Opinion ID: 172808
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Relevant conduct under the Guidelines

Text: In calculating loss under the Guidelines, the district court does not limit itself to conduct underlying the offense of conviction, but rather may consider all of the defendant's relevant conduct. U.S.S.G. ง 1B1.3; see id. ง 1B1.2(b) (directing the district court, [a]fter determining the appropriate offense guideline section, to determine the applicable guideline range in accordance with ง 1B1.3 (Relevant Conduct)). In pertinent part, the Guidelines define relevant conduct as follows: (1)(A) all acts and omissions committed, aided, abetted, counseled, commanded, induced, procured, or willfully caused by the defendant... that occurred during the commission of the offense of conviction, in preparation for that offense, or in the course of attempting to avoid detection or responsibility for that offense; [and] (2) solely with respect to offenses of a character for which ง 3D1.2(d) would require grouping of multiple counts, [6] all acts and omissions described... above that were part of the same course of conduct or common scheme or plan as the offense of conviction. Id. ง 1B1.3(a) (footnote added). The Guidelines commentary further explains that For two or more offenses to constitute part of a common scheme or plan, they must be substantially connected to each other by at least one common factor, such as common victims, common accomplices, common purpose, or similar modus operandi.... .... Offenses that do not qualify as part of a common scheme or plan may nonetheless qualify as part of the same course of conduct if they are sufficiently connected or related to each other as to warrant the conclusion that they are part of a single episode, spree, or ongoing series of offenses. Id. ง 1B1.3, cmt. n. 9. `We have interpreted this language to mean that if the conduct is sufficiently similar and within the same temporal proximity, it may be considered relevant for purposes of determining the guideline range.' United States v. Williams, 292 F.3d 681, 685 (10th Cir.2002) (quoting United States v. McClelland, 141 F.3d 967, 973 (10th Cir. 1998)). Relevant conduct under the Guidelines thus `comprises more, often much more, than the offense of conviction itself, and may include uncharged and even acquitted conduct.' United States v. Altamirano-Quintero, 511 F.3d 1087, 1095 (10th Cir.2007) (quoting United States v. Allen, 488 F.3d 1244, 1254-55 (10th Cir. 2007)). Nonetheless, relevant conduct still must relate to the offense of conviction. Id. (quotation omitted). While we review for clear error the district court's factual findings in support of a determination of relevant conduct, we review the ultimate determination of relevant conduct de novo. United States v. Tran, 285 F.3d 934, 938 (10th Cir.2002).