Source: http://iwar.org.uk/law/resources/doj/2B1.1Full.htm
Timestamp: 2019-03-25 17:00:20
Document Index: 755855258

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 2', '§ 2', '§ 2', '§ 2', '§ 2', '§ 2', '§ 2', '§ 6', '§ 50', '§ 38', '§ 501', '§ 1011', '§ 30170', '§ 2', '§ 1', 'art.\n2', '§ 1030', '§ 3742', '§ 276', '§ 1001', '§ 2', '§ 3', '§ 2', '§ 4', '§ 3', '§ 3', '§ 3', '§ 3', '§ 3', '§ 3', '§ 1029', '§ 1029', '§ 1028', '§ 1', '§ 1028', '§ 1028', '§ 2', '§ 2', '§ 1', '§ 982', '§ 1001', '§ 2', '§ 2', '§ 225', '§ 2', '§ 2', '§ 1030', '§ 2', '§ 1028', '§ 2']

U.S. Sentencing Guidelines that Relate to Computer Intrusions
2002 Federal Sentencing Guidelines
1. Theft, Embezzlement, Receipt of Stolen Property, Property
Destruction, and Offenses Involving Fraud or Deceit
§ 2B1.1. Larceny, Embezzlement, and Other Forms of Theft; Offenses Involving Stolen Property; Property Damage or Destruction; Fraud and Deceit; Forgery; Offenses Involving Altered or Counterfeit Instruments Other than Counterfeit Bearer Obligations of the United States
(K) More than $2,500,000 add 18
(L) More than $7,000,000 add 20
(M) More than $20,000,000 add 22
(N) More than $50,000,000 add 24
(O) More than $100,000,000 add 26
(2) (Apply the greater) If the offense--
(A) (i) involved more than 10, but less than 50, victims; or (ii) was committed through mass-marketing, increase by 2 levels; or
(B) involved 50 or more victims, increase by 4 levels.
(6) If the offense involved theft of, damage to, or destruction of, property from a national cemetery, increase by 2 levels.
(7) If the offense involved (A) a misrepresentation that the defendant was acting on behalf of a charitable, educational, religious, or political organization, or a government agency; (B) a misrepresentation or other fraudulent action during the course of a bankruptcy proceeding; (C) a violation of any prior, specific judicial or administrative order, injunction, decree, or process not addressed elsewhere in the guidelines; or (D) a misrepresentation to a consumer in connection with obtaining, providing, or furnishing financial assistance for an institution of higher education, increase by 2 levels. If the resulting offense level is less than level 10, increase to level 10.
(9) If the offense involved (A) the possession or use of any device- making equipment; (B) the production or trafficking of any unauthorized access device or counterfeit access device; or (C)(i) the unauthorized transfer or use of any means of identification unlawfully to produce or obtain any other means of identification; or (ii) the possession of 5 or more means of identification that unlawfully were produced from, or obtained by the use of, another means of identification, increase by 2 levels. If the resulting offense level is less than level 12, increase to level 12.
(10) If the offense involved an organized scheme to steal vehicles or vehicle parts, and the offense level is less than level 14, increase to level 14.
(11) If the offense involved (A) the conscious or reckless risk of death or serious bodily injury; or (B) possession of a dangerous weapon (including a firearm) in connection with the offense, increase by 2 levels. If the resulting offense level is less than level 14, increase to level 14.
(12) (Apply the greater) If--
(1) If (A) a firearm, destructive device, explosive material, or controlled substance was taken, or the taking of any such item was an object of the offense; or (B) the stolen property received, transported, transferred, transmitted, or possessed was a firearm, destructive device, explosive material, or controlled substance, apply § 2D1.1 (Unlawful Manufacturing, Importing, Exporting, or Trafficking (Including Possession with Intent to Commit These Offenses); Attempt or Conspiracy), § 2D2.1 (Unlawful Possession; Attempt or Conspiracy), § 2K1.3 (Unlawful Receipt, Possession, or Transportation of Explosive Materials; Prohibited Transactions Involving Explosive Materials), or § 2K2.1 (Unlawful Receipt, Possession, or Transportation of Firearms or Ammunition; Prohibited Transactions Involving Firearms or Ammunition), as appropriate.
