

, i s s u e d t h e v i s a s

.

A f t e r g e t t i n g t h e i r v i s a s

, J a y e s h a n d D a r s h a n a t r a v e l e d f r o m I n d i a t o A t l a n t a

.

K a m l e s h p i c k e d t h e m u p a t t h e A t l a n t a a i r p o r t

. T h e y d r o v e d i r e c t l y t o C a m i l l a

,

G e o r g i a

, w h i c h i s a p p r o x i m a t e l y 2 2 0 m i l e s s o u t h o f A t l a n t a

. O n t h e w a y

, J a y e s h

c a l l e d D e f

e n d a n t P a t e l t o s a y h e a n d D a r s h a n a h a d a r r i v e d i n A t l a n t a a n d w e r e o n

t h e i r w a y t o C a m i l l a

. P a t e l s a i d n o t h i n g a b o u t D a r s h a n a ’ s c o m i n g t o w o r k i n h i s

h o m e i n M c D o n o u g h

.

A b o u t a w e e k l a t e r

, J a y e s h a n d D a r s h a n a m o v e d f r o m C a m i l l a t o

B r u n s w i c k

, G e o r g i a

, w h e r e t h e y w o r k e d a t K a m l e s h ’ s c o n v e n i e n c e s t o r e a n d l i v e d

5i n a m o t e l o w n e d b y J a y e s h ’ s u n c l e

. S h o r t l y a f t e r a r r i v a l i n B r u n s w i c k

, J a y e s h a n d

D a r s h a n a w e n t t o D e f

e n d a n t P a t e l ’ s h o m e i n M c D o n o u g h “ [ j ] u s t t o s a y h e l l o

. ”

T h e y s t a y e d f

o r a f e w h o u r s

, a n d n o o n e d i s c u s s e d w h e t h e r D a r s h a n a w o u l d w o r k

f o r D e f e n d a n t P a t e l

.

S o m e t i m e l a t e r

, J a y e s h m e t w i t h D e f e n d a n t P a t e l a t P a t e l ’ s h o m e

. D u r i n g

t h a t m e e t i n g

, P a t e l t o l d J a y e s h t h a t

, i n o r d e r t o k e e p t h e i r v i s a s

, D a r s h a n a h a d t o

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

r e c o r d s o f h e r p a y c h e c k s

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

p a y a b l e t o D a r s h a n a

, d a t e d f r o m A p r i l 1 5 t o J u n e 3 0

, 2 0 0 6

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

J a y e s h

. A l t h o u g h P a t e l w r o t e t h e c h e c k s i n A u g u s t

, h e b a c k d a t e d t h e m f r o m A p r i l

t o J u n e

. T h e c h e c k n u m b e r e d a s c o m i n g i m m e d i a t e l y b e f o r e t h e A p r i l 1 5 c h e c k

w a s d a t e d a f

t e r i t

– o n M a y 2 2

, 2 0 0 6

. D e f e n d a n t P a t e l a l s o g a v e J a y e s h f a l s e

p a y c h e c k s t u b s t o s h o w t h a t D a r s h a n a w a s w o r k i n g f o r P a t e l

. D a r s h a n a n e v e r d i d

a n y w o r k f

o r D e f e n d a n t P a t e l

. 6

A t a l a t e r m e e t i n g

, D e f

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

c h e c k s t h a t p u r p o r t e d t o b e p a y c h e c k s t o D a r s h a n a

. T h o s e c h e c k s w e r e d a t e d f r o m

J u l y 1 5 t o A u g u s t 3 1

, 2 0 0 6

. T h e c h e c k s w e r e s e q u e n t i a l l y n u m b e r e d

. T h e t h r e e

Although a

friend of Def endant Patel’ s wife testified tha t she saw Da rshana working at 6

Def endant Patel’ s home “four or five times,” Kamlesh, Jay esh, and D arsha na her self testified

that Dar shana ne ver w orked the re.

6c h e c k s n u m b e r e d a s c o m i n g i m m e d i a t e l y b e f o r e t h e J u l y 1 5 c h e c k w e r e a l l d a t e d

a f t e r i t

– i n S e p t e m b e r 2 0 0 6

. B e c a u s e n e i t h e r J a y e s h n o r D a r s h a n a e v e r w o r k e d

f o r D e f e n d a n t P a t e l o r h i s w i f

e

, J a y e s h r e t u r n e d t h e a m o u n t o f t h e p u r p o r t e d

p a y c h e c k s t o P a t e l i n c a s h

.

S o m e t i m e b e f

o r e J a y e s h a n d D a r s h a n a c a m e t o t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s

, D e f e n d a n t

P a t e l h a d a s k e d K a m l e s h t o p a y h i m a n a d d i t i o n a l $ 4

, 0 0 0 a s a f e e f o r t h e v i s a

a p p l i c a t i o n p a p e r w o r k

. K a m l e s h g a v e P a t e l a $ 4

, 0 0 0 c h e c k

, o n w h i c h h e l e f t t h e

d a t e a n d p a y e e l i n e s b l a n k

. T h e $ 4

, 0 0 0 c h e c k e v e n t u a l l y w a s d a t e d M a r c h 6

, 2 0 0 6

a n d m a d e p a y a b l e t o “ P a r a n j a y

, ” D e f

e n d a n t P a t e l ’ s f

r i e n d a n d f

o r m e r b u s i n e s s

p a r t n e r P a r a n

j a y J o s h i

. T h e c h e c k w a s d e p o s i t e d i n t o J o s h i ’ s c h e c k i n g a c c o u n t

w i t h o u t h i s k n o w l e d g e

.

I n M a r c h 2 0 0 7

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

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

. D u r i n g t h e m e e t i n g

,

7

J a y e s h t o l d P a t e l t h a t h e a n d D a r s h a n a w e r e c o n t a c t e d b y i m m i g r a t i o n a u t h o r i t i e s

a b o u t D a r s h a n a ’ s v i s a a n d h e r e m p l o y m e n t w i t h P a t e l

. J a y e s h t o l d P a t e l t h a t h e

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

a b o u t h e r e m p l o y m e n t w i t h P a t e l

.

D e f e n d a n t P a t e l g a v e J a y e s h a w r i t t e n c o p y o f D a r s h a n a ’ s j o b d e s c r i p t i o n

Be cause they

cooper ated with the a

uthorities, J ay esh and D arsha na we re a llowed to stay 7

in the United States.

