Opinion ID: 778352
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Obstructing the Administration of Justice

Text: 13 Finally, Tankersley contends that the district court's basis for enhancing his sentence for obstructing the administration of justice under U.S.S.G. § 3C1.1 was erroneous. At sentencing, the district court enhanced Tankersley's sentence because it found that he continued to violate the injunction by concealing assets in storage units and failing to provide certain information to the receiver. However, U.S.S.G. § 3C1.1 does not apply unless the defendant obstructed the investigation or trial of the obstruction count. U.S.S.G. § 2J1.2, cmt. n. 2. The conduct upon which the district court enhanced Tankersley's sentence did not obstruct the investigation or prosecution of the instant offense, rather it obstructed the administration of justice with respect to the FTC civil proceedings. Therefore, as the government conceded at oral argument, the district court's basis for enhancing Tankersley's sentence was erroneous. We vacate this enhancement and remand to the district court to determine whether proper grounds exist for enhancing Tankersley's sentence pursuant to this Sentencing Guideline.