Source: http://openjurist.org/101/f3d/370/united-states-v-wells
Timestamp: 2015-09-02 18:59:18
Document Index: 503785879

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 1341', '§ 1341', '§ 408', '§ 1341', '§ 2', '§ 3', '§ 242']

101 F3d 370 United States v. Wells | OpenJurist
101 F. 3d 370 - United States v. Wells Home
101 F3d 370 United States v. Wells 101 F.3d 370
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee,v.Wendy Lois WELLS, Defendant-Appellant.
No. 95-11044.
Nov. 27, 1996.
Susan B. Cowger, Office of the U.S. Atty., Dallas, TX, Michael Reuss Snipes, Asst. U.S. Atty., Office of the U.S. Atty., Dallas, TX, for plaintiff-appellee.
F. Clinton Broden, Office of the Federal Public Defender, Dallas, TX, for defendant-appellant.
Before GARWOOD, BARKSDALE and DENNIS, Circuit Judges.
Wendy Lois Wells ("Wells") appeals the district court's upward departure from the Sentencing Guidelines for her conviction for mail fraud pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1341.
A five-count indictment charged Wells with mail fraud, use of an unauthorized access device with intent to defraud, and use of an unauthorized social security account number for the purpose of fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1341, 1029(a)(2), and 42 U.S.C. § 408(a)(8). Pursuant to a plea agreement, Wells pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud.
Wells, while employed as a substitute teacher, searched through the desks of at least two teachers for whom she was substituting, obtained personal information and social security numbers, and had credit cards sent to her using their names and social security numbers. Wells then made purchases with the fraudulently obtained credit cards. The credit cards, account statements, and merchandise were sent to a fictitious address Wells set up in Irving, Texas.
Wells' base offense level for a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1341 was 6 pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 2F1.1(a). Her offense level was increased four levels because the loss exceeded $20,000 and another two levels because the scheme involved more than minimal planning or more than one victim. Wells received a two-level reduction for acceptance of responsibility pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 3E1.1. With a total offense level of 10 and a criminal history category of V, Wells' Guideline range of imprisonment was 21 to 27 months.
The district court filed sua sponte two letters it received from victims of Wells' scheme. The government filed a motion for upward departure after the first letter was filed. At sentencing, the district court granted the government's motion for upward departure. Wells was sentenced to a term of imprisonment of 30 months, three years of supervised release, and restitution in the amount of $4,000.
Wells argues that the district court's upward departure was "unlawful" because it was based on factors "already considered by the [Sentencing Commission] in setting the base offense level under a particular guideline section or the specific offense characteristics under that guideline section." Wells' Brief at 6. Wells argues further that the Sentencing Commission has determined that "mere aggravation, no matter how real, would not support a departure." Wells' Reply Brief at 3.
At oral argument in September 1996, the parties argued the applicability of Koon v. United States, --- U.S. ----, 116 S.Ct. 2035, 135 L.Ed.2d 392 (1996), which was filed in June 1996, after the briefs in this case had been filed.1 In Koon, police officers were charged with violating Rodney King's constitutional rights by using unreasonable force incident to arrest pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 242. In its analysis of the Ninth Circuit's appellate review of the sentencing court's downward departure, the Supreme Court determined the appropriate standard of review and factors to be considered by a district court judge in departing from the Guidelines.