(2) If the offense involved arson, or property damage by use of explosives, apply § 2K1.4 (Arson; Property Damage by Use of Explosives), if the resulting offense level is greater than that determined above.
(4) If the offense involved a cultural heritage resource, apply § 2B1.5 (Theft of, Damage to, or Destruction of, Cultural Heritage Resources; Unlawful Sale, Purchase, Exchange, Transportation, or Receipt of Cultural Heritage Resources), if the resulting offense level is greater than that determined above.
Statutory Provisions: 7 U.S.C. § § 6, 6b, 6c, 6h, 6o, 13, 23; 15 U.S.C. § § 50, 77e, 77q, 77x, 78j, 78ff, 80b- 6, 1644, 6821; 18 U.S.C. § § 38, 225, 285-289, 471- 473, 500, 510, 553(a)(1), 641, 656, 657, 659, 662, 664, 1001-1008, 1010-1014, 1016-1022, 1025, 1026, 1028, 1029, 1030(a)(4)-(5), 1031, 1341-1344, 1361, 1363, 1702, 1703 (if vandalism or malicious mischief, including destruction of mail, is involved), 1708, 1831, 1832, 1992, 1993(a)(1), (a)(4), 2113(b), 2312-2317, 2332b(a)(1); 29 U.S.C. § 501(c); 42 U.S.C. § 1011; 49 U.S.C. § § 30170, 46317(a), 60123(b). For additional statutory provision(s), see Appendix A (Statutory Index).
"Cultural heritage resource" has the meaning given that term in Application Note 1 of the Commentary to § 2B1.5 (Theft of, Damage to, or Destruction of, Cultural Heritage Resources; Unlawful Sale, Purchase, Exchange, Transportation, or Receipt of Cultural Heritage Resources).
"Firearm" and "destructive device" have the meaning given those terms in the Commentary to § 1B1.1 (Application Instructions).
"Theft from the person of another" means theft, without the use of force, of property that was being held by another person or was within arms' reach. Examples include pick-pocketing and non-forcible purse-snatching, such as the theft of a purse from a shopping cart.
2. Loss Under Subsection (b)(1).--This application note applies to the determination of loss under subsection (b)(1).
(A) General Rule.--Subject to the exclusions in subdivision (D), loss is the greater of actual loss or intended loss.
(i) Actual Loss.--"Actual loss" means the reasonably foreseeable pecuniary harm that resulted from the offense.
(ii) Intended Loss.--"Intended loss" (I) means the pecuniary harm that was intended to result from the offense; and (II) includes intended pecuniary harm that would have been impossible or unlikely to occur (e.g., as in a government sting operation, or an insurance fraud in which the claim exceeded the insured value).
(iii) Pecuniary Harm.--"Pecuniary harm" means harm that is monetary or that otherwise is readily measurable in money. Accordingly, pecuniary harm does not include emotional distress, harm to reputation, or other non- economic harm.
(iv) Reasonably Foreseeable Pecuniary Harm.--For purposes of this guideline, "reasonably foreseeable pecuniary harm" means pecuniary harm that the defendant knew or, under the circumstances, reasonably should have known, was a potential result of the offense.
(v) Rules of Construction in Certain Cases.--In the cases described in subdivisions (I) through (III), reasonably foreseeable pecuniary harm shall be considered to include the pecuniary harm specified for those cases as follows:
(I) Product Substitution Cases.--In the case of a product substitution offense, the reasonably foreseeable pecuniary harm includes the reasonably foreseeable costs of making substitute transactions and handling or disposing of the product delivered, or of retrofitting the product so that it can be used for its intended purpose, and the reasonably foreseeable costs of rectifying the actual or potential disruption to the victim's business operations caused by the product substitution.