7f

o r D a r s h a n a t o r e a d

. W h e n J a y e s h t o l d D e f e n d a n t P a t e l

, “ T h e m a i n f e a r I h a v e

,

t h a t D a r s h a n a ’ s n e v e r w o r k e d h e r e a n d i f t h e y a s k h e r t h e q u e s t i o n i t c o u l d b e a

p r o b l e m

, n o t h i n g e l s e

, ” P a t e l r e s p o n d e d

, “ Y e a h

, t h a t ’ s c o r r e c t

. ” J a y e s h s u g g e s t e d

h e s p e n t m o r e t h a n $ 1 0 0

, 0 0 0 t o c o m e t o t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s

, a n d P a t e l r e s p o n d e d

,

“ t h a t ’ s t r u e

. ” W h e n J a y e s h t o l d P a t e l h e w a s w o r r i e d a b o u t g e t t i n g i n t o t r o u b l e

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

, P a t e l s a i d t o J a y e s h

, “ I f y o u h a v e a p r o b l e m

, t h e n I w i l l

h a v e a b i g p r o b l e m

. ” P a t e l t o l d J a y e s h h e s h o u l d r e p o r t b a c k t o h i m a f t e r t h e

i m m i g r a t i o n i n t e r v i e w

, s o t h a t h e w o u l d k n o w w h a t t h e i n t e r v i e w e r s a s k e d i n t h e

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

.

B

. C o m p u t e r A c c e s s V i o l a t i o n s

A s a n a d j u d i c a t i o n s o f

f i c e r w i t h C I S

, D e f

e n d a n t P a t e l h a d a c c e s s t o t h e D H S

C u s t o m s a n d B o r d e r P r o t e c t i o n c o m p u t e r n e t w o r k s y s t e m

, w h i c h w a s c a l l e d “ T h e

E n f o r c e m e n t C o m m u n i c a t i o n s S y s t e m ” ( “ T E C S ” )

. T E C S s t o r e s i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t

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

r a u d o r

t h a t h a v e e n g a g e d i n i l l e g a l a c t i v i t y

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

, a s a n

a d j u d i c a t i o n o f

f i c e r

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

T E C S a n d w a s c e r t i f

i e d t o m a k e i n q u i r i e s i n T E C S

.

O n J u n e 2 0

, 2 0 0 5 a n d S e p t e m b e r 2 1

, 2 0 0 5

, D e f e n d a n t P a t e l r a n h i s o w n

n a m e a n d d a t e o f b i r t h i n T E C S

. O n O c t o b e r 2 1

, 2 0 0 5

, P a t e l r a n J a y e s h ’ s n a m e

8a n d d a t e o f b i r t h i n T E C S

. R a n d G a l l a g h e r

, a C I S A s s o c i a t e R e g i o n a l D i r e c t o r o f

t h e O f f i c e o f F r a u d D e t e c t i o n a n d N a t i o n a l S e c u r i t y

, t e s t i f i e d t h a t a n a u t h o r i z e d

u s e r o f T E C S w o u l d n o t b e a u t h o r i z e d t o r u n h i s o w n n a m e

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

p o t e n t i a l e m p l o y e e

, i n T E C S

.

C

. J u r y ’ s V e r d i c t s

A f t e r a n i n e

- a n d

- a

- h a l f

- d a y t r i a l

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

1 2 c o u n t s : c o n s p i r a c y t o e n c o u r a g e a n d i n d u c e J a y e s h a n d D a r s h a n a t o c o m e t o

,

e n t e r

, a n d r e s i d e i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s i n v i o l a t i o n o f l a w

, a n d t h a t t h e r e a f t e r t h e y

c o n c e a l e d

, h a r b o r e d

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

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

. S

. C

. §

1 3 2 4 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ) ( v ) ( I ) ( C o u n t 1 ) ; e n c o u r a g i n g a n d i n d u c i n g J a y e s h a n d D a r s h a n a t o

c o m e t o

, e n t e r

, a n d r e s i d e i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s i n v i o l a t i o n o f l a w

, i n v i o l a t i o n o f 8

U

. S

. C

. § 1 3 2 4 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ) ( i v ) ( C o u n t s 2 a n d 3 ) ; c o n c e a l i n g

, h a r b o r i n g

, a n d s h i e l d i n g

J a y e s h a n d D a r s h a n a o n c e t h e y i l l e g a l l y e n t e r e d t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s

, i n v i o l a t i o n o f 8

U

. S

. C

. § 1 3 2 4 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( A ) ( i i i ) ( C o u n t s 4 a n d 5 ) ; m a k i n g f a l s e s t a t e m e n t s o n a n

a p p l i c a t i o n f

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

D O L

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

. S

. C

. § 1 5 4 6 ( C o u n t 6 ) ; m a k i n g t h e f a l s e s t a t e m e n t i n a n

i m m i g r a t i o n p e t i t i o n t h a t D a r s h a n a w o u l d b e e m p l o y e d i n D e f e n d a n t P a t e l ’ s

h o u s e h o l d a n d p r e s e n t i n g t h a t p e t i t i o n t o C I S

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

. S

. C

. § 1 5 4 6

( C o u n t 7 ) ; a s a n e m p l o y e e o f D H S

, d e m a n d i n g a n d r e c e i v i n g m o n e y i n r e t u r n f o r

9b e i n g i n f

l u e n c e d t o c o m m i t a f

r a u d o n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s

, b y a c c e p t i n g m o n e y f r o m

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

, a n d b y

s u b m i t t i n g f

o r m s t o D O L a n d C I S t h a t f a l s e l y s t a t e d D a r s h a n a w o u l d b e e m p l o y e d

i n D e f e n d a n t P a t e l ’ s h o u s e h o l d

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

. S

. C

. § § 2 0 1 ( b ) ( 2 ) ( B ) a n d 2

( C o u n t 1 1 ) ; a n d a c c e s s i n g a l a w e n f o r c e m e n t c o m p u t e r s y s t e m w i t h o u t

a u t h o r i z a t i o n o n J u n e 2 0

, S e p t e m b e r 2 1

, a n d O c t o b e r 2 1

, 2 0 0 5

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

U

. S

. C

. § 1 0 3 0 ( a ) ( 2 ) ( B ) ( C o u n t s 1 2 t o 1 5 )

. 8

D

. S e n t e n c i n g

T h e p r e s e n t e n c e i n v e s t i g a t i o n r e p o r t ( “ P S I ” ) g r o u p e d a l l 1 2 c o u n t s o f

c o n v i c t i o n t o g e t h e r

, p u r s u a n t t o U

. S

. S

. G

. § 3 D 1

. 2 ( b ) ( 2 0 0 8 )

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

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

. ” F o r

C o u n t s 1 t o 5

, t h e P S I c a l c u l a t e d a n o f f e n s e l e v e l o f 1 2

, p u r s u a n t t o U

. S

. S

. G

. §

2 L 1

. 1

. F o r C o u n t s 6 t o 7

, t h e P S I c a l c u l a t e d a n o f f e n s e l e v e l o f 1 1

, p u r s u a n t t o

U

. S

. S

. G

. § 2 L 2

. 1

.

