Opinion ID: 533564
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Finding

Text: 11 Under Rule 32(c)(3)(D) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, if the defendant alleges a factual inaccuracy in the PSI, the district court is required, among other things, to make (i) a finding as to the allegation, or (ii) a determination that no such finding is necessary because the matter controverted will not be taken into account in sentencing. Fed.R.Crim.P. 32(c)(3)(D). This requirement serves the dual purpose of protecting the defendant's due process rights and providing a clear record for appellate review. See United States v. Bruckman, 874 F.2d 57, 63-64 (1st Cir.1989). 12 At the sentencing hearing, Gerante argued that the PSI was factually inaccurate in stating that the $68,000 constituted income from a prior drug sale. According to Gerante, the money was merely a prepayment for the 4.98 kilograms seized from him on the 29th of July. Gerante's allegation of a material factual inaccuracy in the PSI required the district court to make a finding on this issue. See id. 13 We are satisfied that the district court made such a finding. At the hearing, each side presented arguments regarding its view of the proper base offense level. The arguments focused in part on the issue of whether the PSI's conclusion that the $68,000 constituted income from a prior drug sale was factually accurate. After questioning each side, the court accepted the government's recommended base offense level of 30. In doing so, the court implicitly made the required finding that the $68,000 originated from a prior drug transaction. See id. at 64 (The required finding in Bruckman's case was impliedly made in the denial of his motion to correct the presentence report or to delete the contested material.).