Opinion ID: 203593
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: Inchoate Offenses

Text: Jones' final argument is not presented in great detail in her brief; nor is it persuasive. She suggests that the district court erred by failing to grant a three-level reduction under § 2X1.1 because Jones was arrested before she completed the withdrawal of any funds from the Frank Account. Because Jones raises this issue for the first time on appeal, we review only for plain error. Olano, 507 U.S. at 732, 113 S.Ct. 1770. There is no error here, as the Background to the guideline makes clear: In most prosecutions for conspiracies or attempts, the substantive offense was substantially completed or was interrupted or prevented on the verge of completion by the intercession of law enforcement authorities or the victim. In such cases, no reduction of the offense level is warranted. U.S.S.G. § 2X1.1 (background). Such was precisely the case here. At the planning session, the co-conspirators agreed to meet the very next morning to carry out their scheme. The only reason they did not complete the withdrawal of funds from the Frank Account was that law enforcement arrested them before they could. As such, Jones was not entitled to a reduction under U.S.S.G. § 2X1.1.