Opinion ID: 783805
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Availability of a Departure

Text: 15 After the District Court imposed sentence in this case, we ruled in United States v. Lauersen, 343 F.3d 604 (2d Cir. 2003), that in some circumstances an accumulation of somewhat overlapping enhancements, even if not amounting to double counting, can justify a downward departure. Jackson's sentence illustrates the type of case that is eligible for a Lauersen departure. Although the enhancements imposed by the District Court are permissible, they are all little more than different ways of characterizing closely related aspects of Jackson's fraudulent scheme. Thus, his base level of 6 was increased 10 levels because his offense involved a large sum of money, another 2 levels because he carefully planned the activity, another 2 levels because he used sophisticated means, and another 4 levels because the scheme was extensive. Even though these enhancements are sufficiently distinct to escape the vice of double counting, they substantially overlap. Most fraud schemes that obtain more than one half million dollars involve careful planning, some sophisticated techniques, and are extensive. 16 Moreover, a phenomenon of the Guidelines, graphically illustrated by this case, is that any one enhancement increases the sentencing range by a far greater amount when the enhancement is combined with other enhancements than would occur if only one enhancement had been imposed. See United States v. Sofsky, 287 F.3d 122, 124 n. 1 (2d Cir.2002). Here, the four-level role enhancement for an extensive scheme would have increased the minimum of the applicable sentencing range by 12 months if no other enhancement applied, 2 but because three other enhancements applied, the four-level role enhancement for leadership of an extensive scheme increased the minimum of the applicable sentencing range by 26 months. 3 As in Lauersen, we think these enhancements combine to have a cumulative effect that is present to a degree not adequately considered by the Commission, see 18 U.S.C. § 3553(b), and therefore make available, in the discretion of the District Court, a downward departure. See Lauersen, 343 F.3d at 618-19. Since the District Court did not have the benefit of our decision in Lauersen, an appropriate disposition is to remand so that a departure may be considered. 4