Opinion ID: 3165442
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Original Crime

Text: The case before us stems from a series of fraudulent activities committed in 2007 by Defendant–Appellant Mark Hebert. Until late 2007, Hebert was a deputy sheriff employed by the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office in Louisiana. In the early morning hours of August 2, 2007, Hebert responded, in his official capacity, to a one-car accident involving Albert Bloch in Metairie, Louisiana. Emergency personnel were at the scene of the accident and gave Hebert, the lead law enforcement investigator at the scene, Bloch’s wallet and its contents to file as evidence according to standard police protocol. Bloch was admitted to a hospital following the accident. But Hebert, rather than filing Bloch’s items as evidence, began using Bloch’s information, checks, and debit card to make a series of purchases and withdrawals in Bloch’s name. On the day of the accident, August 2, Hebert purchased two global positioning system units with Bloch’s debit card. Then from August 2 to August 9, 2007, Hebert used the debit card to make cash withdrawals totaling $2,634.60 and purchases totaling $7,627.12. The debit card was also used to move $16,000 from Bloch’s savings account to his checking account during that same period. Following his hospitalization, Bloch reported the fraud to his bank, Chase Bank, and a fraud restriction was placed on the card, causing the bank to decline two further attempted cash withdrawals by Hebert on August 10 and August 11, 2007. Despite no longer being able to use Bloch’s debit card, Hebert forged checks drawn on Bloch’s Chase Bank checking account in order to purchase several thousand dollars’ worth of racing car products from September 17 to October 3, 2007. 2 Case: 14-31405 Document: 00513320169 Page: 3 Date Filed: 12/23/2015 No. 14-31405 Chase Bank issued Bloch a replacement debit card, which Bloch used for his own personal expenses from August 20 until October 1, 2007. During this period, Bloch frequented a bar, Joe’s Caddy Corner, where he used the replacement card. However, Bloch disappeared after last being seen on October 2, by one of the bartenders at Joe’s Caddy Corner. From October 2, 2007, onwards there were no credible reported sightings of Bloch. Bloch no longer contacted case workers from an organization, Responsibility House, that had been providing him with financial assistance. A credit check later showed no further credit activity involving Bloch after October 2, and Bloch failed to refill medications he needed for his chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Bloch’s car, a 1995 Volvo sedan, was later discovered parked in a “secluded parking lot” near Bloch’s apartment and Joe’s Caddy Corner with its license plate removed and its vehicle identification number covered up. Around the time of Bloch’s disappearance, Hebert obtained Bloch’s replacement debit card and began using it for withdrawals and purchases. On October 3 and October 4, 2007, Hebert used the replacement card to make cash withdrawals totaling $405. Hebert also initiated a telephone transfer that “zeroed out” Bloch’s savings account. On October 3, 2007, a Chase Bank employee refused to cash a forged check on Bloch’s behalf for over $2,600— presented by Hebert—because the individual attempting to cash the check was not the same person as depicted on Bloch’s driver’s license. This led to Chase Bank placing a fraud restriction on Bloch’s accounts. Hebert further attempted to make cash withdrawals totaling $607 after the fraud restriction was placed on the card. And on October 5, 2007, an individual from Hebert’s telephone called Chase Bank and attempted to have the fraud restriction removed. Around October 2007, Jefferson Parish detectives launched two parallel investigations, one investigating Bloch’s disappearance and the other investigating Hebert in connection with the burglary of a local Infiniti dealer. 