(II) Procurement Fraud Cases.--In the case of a procurement fraud, such as a fraud affecting a defense contract award, reasonably foreseeable pecuniary harm includes the reasonably foreseeable administrative costs to the government and other participants of repeating or correcting the procurement action affected, plus any increased costs to procure the product or service involved that was reasonably foreseeable.
(III) Protected Computer Cases.--In the case of an offense involving unlawfully accessing, or exceeding authorized access to, a "protected computer" as defined in 18 U.S.C. § 1030(e)(2), actual loss includes the following pecuniary harm, regardless of whether such pecuniary harm was reasonably foreseeable: reasonable costs to the victim of conducting a damage assessment, and restoring the system and data to their condition prior to the offense, and any lost revenue due to interruption of service.
(B) Gain.--The court shall use the gain that resulted from the offense as an alternative measure of loss only if there is a loss but it reasonably cannot be determined.
(C) Estimation of Loss.--The court need only make a reasonable estimate of the loss. The sentencing judge is in a unique position to assess the evidence and estimate the loss based upon that evidence. For this reason, the court's loss determination is entitled to appropriate deference. See 18 U.S.C. § 3742(e) and (f).
(D) Exclusions from Loss.--Loss shall not include the following:
(E) Credits Against Loss.--Loss shall be reduced by the following:
(F) Special Rules.--Notwithstanding subdivision (A), the following special rules shall be used to assist in determining loss in the cases indicated:
(i) Stolen or Counterfeit Credit Cards and Access Devices; Purloined Numbers and Codes.--In a case involving any counterfeit access device or unauthorized access device, loss includes any unauthorized charges made with the counterfeit access device or unauthorized access device and shall be not less than $500 per access device. However, if the unauthorized access device is a means of telecommunications access that identifies a specific telecommunications instrument or telecommunications account (including an electronic serial number/mobile identification number (ESN/MIN) pair), and that means was only possessed, and not used, during the commission of the offense, loss shall be not less than $100 per unused means. For purposes of this subdivision, "counterfeit access device" and "unauthorized access device" have the meaning given those terms in Application Note 7(A).
(iii) Davis-Bacon Act Violations.--In a case involving a Davis-Bacon Act violation (i.e., a violation of 40 U.S.C. § 276a, criminally prosecuted under 18 U.S.C. § 1001), the value of the benefits shall be considered to be not less than the difference between the legally required wages and actual wages paid.
(iv) Ponzi and Other Fraudulent Investment Schemes.--In a case involving a fraudulent investment scheme, such as a Ponzi scheme, loss shall not be reduced by the money or the value of the property transferred to any individual investor in the scheme in excess of that investor's principal investment (i.e., the gain to an individual investor in the scheme shall not be used to offset the loss to another individual investor in the scheme).
(v) Certain Other Unlawful Misrepresentation Schemes.--In a case involving a scheme in which (I) services were fraudulently rendered to the victim by persons falsely posing as licensed professionals; (II) goods were falsely represented as approved by a governmental regulatory agency; or (III) goods for which regulatory approval by a government agency was required but not obtained, or was obtained by fraud, loss shall include the amount paid for the property, services or goods transferred, rendered, or misrepresented, with no credit provided for the value of those items or services.
(vi) Value of Controlled Substances.--In a case involving controlled substances, loss is the estimated street value of the controlled substances.
(vii) Value of Cultural Heritage Resources.--In a case involving a cultural heritage resource, loss attributable to that cultural heritage resource shall be determined in accordance with the rules for determining the "value of the cultural heritage resource" set forth in Application Note 2 of the Commentary to § 2B1.5.
3. Victim and Mass-Marketing Enhancement under Subsection (b)(2).--
(A) Definitions.-- For purposes of subsection (b)(2):
(i) "Mass-marketing" means a plan, program, promotion, or campaign that is conducted through solicitation by telephone, mail, the Internet, or other means to induce a large number of persons to (I) purchase goods or services; (II) participate in a contest or sweepstakes; or (III) invest for financial profit. "Mass-marketing" includes, for example, a telemarketing campaign that solicits a large number of individuals to purchase fraudulent life insurance policies.
