Opinion ID: 775745
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Coercion/Duress

Text: 25 U.S.S.G. &#167 5K2.12 permits the district court to depart downward if the defendant committed the offense because of serious coercion, blackmail or duress, under circumstances not amounting to a complete defense . . . . U.S.S.G. &#167 5K2.12 (1998). The standard for the departure thus is imperfect duress. Pinto, 48 F.3d at 388-89. Pizzichiello argues that the district court incorrectly concluded that the departure was warranted only if the coercion or duress amounted to a complete defense. At sentencing, the district court stated: 26 I think the evidence-with respect to coercion, duress, likewise, I'm not going to exercise my discretion and make a downward departure there. For whatever reasons motivated Mr. Pizzichiello for the period of time going to Montana, what happened in Montana and for the time until he came here, I don't think that the coercion and duress standard under 5K2.12 is met by the facts in the record. He did not commit this offense because of coercion, blackmail or duress under circumstances that would amount to complete the offense. And, consequently, in looking at the guideline, I do not believe that there's anything in the record that would satisfy the exercise of discretion in granting a downward departure to Mr. Pizzichiello. Sent. Tr. at 102-03, ER 102-03 (emphasis added). Pizzichiello argues that the court's statement that he did not commit the offense under circumstances that amount to complete the offense indicates that the court thought the coercion/duress had to amount to a complete defense. 27 Pizzichiello's argument is without merit. Both parties in their sentencing memoranda identified the correct standard as imperfect duress. Where the defendant requested a departure, we will assume that the district court understood the law and exercised its discretion to refrain from departing, particularly where, as here, the parties identified for the court the correct standard to be applied. See United States v. Garcia-Garcia, 927 F.2d 489, 491 (9th Cir. 1991) (per curiam). The district court concluded that the departure was not warranted on the facts of the case, and there is no indication that the district court believed that it was prevented as a matter of law from departing. The court's decision thus is discretionary and therefore not reviewable. See Pinto, 48 F.3d at 389. 28 Moreover, construing Pizzichiello's claim as a challenge to the district court's factual findings regarding the lack of sufficient coercion or duress, the district court's findings are not clearly erroneous. As the district court noted, Pizzichiello was the person who utilized the-he had the access to [Carreiro's] account, he used the money, he took the money, he spent it on himself, spent it for his own needs, shared some of the money with John Lynch, participated in this whole cover-up process. ER 102. This evidence supports the conclusion that Pizzichiello acted independently in aiding and abetting the robbery, not as a result of coercion or duress.