Opinion ID: 150955
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Misrepresentation of Identity

Text: The Guidelines instruct the district court to apply a two-level enhancement to a defendant's offense level [i]f the offense involved the knowing misrepresentation of a participant's identity to persuade, induce, entice, coerce, or facilitate the travel of, a minor to engage in prohibited sexually conduct. USSG § 2G1.3(b)(2)(A). The comments to section 2G1.3(b)(2)(A) clearly state that [t]he misrepresentation to which the enhancement... may apply includes misrepresentation of a participant's name, age, occupation, gender, or status as long as the misrepresentation was made with the requisite intent. Id. § 2G1.3, comment. (n.3(A)) (emphasis added). Although we have not yet interpreted this exact sentencing provision, in discussing a similar enhancement for misrepresenting identity in the context of a conviction for possession of child pornography, USSG § 2G2.1(b)(6)(A), [9] we have held that the enhancement is warranted when the misrepresentation is instrumental in getting the victims to engage in sexually explicit conduct. United States v. Starr, 533 F.3d 985, 1002 (8th Cir.2008) (finding an enhancement based on misrepresentation of age was proper under USSG § 2G2.1(b)(6)(A)). The Ninth Circuit is the only circuit that has interpreted section 2G1.3(b)(2)(A) in detail. See United States v. Holt, 510 F.3d 1007 (9th Cir.2007). Holt held that a defendant who misrepresented his age over a six-month period of time was subject to the enhancement, because [t]he district court reasonably could have concluded that [the defendant] was misrepresenting his identity in a prolonged effort to groom what he though was a thirteen-year-old girl for illicit sexual contact. Id. at 1010-11. Young argues that his misrepresentation was not meant to induce Emily because it occurred over a shorter period than in Holt. However, the Guidelines do not make a temporal distinction. Young told Emily that he worked as an engineer after Emily stated that she disliked band. Young also told Emily that he was not married, although in reality, he had a wife and three children. Therefore, the two-level enhancement for misrepresentation of identity was appropriate.