F o r C o u n t 1 1

, t h e P S I c a l c u l a t e d a n a d j u s t e d o f f e n s e l e v e l o f 2 4

, c o n s i s t i n g

The jury acquitted De fenda

nt Patel on these 7 counts: conspira cy to encour ag e and 8

induce a nother c ouple, Chay aben a nd Dar mesh Patel, to come to, ente r, and r eside in the United

States in violation of law, in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1324(a)(1)( A)(v) (I ) (Count 8); enc ourag ing

and inducing that couple to come to, enter, a nd reside in the U nited States in violation of law, in

violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1324(a)(1) (A)( iv) and (v) (I I ) (Counts 9 and 10); a nd acc essing a law

enfor ceme nt computer sy stem without authorization on J anuar y 31, 2006, in violation of 18

U.S.C. § 1030(a)(2) (B ) (Counts 16 to 19).

Def endant Patel’ s wife Nitig na wa s char g ed in ea ch of Counts 1 to 10. She was not tried

with Patel, and the g overnme nt ultim ately dismiss ed the indictment ag ainst her.

10o f : ( 1 ) a b a s e o f f e n s e l e v e l o f 1 4

, p u r s u a n t t o U

. S

. S

. G

. § 2 C 1

. 1 ; ( 2 ) a n 8

- l e v e l

i n c r e a s e b e c a u s e t h e b r i b e a m o u n t e x c e e d e d $ 7 0

, 0 0 0

, p u r s u a n t t o U

. S

. S

. G

. §

2 B 1

. 1 ( b ) ( 1 ) ( E ) ; a n d ( 3 ) a 2

- l e v e l i n c r e a s e b e c a u s e P a t e l w a s a p u b l i c o f f i c i a l w h o

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

, p u r s u a n t t o

U

. S

. S

. G

. § 2 C 1

. 1 ( b ) ( 4 ) ( B )

. F o r C o u n t s 1 2 t o 1 5

, t h e P S I c a l c u l a t e d a n a d j u s t e d

o f f e n s e l e v e l o f 8

, c o n s i s t i n g o f ( 1 ) a b a s e o f f e n s e l e v e l o f 6

, p u r s u a n t t o U

. S

. S

. G

.

§ 2 B 1

. 1 ( a ) ( 2 ) a n d ( 2 ) a 2

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

s y s t e m u s e d b y o r f

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

, p u r s u a n t t o

U

. S

. S

. G

. § 2 B 1

. 1 ( b ) ( 1 5 ) ( A ) ( i )

.

B e c a u s e U

. S

. S

. G

. § 3 D 1

. 3 ( a ) d i r e c t s t h a t t h e o f f e n s e l e v e l a p p l i c a b l e t o t h e

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

o r t h e m o s t s e r i o u s o f t h e c o u n t s

c o m p r i s i n g t h e g r o u p

, t h e P S I u s e d C o u n t 1 1 a s t h e a p p l i c a b l e o f f e n s e a n d 2 4 a s

t h e t o t a l o f

f e n s e l e v e l

. P a t e l ’ s c r i m i n a l h i s t o r y c a t e g o r y o f I a n d o f f e n s e l e v e l o f

2 4 y i e l d e d a n a d v i s o r y g u i d e l i n e s r a n g e o f 5 1 t o 6 3 m o n t h s ’ i m p r i s o n m e n t

.

P a t e l o b j e c t e d t o t h e P S I ’ s $ 1 0 0

, 0 0 0 b r i b e a m o u n t

. P a t e l a r g u e d t h a t ( 1 ) t h e

j u r y ’ s v e r d i c t s u p p o r t e d a b r i b e a m o u n t o f o n l y $ 4

, 0 0 0 a n d ( 2 ) t h e r e w a s n o

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

. P a t e l a l s o r e q u e s t e d a d o w n w a r d v a r i a n c e

f r o m t h e 5 1

- t o 6 3

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

, b a s e d o n t h e 1 8 U

. S

. C

. §

3 5 5 3 ( a ) f a c t o r s

.

11A t s e n t e n c i n g

, t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t f o u n d t h a t t h e b r i b e a m o u n t w a s $ 1 0 0

, 0 0 0

.

B a s e d o n P a t e l ’ s t o t a l o f f e n s e l e v e l o f 2 4 a n d c r i m i n a l h i s t o r y c a t e g o r y o f I

, t h e

g o v e r n m e n t a s k e d f

o r 6 0 m o n t h s ’ i m p r i s o n m e n t

. T h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t d e t e r m i n e d

P a t e l ’ s a d v i s o r y g u i d e l i n e s r a n g e w a s 5 1 t o 6 3 m o n t h s ’ i m p r i s o n m e n t

.

A f t e r h e a r i n g f

r o m f a m i l y

, f r i e n d s

, a n d P a t e l ’ s c o u n s e l

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

s e n t e n c e d D e f

e n d a n t P a t e l t o ( 1 ) 4 0 m o n t h s ’ i m p r i s o n m e n t o n e a c h o f C o u n t s 1 t o

7 a n d 1 1 a n d ( 2 ) 1 2 m o n t h s ’ i m p r i s o n m e n t o n e a c h o f C o u n t s 1 2 t o 1 5

, t o r u n

c o n c u r r e n t l y

. T h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t s t a t e d t h a t t h i s s e n t e n c e :

9

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

i n t o c o n s i d e r a t i o n t h e s e v e n f a c t o r s o u t l i n e d i n S e c t i o n 3 5 5 3

, i n c l u d i n g t h e

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

,

p r o m o t e r e s p e c t f

o r t h e l a w

, p r o v i d e [ ] j u s t p u n i s h m e n t

, a f f o r d a d e q u a t e

d e t e r r e n c e

, p r o t e c t t h e p u b l i c

, e t c e t e r a

.

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

, e m o t i o n a l

,

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

a m i l y

.

The statutory

maxi mum on Count 1 is 10 y ear s, 8 U.S.C. § 1324(a)(1) (B )(i); the 9

statutory maxi mum on Count s 2 to 4 is 5 y ear s, 8 U.S.C. § 1324(a)(1) (B )(ii); the statutory

maxi mum on Count 5 is 10 y ear s, 8 U.S.C. § 1324(a)(1) (B )(i); the statutory maxi mum on Count s

6 to 7 is 10 y ear s, 18 U.S.C. § 1546(a); the statutory maxi mum on Count 11 is 15 y ear s, 18

U.S.C. § 201(b); the statutory maxi mum on Count s 12 to 15 is 1 y ear , 18 U.S.C. §

1030(c) (2)( A).

