Opinion ID: 784809
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Ex post facto considerations

Text: 23 If a district court determines that use of the version of the Sentencing Guidelines in effect on the date of sentencing would violate the ex post facto clause, the version of the Sentencing Guidelines in effect on the date the offense of conviction was committed should be used. UNITED STATES SENTENCING GUIDELINES MANUAL § 1B1.11(b)(1) (2002). In this case, Kelly was sentenced on January 17, 2003. The facts revealed that Kelly used the fraudulent social security number when he applied for a home loan on or about May 22, 2000. The district court applied the 1998 Sentencing Guidelines to Kelly's conduct because it determined that the 2002 Sentencing Guidelines would result in a higher offense level. The court's finding was based on the fact that the § 2B1.1(b)(9)(C)(i) enhancement would apply if the 2002 Sentencing Guidelines were utilized. With the enhancement, the adjusted offense level using the 2002 Sentencing Guidelines is 12 while the 1998 Sentencing Guidelines results in an offense level of 9. As previously discussed, the § 2B1.1(b)(9)(C)(i) enhancement was applicable to Kelly's conduct. Accordingly, the district court did not err in using the 1998 Sentencing Guidelines due to ex post facto concerns. 24