Opinion ID: 153666
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 11

Heading: Defendant Veatch's Ability to Pay Restitution

Text: 102 Defendant Veatch claims the court improperly ordered him to pay $96,5762.99 in restitution when there was no evidence of his ability to pay. We review the factual findings underlying a court's order to pay restitution for clear error. United States v. Mitchell, 15 F.3d 953, 958 (10th Cir.1994). A restitution order must be consistent with a defendant's ability to pay. United States v. McIlvain, 967 F.2d 1479, 1481 (10th Cir.1992); see also 18 U.S.C. § 3664 (stating that the court shall consider the financial resources of the defendant in determining whether to order restitution). 8 103 Mr. Veatch repeatedly refused to supply financial information to the court. Evidence presented at trial showed that Mr. Veatch had lived a sumptuous lifestyle prior to being arrested. At the time he was arrested he had a Cadillac automobile; his house was located in a high-income residential neighborhood; his house was approximately 5,000 square feet in size; the house had a guest house, a pool house, and servants' quarters; and the house was purchased for $325,000 in June 1992 with Mr. Veatch making a $75,000 cash down payment on the house. Also, Mr. Veatch owned a company called Service Corporation of America, Inc.; it was run by Mr. Veatch using the alias name Franklin; and the company had checking accounts at two different banks in Texas. The record shows Mr. Veatch led a luxurious lifestyle just prior to his arrest, the uncontested amount of the victim's loss was $96,572.99, and he had failed to cooperate with the probation officer in providing financial information. Therefore, the trial court properly ordered Mr. Veatch to pay restitution. As explained above, however, we are vacating and remanding the restitution orders of Mr. Veatch and Mr. Sealander because restitution was ordered in an amount greater than the total loss to the victim. 104