(ii) "Victim" means (I) any person who sustained any part of the actual loss determined under subsection (b)(1); or (II) any individual who sustained bodily injury as a result of the offense. "Person" includes individuals, corporations, companies, associations, firms, partnerships, societies, and joint stock companies.
(B) Undelivered United States Mail.--
(i) In General.--In a case in which undelivered United States mail was taken, or the taking of such item was an object of the offense, or in a case in which the stolen property received, transported, transferred, transmitted, or possessed was undelivered United States mail, "victim" means any person (I) described in subdivision (A)(ii) of this note; or (II) who was the intended recipient, or addressee, of the undelivered United States mail.
(ii) Special Rule.--A case described in subdivision (B)(i) of this note that involved a Postal Service (I) relay box; (II) collection box; (III) delivery vehicle; or (IV) satchel or cart, shall be considered to have involved 50 or more victims.
(iii) Definition.--"Undelivered United States mail" means mail that has not actually been received by the addressee or his agent (e.g., mail taken from the addressee's mail box).
(C) Vulnerable Victims.--If subsection (b)(2)(B) applies, an enhancement under § 3A1.1(b)(2) shall not apply.
4. Enhancement for Business of Receiving and Selling Stolen Property under Subsection (b)(4).--For purposes of subsection (b)(4), the court shall consider the following non-exhaustive list of factors in determining whether the defendant was in the business of receiving and selling stolen property:
5. Application of Subsection (b)(7).--
(A) In General.--The adjustments in subsection (b)(7) are alternative rather than cumulative. If, in a particular case, however, more than one of the enumerated factors applied, an upward departure may be warranted.
(B) Misrepresentations Regarding Charitable and Other Institutions.-- Subsection (b)(7)(A) applies in any case in which the defendant represented that the defendant was acting to obtain a benefit on behalf of a charitable, educational, religious, or political organization, or a government agency (regardless of whether the defendant actually was associated with the organization or government agency) when, in fact, the defendant intended to divert all or part of that benefit (e.g., for the defendant's personal gain). Subsection (b)(7)(A) applies, for example, to the following:
(C) Fraud in Contravention of Prior Judicial Order.--Subsection (b)(7)(C) provides an enhancement if the defendant commits a fraud in contravention of a prior, official judicial or administrative warning, in the form of an order, injunction, decree, or process, to take or not to take a specified action. A defendant who does not comply with such a prior, official judicial or administrative warning demonstrates aggravated criminal intent and deserves additional punishment. If it is established that an entity the defendant controlled was a party to the prior proceeding that resulted in the official judicial or administrative action, and the defendant had knowledge of that prior decree or order, this enhancement applies even if the defendant was not a specifically named party in that prior case. For example, a defendant whose business previously was enjoined from selling a dangerous product, but who nonetheless engaged in fraudulent conduct to sell the product, is subject to this enhancement. This enhancement does not apply if the same conduct resulted in an enhancement pursuant to a provision found elsewhere in the guidelines (e.g., a violation of a condition of release addressed in § 2J1.7 (Commission of Offense While on Release) or a violation of probation addressed in § 4A1.1 (Criminal History Category)).
(D) College Scholarship Fraud.--For purposes of subsection (b)(7)(D):
(E) Non-Applicability of Enhancements.--
(i) Subsection (b)(7)(A).--If the conduct that forms the basis for an enhancement under subsection (b)(7)(A) is the only conduct that forms the basis for an adjustment under § 3B1.3 (Abuse of Position of Trust or Use of Special Skill), do not apply that adjustment under § 3B1.3.