3 Case: 14-31405 Document: 00513320169 Page: 4 Date Filed: 12/23/2015 No. 14-31405 In the course of investigating the Infiniti burglary, detectives began connecting Hebert to Bloch’s disappearance and discovered in Hebert’s possession: checks belonging to Bloch, Bloch’s mail and bank correspondence, Bloch’s identification cards, a key to Bloch’s Volvo, and a television set from Bloch’s apartment. When confronted with evidence regarding Bloch’s disappearance by law enforcement officers on November 20, 2007, Hebert claimed that he and Bloch had become friends after Bloch’s accident and denied using Bloch’s ATM card. 1 Hebert was not charged in state court for any fraud perpetrated against Bloch, but he was arrested on December 11, 2007, in relation to a series of frauds and thefts he had perpetrated against other individuals. Hebert later pleaded guilty to state charges emanating from this conduct and was incarcerated in the Louisiana Department of Corrections from May 19, 2008, to May 12, 2010. B. Hebert’s Federal Indictment and Ensuing Plea Agreement Following Hebert’s release from state prison, federal prosecutors pursued charges against Hebert in relation to Bloch’s disappearance. On March 28, 2013, a grand jury returned a 60-count Indictment charging Hebert with several different offenses, including deprivation of rights under color of law, bank fraud, computer fraud, aggravated identity theft, and obstruction of a federal investigation. Paragraph J of the Indictment alleged, with respect to each bank fraud count, that Hebert: with specific intent, did kill, or participate in conduct that caused the death of, Albert Bloch to obtain VISA Replacement ATM/Debit Card #8461 and to prevent Albert Bloch from reporting to a law enforcement officer the scheme and artifice to defraud, deprivation 1 At this interview, detectives noticed that Hebert was sweating profusely and appeared nervous. He also made the statement, regarding Bloch’s disappearance, that: “If you had a body, I would already be in jail.” 4 Case: 14-31405 Document: 00513320169 Page: 5 Date Filed: 12/23/2015 No. 14-31405 of rights under color of law, and any other crimes alleged in this Indictment. Hebert pleaded not guilty to all counts at his initial arraignment on April 1, 2013. On November 20, 2013, Hebert pleaded guilty pursuant to a plea agreement on seven counts: one count of deprivation of rights under color of law, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 242; five counts of bank fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1344; and one count of aggravated identity theft, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1028A(a)(1). With respect to the bank fraud counts, the plea agreement specifically noted: Additionally, the parties understand that the issue of whether the defendant is responsible for the death of Albert Bloch and the appropriate guideline range is a contested matter that will have to be determined by the Court at the sentencing hearing. The Defendant understands that the Court will determine sentencing factors by a preponderance of the evidence. Furthermore, the plea agreement memorialized that Hebert “specifically does not waive, and retains the right to bring a direct appeal of any sentence imposed.” An initial Presentence Investigation Report (PSR), filed on February 14, 2014, calculated an offense level of 22 for sentencing Hebert. The PSR calculated a Base Offense Level of 15 for bank fraud pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 2B1.1 because the underlying offense was bank fraud with a loss of more than $30,000 but not more than $70,000. The PSR added that Hebert’s previous state convictions placed him in criminal history category II so that his criminal history and offense level set the guideline range of imprisonment at 46–57 months, plus two years running consecutively for the aggravated identity theft count. As a result, the initial PSR recommended a total of six to seven years of imprisonment. The initial PSR also noted that the government intended to 5 Case: 14-31405 Document: 00513320169 Page: 6 Date Filed: 12/23/2015 No. 14-31405 present evidence regarding Hebert’s involvement in the death of Albert Bloch at sentencing and that this evidence could justify an upward variance. However, the second, revised PSR, filed on March 21, 2014, calculated an offense level of 44, based on a Base Offense Level of 43 for first degree murder pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 2A1.1. The PSR stated that, because the underlying offense of bank fraud involved the alleged murder of Albert Bloch, U.S.S.G. § 2B1.1(c)(3) allowed a cross-reference to U.S.S.G. § 2A.1.1, which resulted in the increased Base Offense Level. The revised PSR cited Paragraph J of the Indictment in applying the cross-reference provision. Taking into account the new Base Offense Level and Hebert’s criminal history, the PSR recommended life imprisonment under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, restricted by the statutory maximums of the counts to which Hebert pleaded guilty, which amounted to a total of 153 years. Following the submission of the revised PSR and before sentencing, Hebert submitted pre-hearing memoranda arguing that there was insufficient evidence to prove Bloch’s murder, that adjudication of the murder allegation