Opinion ID: 43339
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Livingston’s Convictions and Sentence

Text: Following her convictions for one count of conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States and seven counts of wire fraud, Livingston was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment and 36 months’ supervised release. Livingston also was ordered to pay a special assessment of $800 and restitution in the amount of $152,881. After serving her term of imprisonment, Livingston began serving her supervised release on October 29, 2003. B. First Petition for Revocation of Supervised Release On February 11, 2004, the United States Probation Office petitioned the district court for revocation of Livingston’s supervised release. The petition alleged that Livingston violated the terms of her supervised release by refusing to make monthly payments toward restitution or set up a payment plan. The district court held a revocation hearing on April 20, 2004. At the hearing, the district court postponed a final determination on revocation and modified Livingston’s supervised release terms by ordering her to provide the probation officer with 2 access to any requested financial information. Further, the district court ordered Livingston to refrain from incurring any new credit charges or making any major purchases without the approval of the probation officer. The district court then continued the hearing until November 16, 2004 to permit inquiry into Livingston’s financial position. Following the revocation hearing, Livingston signed several release forms allowing the probation officer to access her financial information. She also provided documentation of her expenses and income and signed a restitution payment agreement in which she agreed to pay $20 per month in restitution. C. Second Petition for Revocation of Supervised Release On November 3, 2004, the Probation Office submitted a superceding petition for revocation. The petition repeated the allegations in the previous petition, and further alleged that Livingston had failed to submit requested financial documents and had failed to sign additional financial release forms. On November 16, 2004, the district court held a final revocation hearing. During the hearing, the probation officer testified that he sent a letter to Livingston requesting that she fill out certain financial statements and a financial release form. The probation officer testified that Livingston failed to fill out the statements and sign the release form. In October 2004, the probation officer went to Livingston’s 3 residence to have her complete the paperwork. However, Livingston became angry, called him a “cracker,” and refused to complete the paperwork. Livingston testified that she had already signed six release forms after the first hearing and that she had dutifully submitted her monthly financial reports. She also testified that she had been making larger payments than the required $20 per month because people were helping her with the payments. She stated that she would not sign any additional release forms even if they were given to her at the hearing because her financial situation had not changed. D. The District Court’s Decision The district court found that Livingston was guilty of violating her supervised release terms. In making its determination, the district court made the following observations: (1) it had “profound doubts” that Livingston was as poor as she claimed; (2) Livingston was “uncooperative, intransigent, and abusive”; (3) there was reason to suspect that Livingston could afford to pay more than $20 per month toward restitution; (4) Livingston’s testimony at trial was not credible, and thus her statements regarding her finances were suspect; (5) Livingston had engaged in a program of avoidance designed to prevent the discovery of her net worth; and (6) Livingston never had accepted responsibility and had persisted in a program of defiance, including refusing to sign the financial release forms at the 4 hearing. The district court then noted that the Guidelines range was 3-9 months’ imprisonment. The district court sentenced Livingston to 6 months’ imprisonment and 30 months’ supervised release. In its written order, filed after the revocation hearing, the district court stated: The April, 2004, hearing was continued for six months to permit inquiry into the defendant’s financial position. Although paying monthly, the defendant has obstructed efforts by the Probation Officer to supervise her and to discover her true resources, which might contribute to retiring over $150,000 owed in restitution. The defendant’s history (fraud and other financial gamesmanship) and her demeanor throughout the instant case (arrogant and verbally abusive, including saying she was “sick of” the Probation Officer, whom she characterized as a “white cracker”) aggravate her non-compliance and strongly suggest purposeful and intransigent obstruction. At trial and sentencing, the defendant’s testimony was unworthy of belief and manifestly contrary to overwhelming evidence. Regrettably, this pattern continues today. Accordingly, the Court accepts the testimony of United States Probation Officer Palmiotto and rejects the testimony of the defendant, to the extent of any conflict. Of course, the defendant offered at least one piece of highly persuasive testimony when she testified, accenting her defiance, that she would not provide the Probation Officer financial releases or a net worth statement, even if asked today at the hearing. Livingston appealed.