Document: 495 U.S. 411 110 S.Ct. 1979 109 L.Ed.2d 408 Frasiel L. HUGHEY, Petitionerv.UNITED STATES. No. 89-5691. Argued March 27, 1990. Decided May 21, Syllabus Pursuant to a plea agreement, petitioner Hughey pleaded guilty using one unauthorized MBank credit card. Under the restitution provisions of Victim and Witness Protection Act 1982 (VWPA)—which authorize federal courts order "a defendant convicted an offense" "make any victim such offense," 18 U.S.C. § 3579(a)(1) (1982 ed., Supp. IV)—the District Court ordered pay $90,431 in restitution, total MBank's losses relating his alleged theft use 21 cards from various cardholders. Denying Hughey's motion reduce correct sentence, court rejected argument that it had exceeded its authority ordering for offenses other than offense conviction. The Appeals affirmed. Held: A VWPA award is authorized only loss caused by specific conduct basis Pp. 415-422. (a) VWPA's plain language clearly links Given ordinary meaning "restitution" restoring someone position he occupied before particular event, 3579's repeated focus on conviction suggests strongly intended compensate victims underlying Government's view 3579(a) merely identifies victim, but amount calculated accordance with 3580(a)—which delineates "[p]rocedure[s] issuing" orders—is unconvincing. Section 3579(b), giving detailed substantive guidance regarding calculation establishes can award. In addition, regard 3580 rather 3579 as fixing boundaries orders would ignore this Court's commitment "giving effect placement words chosen Congress." Adams Fruit Co. v. Barrett, 494 638, 645, 1384, 1388, 108 585. More significantly, because general statutory term should be understood light terms surround it, 3580(a)'s catchall phrase—which directs consider "such factors deems appropriate" calculating restitution—should not read introduce into calculus expand defendant's liability beyond That phrase preceded more considerations determining whether order, of, all which are designed limit, expand, scope order. 415-420. (b) Any policy questions surrounding offense-of-conviction limitation need resolved. Even were ambiguous, longstanding principles lenity preclude resolution ambiguity against declarations statute legislative history. 420-422. 877 F.2d 1256 (CA5 1989), reversed remanded. MARSHALL, J., delivered opinion Court, REHNQUIST, C.J., BRENNAN, BLACKMUN, STEVENS, O'CONNOR, SCALIA, JJ., joined, WHITE KENNEDY, joined except Part II-C. Lucien B. Campbell, San Antonio, Tex., petitioner. Amy Wax, Silver Spring, Md., respondent, pro hac vice special leave Court. Justice MARSHALL 1 (VWPA), §§ 3579, ed. IV), courts, when sentencing defendants certain offenses, "in addition or lieu penalty law, make offense." IV). We must decide these allow who charged multiple con- 2 KENNEDY join II-C opinion. victed related offenses. hold structure Congress' intent conviction.1 3 * 1986, was indicted three counts United States Postal Service employee cards. Petitioner count 4 indictment exchange agreement dismiss remaining forgo prosecution "for arising Western Texas part scheme indictment." App. 7. Count "[t]hat about October 18, 1985, . [petitioner] did knowingly defraud [MBank Mastercard card] issued Hershey Godfrey, obtain things value aggregating $1,000. ." Id., at 5. During proceeding factual petitioner's plea, Government proffered evidence stolen Godfrey's card, also least 15 10. Petitioner's counsel informed time confined allegations "not mak[e] admissions anything facts pertaining four." 11. After hearing sentencing, notified propose $147,646.89. figure adding several financial institutions, including MBank, resulted approximately 30 objected proposed ground "exceed[ed] Defendant convicted." 13. then submitted revised $90,431, countered appropriate $10,412, sustained result uses Godfrey card identified convicted. 5 $90,431. 78. moved sentence under Federal Rule Criminal Procedure 35, arguing denied motion. 82-85. Fifth Circuit affirmed, holding "VWPA permits require involved there significant connection between crime similar actions justifying restitution." 1256, 1264 (1989). 6 appeals have reached varying conclusions court's ability offender acts those conviction.2 granted certiorari resolve split authority. 493 1018, 716, 107 736 (1990). II A. 7 As cases involving interpretation, we look first itself. Landreth Timber Landreth, 471 681, 685, 105 2297, 2301, 85 692 (1985). Title IV) provides may Other subsections likewise link See 3579(b)(1) (listing damages recoverable case resulting damage destruction property offense"); 3579(b)(2) bodily injury victim"); 3579(b)(3) [that] results death victim"). concedes, Brief 14, straight-forward reading indicates referent "an see, e.g., Webster's Third New International Dictionary 1936 (1986); Black's Law 1180 (5th ed.1979), 8 argues, however, answers question receive offers no how much pay. view, Once identified, maintains, 3580(a) ed.), provides: 9 "The court, section title shall offense, resources defendant, needs earning dependents, appropriate." 