by the district court judge would violate his Fifth Amendment due process and Sixth Amendment jury trial rights, and that it was improper to calculate his Base Offense Level by cross-referencing U.S.S.G. § 2A1.1. C. Hebert’s Federal Sentencing Beginning on July 21, 2014, the district court held a detailed four-day evidentiary hearing to determine whether or not Hebert was responsible for the death of Bloch as charged in the Indictment. During the four-day hearing, the government proffered evidence supporting its theory that Hebert had murdered Bloch. The government argued that Bloch had been murdered on or around October 2, 2007, as, after that date, Bloch no longer patronized his local bar in Metairie, Bloch no longer contacted his case workers, a credit report showed no further credit activity by Bloch, and Bloch’s Volvo was later found 6 Case: 14-31405 Document: 00513320169 Page: 7 Date Filed: 12/23/2015 No. 14-31405 abandoned under suspicious circumstances. The government argued that Bloch could not have remained alive, despite his disappearance, because he suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and needed medications for the condition, which were not refilled after Bloch’s disappearance. The government also presented testimony from Bloch’s case worker at Responsibility House stating that Bloch had not shown any suicidal tendencies, suggesting that he had not killed himself. The government then pointed to evidence linking Hebert to Bloch’s disappearance. By 4:13 p.m. on October 3, 2007, Bloch’s replacement debit card was in Hebert’s possession, which Hebert used to make a withdrawal in a town neighboring Metairie. And Hebert would have been in the area of Bloch’s apartment and neighborhood bar around the time of Bloch’s disappearance as Hebert worked his normal shift as a traffic officer in Metairie, Louisiana from 10 p.m. on October 2 until 6:00 a.m. on October 3. The government also provided evidence from the previous state investigation into Bloch’s disappearance. That evidence showed that Hebert, at one point, had in his possession Bloch’s checkbook, identification cards, television, replacement debit card, car keys, and correspondence from Bloch’s bank that was dated after October 3, 2007. And although Hebert had previously explained that he had Bloch’s checkbook because he was Bloch’s “friend,” a later search of cellphone records showed no communication between Hebert and Bloch. In addition, it was shown that inside Bloch’s abandoned Volvo was a note detailing a paid security detail at a Coca-Cola bottling plant that was available only to Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies. 2 2 Bloch was not eligible for the security detail. Hebert was eligible but did not work that specific security detail; rather, Hebert often worked motorcycle details. An FBI agent investigating the note found that none of the other deputies that had been in or around Bloch’s car during the investigation recognized the note. 7 Case: 14-31405 Document: 00513320169 Page: 8 Date Filed: 12/23/2015 No. 14-31405 Following the four-day hearing, the district court issued its factual findings on July 29, 2014. The district court first recited the definition of murder under 18 U.S.C. § 1111 and then summarized the evidence before it. On the question of Bloch’s disappearance, the district court noted that, since October 2, 2007, Bloch had no car, no medication, and had not been seen by anyone since October 2, “despite a remarkably thorough search.” The district court ultimately found that Bloch “was murdered sometime on the evening of October 2 or early morning hours of October 3.” Despite two witnesses testifying that they had seen Bloch following October 2, 2007, the court did not credit this witness testimony stating that it would require the court “to ignore common sense, logic, and the overwhelming evidence to the contrary.” 3 The district court recognized that while “[t]here [was] no body and there [was] no clear crime scene,” there were “scenarios that the Court believe[d] ma[d]e sense” as to a finding of murder. According to the court, “under all scenarios it [was] clear that Mark Hebert killed Albert Bloch.” In particular, the court pointed to Hebert’s possession of Bloch’s debit card by October 3, 2007, the way Bloch’s Volvo had been abandoned, and evidence showing that Hebert had entered Bloch’s apartment following his disappearance. The court concluded that the government had “proven beyond a preponderance of the evidence that Mark Hebert murdered Albert Bloch” and “that the evidence show[ed] by clear and convincing evidence that Mark Hebert’s conduct satisfie[d] the elements of second degree murder.” After the hearing, a third PSR was filed on August 7, 2014, and then a final revised PSR was filed on September 15, 2014. The final PSR calculated 3 The court noted that one witness did not know Bloch personally and had testified that he had only seen “a man who look[ed] similar to Albert Bloch.” The court found that the other witness was “completely lacking in credibility” as that witness provided inconsistent and varied statements as to seeing Bloch. 