Opinion ID: 55872
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Kevin’s Sentence

Text: In the PSI, the probation officer calculated Kevin’s offense level for the cocaine-distribution offense as 34, including a two-level enhancement for obstruction of justice, pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 3C1.1. Finding U.S.S.G. § 2B1.1 (which pertains to economic offenses) to be the most appropriate Guideline for Kevin’s false-distress-signal offense, the probation officer assessed Kevin’s offense level as 18, including a 12-level enhancement for the $314,019 amount of loss incurred by the Coast Guard. Pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 3D1.2, Kevin’s offenses were grouped together, resulting in an adjusted offense level for the group of 34 (as the highest adjusted offense level of the offenses in the group). The probation officer then assessed a three-level reduction for acceptance of responsibility, pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 3E1.1(a), resulting in a total offense level of 31. Regarding Kevin’s criminal history, the probation officer stated that Kevin was sentenced to six years’ probation on July 26, 1995 in state court after he pleaded guilty to cocaine possession. That probation was revoked upon Kevin’s arrest for marijuana possession in February 1996, and he was imprisoned for 60 5 days. In November 1999, Kevin was arrested for selling cocaine, and on April 7, 2000, he pleaded guilty to the sale of a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute. On that same day, Kevin’s probation for his 1995 cocaine-possession conviction was revoked for the balance of the term, which the probation officer calculated as “one year, three months, and 19 days.” In an addendum to the PSI, the probation officer acknowledged that there were no state court records documenting precisely what constituted “the balance” of Kevin’s probation at the time of the April 2000 revocation. Given the unavailability of the record, the probation officer “simply subtracted the amount of time [Kevin] had served on probation from the amount of time originally imposed.” Because the calculated term of imprisonment exceeded one year and one month, the probation officer assigned three criminal history points, pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 4A1.1(a). The probation officer also assessed one criminal history point each for Kevin’s 1997 conviction for driving with a suspended license and his 1998 conviction for obstruction of a law enforcement officer by providing false information.1 Kevin was thus assigned a total of 11 criminal history points, resulting in a criminal history category of V. With a total offense level of 31 and a 1 Kevin was sentenced to one year of probation for each of these convictions. 6 criminal history category of V, Kevin’s Sentencing Guidelines imprisonment range was 168 to 210 months. Kevin raised several objections to the PSI. As relevant to the instant appeal, Kevin objected to: the two-level enhancement for obstruction of justice; the three criminal history points assessed for his previous conviction for cocaine possession; the criminal history point assessed for his 1997 conviction for driving with a suspended license; and the criminal history point assessed for his 1998 conviction for obstruction of a law enforcement officer. Kevin also asserted that he should receive a downward departure pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 5K2.0 because his cocainedistribution offense had no victim and the advisory Guidelines range was unduly harsh, as it reflected the sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine. At the sentencing hearing, Kevin reiterated his objections to the PSI and, for the first time, argued that the two-level enhancement for obstruction of justice constituted double punishment because he had agreed to pay approximately $314,019 in restitution pursuant to his plea agreement. The district court summarily overruled all of Kevin’s objections and found Kevin’s Guidelines range to be 168 to 210 months’ imprisonment. After hearing argument from counsel, a statement from Kevin, and statements from several of Kevin’s friends and family members, the court sentenced him to 188 months’ imprisonment. In imposing the 7 sentence, the court discussed the “ruse” Kevin staged to evade authorities (that is, faking his death), the costs borne by the resource-strapped Coast Guard as a result of that ruse, and Kevin’s long-time involvement in the sale and use of drugs. The court also noted “the statutory factors set in 18 U.S.C. [§] 3553(a).”