Opinion ID: 1192910
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Sentence Entrapment and Sentence Manipulation

Text: Guest's second argument for remand is that Gall and Kimbrough implicitly overruled the Sixth Circuit's jurisprudence on sentencing entrapment and sentence manipulation. This argument plainly lacks merit. The Sixth Circuit has already addressed sentencing entrapment and sentence manipulation after Gall and reaffirmed that the Sixth Circuit does not recognize either defense. [4] United States v. Lebreux, Nos. 06-4448, 06-4615, 07-3271, 07-3272, 2009 WL 87505, at  (6th Cir. Jan.13, 2009). Lebreux did not indicate that either Gall or Kimbrough would have an effect on whether the Sixth Circuit recognized sentencing entrapment, nor can we identify any reason these decisions would change our long-standing practice of declining to recognize either defense. See United States v. Gardner, 488 F.3d 700, 716-17 (6th Cir.2007); United States v. Coleman, 188 F.3d 354, 361 n. 6 (6th Cir. 1999) (en banc); United States v. Watkins, 179 F.3d 489, 503 (6th Cir.1999). Alternatively, Guest argues that Gall and Kimbrough move the focus in sentencing entrapment and sentence manipulation away from governmental conduct and predisposition and place the focus on the defendant's conduct. Yet Guest was personally responsible for the conduct leading to his conviction. He sought out the agent's profile of a mother and two young children. He initiated contact with her multiple times. A search of his car after his arrest disclosed sexual potency drugs and sexual potency herbal supplements. As the district court found, the Guidelines clearly contemplate culpability for Guest's acts regardless of whether the children were real. UNITED STATES SENTENCING MANUAL § 2G1.3, cmt. n. 1 (2006). As such, there is no need to remand on this issue.