Counts 1 to 5 each ca

rried a maxi mum fine of not more tha n $250,000, 18 U.S.C. §

3571(b)( 3), or, a s to Count 11, t he g rea ter of $250,000 or three times the monetary equivalent of

the thing of

value, 18 U.S.C. § 201(b) a nd 18 U.S.C. § 3571(b)(3). The district court imposed no

fine a t all. The district court a lso imposed 3 y ear s’ supervise d rele ase, 100 hour s of community

service , and a spe cial asse ssment of $900.

12I I

. D I S C U S S I O N

O n a p p e a l

, D e f

e n d a n t P a t e l a r g u e s t h a t :

1

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

t h e s e t o p i c s : ( a ) t h e i m m i g r a t i o n a p p l i c a t i o n p r o c e s s

, i n c l u d i n g C I S a n d

D O L p r a c t i c e s

, ( b ) t h e a u t h o r i z e d a n d u n a u t h o r i z e d u s e s o f t h e T E C S

c o m p u t e r s y s t e m

, a n d ( c ) t h e c a s t e s y s t e m i n I n d i a

, r e g a r d i n g s p e c i f i c a l l y

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

2

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

p r e s e n t 4 0 4 ( b ) e v i d e n c e t h a t P a t e l m a d e f a l s e s t a t e m e n t s t o C I S ( a ) i n a n

a f f i d a v i t s p o n s o r i n g t h e i m m i g r a t i o n a p p l i c a t i o n o f R a j e n d r a k u m a r P a t e l

,

a n o t h e r a l i e n a n d ( b ) i n P a t e l ’ s r e q u e s t f o r s i c k l e a v e

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

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

3

. P a t e l ’ s 1 8 U

. S

. C

. § 2 0 1 c o n v i c t i o n i n C o u n t 1 1 s h o u l d b e v a c a t e d b e c a u s e

( a ) t h e g o v e r n m e n t f

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

a n d t h a t K a m l e s h p a i d P a t e l i n r e t u r n f o r P a t e l ’ s p e r f

o r m i n g a s p e c i f

i c

o f f i c i a l a c t

, i

. e

. , t h e q u i d p r o p r o

, a n d ( b ) t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t e r r e d i n r e f u s i n g

P a t e l ’ s p r o p o s e d q u i d p r o q u o j u r y i n s t r u c t i o n ;

4

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

5

. P a t e l ’ s 4 0

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

.

13A f

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

b e n e f i t o f o r a l a r g u m e n t

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

o n l y t h e f

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

.

A

. E x p e r t T e s t i m o n y

D e f e n d a n t P a t e l 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 i n a d m i t t i n g t h e

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

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

p u r s u a n t t o F e d e r a l R u l e o f C r i m i n a l P r o c e d u r e 1 6

.

W e r e v i e w a d i s t r i c t c o u r t ’ s r u l i n g s r e g a r d i n g t h e a d m i s s i b i l i t y o f l a y

t e s t i m o n y u n d e r F e d e r a l R u l e o f E v i d e n c e 7 0 1 f o r a b u s e o f d i s c r e t i o n

. S e e U n i t e d

S t a t e s v

. M y e r s

, 9 7 2 F

. 2 d 1 5 6 6

, 1 5 7 6

- 7 7 ( 1 1 t h C i r

. 1 9 9 2 )

. R e v e r s a l i s n o t

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

, a n d

s u f f i c i e n t e v i d e n c e u n i n f

e c t e d b y e r r o r s u p p o r t s t h e v e r d i c t

. ” U n i t e d S t a t e s v

.

H a w k i n s

, 9 0 5 F

. 2 d 1 4 8 9

, 1 4 9 3 ( 1 1 t h C i r

. 1 9 9 0 )

.

R u l e 7 0 1 p r o v i d e s t h a t l a y t e s t i m o n y m u s t b e c o n f i n e d t o o p i n i o n s t h a t a r e

“ ( a ) r a t i o n a l l y b a s e d o n t h e p e r c e p t i o n o f t h e w i t n e s s

, ( b ) h e l p f u l t o a c l e a r

u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h e w i t n e s s ’ t e s t i m o n y o r t h e d e t e r m i n a t i o n o f a f a c t i n i s s u e

, a n d

( c ) n o t b a s e d o n s c i e n t i f i c

, t e c h n i c a l

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

14s c o p e o f R u l e 7 0 2

. ” F e d

. R

. E v i d

. 7 0 1

. I f e x p e r t t e s t i m o n y u n d e r R u l e 7 0 2 i s 1 0

i m p l i c a t e d

, F e d e r a l R u l e o f C r i m i n a l P r o c e d u r e 1 6 r e q u i r e s t h e g o v e r n m e n t t o

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

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

- i n

- c h i e f

. F e d

. R

. C r i m

. P

. 1 6 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( G )

. T h i s s u m m a r y “ m u s t

d e s c r i b e t h e w i t n e s s ’ s o p i n i o n s

, t h e b a s e s a n d r e a s o n s f o r t h o s e o p i n i o n s

, a n d t h e

w i t n e s s ’ s q u a l i f

i c a t i o n s

. ” I d

.

D e f e n d a n t P a t e l a r g u e s t h a t t h e t e s t i m o n i e s o f D O L e m p l o y e e I s a b e l J e a n

P i e r r e a n d D H S e m p l o y e e s R o b e r t D e J u l i u s

, M a r k C o x

, R a n d G a l l a g h e r

, L o r i

H a z e n s t a b

, a n d D w i g h t F a u l k e r c o n c e r n e d s p e c i a l i z e d t e c h n i c a l k n o w l e d g e a n d

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

. S i n c e t h e s e t e s t i m o n i e s w e r e s i m i l a r i n

s u b j e c t m a t t e r

, w e a n a l y z e t h e m c o n j o i n t l y

.