(ii) Subsection (b)(7)(B) and (C).--If the conduct that forms the basis for an enhancement under subsection (b)(7)(B) or (C) is the only conduct that forms the basis for an adjustment under § 3C1.1 (Obstructing or Impeding the Administration of Justice), do not apply that adjustment under § 3C1.1.
6. Sophisticated Means Enhancement under Subsection (b)(8).--
(A) Definition of United States.--For purposes of subsection (b)(8)(B), "United States" means each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa.
(B) Sophisticated Means Enhancement.--For purposes of subsection (b)(8)(C), "sophisticated means" means especially complex or especially intricate offense conduct pertaining to the execution or concealment of an offense. For example, in a telemarketing scheme, locating the main office of the scheme in one jurisdiction but locating soliciting operations in another jurisdiction ordinarily indicates sophisticated means. Conduct such as hiding assets or transactions, or both, through the use of fictitious entities, corporate shells, or offshore financial accounts also ordinarily indicates sophisticated means.
(C) Non-Applicability of Enhancement.--If the conduct that forms the basis for an enhancement under subsection (b)(8) is the only conduct that forms the basis for an adjustment under § 3C1.1, do not apply that adjustment under § 3C1.1.
7. Application of Subsection (b)(9).--
(A) Definitions.--For purposes of subsection (b)(9):
"Counterfeit access device" (i) has the meaning given that term in 18 U.S.C. § 1029(e)(2); and (ii) includes a telecommunications instrument that has been modified or altered to obtain unauthorized use of telecommunications service. "Telecommunications service" has the meaning given that term in 18 U.S.C. § 1029(e)(9).
"Means of identification" has the meaning given that term in 18 U.S.C. § 1028(d)(4), except that such means of identification shall be of an actual (i.e., not fictitious) individual, other than the defendant or a person for whose conduct the defendant is accountable under § 1B1.3 (Relevant Conduct).
(B) Identification Documents.--Offenses involving identification documents, false identification documents, and means of identification, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1028, also are covered by this guideline. If the primary purpose of the offense, under 18 U.S.C. § 1028, was to violate, or assist another to violate, the law pertaining to naturalization, citizenship, or legal resident status, apply § 2L2.1 (Trafficking in a Document Relating to Naturalization) or § 2L2.2 (Fraudulently Acquiring Documents Relating to Naturalization), as appropriate, rather than this guideline.
(C) Application of Subsection (b)(9)(C)(i).--
(i) In General.--Subsection (b)(9)(C)(i) applies in a case in which a means of identification of an individual other than the defendant (or a person for whose conduct the defendant is accountable under § 1B1.3 (Relevant Conduct)) is used without that individual's authorization unlawfully to produce or obtain another means of identification.
(ii) Examples.--Examples of conduct to which subsection (b)(9)(C)(i) applies are as follows:
(II) A defendant obtains an individual's name and address from a source (e.g., from a driver's license in a stolen wallet) and applies for, obtains, and subsequently uses a credit card in that individual's name. In this example, the credit card is the other means of identification that has been obtained unlawfully.
(iii) Nonapplicability of Subsection (b)(9)(C)(i): --Examples of conduct to which subsection (b)(9)(C)(i) does not apply are as follows:
(D) Application of Subsection (b)(9)(C)(ii).--Subsection (b)(9)(C)(ii) applies in any case in which the offense involved the possession of 5 or more means of identification that unlawfully were produced or obtained, regardless of the number of individuals in whose name (or other identifying information) the means of identification were so produced or so obtained.
8. Chop Shop Enhancement under Subsection (b)(10).--Subsection (b)(10) provides a minimum offense level in the case of an ongoing, sophisticated operation (such as an auto theft ring or "chop shop") to steal vehicles or vehicle parts, or to receive stolen vehicles or vehicle parts. "Vehicles" refers to all forms of vehicles, including aircraft and watercraft.
9. Gross Receipts Enhancement under Subsection (b)(12)(A).--
(A) In General.--For purposes of subsection (b)(12)(A), the defendant shall be considered to have derived more than $1,000,000 in gross receipts if the gross receipts to the defendant individually, rather than to all participants, exceeded $1,000,000.
