Opinion ID: 679578
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Martinson's sentence

Text: 15 Martinson claims that Judge Evans improperly computed the loss amount pursuant to United States Sentencing Commission, Guidelines Manual, Sec. 2F1.1. Under this section, a defendant's base offense level is six, but the provision mandates an increase in the offense level based upon the total amount of loss. U.S.S.G. Sec. 2F1.1(b)(1). In this case, $70,000 becomes the magic number. U.S.S.G. Sec. 2F1.1(b)(1)(G). For if the total loss is more than $40,000 but less than $70,000, the offense level is increased by five. If the loss exceeds $70,000, however, the offense level is increased by six. The district court calculated a total loss in excess of $105,000 and an offense level of twelve. 1 Martinson claims that the offenses for which he was convicted involved a total loss of less than $70,000, and his offense level, therefore, is eleven. 16 It is true that the government dropped one count of mail fraud on the eve of trial, 2 and that the elimination of this count dropped the loss value below $70,000. The district court, however, included in its calculation the transaction supporting this count because it constitutes relevant conduct. Application Note 6 to Sec. 2F1.1 states that the cumulative loss produced by a common scheme or course of conduct should be used in determining the offense level, regardless of the number of counts of conviction. This application note and our cases make clear that relevant conduct is an appropriate basis on which to base a defendant's sentence. In addition, we do not find that the district court's factual finding regarding this conduct is clearly erroneous. See 18 U.S.C. Sec. 3742(e). We, therefore, find that the district court properly applied the guidelines, calculated the loss value, and determined Martinson's offense level pursuant to Sec. 2F1.1. 17