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

a b o u t v a r i o u s p r o c e d u r e s a n d t r a i n i n g c o n c e r n i n g t h e l a b o r c e r t i f i c a t i o n a n d H 2

- B

v i s a a p p l i c a t i o n p r o c e s s e s

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

, a n d

t h e a u t h o r i z e d u s e s o f T E C S

. N o t a b l y

, t h e t e s t i m o n i e s o f t h e s e g o v e r n m e n t

e m p l o y e e s w e r e g r o u n d e d i n f i r s t

- h a n d k n o w l e d g e o f d e p a r t m e n t a l p r o t o c o l a n d

Fe dera l Rule of Evidence 702 states that “[i] f scientific , technica l, or other spe cialized 1 0

knowledg e will assist the trier of f act to under stand the evide nce or to determine a

fac t in issue, a

witness qualified a s an expert by knowledg e, skill, ex perie nce, tr aining , or educ ation, may testify

there to in the form of a

n opinion or otherwise, if ( 1) the testimony is based upon suff

icient fa cts

or data , (2) the te stimony is the product of r eliable pr inciples and methods, and ( 3) the witness

has applied the principles and me thods reliably to the fac ts of the ca se.” F ed. R. Evid. 702.

15e x p e r i e n c e a c c u m u l a t e d i n t h e r e a l m o f i m m i g r a t i o n w o r k

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

.

M a r s h a l l

, 1 7 3 F

. 3 d 1 3 1 2

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

. 1 9 9 9 ) ( s t a t i n g t h e o p i n i o n o f a l a y

w i t n e s s i s “ a d m i s s i b l e o n l y i f i t i s b a s e d o n f i r s t

- h a n d k n o w l e d g e o r o b s e r v a t i o n ” ) ;

s e e a l s o T a m p a B a y S h i p b u i l d i n g & R e p a i r C o

. v

. C e d a r S h i p p i n g C o

. , 3 2 0 F

. 3 d

1 2 1 3

, 1 2 2 3 ( 1 1 t h C i r

. 2 0 0 3 ) ( d i s t r i c t c o u r t d i d n o t a b u s e i t s d i s c r e t i o n i n a d m i t t i n g

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

k n o w l e d g e g a r n e r e d f

r o m y e a r s o f e x p e r i e n c e w i t h i n t h e f i e l d ” )

. T h e t e s t i m o n i e s

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

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

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

. T h e r e f

o r e

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

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

e m p l o y e e s a s l a y w i t n e s s e s

.

E v e n a s s u m i n g

, a r g u e n d o

, t h a t t h i s t e s t i m o n y c o n s t i t u t e d e x p e r t t e s t i m o n y

,

D e f e n d a n t P a t e l s u f

f e r e d n o p r e

j u d i c e t o h i s s u b s t a n t i a l r i g h t s b y t h e g o v e r n m e n t ’ s

f a i l u r e t o p r o v i d e R u l e 1 6 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( G ) n o t i c e a n d d i s c o v e r y

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

.

D u l c i o

, 4 4 1 F

. 3 d 1 2 6 9

, 1 2 7 5 ( 1 1 t h C i r

. 2 0 0 6 ) ( s t a t i n g t h a t “ ‘ [ e ] r r o r i n t h e

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

r i g h t s o f t h e p a r t i e s ’ ” i n c a s e a l l e g i n g i m p r o p e r a d m i s s i o n o f l a y t e s t i m o n y )

( q u o t i n g U n i t e d S t a t e s v

. C a m e r o n

, 9 0 7 F

. 2 d 1 0 5 1

, 1 0 5 9 ( 1 1 t h C i r

. 1 9 9 0 ) )

. A s a n

16a d

j u d i c a t i o n s o f

f i c e r w i t h C I S

, P a t e l w a s i n t i m a t e l y f a m i l i a r w i t h t h e H 2

- B v i s a

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

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

, a n d h a d a c c e s s

t o T E C S

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

- e x a m i n a t i o n

. S e e A g r o A i r

A s s o c s

. v

. H o u s t o n C a s

. C o

. , 1 2 8 F

. 3 d 1 4 5 2

, 1 4 5 6 ( 1 1 t h C i r

. 1 9 9 7 ) ( s t a t i n g t h a t

“ [ b ] e c a u s e [ d e f

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

- e x a m i n e t h e w i t n e s s e s

, a n y

o b j e c t i o n t o t h e t e s t i m o n y w e n t t o t h e w e i g h t o f t h e e v i d e n c e

, n o t t o i t s

a d m i s s i b i l i t y ” i n c a s e a l l e g i n g i m p r o p e r a d m i s s i o n o f l a y t e s t i m o n y )

. M o r e o v e r

,

P a t e l h a d f

u l l n o t i c e o f t h e g o v e r n m e n t ’ s i n t e n t t o s h o w t h a t h e h a d u n a u t h o r i z e d l y

a c c e s s e d T E C S

, a s C o u n t s 1 2 t h r o u g h 1 8 o f t h e i n d i c t m e n t s p e c i f i c a l l y a l l e g e d t h i s

c o n d u c t

. T h e s e f

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

g o v e r n m e n t e m p l o y e e s ’ t e s t i m o n y

.

A d d i t i o n a l l y

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

t e s t i m o n y o f A n g e l a K e r w i n

, a f o r e i g n s e r v i c e o f

f i c e r w i t h t h e D e p a r t m e n t o f

S t a t e

. P a t e l c h a l l e n g e s o n l y K e r w i n ’ s t e s t i m o n y t h a t i n d i v i d u a l s w h o p r o v i d e

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

. K e r w i n

, h o w e v e r

,

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

a n d w o r k e x p e r i e n c e o f H 2

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

p r o f e s s i o n a l j o b i s u n l i k e l y t o m o v e t o a c a r e g i v e r j o b

. T h e r e f o r e

, i f s o m e o n e w h o

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

17m e n i a l v o c a t i o n o v e r s e a s

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

.

I m p o r t a n t l y

, K e r w i n e s s e n t i a l l y t e s t i f i e d r e g a r d i n g t h e t r a i n i n g S t a t e

D e p a r t m e n t a d

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

i n d r e l e v a n t i n

a s s e s s i n g a p e t i t i o n e r ’ s H 2

- B v i s a a p p l i c a t i o n

. K e r w i n ’ s t e s t i m o n y r e f l e c t e d b r o a d

s t a t e m e n t s o f f

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

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

. O n t h e

c o n t r a r y

, i t w a s J a y e s h P a t e l w h o

, w i t h o u t o b j e c t i o n f r o m d e f e n s e c o u n s e l

, s t a t e d

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

o f f

. W e a r e n o t i n t h a t n e e d w h e r e a l a d y o f a h o u s e w o u l d g o t o d o m a i d w o r k

. ”

T h e g e n e r a l i z e d a n d l i m i t e d s c o p e o f K e r w i n ’ s s t a t e m e n t s r e g a r d i n g I n d i a ’ s

c a s t e s y s t e m a t t e n u a t e s D e f e n d a n t P a t e l ’ s a s s e r t i o n t h a t h e r t e s t i m o n y r e l a t e d t o

“ s c i e n t i f i c

, t e c h n i c a l

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

. ” K e r w i n p r o v i d e d f a c t

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

r e l e v a n t i n a d

j u d i c a t i n g v i s a a p p l i c a t i o n s

. W h i l e s h e a c k n o w l e d g e d t h e e x i s t e n c e

o f c a s t e s i n I n d i a n c u l t u r e

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

b e l o n g s i n w h a t c a s t e n o r a n y o t h e r i n f o r m a t i o n r e q u i r i n g c u l t u r a l e x p e r t i s e

.

