Source: http://openjurist.org/201/f3d/805
Timestamp: 2015-08-02 00:46:43
Document Index: 136413118

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 371', '§ 2314', '§ 3', '§ 3', '§ 371', '§ 2314', '§ 3', '§ 3', '§ 3', '§ 3']

201 F3d 805 United States of America v. Jesse James Vandeberg | OpenJurist
201 F. 3d 805 - United States of America v. Jesse James Vandeberg Home
201 F3d 805 United States of America v. Jesse James Vandeberg 201 F.3d 805 (6th Cir. 2000)
United States of America, Plaintiff-Appellee,v.Jesse James Vandeberg, Defendant-Appellant.
No. 98-3009
Argued: September 22, 1999Decided and Filed: January 14, 2000
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio at Cincinnati, No. 97-00046--S. Arthur Spiegel, District Judge.
Anne L. Porter, OFFICE OF THE U.S. ATTORNEY, Cincinnati, Ohio, for Appellee.
C. Ransom Hudson, OFFICE OF THE FEDERAL PUBLIC DEFENDER, SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF OHIO, Cincinnati, Ohio, for Appellant.
Defendant-Appellant Jesse James Vandeberg pled guilty to conspiracy to transport stolen property interstate, a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371, and to interstate transportation of stolen property, a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2314. Vandeberg appeals his sentence, arguing that the District Court erred by (1) applying a two-level enhancement to his base offense level pursuant to United States Sentencing Guideline § 3B1.1(c), and (2) failing to conduct a restitution hearing within 90 days of his sentencing date. For the reasons that follow, we conclude that the District Court's faulty restitution procedures amounted to harmless error, but that the decision to enhance Vandeberg's offense level was both erroneous and potentially harmful to his sentence. Accordingly, we REVERSE the District Court's decision to apply the § 3B1.1(c) enhancement and REMAND for resentencing.
In early March of 1997, Joseph Tillema, one of Vandeberg's acquaintances, drove a pickup truck from Fort Myers, Florida to Cincinnati, Ohio in order to burglarize the house of Vandeberg's employer. Vandeberg had informed Tillema that his employer, a licensed gun dealer, would be staying at a second residence in Fort Myers, Florida during that time period. Based on his experience working as a handyman for the gun dealer, Vandeberg was able to provide information to Tillema regarding the location of the Cincinnati home, the home's alarm system, and the location of a safe containing valuable guns and jewelry.
After burglarizing the house, Tillema drove back to Florida and unloaded the majority of the stolen items into his apartment. He continued to drive around Fort Myers with the safe, which weighed approximately 1,000 pounds, in his truck. Vandeberg told Tillema that it was foolish to store the safe in his truck. Vandeberg rented a storage unit for the safe, and the two men placed the safe in the storage unit. By drilling a pattern of small holes in the wall of the safe, they were able to peel away a section of the safe's exterior and remove the safe's contents.
On March 30, 1997, Vandeberg and Tillema sold approximately forty of the stolen guns, as well as two diamond rings, at a gun show in Orlando, Florida. An individual who had purchased a number of the guns later contacted the burglary victim in response to reward posters that the victim had circulated. The individual informed the victim that he had purchased the guns from two men at the Orlando gun show. Federal agents contacted the organizers of the gun show and learned that Tillema had rented the booth in question. Vandeberg's signature also appeared on the documents pertaining to the booth rental. Both men were arrested. After Tillema's arrest, law enforcement officers seized approximately 90 guns and other items belonging to the victim from Tillema's apartment. However, a significant amount of the jewelry, cash, and weaponry was never recovered.
On May 21, 1997, a grand jury returned a seven-count indictment against both Vandeberg and Tillema. On July 31, 1997, pursuant to a written plea agreement, Vandeberg pled guilty to the first two counts in the indictment: (1) conspiracy to transport stolen property interstate in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371, and (2) interstate transportation of stolen property in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2314. Thereafter, a probation officer prepared a Presentence Investigation Report (PSI), recommending that, pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 3B1.1(c), Vandeberg's offense level be increased by two points based on Vandeberg's role as an "organizer, leader, manager, or supervisor" of the criminal activity. The PSI further indicated that the burglary victim's home sustained $13,162.89 in structural damages, but that the total amount of the victim's losses had yet to be ascertainedbecause numerous items were still missing. The probation officer stated that an amended restitution figure would be submitted to the court within 30 days. Vandeberg objected to the two-level § 3B1.1(c) enhancement; he also objected to the imposition of an amount of restitution that was not supported by adequate documentation. In response, the probation officer provided documentation to demonstrate that the victim's house sustained $13,162.89 in damages. The probation officer also submitted an addendum to the PSI, stating that the victim had been unable, as of that time, to gather additional documentation regarding the amount of his losses.
At a sentencing hearing on December 12, 1997, Vandeberg's counsel reiterated the defendant's objection to the § 3B1.1(c) enhancement. The government agreed with Vandeberg on this issue, indicating that "this is not a classic case . . . where he would be in a managerial position. At best, they were coconspirators." Despite the government's acquiescence in Vandeberg's position, the District Court summarily concluded "based on the preponderance of the evidence that the two-level enhancement is appropriate . . . the defense's objection will be denied." The District Court then sentenced Vandeberg to 140 months incarceration (20 months for conspiracy and 120 months for the substantive offense) and ordered him to pay restitution in the amount of $13,162.89.
Vandeberg filed a timely notice of appeal on December 22, 1997. On or about March 4, 1998--approximately 82 days after sentencing--the District Court issued an order modifying the restitution portion of Vandeberg's sentence. Indicating that the amount of the victim's losses had been ascertained, the court ordered Vandeberg to "immediately" pay restitution in the amount of $165,428.41.
On May 4, 1998, Vandeberg filed a motion with the District Court, requesting that a hearing be held on the restitution issue.1 The court granted the motion and, at a hearing in which the probation officer was unable to be present, the court instructed the parties to informally meet with the probation officer in an effort to resolve the matter. A final restitution hearing was conducted on September 10, 1998. Vandeberg testified on his own behalf, disputing the accuracy of the insurance adjuster's report. Vandeberg stated that after the burglary, he had assisted his employer in completing the insurance forms; based on this assistance and his personal knowledge of the gun business, Vandeberg testified that the victim had exaggerated his losses to the insurance company. After considering this evidence as well as the testimony of the probation officer, the District Court decided to reduce the amount of restitution from $165,428.41 to $100,000.
Vandeberg claims that the District Court failed to make any factual findings to support the enhancement pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 3B1.1(c), and, furthermore, that the enhancement was inapplicable.
Whether a district court is required to make factual findings on the record is a question of law subject to de novo review. See United States