Opinion ID: 3010610
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering And To

Text: Transport Money Taken By Fraud In Interstate Commerce. 7 The indictment charged Tony Houran with conspiracy to commit money laundering and to transport in interstate commerce the money fraudulently obtained from BBV by Steve Houran's bad check scam. The conspiracy, however, is a distinct offense from acts by which Tony Houran was proved guilty of abetting the scam. The intentional coordination of Tony's banking moves with Steve's objectives is beyond dispute. VIII. The Enhancement For Obstruction Of Justice. Tony Houran was released on bail to home confinement with an electronic monitor pending sentencing on August 20, 1997. On August 14, 1997 he cut the monitoring bracelet and made his way to Kennedy Airport where he was apprehended at the ticket counter of Royal Jordanian Airlines with $10,800 in cash attempting to buy a ticket to Jordan. The district court in determining his sentence added two points for obstruction of justice. On appeal Houran argues that he was not in custody, so that the example of flight from custody given in Application Note 3 to U.S.S.G. S 3C1.1 does not apply. He argues that his conduct was closer to that governed by Application Note 4, less serious conduct, such as providing a false name at arrest. Assuming but not deciding that Houran was not in custody, we find his bold breaking of the bracelet and brazen trip to Kennedy to be a very serious obstruction of justice. His acts were calculated to prevent the culmination of his criminal trial, the judicial imposition of sentence. A more severe obstruction of justice can scarcely be imagined. That his efforts were, at the last minute, foiled neither extenuates them nor renders the enhancement less appropriate.