M o r e o v e r

, g i v e n t h a t I n d i a ’ s c a s t e s y s t e m i s a m a t t e r o f c o m m o n k n o w l e d g e

, i t i s

d o u b t f u l t h a t K e r w i n ’ s b r i e f c o m m e n t s w e r e b e y o n d t h e k e n o f t h e a v e r a g e c i t i z e n

.

E v e n a s s u m i n g

, a r g u e n d o

, t h a t K e r w i n ’ s t e s t i m o n y w a s i m p r o p e r l y

18a d m i t t e d

, a n y e r r o r w a s h a r m l e s s

. I f a d i s t r i c t c o u r t h a s i m p r o p e r l y a d m i t t e d

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

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

“ h a v e a ‘ s u b s t a n t i a l i n f

l u e n c e ’ o n t h e o u t c o m e o f a c a s e o r l e a v e ‘ g r a v e d o u b t ’ a s

t o w h e t h e r t h e y a f

f e c t e d t h e o u t c o m e o f a c a s e

. ” U n i t e d S t a t e s v

. F r a z i e r

, 3 8 7

F

. 3 d 1 2 4 4

, 1 2 6 6 n

. 2 0 ( 1 1 t h C i r

. 2 0 0 4 ) ( q u o t i n g K o t t e a k o s v

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

, 3 2 8

U

. S

. 7 5 0

, 7 6 4

- 6 5

, 6 6 S

. C t

. 1 2 3 9

, 1 2 4 8 ( 1 9 4 6 ) )

.

W e h a r b o r n o s u c h “ g r a v e d o u b t s ” h e r e

. G i v e n t h e u n c h a l l e n g e d t e s t i m o n y

o f J a y e s h P a t e l

, w h o d i r e c t l y t e s t i f i e d t h a t t h e P a t e l s w e r e o f a c a s t e t h a t w o u l d

n e v e r d o m a i d w o r k f

o r a n o t h e r f

a m i l y

, K e r w i n ’ s t e s t i m o n y o n t h e i s s u e o f c a s t e s

w a s e s s e n t i a l l y c u m u l a t i v e a n d a d d e d l i t t l e

, i f a n y t h i n g

, t o t h e g o v e r n m e n t ’ s c a s e

.

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

. H e n d e r s o n

, 4 0 9 F

. 3 d 1 2 9 3

, 1 3 0 0

- 0 1 ( 1 1 t h C i r

. 2 0 0 5 ) ( h o l d i n g

t h a t a d m i s s i o n o f p h y s i c i a n ’ s s t a t e m e n t s a s l a y o p i n i o n t e s t i m o n y w a s n o t

p r e j u d i c i a l b e c a u s e i t w a s n o t i n t e g r a l t o p r o s e c u t i o n ’ s c a s e a n d w a s d u p l i c a t i v e o f

o t h e r t e s t i m o n y )

. E v e n i f K e r w i n ’ s t e s t i m o n y h e l p e d c o r r o b o r a t e t h e g o v e r n m e n t ’ s

c o n t e n t i o n t h a t D e f

e n d a n t P a t e l n e v e r i n t e n d e d D a r s h a n a P a t e l t o w o r k i n h i s

h o u s e

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

s o u r c e s

. T h u s

, e v e n i f t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t i m p r o p e r l y a d m i t t e d K e r w i n ’ s t e s t i m o n y

1 1

J ay esh testified that his wife Dar shana be g an wor king in Ka

mlesh’s conve nience store 1 1

in Brunsw ick, Geor g ia upon arr ival in the United States and ne ver w orked f or Patel. The

g overnme nt also produce d exhibi ts demonstrating that Patel backdated pay chec ks to cover up

this fact.

19a s t h a t o f a l a y w i t n e s s

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

.

B

. B r i b e r y u n d e r § 2 0 1 ( b ) ( 2 ) ( B )

O n l y C o u n t 1 1 i n v o l v e d a b r i b e r y c o n v i c t i o n u n d e r 1 8 U

. S

. C

. §

2 0 1 ( b ) ( 2 ) ( B )

. S p e c i f

i c a l l y

, § 2 0 1 ( b ) ( 2 ) p r o s c r i b e s a p u b l i c o f f i c i a l ’ s r e c e i v i n g a

b r i b e :

( b ) W h o e v e r

- -

. . . ( 2 ) b e i n g a p u b l i c o f f i c i a l

. . . d i r e c t l y o r i n d i r e c t l y

, c o r r u p t l y

d e m a n d s

, s e e k s

, r e c e i v e s

, a c c e p t s

. . . a n y t h i n g o f v a l u e p e r s o n a l l y

. . . i n r e t u r n f

o r :

( A ) b e i n g i n f

l u e n c e d i n t h e p e r f

o r m a n c e o f a n y o f

f i c i a l a c t ;

( B ) b e i n g i n f

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

, o r t o

c o l l u d e i n

, o r a l l o w

, a n y f r a u d

, o r m a k e o p p o r t u n i t y f o r t h e

c o m m i s s i o n o f a n y f

r a u d

, o n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s ; o r

( C ) b e i n g i n d u c e d t o d o o r o m i t t o d o a n y a c t i n v i o l a t i o n o f t h e

o f f i c i a l d u t y o f s u c h o f

f i c i a l o r p e r s o n ;

. . .

s h a l l b e f i n e d

. . . o r i m p r i s o n e d f o r n o t m o r e t h a n f

i f t e e n y e a r s

, o r b o t h

. . . .

