Opinion ID: 3000706
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Enhancement for Mass-Marketing

Text: Finally, Sloan contends that the district erred in applying the three-level, mass-marketing enhancement pursuant to § 2F1.1(b)(3), arguing that this enhancement should not apply to a previously-established newspaper. Again, Sloan failed to raise this argument to the district court, so we will review the application of this enhancement for plain error. Cunningham, 405 F.3d at 502. Application note 3 to § 2F1.1 of sentencing guidelines define “mass-marketing” as “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.” USSG § 2F1.1, comment. (n. 3). 20 No. 06-2392 Nothing in the sentencing guidelines or the application note suggests that mass-marketing is limited to instances involving newly-created newspapers and the like, and we reject such a narrow interpretation. See United States v. Magnuson, 307 F.3d 333, 334 (5th Cir. 2002) (rejecting narrow construction of “mass-marketing” that would limit application of § 2F1.1(b)(3) to “active” rather than “passive” solicitations). The definition of “mass-marketing” is not limited to telephone, mail, or Internet solicitations but includes “other means.” Sloan used such “other means,” the Christian Freedom Chronicle, to reach a large number of individuals in order to have them pay to join the Christian Freedom Foundation. Accordingly, the district court’s application of the massmarketing enhancement was appropriate.