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Response of the United States to Objections of Defendant Anthony J. Giordano, Sr. to the Presentence Investigation Report : U.S. v. Atlas Iron Processors, Inc., et al.
| Case No. 97-0853-CR-Middlebrooks Magistrate Dubé (Amended order of reference dated May 7, 1998) RESPONSE OF THE UNITED STATES TO OBJECTIONS OF DEFENDANT ANTHONY J. GIORDANO, SR. TO THE PRESENTENCE INVESTIGATION REPORT I
In this Memorandum, the United States responds to the objections made by defendant Anthony J.
Giordano, Sr. ("Giordano, Sr." or "defendant") in the Presentence
Investigative Report prepared by the United States Probation Office ("USPO"). The
responses of the United States correspond with the paragraph numbers of the objections made by
Giordano, Sr.1
GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSES TO OBJECTIONS
Paragraph 38: This objection is not well taken. The evidence adduced at trial
amply supports the USPO's conclusion that Giordano, Sr. merits a three-level
enhancement for his role in the criminal activity. PSI (Giordano, Sr.), ¶ 38. The
United States, too, recommends that a three-level enhancement be added to his offense
U.S.S.G. §3B1.1(b) provides that an increase in the offense level should be applied
"[i]f the defendant was a manager or supervisor (but not an organizer or leader) and the
criminal activity involved five or more participants or was otherwise extensive." U.S.S.G. §3B1.1(b) (emphasis added). In this price-fixing and market-allocation
conspiracy, there were more than five participants. Application Note 1 of this
Guideline provides: "A �participant' is a person who is criminally responsible for the
commission of the offense, but need not have been convicted." At a minimum, at least
seven individuals participated in the conspiracy and were criminally responsible for it,
including the following: Anthony Giordano, Jr.; Anthony Giordano, Sr.; David Giordano;
Randolph Weil; Henry Kovinsky; Dan Allen; and Sheila McConnell.
In addition, the conspiracy here was "otherwise extensive." U.S.S.G.
§3B1.1(a).2 Though not particularly long in
duration, the conspiracy was very broad in terms of geographic and product scope.3 The defendants entered into a comprehensive, illegal
agreement covering nearly all of their scrap purchases in southern Florida, including their most
important commodity for shredding purposes, cars. Pursuant to their illegal agreement, the
defendants fixed the price to be paid to specific car suppliers; fixed the price to be paid to car
suppliers in specific geographic areas; fixed the price to be paid on a variety of scrap grades,
which primarily affected the smaller peddler traffic; and agreed not to solicit certain customers
(e.g., customers located on or near Cairo Lane). At the time, Atlas and Sunshine were
the predominant shredders operating in south Florida, especially with respect to purchasing car
bodies in the Miami area. The United States has identified at least 1,271 victims of the
Under the U.S.S.G. §3B1.1, in distinguishing a leadership/organizational role from one of
mere management or supervision, Application Note 4 provides:
the court should consider include the exercise of decision making authority, the nature of
participation in the commission of the offense, the recruitment of accomplices, the claimed right
to a larger share of the fruits of the crime, the degree of participation in planning or organizing
the offense, the nature and scope of the illegal activity, and the degree of control and authority
exercised over others. There can, of course, be more than one person who qualifies as a leader or
organizer of a criminal association or conspiracy.
U.S.S.G. §3B1.1, Application Note 4.
In order for a defendant to receive an adjustment under U.S.S.G. §3B1.1(b), "�the
defendant must have managed or supervised at least one other participant.'"
United States v. Barnes, 993 F.2d 680, 685 (9th Cir. 1993) (emphasis original),
cert. denied 513 U.S. 827 (1994) quoting United States v. Helmy,
951 F.2d 988, 997 (9th Cir. 1991), cert. denied, 112 S. Ct. 2287 (1992).
SeealsoUnited States v. McGuire, 957 F.2d 310, 317 n. 4 (7th Cir.
1992); United States v. Savoie, 985 F.2d 612, 616 (1st Cir. 1993); United States v.
Johnson, 4 F.3d 904, 918 (10th Cir. 1993) certdenied 510 U.S. 1123
(1994). In this case, but for the participation, acquiescence and approval of Giordano, Sr. in the
criminal activity, the conspiracy would not have happened. See, e.g., United States
v. Howard, 923 F.2d 1500, 1503 (11th Cir. 1991) (Manger/supervisor enhancement
appropriate in drug conspiracy for co-conspirator who fronted money for the transaction and
helped make it possible).
Paragraph 38 of the PSI prepared by the USPO lays out the facts supporting Giordano, Sr.'s role
as a manager/supervisor. At the time of the conspiracy, Giordano, Sr. was chairman of the board
of Atlas. He was Atlas' top-ranking official. He also is the father of Anthony Giordano, Jr. and
David Giordano. Henry Kovinsky testified that Giordano, Sr.'s presence at Sea Ranch bore
considerable weight. Trial Transcript (Kovinsky), p. 1564. The evidence conclusively showed
Giordano, Sr. was a key participant at the Sea Ranch meeting, where the collusive deal was
struck. It is uncontroverted that at Sea Ranch, Giordano, Sr. made certain the price-fixing and
market allocation agreement was as comprehensive as possible in scope. McConnell testified as
Q: Now, what was talked about next at this [Sea Ranch] meeting?