1 8 U

. S

. C

. § 2 0 1 ( b ) ( 2 ) ( e m p h a s i s a d d e d )

. S e c t i o n 2 0 1 d e f i n e s “ p u b l i c o f

f i c i a l ” t o

i n c l u d e “ a n o f

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

S t a t e s

. ” I d

. § 2 0 1 ( a ) ( 1 )

. A c c o r d i n g l y

, D e f e n d a n t P a t e l v i o l a t e d § 2 0 1 ( b ) ( 2 ) ( B ) i f :

( 1 ) h e w a s a n e m p l o y e e o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s a n d ( 2 ) h e c o r r u p t l y d e m a n d e d o r

a c c e p t e d a t h i n g o f v a l u e ( 3 ) i n r e t u r n f o r b e i n g i n f

l u e n c e d t o a i d i n c o m m i t t i n g

a n y f r a u d o n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s

. I d

. § 2 0 1 ( b ) ( 2 ) ( B )

.

D e f e n d a n t P a t e l a r g u e 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 p r o v e K a m l e s h k n e w

20D e f

e n d a n t P a t e l w a s a p u b l i c o f f i c i a l

. T h e p l a i n l a n g u a g e o f § 2 0 1 ( b ) ( 2 ) ( B )

,

h o w e v e r

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

,

n o t t h e p e r s o n m a k i n g t h e b r i b e

. W e d e c l i n e t o r e a d a n y s u c h r e q u i r e m e n t i n t o § 1 2

2 0 1 ( b ) ( 2 ) ( B )

.

W e a l s o r e

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

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

i c o f f i c i a l a c t b y h i m

, w h a t P a t e l c a l l s

a s p e c i f i c “ q u i d p r o q u o

. ” S e c t i o n 2 0 1 ( b ) ( 2 ) ( B ) c o n t a i n s n o r e q u i r e m e n t t h a t t h e

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

o r m a s p e c i f

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

o r t h e b r i b e

.

R a t h e r

, i t r e q u i r e s o n l y w h a t t h e s t a t u t e s a y s : t h a t t h e g o v e r n m e n t s h o w t h e p u b l i c

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

l u e n c e d t o

. . . a i d i n

c o m m i t t i n g

, . . . o r a l l o w [ ] a n y f r a u d

, . . . o n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s

. ” I d

. §

2 0 1 ( b ) ( 2 ) ( B )

. T h i s i s u n d e r s c o r e d b y t h e f a c t t h a t o t h e r s u b s e c t i o n s o f § 2 0 1

e x p r e s s l y r e f

e r t o a n “ o f

f i c i a l a c t

, ” b u t § 2 0 1 ( b ) ( 2 ) ( B ) d o e s n o t

. S e e 1 8 U

. S

. C

. §

2 0 1 ( b ) ( 1 ) ( A ) ( p r o h i b i t i n g p a y i n g a n o f f i c i a l “ w i t h i n t e n t

. . . t o i n f l u e n c e a n y

o f f i c i a l a c t ” )

, ( b ) ( 2 ) ( A ) ( p r o h i b i t i n g a n o f f i c i a l f r o m a c c e p t i n g p a y m e n t i n r e t u r n

f o r “ t h e p e r f

o r m a n c e o f a n y o f

f i c i a l a c t ” )

, a n d ( b ) ( 1 ) ( C ) a n d ( b ) ( 2 ) ( C ) ( p r o h i b i t i n g

“When construing a cr iminal statute, [ this Court] beg in[ s] wit h the plain lang uag e; 1 2

wher e ‘the lang uag e Cong ress c hose to express its int ent is clea r and una mbiguous, that is as fa

r

as we g o to asce rtain its intent because we must presume that Congr ess said wha t it meant and

meant wha t it said.’” United States v. B rowne , 505 F.3d 1229, 1250 ( 11th Cir. 2007) (quoting

United States v. Steele, 147 F .3d 1316, 1318 (11th Cir. 1998) (e n banc) ).

21g i v i n g a n d r e c e i v i n g

, r e s p e c t i v e l y

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

t h e “ l a w f u l ” o r “ o f

f i c i a l ” d u t y o f a p u b l i c o f f i c i a l ) ; s e e a l s o U n i t e d S t a t e s v

. L e y v a

,

2 8 2 F

. 3 d 6 2 3

, 6 2 5 ( 9 t h C i r

. 2 0 0 2 ) ( c o n c l u d i n g t h a t § 2 0 1 ( b ) ( 2 ) ( B ) c o n t a i n s n o

“ o f f i c i a l a c t ” e l e m e n t

, a n d s t a t i n g “ ‘ [ w ] h e r e C o n g r e s s i n c l u d e s p a r t i c u l a r l a n g u a g e

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

, i t i s

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

i n c l u s i o n o r e x c l u s i o n ’ ” ) ( q u o t i n g G o z l o n

- P e r e t z v

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

, 4 9 8 U

. S

. 3 9 5

,

4 0 4

, 1 1 1 S

. C t

. 8 4 0

, 8 4 6

- 4 7 ( 1 9 9 1 ) )

. 1 3

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

, w e a l s o r e j e c t P a t e l ’ s a r g u m e n t 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 r e f

u s i n g t o g i v e h i s p r o p o s e d q u i d p r o q u o j u r y i n s t r u c t i o n

. T h e d i s t r i c t 1 4

c o u r t c h a r g e d t h e t e x t o f § 2 0 1 ( b ) ( 2 ) ( B ) a n d P a t e l h a s s h o w n n o r e v e r s i b l e e r r o r 1 5

Def endant Patel’ s relianc e on United States v. Sun-Diamond Gr ower s of California, 1 3

526 U.S. 398, 119 S. C t. 1402 (1999), for the proposition that § 201(b)(2) (B ) conta ins an

“off icial ac t” re quirement is misplaced. Sun-Diamond involved only § 201(c) (1)( A), whic h

proscr ibes the g iving of

a thing of value to a public offic ial and re quires that the br ibe-pa y or

make that pa

y ment “for or bec ause of

any officia l act per formed or to be per formed by

such

public officia l.” Unlike subsec tion (c)( 1)(A) , subsection (b)( 2)(B ) cr iminaliz es only conduct by

the public offic ial, not the bribe-pa y or, and c ontains no lang uag e re quiring an “of ficial a ct.”

Sun-Diamond does not help De fenda nt Patel.

We reviewthe leg al cor

rec tness of a jury

instruction de novo . . . but defe r on questions 1 4

of phra sing a

bsent an a buse of discr etion.” United States v. Prathe r, 205 F .3d 1265, 1270 (11th

Cir. 2000) (citations omitted). “Ge nera lly , district courts ‘ha ve broa d discretion in formulating

jury instructions provided that the cha rg e as a whole ac cura tely

ref lects the lawand the f

acts,’

and we will not reverse a convic tion on the basis of a jury char g e unless ‘the issues of law we re

prese nted inacc urate ly , or the c harg e improper ly g uided the jury

in such a substantial wa

y as to

violate due pr ocess.’ ” I d. (quoting United States v. Arias, 984 F .2d 1139, 1143 (11th Cir. 1993)).

