Opinion ID: 661567
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Organizer Question

Text: 22 Mr. Ramacci also contends that the district court erred when it determined that he ought to receive an enhancement to his sentence on the ground that he was an organizer, leader, manager, or supervisor of the counterfeiting conspiracy. He submits that, because he did not exercise some degree of control over Torres and Baker, the two-level enhancement under U.S.S.G. Sec. 3B1.1(c) was not warranted. In essence, Mr. Ramacci argues that, because his co-conspirators, not he, possessed the requisite printing skill and actually printed the counterfeit bills, he could not have been the organizer, leader, manager, or supervisor of the conspiracy. 23 We have noted that  '[t]he central concern of Sec. 3B1.1 is relative responsibility.'  United States v. Skinner, 986 F.2d 1091, 1097 (7th Cir.1993) (quoting United States v. Brown, 944 F.2d 1377, 1381 (7th Cir.1991)). The district court found that, absent Mr. Ramacci, Torres and Baker would not have become involved in the counterfeiting scheme. The record before us supports the conclusion that Mr. Ramacci recruited Baker and Torres, rented the store, and financed the equipment. Given these facts, we believe Mr. Ramacci may be properly categorized as having organized the conspiracy. Accordingly, the district court properly enhanced Mr. Ramacci's sentence under U.S.S.G. Sec. 3B1.1(c).