Opinion ID: 9003
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Refusal to Adjust for Role in the Offense

Text: 37 The PSR recommended a 4 level adjustment based on defendant Moeller's leadership role and a 3 level adjustment based on defendant McRae's supervisory role in the offense. See U.S.S.G. § 3B1.1(a) & (b). The district court denied that adjustment, essentially relying upon the same factors articulated in support of the district court's assignment of a compromise base offense level: (1) that the defendants had inherited a system of corruption; (2) that the system of corruption was not of their own devising; (3) that the relatively small amount of money involved was not intended for an unlawful purpose; and (4) that the personal benefit to the defendants was indirect and insignificant. 38 We review the district court's finding concerning Moeller's and McRae's role in the offense for clear error. United States v. Buchanan, 70 F.3d 818, 829 (5th Cir.1995), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 116 S.Ct. 1340, 134 L.Ed.2d 532 (1996). Defendant Moeller occupied a high-ranking position within TDA, and was the political candidate for much of the fundraising involved in the offense. McRae was his assistant, and worked closely with Moeller in a variety of capacities. Nonetheless, the record as a whole does not support the conclusion that Moeller and McRae either initiated the bribery scheme or participated in a more culpable manner than other co-conspirators, with the possible exception of Quicksall. The defendants' inheritance of a historically corrupt and deep-rooted system is not immaterial. The continuance of the exact same conduct after Moeller announced he would not run for office indicates that the scheme alleged was not dependent upon the managerial or leadership roles of these defendants, and depended instead largely upon the energy and creativity of Boyd and Koontz. See United States v. Gadison, 8 F.3d 186, 196 (5th Cir.1993) (listing a defendant's involvement in the planning and organization of the offense as a relevant factor in determining a defendant's role in the offense). We affirm the district court's refusal to grant an upward adjustment based on Moeller's and McRae's role in the offense.