8 Case: 14-31405 Document: 00513320169 Page: 9 Date Filed: 12/23/2015 No. 14-31405 an offense level of 44, based on a Base Offense Level of 38 for second degree murder pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 2A1.2, once again citing Paragraph J of the Indictment in applying the cross-reference provision of U.S.S.G. § 2B1.1(c)(3). The guideline imprisonment range remained restricted by the statutory maximum so that Hebert could not have been sentenced to any term beyond 153 years. Like the initial PSR, the final PSR noted that an upward variance might be justified in sentencing Bloch based on evidence at the sentencing hearing demonstrating that Hebert murdered Bloch. On November 10, 2014, the district court held its sentencing hearing. At this hearing, the court adopted the recommended findings of fact in the PSR and found that Hebert’s Base Offense Level could be determined by a crossreference to U.S.S.G. § 2A1.2. The court departed downward from the recommendation of life imprisonment and ultimately sentenced Hebert to 92 years (1,104 months) of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. The court’s sentence was based on the cross-reference recommendation included in the PSR, but the court noted that “the application of the cross-reference in the context of a conviction for bank fraud is a matter of first impression in the Fifth Circuit.” The court further stated “that in the event it is found that the cross-reference does not apply, [it] would have applied a substantial upward variance and [Hebert’s] sentence would have been exactly the same.” Explaining the grounds for the upward variance, the court stated to Hebert: I have no doubt that Mr. Hebert killed Mr. Bloch and disposed of his body for his personal financial gain. Mr. Hebert, you used your position of trust and authority to satisfy your insatiable desire for money and property of other people. For reasons that I will never understand, that was not enough. You wanted everything that belonged to Albert Bloch, even his life. Mr. Hebert, like many parents, I have taught my children from the time they were babies that they could rely on and trust police officers. Your violation of 9 Case: 14-31405 Document: 00513320169 Page: 10 Date Filed: 12/23/2015 No. 14-31405 that sacred trust is unconscionable. This heinous crime is beyond comprehension. Accordingly, while [the sentence] appears to be a downward variance from the guideline with indeed the crossreference, it would be a considerable upward variance if the crossreference is not applied. So considering the factors in 18 U.S.C. § 3553 that require the Court to impose a sentence that is sufficient but not greater than necessary to comply with its purposes and that the Court consider the nature and circumstances of the offense and the history and characteristics of the defendant, this sentence would reflect the seriousness of the offense, would promote respect for the law, and would provide just punishment for the offense. It would also protect the public from further crimes of the defendant and deter further criminal conduct. On November 23, 2014, Hebert moved for reconsideration or correction of his sentence under Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 35 and the court’s inherent authority, repeating his pre-hearing arguments and adding an Eighth Amendment challenge to his 92-year sentence. The district court denied the motion in orders dated November 24, 2014, and December 19, 2014. On December 19, 2014, Hebert filed notices of appeal from the final judgment, the final amended judgment, the November 24 order, and the December 19 order. On appeal, Hebert argues that the district court committed the following errors: the district erred in finding second degree murder on the evidence before it; the district court improperly increased his sentence by applying a cross-reference; the district court violated his Fifth and Sixth Amendment rights by making a finding of second degree murder at sentencing; and the district court rendered a sentence that is unconstitutionally excessive under the Eighth Amendment. Hebert preserved the errors for appeal and timely appealed.