Opinion ID: 2994811
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Violation of A Judicial Order/

Text: Misrepresenting One is Acting on Behalf of a Government Agency Parolin argues that the district court engaged in impermissible double counting when it increased his offense level pursuant to Guideline sec. 2F1.1(b)(4)(B) because he had violated a judicial order. Section 2F1.1(b)(4)(B) states that for a violation of any judicial or administrative order, injunction, decree, or process not addressed elsewhere in the guidelines, increase by 2 levels. In the sentencing context, we review a district court’s findings of fact for clear error and the district court’s application of the Sentencing Guidelines to the facts is afforded due deference. See United States v. Purchess, 107 F.3d 1261, 1265-66 (7th Cir. 1997). We review de novo questions of law that relate to the interpretation of the Sentencing Guidelines. See United States v. Haines, 32 F.3d 290, 293 (7th Cir. 1994). Although Parolin concedes that he violated three separate court orders, he asserts that the enhancement for violation of a judicial order constitutes double counting. The three court orders were: (1) The State of Illinois Supreme Court issued an order in May of 1995 disbarring Parolin and striking his name from the roll of attorneys licensed to practice law in Illinois; (2) The court issued an injunction prohibiting Parolin from transferring funds which belonged to his client Pioneer Engineers, Inc.; he did so, and was held in contempt for his action; and (3) Parolin in 1993 created a false court order, which allegedly vacated a judgment against one of his clients and he gave the order to this client so that the person could circulate it to his creditors. According to Parolin, such violations served as the basis for other sentencing enhancements that the district court imposed. Parolin claims that his status as an attorney was important to his success in all phases of his fraud schemes. Consequently, the order of disbarment relates to every enhancement of his offense level, and Parolin contends, his disbarment was critical in the abuse of a position of trust enhancement, U.S.S.G. sec. 3B1.3. Parolin advances that the government stressed that an abuse of a position of trust enhancement was warranted by emphasizing his position as an attorney. His decision to continue to practice law after being disbarred, acting in a fraudulent manner, and violating other orders to cover up the fact that he no longer was permitted to practice law--all of this behavior Parolin suggests served as the main, if not primary reason, for the abuse of a position of trust enhancement. His status as an attorney also was a theme that one can detect throughout the government’s argument and the probation office’s findings on the issues of: (1) amount of loss, U.S.S.G. sec. 2F1.1(b)(1)(M); (2) effect on a financial institution, U.S.S.G. sec. 2F1.1(b)(7)(B); (3) vulnerable victims, U.S.S.G. sec. 3A1.1(b)(1); (4) role in the offense, U.S.S.G. sec. 3B1.1(c); and (5) more than minimal planning, U.S.S.G. sec. 2F1.1 (b)(2). Parolin argues that his position as an attorney and violation of the relevant orders was addressed by other enhancements and to impose an enhancement for violation of judicial orders results in impermissible double counting. Parolin’s argument is not convincing. The Sentencing Guidelines provide the following rationale for an enhancement when a defendant violates a judicial order: A defendant who has been subject to civil or administrative proceedings for the same or similar fraudulent conduct demonstrates aggravated criminal intent and is deserving of additional punishment for not conforming with the requirements of judicial process or orders issued by federal, state, or local administrative agencies. U.S.S.G. sec. 2F1.1(b)(4)(B), background commentary. The question becomes whether this additional punishment is not warranted because it has been covered by other enhancement provisions imposed on the defendant. Parolin would like us to believe that the abuse of a position of trust enhancement fully covers his violating a judicial order that disbarred him from practicing law. The difficulty with this proposition is that it is possible that he both abused the trust of his victims, while simultaneously violating a judicial order. [D]ouble counting occurs when identical conduct is described in two different ways so that two different adjustments apply. Haines, 32 F.3d at 293. The commentary to the Sentencing Guidelines echoes this thought: This subsection does not apply to conduct addressed elsewhere in the guidelines; e.g., a violation of a condition of release (addressed in sec. 2J1.7 (Offense Committed While on Release)) or a violation of probation (addressed in sec. 4A1.1 (Criminal History Category)). U.S.S.G. sec. 2F1.1(b)(4)(B), cmt. n.6. Parolin has not given us any concrete examples of how the abuse of a position of trust enhancement or any other of the other enhancements results in impermissible double counting based upon identical conduct being described in two different ways. Haines, 32 F.3d at 293. In large part, Parolin succeeded in abusing the trust of his victims because of his fiduciary relationship with them in his role as their attorney. The abuse of a position of trust enhancement takes into account this behavior. However, the enhancement in no way directly accounts for Parolin’s violation of particular judicial orders, including the order not to practice law. [E]ven if there is some overlap in the factual basis for two or more sentencing adjustments, so long as there is sufficient factual basis for each they may both be applied. Id. at 293-94. Parolin violated the court order and in the process not only abused his victims’ trust, but disobeyed the court’s authority as well. This latter action reveals his aggravated criminal intent, which warrants greater punishment. U.S.S.G. sec. 2F1.1(b)(4)(B), background commentary. None of the other enhancements mentioned by Parolin or the abuse of a position of trust enhancement seem to fully encompass such an action, and as a consequence, we do not find that any double counting has occurred. We need not address Parolin’s contention that he did not misrepresent that he was acting on behalf of a government agency. See U.S.S.G. sec. 2F1.1(b)(4)(A). Section 2F1.1(b)(4) provides: If the offense involved (A) a misrepresentation that the defendant was acting on behalf of a charitable, educational, religious or political organization, or a government agency; or (B) violation of any judicial or administrative order, injunction, decree, or process not addressed elsewhere in the guidelines, increase by 2 levels. (emphasis added). The commentary explains that [t]he adjustments in sec. 2F1.1(b)(4) are alternative rather than cumulative. If in a particular case, however, both of the enumerated factors applied, an upward departure might be warranted. U.S.S.G. sec. 2F1.1(b)(4), cmt. n.1. In this case, Parolin received a two-level enhancement for violating both a judicial order and misrepresenting that he was acting on behalf of a government agency. He did not receive any upward departure, therefore we can affirm this particular enhancement based on either his violation of judicial orders or misrepresenting that he was acting on behalf of a government agency. Since we have already determined that he violated judicial orders, we need not address the alternate ground. Therefore, we affirm the district court’s two-level enhancement for violation of judicial orders under U.S.S.G. sec. 2F1.1(b)(4)(B).