(B) Definition.--"Gross receipts from the offense" includes all property, real or personal, tangible or intangible, which is obtained directly or indirectly as a result of such offense. See 18 U.S.C. § 982(a)(4).
10. Enhancement for Substantially Jeopardizing the Safety and Soundness of a Financial Institution under Subsection (b)(12)(B).--For purposes of subsection (b)(12)(B), an offense shall be considered to have substantially jeopardized the safety and soundness of a financial institution if, as a consequence of the offense, the institution (A) became insolvent; (B) substantially reduced benefits to pensioners or insureds; (C) was unable on demand to refund fully any deposit, payment, or investment; (D) was so depleted of its assets as to be forced to merge with another institution in order to continue active operations; or (E) was placed in substantial jeopardy of any of subdivisions (A) through (D) of this note.
11. Cross Reference in Subsection (c)(3).--Subsection (c)(3) provides a cross reference to another guideline in Chapter Two (Offense Conduct) in cases in which the defendant is convicted of a general fraud statute, and the count of conviction establishes an offense more aptly covered by another guideline. Sometimes, offenses involving fraudulent statements are prosecuted under 18 U.S.C. § 1001, or a similarly general statute, although the offense is also covered by a more specific statute. Examples include false entries regarding currency transactions, for which § 2S1.3 (Structuring Transactions to Evade Reporting Requirements) likely would be more apt, and false statements to a customs officer, for which § 2T3.1 (Evading Import Duties or Restrictions (Smuggling); Receiving or Trafficking in Smuggled Property) likely would be more apt. In certain other cases, the mail or wire fraud statutes, or other relatively broad statutes, are used primarily as jurisdictional bases for the prosecution of other offenses.
12. Continuing Financial Crimes Enterprise.--If the defendant is convicted under 18 U.S.C. § 225 (relating to a continuing financial crimes enterprise), the offense level is that applicable to the underlying series of offenses comprising the "continuing financial crimes enterprise".
13. Partially Completed Offenses.--In the case of a partially completed offense (e.g., an offense involving a completed theft or fraud that is part of a larger, attempted theft or fraud), the offense level is to be determined in accordance with the provisions of § 2X1.1 (Attempt, Solicitation, or Conspiracy) whether the conviction is for the substantive offense, the inchoate offense (attempt, solicitation, or conspiracy), or both. See Application Note 4 of the Commentary to § 2X1.1.
14. Multiple-Count Indictments.--Some fraudulent schemes may result in multiple-count indictments, depending on the technical elements of the offense. The cumulative loss produced by a common scheme or course of conduct should be used in determining the offense level, regardless of the number of counts of conviction. See Chapter Three, Part D (Multiple Counts).
15. Departure Considerations.--
(A) Upward Departure Considerations.--There may be cases in which the offense level determined under this guideline substantially understates the seriousness of the offense. In such cases, an upward departure may be warranted. The following is a non-exhaustive list of factors that the court may consider in determining whether an upward departure is warranted:
(ii) The offense caused or risked substantial non-monetary harm. For example, the offense caused physical harm, psychological harm, or severe emotional trauma, or resulted in a substantial invasion of a privacy interest (through, for example, the theft of personal information such as medical, educational, or financial records).
(v) The offense endangered the solvency or financial security of one or more victims.
(vi) In a case involving stolen information from a "protected computer", as defined in 18 U.S.C. § 1030(e)(2), the defendant sought the stolen information to further a broader criminal purpose.
(vii) In a case involving access devices or unlawfully produced or unlawfully obtained means of identification:
(I) The offense caused substantial harm to the victim's reputation or credit record, or the victim suffered a substantial inconvenience related to repairing the victim's reputation or a damaged credit record.
(II) An individual whose means of identification the defendant used to obtain unlawful means of identification is erroneously arrested or denied a job because an arrest record has been made in that individual's name.
