Opinion ID: 76294
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Base Offense Guideline

Text: 70 Fisher argues that the district court erred by imposing a four-level enhancement under Note 15 of U.S.S.G. § 2B1.1: the guideline applicable to false statement offenses. Fisher contends that the district court should have applied the guideline applicable to honest services offenses, U.S.S.G. § 2C1.3. 71 The government agrees that the district court's enhancement was unguided and seemingly haphazard. 6 In its cross appeal, the government contends that the district court erred by applying section 2C1.3 instead of section 2C1.7 to determine Defendants' base offense level. 72 We review de novo the district court's interpretation and application of the Sentencing Guidelines and review the factual findings underlying decisions for clear error. United States v. Pistone, 177 F.3d 957, 958 (11th Cir.1999). 73 The Statutory Index lists both section 2B1.1 and section 2C1.7 as applicable to convictions under 18 U.S.C. § 1341. See U.S.S.G.App. A. Section 2C1.7 of the Sentencing Guidelines provides for a base offense level of 10 for fraud involving the deprivation of the intangible right to the honest services of public officials. U.S.S.G. § 2C1.7. Section 2B1.1 of the Sentencing Guidelines provides for a base offense level of six for various theft crimes. Between guideline sections 2B1.1 and 2C1.7, section 2C1.7 is the most applicable to the offense of conviction. 74 Section 2C1.7(c)(4) provides that — if the offense is covered more specifically under section 2C1.3, the guideline section applicable to conflict of interest offenses — the sentencing court should apply section 2C1.3. Because the offenses at issue essentially involve Hasner's failure to disclose his conflicts of interest, the district court did not clearly err by applying section 2C1.3 to Fisher and Hasner's offenses. 75 The district court, however, did err by relying on section 2B1.1 to enhance Fisher's sentence. Section 2C1.3 provides no cross-reference to section 2B1.1. Accordingly, we vacate Fisher's sentence and remand for resentencing.