Opinion ID: 532028
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: indictment, plea and sentencing

Text: 5 On December 14, 1988 the defendant was indicted. The indictment charged that, while an employee of the Bedford Bank, defendant made a fictitious loan in the amount of $3,250 and retained the proceeds, in violation of 18 U.S.C. Sec. 656 (theft, embezzlement or misapplication by bank officer or employee). 6 On February 13, 1989 the defendant entered into a plea agreement and then pled guilty to the indictment. After questioning the defendant and her attorney in accord with Rule 11, the court was satisfied that the guilty plea was made voluntarily with a full understanding and appreciation of all of the consequences. Defendant's plea of guilty was then accepted. 7 Prior to the sentencing hearing, defendant filed a memorandum making two objections to the presentence report pertinent to this appeal. The core of defendant's first objection is stated in paragraph 12 of the memorandum: 12. It is defendant's position that the conduct considered by the Probation Officer in calculating the offense level at level ten is not 'relevant conduct,' and it should be removed as an element for consideration. The second objection was that the offense for which she was indicted did not involve more than minimal planning. 8 At the sentencing hearing defendant made no objection to the facts stated in the presentence report. The district court found that the sentencing recommendation of the probation department was correctly calculated and adopted it. The recommendation contained in the presentence report was based on defendant's obtaining five fraudulent loans, four in addition to the one to which she pled guilty. The offense level computation was as follows: The base offense level pursuant to section 2B1.1(a) of the Guidelines is four. The court, following the presentence report, took into account the four loans not mentioned in the indictment as relevant conduct. Six levels were therefore added under section 2B1.1(b)(1)(G). Two more levels were added under section 2B1.1(b)(4) because the court found that more than minimal planning was involved. There was, therefore, an adjusted offense level of twelve. This was reduced by two levels for acceptance of responsibility under section 3E1.1(a), resulting in a total offense level of ten. 9 Defendant was placed on probation for a period of three years subject to certain conditions. One of the conditions was that defendant be confined to a community corrections center for a period of six months. The Probation Department was given discretion to reduce the three year probationary period. Defendant was also fined the minimum fifty dollars, as required. The court had been advised that defendant's financial condition precluded payment of a fine of any larger amount.