(B) Downward Departure Consideration.--There may be cases in which the offense level determined under this guideline substantially overstates the seriousness of the offense. In such cases, a downward departure may be warranted.
Background: This guideline covers offenses involving theft, stolen property, property damage or destruction, fraud, forgery, and counterfeiting (other than offenses involving altered or counterfeit bearer obligations of the United States). It also covers offenses involving altering or removing motor vehicle identification numbers, trafficking in automobiles or automobile parts with altered or obliterated identification numbers, odometer laws and regulations, obstructing correspondence, the falsification of documents or records relating to a benefit plan covered by the Employment Retirement Income Security Act, and the failure to maintain, or falsification of, documents required by the Labor Management Reporting and Disclosure Act.
Theft from the person of another, such as pickpocketing or non-forcible purse-snatching, receives an enhanced sentence because of the increased risk of physical injury. This guideline does not include an enhancement for thefts from the person by means of force or fear; such crimes are robberies and are covered under § 2B3.1 (Robbery).
Subsection (b)(6) implements the instruction to the Commission in section 2 of Public Law 105-101.
Subsection (b)(7)(D) implements, in a broader form, the directive in section 3 of the College Scholarship Fraud Prevention Act of 2000, Public Law 106- 420.
Subsection (b)(8) implements, in a broader form, the instruction to the Commission in section 6(c)(2) of Public Law 105-184.
Subsections (b)(9)(A) and(B) implement the instruction to the Commission in section 4 of the Wireless Telephone Protection Act, Public Law 105-172.
Subsection (b)(9)(C) implements the directive to the Commission in section 4 of the Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act of 1998, Public Law 105- 318. This subsection focuses principally on an aggravated form of identity theft known as "affirmative identity theft" or "breeding", in which a defendant uses another individual's name, social security number, or some other form of identification (the "means of identification") to "breed" (i.e., produce or obtain) new or additional forms of identification. Because 18 U.S.C. § 1028(d) broadly defines "means of identification", the new or additional forms of identification can include items such as a driver's license, a credit card, or a bank loan. This subsection provides a minimum offense level of level 12, in part because of the seriousness of the offense. The minimum offense level accounts for the fact that the means of identification that were "bred" (i.e., produced or obtained) often are within the defendant's exclusive control, making it difficult for the individual victim to detect that the victim's identity has been "stolen." Generally, the victim does not become aware of the offense until certain harms have already occurred (e.g., a damaged credit rating or an inability to obtain a loan). The minimum offense level also accounts for the non-monetary harm associated with these types of offenses, much of which may be difficult or impossible to quantify (e.g., harm to the individual's reputation or credit rating, inconvenience, and other difficulties resulting from the offense). The legislative history of the Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act of 1998 indicates that Congress was especially concerned with providing increased punishment for this type of harm.
Subsection (b)(11)(B) implements, in a broader form, the instruction to the Commission in section 110512 of Public Law 103-322.
Subsection (b)(12)(A) implements, in a broader form, the instruction to the Commission in section 2507 of Public Law 101-647.
Subsection (b)(12)(B) implements, in a broader form, the instruction to the Commission in section 961(m) of Public Law 101-73.
Historical Note: Effective November 1, 1987. Amended effective June 15, 1988 (see Appendix C, amendment 7); November 1, 1989 (see Appendix C, amendments 99- 101 and 303); November 1, 1990 (see Appendix C, amendments 312, 317, and 361); November 1, 1991 (see Appendix C, amendments 364 and 393); November 1, 1993 (see Appendix C, amendments 481 and 482); November 1, 1995 (see Appendix C, amendment 512); November 1, 1997 (see Appendix C, amendment 551); November 1, 1998 (see Appendix C, amendment 576); November 1, 2000 (see Appendix C, amendment 596); November 1, 2001 (see Appendix C, amendment 617); November 1, 2002 (see Appendix C, amendments 637, 638, and 646).
USSG § 2B1.1 (11/1/02)