Case Name: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Ann Louise LUDWIG, Defendant-Appellant
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2013-07-15
Citations: 533 F. App'x 726
Docket Number: No. 12-30267
Parties: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Ann Louise LUDWIG, Defendant-Appellant.
Judges: Before: M. SMITH and N.R. SMITH, Circuit Judges, and WALTER, Senior District Judge.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 533
Pages: 726–728

Head Matter:
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Ann Louise LUDWIG, Defendant-Appellant.
No. 12-30267.
United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.
Argued and Submitted July 9, 2013.
Filed July 15, 2013.
Norman McIntosh Barbosa, Helen J. Brunner, Esquire, J. Tate London, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, Office of the U.S. Attorney, Seattle, WA, for Plaintiff-Appel-lee.
Russell Victor Leonard, Esquire, Linda R. Sullivan, Esquire, Assistant Federal Public Defenders, Federal Public Defender’s Office, Tacoma, WA, for Defendant-Appellant.
Before: M. SMITH and N.R. SMITH, Circuit Judges, and WALTER, Senior District Judge.
The Honorable Donald E. Walter, Senior District Judge for the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, sitting by designation.

Opinion:
MEMORANDUM
1. Ludwig argues the district court erred by admitting evidence of her poor financial condition and by permitting the government to argue that her financial condition gave her a motive to embezzle. We reject both arguments.
First, we review evidentiary decisions for abuse of discretion, United States v. Alvarez, 358 F.3d 1194, 1205 (9th Cir.2004), and will reverse only if the error more likely than not affected the verdict. See United States v. Pang, 362 F.3d 1187, 1192 (9th Cir.2004). Evidence of a defendant's financial condition is admissible (1) to show "an unexplained, abrupt change in circumstances," or (2) if it is "accompanied by evidence of a specific and immediate financial need." United States v. Bensimon, 172 F.3d 1121, 1129 (9th Cir.1999) (internal quotation marks omitted). However, it is not admissible to prove motive. See United States v. Mitchell, 172 F.3d 1104, 1108-09 (9th Cir.1999).
Here, the district court admitted the evidence of Ludwig's financial circumstances for the specific limited purpose of "demonstrating the source of cash for the payment of [Ludwig's] bills." Evidence of Ludwig's impecunity was probative of "an unexplained, abrupt change in circumstances," Bensimon, 172 F.3d at 1129, given Ludwig's prior inability to make current payments. Ludwig has provided no grounds for concluding that the district court considered the evidence for any impermissible purpose.
Moreover, even assuming that the evidence was improperly admitted, we cannot say that, more likely than not, the admission of the evidence affected the verdict. See Pang, 362 F.3d at 1192. Compelling evidence aside from Ludwig's financial circumstances established that she had embezzled from her employer.
Second, Ludwig failed to object to the prosecutor's argument at trial that her impecunity established a motive to embezzle. We therefore review her challenge to that argument on appeal for plain error. See Fed.R.Crim.P. 52(b). Under plain error review, the prosecutor's closing argument did not affect Ludwig's substantial rights. See United States v. Collins, 684 F.3d 873, 881 (9th Cir.2012). As stated, the evidence against Ludwig was compelling, and the district court could have convicted her of embezzlement, even without relying on evidence of her financial circumstances.
2. Ludwig next argues that the district court erred by applying a two-point sentence enhancement for obstruction of justice under U.S.S.G. § 3C1.1. We review the district court's factual findings underlying its sentencing decision, including its finding that Ludwig obstructed justice, for clear error. See United States v. Kimbrew, 406 F.3d 1149, 1151 (9th Cir.2005); see also United States v. Jimenez, 300 F.3d 1166, 1170 (9th Cir.2002). We review "the district court's application of the Sentencing Guidelines to the facts of th[e] case for abuse of discretion." Kim-brew, 406 F.3d at 1151.
Here, Ludwig does not challenge the district court's finding that she obstructed justice by providing materially false information in a related administrative proceeding. Based on that finding, the district court correctly applied the obstruction of justice enhancement. See U.S.S.G. § 3C1.1 cmt. n. 4(F). Therefore, we need not decide whether her statement at trial constituted an "endorsement" of her testimony in the administrative hearing sufficient to support application of the enhancement.
AFFIRMED.
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.