Opinion ID: 197077
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Mitigating Role -- Section 3B1.2

Text: 57 Royal contends that his role in the commission of this conspiracy was of such a lesser degree of culpability than his co-conspirators' that the district court erroneously denied his motion for a downward departure. We first note that defendants are not automatically entitled to a downward adjustment, whatever their role in the crime. Balogun, 989 F.2d at 22-23. The Sentencing Guidelines allow a four level departure for one who is a minimal participant, meant to apply to those defendants who are plainly among the least culpable of those involved in the conduct of a group. U.S.S.G. Section(s) 3B1.2, application note 1. This departure is meant to be used infrequently. U.S.S.G. Section(s) 3B1.2, application note 2. The Guidelines allow a two level departure for one who is a minor participant in the criminal activity; this departure is meant to apply to any participant who is less culpable than most other participants, but whose role could not be described as minimal. U.S.S.G. Section(s) 3B1.2, application note 3. Where the defendant's conduct falls between these two levels of culpability, a downward departure of three levels may be awarded. U.S.S.G. Section(s) 3B1.2. 58 The defendant has the burden of showing that he is entitled to a reduction in his offense level under Section(s) 3B1.2 . . . . On appeal, the defendant must establish that the district court's determination was clearly erroneous. United States v. Cartagena-Carrasquillo, 70 F.3d 706, 716 (1st Cir. 1995). The record on which the district court based its factual determination of Royal's role in this offense supports the finding that Royal was neither a minimal nor a minor participant. Royal's role in the EZ-EM operation was integral. He recruited students for a program for which EZ-EM, and in turn Royal, would receive monetary commissions. Royal falsified information on school applications and federal student loan applications. He was responsible for obtaining student signatures endorsing student loan checks. Indeed, Royal even misled some into believing that by endorsing the check they would be relieved of any indebtedness. All of these acts were integral to the scheme to defraud the students and the co-conspirators gained financially as a result. The district court also was entitled to find that Royal had knowledge of and intent to further the scope and all aspects of the conspiracy. We cannot find that Royal played a less significant role or that he was less culpable than his co-conspirators in effecting the scheme to defraud. See, e.g., Santiago-Gonz lez, 66 F.3d 3, 8 (1st Cir. 1995). Based on these findings, we cannot say that the district court's sentencing determination was clearly erroneous. 59 Royal compares his situation to cases in which conspirators were granted downward departures. In those cases, the sentencing court determined that the defendant's role in the commission of the crime was minimal or minor. See, e.g., United States v. Mu oz, 36 F.3d 1229, 1238 (1st Cir. 1994), cert. denied sub nom., __ U.S. __, 115 S. Ct. 1164 (1995); United States v. Innamorati, 996 F.2d 456, 490 (1st Cir. 1993), cert. denied, 510 U.S. 1120 (1994); United States v. De La Cruz, 996 F.2d 1307, 1314-15 (1st Cir.), cert. denied, 510 U.S. 936 (1993); United States v. DiIorio, 948 F.2d 1, 3-6 (1st Cir. 1991). Royal's burden is a heavy one and although he may consider his role in the offense more comparable to that found in the cases he cites, the district court found otherwise. [W]here there is more than one plausible view of the circumstances, the sentencing court's choice among supportable alternatives cannot be clearly erroneous. United States v. Santiago-Gonz lez, 66 F.3d at 7. Royal claims that the only evidence offered against him at trial was that he worked in the Niagara Falls office of ATTS and met some of the government's witnesses when they visited the office. Royal's attempt to put his own spin on the facts does not render the district court's determination clearly erroneous. Each of Royal's acts was an integral part of the scheme to defraud and the sentencing court was not clearly erroneous in denying Royal's requested downward departure under the guidelines.