Opinion ID: 3000623
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Imposition of McCoy’s $50,000 Fine

Text: Finally, McCoy argues that the district court failed to make the findings required under 18 U.S.C. § 3572(a) and U.S.S.G. § 5E1.2(d) before imposing a fine of $50,000 and that the fine was unreasonable because the amount exceeds his present and future ability to pay. When a district court determines that a fine is in order, we will Nos. 05-2127 & 05-2220 19 only reverse its factual finding if it is clearly erroneous. United States v. Petty, 132 F.3d 373, 382 (7th Cir. 1997). Pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 5E1.2(a), “[t]he court shall impose a fine in all cases, except where the defendant establishes that he is unable to pay and is not likely to become able to pay any fine.” It is the defendant’s burden to show that he does not have the financial means to pay a fine. United States v. Gellene, 182 F.3d 578, 597 (7th Cir. 1999). While it is true that both 18 U.S.C. § 3572(a) and U.S.S.G. § 5E1.2(d) provide factors that a district court shall consider before imposing a fine, “express or specific findings regarding each of the relevant factors . . . are not required.” United States v. Bauer, 129 F.3d 962, 96466 (7th Cir. 1997). As we have stated previously, We will remand the imposition of a fine only when it is unclear that the district court properly has considered the relevant factors, such as when the district court adopts the factual findings contained in the presentence report but deviates from the fine recommendation, if any, made by the United States Probation Office, or alternatively, if the district court declines to adopt the findings in the presentence report and makes no findings of its own. Bauer, 129 F.3d at 968. McCoy has failed to meet his burden of showing that he could not pay the $50,000 fine. At sentencing, McCoy did not address the issue of missing drug proceeds or discuss any of his financial obligations. Instead, he asserted that regardless of his past accumulation of assets, he was now indigent and lacked the means to pay a fine. The PSR resolved that while McCoy had a net worth of $6,745, his total assets were valued at $524,500. The district court noted that McCoy had been able to accumulate several expensive assets despite his limited verifiable assets. According to the PSR, McCoy had made several invest20 Nos. 05-2127 & 05-2220 ments in real estate that could not be explained through legitimate financial means. From January 1999 through March 2004, McCoy and his wife deposited approx- imately $823,527 into several bank accounts. The PSR also noted that at the time of his arrest, McCoy was current with payment on the vehicles that he leased: a $500-per-month Mercedes Benz, a $380-per-month PT Cruiser, and his wife’s Volvo SUV. The district court accepted the factual findings in the PSR and relied on the uncontested finding that “significant drug proceeds were generated over the course of the conspiracy and all of the proceeds may not be accounted for . . . . [T]o ensure the disgorgement of any existing drug proceeds, we believe the imposition of a fine within the guideline range is necessary.” The district court commented that based upon McCoy’s past criminal activity, it could not make the determination that McCoy no longer had any assets and found that a $50,000 fine was both appropriate and necessary. In light of its careful consideration and acceptance of the PSR’s findings, the district court did not err in imposing the $50,000 fine.