10 Specifically, contends 3580(a), appropriate," authorizes include their 11 initial matter, found (b)(1), (b)(2), (b)(3) makes clear 35793 does simply designate entitled Act; establish offense. 12 anomalous 3580, issuing order[s] restitution," governs issue orders, orders. ignores 585 (1990) (rejecting claim Congress limit private right action Migrant Seasonal Agricultural Worker Act, 29 1801 et seq., "Enforcement Provisions" established action). 13 reflect congressional sets forth "determining consideration "the This persuasively tied Indeed, permit recover stemming attributable unrelated conviction, likely refers without supra, 416. 14 preceding restitution. These factors—"the defendant" dependents"—provide grounds awarding less full statute. plainly intend wealthy otherwise warranted they resources, nor dependents forced bear burden obligation great "earning ability." principle ejusdem generis—that it—the Cf. Maritime Comm'n Seatrain Lines, Inc., 726, 734, 93 1773, 1779, 36 620 (1973) (holding "catchall provision" "to bringing within categories type specifically enumerated"). Moreover, harmonizes 3579(a)(2), states "[i]f partial section, state record reasons therefor." If chooses couch refusal criteria set 3580(a).4 hence confirms, undermines, our conclusion outer limits reject implausible contention other" imports wholly new dimension evident Rather, listed factor, guide discretion decides 3579. B 16 endeavors buttress interpretation invoking expansive declaration purpose accompanying VWPA, 2(b)(2), note following 1512 (one ensure possible available assist infringing constitutional rights defendant"), referring portions history goal ensuring "that fullest criminal wrongdoers," 128 Cong.Rec. 27391 (1982) (remarks Rep. Rodino).5 emphasizes purportedly support court-ordered outside Without authority, insists, many cannot suffered conduct. potential undercompensation heightened prosecutorial charging goes, prosecutors often frame indictments success trial victim's interest compensation. See, Hill, 798 402, 405 (CA10 1986). Finally, maintains extensive practice bargaining would, practical undermine victims' fully drop charges charges. Berrios, 869 25, (CA2 1989). 17 concerns insignificant ones, neither unique prosecutor charge fewer maximum number crimes, recovery undoubtedly limited, so too imposed defendant. And although operate ensures will pleads pursuant agreement. essence both defense concessions avoid losses. Nothing exempt effects process. C lenity, demand ambiguities statutes favor Simpson States, 435 6, 14-15, 98 909, 913-914, 55 70 (1978) (applying rule enhance penalty), Crandon 152, 160, 997, 1002, 132 ("Because construction guided fair warning, rare policies broader text"). III 19 unauthorized. fraudulently used Godfrey. Because encompassed fraudulent persons invalid. Accordingly, decision reversed, remanded further proceedings consistent 20 It ordered. recodified, effective November 1, 1987, Sentencing Reform 1984, Stat. 1987. Thus, now appears 3663, 3664. refer codified April ed.). Additionally, 1986 amended 3579(a), replacing "victim Technical Amendments 100 3619. amendment—making sole change became date enactment, ibid., after committed prior sentencing. parties agree alter provision. H.R.Rep. 99-334, p. But disagree version governs, House Report amendment arguably supports implicit below applies case, see 1258 though turn minor amendment, n. 5, infra. Circuit's follows decisions Second Tenth Circuits. 32 1989) (permitting "specified where course conduct"); Duncan, 870 1532, 1537 "other act had"). Sixth has held Durham, 755 511, 512 Eleventh "[t]he [under VWPA] exceed actual flowing been Barnette, 800 1558, 1571 (1986) (citing Johnson, 700 699, 701 (CA11 1983) (construing Probation 3651 ed.)). Ninth ruled involve continuing defraud, 'it power up entire illicit gain scheme, even if some incidents plea.' " Pomazi, 851 244, 250 (1988) (quoting Davies, 683 1052, 1055 (CA7 1982)). 3579(b) part: [restitution] defendant— "(1) offense— "(A) return owner designated owner; "(B) subparagraph (A) impossible, impractical, inadequate, equal greater of— "(i) damage, loss, destruction, "(ii) (as returned) returned; "(2) victim— cost necessary medical professional services devices physical, psychiatric, psychological care, nonmedical care treatment rendered method healing recognized law place treatment; physical occupational therapy rehabilitation; "(C) reimburse income lost offense; "(3) funeral services. presumably required explain do 3579(a)(2). requirement discernable restitutionary open-ended inquiry "defendant's conduct," F.2d, 32, "acts had," 1537. Further, approach advocated Government, taken 3579(a)(2)'s statute's compensating victims. 3579(d) decline altogether determines complication prolongation process fashioning outweighs provide victims." Determining existence from, supporting sufficiently difficult implicate gleaned 3579(a). supra. note, implicitly whatever sheds favorable (1985) 98-1017, 83, 43 (1984)) ("To deprive due law").

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