A: At that juncture of the meeting, we had basically finished discussing
the Bahama cars and Cairo Lane, and they felt at that time they had pretty much covered all of
the car carriers in given areas that were to be priced a certain way.
And then Tony Giordano, Senior. brought up the pricing of the scale. He said as much as we have gotten this far, why don't we just -- just discuss the scale and see
what we can do there. We might as well do the whole thing.
Q: What do you mean by "scale?"
A: Scale is the general pricing that you have to the general public for
various grades of scrap that they would generate, in addition to buying from the auto wreckers
Trial Transcript (McConnell), p. 223. (emphasis added).
It is also uncontroverted that Giordano, Sr. approved of the recruitment of McConnell into the
conspiracy. McConnell testified as follows:
on the drive up to Fort Lauderdale [for the Sea Ranch meeting]?
Q: Can you tell the jury what the conversation was?
A: Well, initially, he started the conversation by just general small talk,
market, and we talked at length about that.
And then at some point I asked him where we were going and who
company at that time, of the two companies involved, and that Tony Giordano, Senior and
Junior and Randy had grave reservations as to me attending the meeting, but that he felt that I
needed to attend this meeting because he really wasn't familiar with the Miami market and he
wanted me to make certain that I understood what Randy was referring to.
Q: Did Tony Giordano, Junior, did he tell you what the meeting was
A: He basically said that, you know, we are going to have a meeting to
see what we can do about these prices. And with that, I was a little reserved about that. I said,
Trial Transcript (McConnell), pp. 135-37. (emphasis added). In short, Giordano, Sr. knew that
McConnell was being recruited to participate in the conspiracy and approved of her recruitment
at the Sea Ranch meeting.
At the urging and insistence of Giordano, Sr., the defendants fixed the maximum scale price each
company would pay for the following grades of scrap: (1) appliances ($20/net ton); (2) sheet
metal ($26/net ton); (3) unprepared #2 ($30/net ton; (4) prepared #2 ($38/net ton); (5) unprepared
#1 ($30/net ton); and (6) logs ($35/net ton). Trial Transcript (McConnell), pp. 227-29.
Giordano, Sr.'s place at the top of the hierarchy of Atlas and his active role in the Sea Ranch is
more than sufficient to make him a manager/supervisor of the criminal activity for purposes of
U.S.S.G. §3B1.1(b). See, e.g., United States v. DeRiggi, 72 F.3d 7, 8-9
(2d Cir. 1995) (Leadership role warranted under U.S.S.G. §3B1.1(a) where highest-ranking
official participated in conspiracy and gave it his imprimatur). In this admitted close-knit,
Giordano, Sr. had ample opportunity to reign in his sons and blow the whistle on this criminal
activity. Instead, he helped initiate the conspiracy, approved it, and did nothing to stop
Based on the foregoing, Giordano, Sr.'s argument that he should receive a two- level downward
departure for having a "minor role" in the offense is flat wrong. Moreover, the
United States has no idea as to the basis for Giordano, Sr.'s statement that the government has
conceded "he is less culpable than most other defendants." Objections of Anthony J.
Giordano, Sr., ¶ 38. No attribution is provided supporting this statement. Though it is true
Giordano, Jr. and Weil were leaders/organizers of the criminal activity, it is equally true that
Giordano, Sr. (And David Giordano) was a manager/supervisor.
Based on the volume of commerce attributable to Giordano, Sr. and the three- level enhancement
for his role as manager/supervisor, the United States agrees with the USPO's conclusion that the
adjusted offense level is 14 (15-21 months). Probation is not an option at this level. For reasons
which will be presented at the hearing, the United States recommends that Giordano, Sr. be
sentenced at the top- end of this range and that a sentence of 24 months imprisonment
As stated in the PSI relating to Giordano, Sr., there are no factors that warrant a departure
from the Guidelines. PSI (Giordano, Sr.), ¶ 112.
Paragraph 42: The United States has calculated that, as the result of the
conspiracy, the monetary loss suffered by victims of the conspiracy is approximately $80,013. Subtotals by grade of scrap and/or supplier are provided in paragraphs 43 to 56 of the PSI
relating to Giordano, Sr.
With respect to this objection, perhaps a clarification is needed. The United States has estimated
that the amount of undercharge in this case to identifiable victims is $80,013. The time period
used was October 24, 1992, through December 31, 1992, the period under which the conspiracy
was in effect. The methodology used was simple. The United States simply compared the last
pre-Sea Ranch price for each supplier with the fixed prices. For example, in calculating the loss
to Bubba's, a car supplier, the United States compared the last non-fixed price of $65 (pre-Sea
Ranch) with the agreed-upon price of $52. In this case, Bubba's price was dropped $13 per ton. We then multiplied the tons of scrap Bubba's sold to Atlas during the conspiracy period by this
differential figure ($13). No decrease was made for freight allowances, since no such decrease is
appropriate under U.S.S.G. §2R1.1.
