Opinion ID: 766484
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Michael DeMaio's Fine

Text: 49 Michael DeMaio argues that his $100,000 fine exceeded the maximum fine for his guideline range and, to the extent the fine was the result of an upward departure, was imposed without adequate notice and without a requisite statement of reasons. He also argues that the amount of the fine reflects an inaccurate assumption about the nature of the mortgage on his Middlefield home. 50 The district court calculated Michael DeMaio's total offense level at 24, a conclusion that DeMaio does not challenge on appeal. The guidelines authorize a maximum fine of $100,000 for this offense level. See United States Sentencing Commission, Guidelines Manual, 5E1.2(c)(3). The guideline sentencing range for his offense level (when considered in conjunction with DeMaio's criminal history category of I) was 51 to 63 months. See id. ch. 5, pt. A. 51 At sentencing, the district court decided to depart downward from the sentencing range, principally because it concluded that Michael participated in the money laundering conspiracy out of loyalty to his wife and her family, and sentenced DeMaio to five years of probation--the first six months of which were to be served in home confinement--and a $100,000 fine. 3 (The government does not appeal the departure decision.) 52 In explaining its decision to reduce DeMaio's sentence, the court said it would depart downward to Offense Level 10. On appeal, Michael DeMaio seizes upon this statement and points out that the maximum fine for that offense level is $20,000, not $100,000. See id. 5E1.2(c)(3). This argument misapprehends the nature of a downward departure. The district court departed downward from the applicable guideline sentencing range, not the offense level. See id. 5K2.0 ([T]he sentencing court may impose a sentence outside the range established by the applicable guidelines.... (emphasis added)); cf. United States v. Hargrett, 156 F.3d 447, 450 n.1 (2d Cir.) (A downward departure based on [substantial assistance to the authorities] does not require the district judge to pick a new offense level and a particular sentence within the range set for that level; rather, the court may simply pick a sentence of so many months without mention of an offense level.), cert. denied, 119 S.Ct. 607 (1998). Although the court said (for analytical purposes) that it was lowering DeMaio's offense level to 10, [t]his mode of analysis was not required by the Guidelines. Id. 53 Notwithstanding the downward departure on DeMaio's sentence, his offense level therefore remained 24. Since the fine imposed was within the applicable guideline range (and there is no claim of a violation of law or misapplication of the guidelines), it is not appealable. See United States v. Leonard, 37 F.3d 32, 40 (2d Cir. 1994). We therefore dismiss so much of Michael DeMaio's appeal as challenges his fine.