The district cour

t’s char g e wa s as follows: 1 5

22i n t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t ’ s c h a r g e

.

C

. S e n t e n c i n g I s s u e s

D e f e n d a n t P a t e l a r g u e s t h a t h i s 4 0

- m o n t h s e n t e n c e s o n e a c h o f C o u n t s 1 t o 7

a n d 1 1

, t o r u n c o n c u r r e n t l y

, a r e u n r e a s o n a b l e

. W e r e v i e w t h e r e a s o n a b l e n e s s o f a

s e n t e n c e f

o r a b u s e o f d i s c r e t i o n u s i n g a t w o

- s t e p p r o c e s s

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

. P u g h

,

5 1 5 F

. 3 d 1 1 7 9

, 1 1 9 0 ( 1 1 t h C i r

. 2 0 0 8 )

. W e l o o k f i r s t a t w h e t h e r t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t

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

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

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

. I d

. T h e p a r t y

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

r e c o r d a n d t h e § 3 5 5 3 ( a ) f a c t o r s

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

. T h o m a s

, 4 4 6 F

. 3 d 1 3 4 8

, 1 3 5 1

L adies a nd g entlemen of the jury , Count Eleven cha rg es that the De fenda

nt

violated Ti tle 18, United S tat es C o d e, Section 201(b)( 2)(B ). That st atute makes it

a fede ral crime or offe nse for a n employ ee of

a depa rtment or ag ency

of the United

States to corr

uptly demand, seek, rec eive, acce p t and ag ree to rec eive and acc ept

money in exchang e for being influence d to commit or allow a fra ud to be committed

on the United States Gove rnment.

The defe ndant may be found g uilty of that offe nse only if all of the following

fac ts are proved bey ond a rea sonable dou bt: First, that the Def endant was an

employ ee of the United States Gover nment, as char g ed; second, that the Def endant

demande d, soug ht, rec eived, acc epted or ag ree d to rec eive or acc ept a sum of money ;

third, that the money was in return for the Def endant being influence d to commit, aid

in the commission, or allow a fra ud to be committed on t h e Un i t ed States

Gover nment; and fourth, that in so doing the Def endant a cted c orruptly

. L adies and g entlemen of

the jury , an ac t is done corr uptly if it is perf

ormed

voluntarily

, delibera tely

, and dishonestly for the purpose of either acc omplishi ng an

unlawful end or result or of acc omplishi ng s o me otherwise lawful end or lawful

result by an unlawf

ul method or means.

L adies and g entlemen of the jury

, an employ ee of the United States

Depa rtment of Homeland Security

, Citi zenship and I mmigra tion Service s, would be

an employ ee of

the United States.

23( 1 1 t h C i r

. 2 0 0 6 )

.

H e r e

, D e f

e n d a n t P a t e l h a s n o t s h o w n h i s 4 0

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

u n r e a s o n a b l e

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

a m o u n t w a s $ 1 0 0

, 0 0 0 a n d i n a p p l y i n g t h e 8

- l e v e l e n h a n c e m e n t u n d e r U

. S

. S

. G

. §

2 C 1

. 1 ( b ) ( 2 ) a n d t h e t a b l e i n § 2 B 1

. 1 ( b )

. W e d i s a g r e e b e c a u s e b o t h K a m l e s h a n d

J a y e s h t e s t i f

i e d a s t o t h e $ 1 0 0

, 0 0 0 b r i b e a m o u n t

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

. G r e g g

, 1 7 9

F

. 3 d 1 3 1 2

, 1 3 1 6 ( 1 1 t h C i r

. 1 9 9 9 ) ( “ W e a c c o r d g r e a t d e f e r e n c e t o t h e d i s t r i c t

c o u r t ’ s c r e d i b i l i t y d e t e r m i n a t i o n s

. ” )

. F u r t h e r

, i n a r e c o r d e d m e e t i n g

, D e f e n d a n t

P a t e l h i m s e l f r e s p o n d e d “ t h a t ’ s t r u e ” a f t e r J a y e s h s u g g e s t e d h e s p e n t m o r e t h a n

$ 1 0 0

, 0 0 0 t o c o m e t o t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s

. A n d K a m l e s h p a i d t h e $ 1 0 0

, 0 0 0 t o P a t e l i n

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

, e a c h o f w h i c h o c c u r r e d b e f o r e J a y e s h a n d D a r s h a n a

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

, w h i c h i s c o n s i s t e n t w i t h t h e $ 1 0 0

, 0 0 0 b e i n g a p a y m e n t

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

.

P a t e l 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 “ f a i l e d t o a d d r e s s t h e m a n n e r a n d

m e c h a n i s m ” f

o r c o m p u t i n g t h e s e n t e n c e s i n C o u n t s 1 a n d 7

. T h e r e c o r d

, h o w e v e r

,

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

o f f e n s e

, p u r s u a n t t o U

. S

. S

. G

. § 3 D 1

. 1

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

t o t a l o f f e n s e l e v e l

– C o u n t 1 1 ( n o t a n y o f C o u n t s 1 t o 7 )

– a s t h e s i n g l e o f f e n s e t o

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

. S e e U

. S

. S

. G

. § 3 D 1

. 2 ( “ A l l c o u n t s

24i n v o l v i n g s u b s t a n t i a l l y t h e s a m e h a r m s h a l l b e g r o u p e d t o g e t h e r i n t o a s i n g l e

G r o u p

. C o u n t s i n v o l v e s u b s t a n t i a l l y t h e s a m e h a r m [ w h e n t h e y i n v o l v e ]

. . . t h e

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

. ” )

. P a t e l h a s n o t s h o w n a n y p r o c e d u r a l

e r r o r i n t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t ’ s g u i d e l i n e s c a l c u l a t i o n s

.

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

u n r e a s o n a b l e

. I n d e e d

, a f t e r c o n s i d e r i n g t h e § 3 5 5 3 ( a ) f a c t o r s

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

s e n t e n c e d P a t e l t o 4 0 m o n t h s ’ i m p r i s o n m e n t

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

g u i d e l i n e s r a n g e o f 5 1 t o 6 3 m o n t h s

. 1 6

I I I

. C O N C L U S I O N

F o r a l l t h e f

o r e g o i n g r e a s o n s

, w e a f f i r m D e f e n d a n t P a t e l ’ s c o n v i c t i o n s a n d

s e n t e n c e

.

A F F I R M E D

.

The g overnme nt did not cross-appe al as to Patel’s sente nce. 1 6

25