At sentencing, the United States will provide a detailed summary showing the loss attributable to
1. The United States disputes Giordano, Sr.'s contention that the Guidelines overstate the seriousness of the offense. Indeed, here the Guidelines dramatically understate the price-fixing conspiracy. Conceptually, because this was a buy-side conspiracy, the more successful the conspiracy was (i.e., the more prices were dropped), the smaller the volume of commerce became.
In addition, Giordano, Sr. confuses the application of U.S.S.G. §2R1.1(d) with the
Guidelines' goal of providing restitution to identifiable victims of the conspiracy. In this
conspiracy, the true loss of the conspiracy is not measurable, since, for example, we will never
know what sales were not made because of the lower fixed prices. Opportunity costs
of the conspiracy are immeasurable. Giordano, Sr. confused this with calculating
"loss" qualifying as restitution for purposes of the Guidelines. In reality, the
"loss" ($80,013) qualifying as restitution is the gain to Atlas (and its principals). Application Note 3 makes it clear, however, that in setting the Guidelines fine, the "20
percent" proxy for loss based on volume of commerce is appropriate because the loss from
a conspiracy always exceeds the gain. U.S.S.G. §2R1.1, Application Note 3. If
the Court were to find that the gain/loss of a conspiracy was substantially more or less than 20
percent of the volume of commerce, then "this factor should be used considered in setting
the fine within the guideline range fine." Id.
2. The United States understands the Court already has
granted, and denied, in part the defendants request for materials from the U.S. Sentencing
Commission relating to antitrust cases. The United States does not share the
defendants' opinion that this antitrust case has the same elements as others. Here, the defendants'
price-gouging conduct following the tragedy of Hurricane Andrew was reprehensible. Giordano,
Sr.'s role in the offense is also a major factor in this case for sentencing purposes. Moreover,
pursuant to U.S.S.G. §1B1.4, the fact that Giordano, Sr. colluded elsewhere (i.e., in
Cleveland) is a major factor to be considered in his sentencing. The United States intends to
submit a memorandum in support of its recommendation to sentence Giordano, Sr. at the top-end
of his Total Offense Level of 14 -- 21 months of jail.
3. The United States disputes the contention that
Giordano, Sr. should not be sentenced to jail because of its effect on the company.
First, the argument made by Giordano, Sr. is wholly speculative. Second,
using the company's employees as a bargaining chip is insulting. There is no basis to conclude
that the company could not be run better by outside management rather than by Giordano, Sr. and
his sons. Finally, the United States does not share in the hackneyed opinion that a
monopoly will be created in either the Miami or Cleveland markets if the company has to fold. At its core, the antitrust laws are designed to prevent horizontal anticompetitive conduct such as
the price fixing and customer division done by the Giordanos and their co-conspirators. The
position of the Sentencing Commission -- and the United States -- is that deterrence is best
served through the imposition of criminal sentences. See U.S.S.G. §2R1.1
Commentary (Background).
For the reasons stated above, Atlas' objections are not well taken. The United States will submit its sentencing recommendation shortly.
WILLIAM J. OBERDICK Acting Chief Cleveland Field Office By:____________________________
1. To the extent Giordano, Sr. has adopted objections raised by his co-defendants, Anthony J. Giordano, Jr. and David Giordano, which are not unique offender characteristics of Giordano, Sr., the United States' responses to these objections are in Response of the United States to Objections of Defendant Anthony J. Giordano, Jr. to the Presentence Investigative Report and Response of the United States to Objections of Defendant David Giordano to the Presentence Investigative Report.
2. In making its determination that the criminal conduct here was "otherwise extensive," the court must look at the totality of circumstances, including, among other factors, the number of participants, width, breadth, scope, complexity, and duration of the conspiracy. See, e.g., United States v. Holland, 22 F.3d 1040, 1046 (11th Cir. 1994) (length and scope of conspiracy, as well as number of participants, to be considered in determining "otherwise extensive" nature of conspiracy); United States v. D'Andrea, 107 F.3d 949, 957 (1st Cir. 1997) (factors include width, breadth, scope, complexity, duration and number of participants); United States v. Dale, 991 F.2d 819, 857 (D.C. Cir. 1993) cert. denied, 510 U.S. 906 (1993) (factors include wide geographic scope and extensiveness of the actions taken to further the conspiracy).
3. Of course, the duration of a conspiracy is not controlling. For example, in United States v. Reid, 911 F.2d 1456, 1465 (10th Cir. 1990), cert. denied, 498 U.S. 1097 (1991) the court upheld an enhancement under U.S.S.G. §3B1.1(a) for "otherwise extensive" conduct in a conspiracy lasting only three weeks.