Opinion ID: 2644638
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Ezinne Ubani

Text: Ubani argues the district court erroneously calculated her offense level at sentencing. We review the court’s factual findings for clear error and its interpretation of the Sentencing Guidelines de novo. United States v. Miller, 607 F.3d 144, 147 (5th Cir. 2010). Findings are upheld if they are “plausible in light of the record as a whole.” Id. at 148. Ubani objected to the application of two sentencing enhancements: one two-level increase for her role in the offense as a manger or supervisor and another two-level increase for an abuse of trust. At sentencing, the district court overruled both objections after hearing arguments and reviewing the evidence. 34 Case: 12-20095 Document: 00512456949 Page: 35 Date Filed: 12/02/2013 No. 12-20095 We first address Section 3B1.1(c), which provides for a two-level increase in the offense level if the defendant was a manager or supervisor. The district court relied on documentation showing Ubani held herself out as a person who coordinated and oversaw patient services and beneficiary assessments. The court also relied on evidence that showed Ubani assumed Princewill Njoku’s administrative duties in his absence. Finally, the court acknowledged one witness’s testimony that she reported to Ubani while working as a recruiter. Ubani argues the evidence showed that she was an RN who merely worked under the direction of Clifford Ubani and Prinecwill Njoku and evidence of any managerial role was insufficient. We disagree. Agent Harshaw testified that both the articles of incorporation for Family Healthcare and its Medicare provider application listed Ubani as a director/officer of the company. He also discovered her resume during the investigation, which stated that her job responsibilities at Family Healthcare included coordinating and overseeing all patient services provided by agency personnel. It also revealed that she assumed the duties of administrator in Princewill Njoku’s absence. A form submitted to the Texas Department of Disability and Aging listed Ubani as Family Healthcare’s director of nursing. Ubani suggests in her argument that the documentation reflected a period of time outside of the scope of the indictment, but Agent Harshaw’s evidence shows otherwise, revealing a form dated November 20, 2007, which showed Ubani was still a delegated official to act on the company’s behalf. Further, the testimony of others who worked with Ubani supported the court’s finding that Ubani took on a supervisory role. Even if we did find error, it would be harmless because the district court explicitly stated that it would 35 Case: 12-20095 Document: 00512456949 Page: 36 Date Filed: 12/02/2013 No. 12-20095 give the same sentence even if the enhancement did not apply. United States v. Richardson, 676 F.3d 491, 511-12 (5th Cir. 2012). We next discuss Section 3B1.3, which provides for a two-level enhancement if Ubani abused a position of trust. This trust “refers to a position of public or private trust characterized by professional or managerial discretion (i.e., substantial discretionary judgment that is ordinarily given considerable deference).” § 3B1.3 cmt. 1. Such individuals generally have less supervision than other employees. Id. The person’s position “must have contributed in some significant way to facilitating the commission or concealment of the offense.” Id. The district court determined that Medicare invests an important trust in RNs who complete OASIS questionnaires and certify plans of care for the initial episodes of care and the recertifications, which the court stated was the center of Ubani’s activity. Ubani contends that because she did not exercise supervisory discretion in her role, her position as a registered nurse is insufficient for the enhancement to apply. We have found, though, that the evidence did show Ubani was, in fact, acting as a supervisor over other employees. In addition, Cynthia Garza-Williams testified that she would take blank OASIS forms to patients for their signatures. She explained that she would bring the forms back to the office where Ubani would fill in information without having seen the patients and then certify the assessments as an RN. Plans of care were taken to Dr. Echols, who was paid for his certifications. GarzaWilliams testified that Dr. Echols would sign whatever was given to him. The testimony from the claims analyst and agent Harshaw show that Medicare relied on the representations made by physicians and RNs, and under this described 36 Case: 12-20095 Document: 00512456949 Page: 37 Date Filed: 12/02/2013 No. 12-20095 scheme, Ubani essentially made the determination that specific patients qualified for home health care. Accordingly, the enhancement under Section 3B1.3 was proper. Miller, 607 F.3d at 149.