Court Opinion

ID: 185015
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2011-02-05 02:26:43+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:26:12.671672
License: Public Domain

195 F.3d 37 (D.C. Cir. 1999)
United States of America, Appelleev.Tristan Wolff, Appellant
No. 98-3152
United States Court of AppealsFOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA CIRCUIT
Argued September 15, 1999Decided November 2, 1999

Appeal from the United States District Court for the District of Columbia(No. 96cr00098-01)
Jennifer Blunt, Assistant Federal Public Defender, argued  the cause for appellant. With her on the briefs was A. J.  Kramer, Federal Public Defender. Neil H. Jaffee, Assistant  Federal Public Defender, entered an appearance.
Stephen R. Martin, II, Assistant U.S. Attorney, argued the  cause for appellee. With him on the brief was Wilma A.
Lewis, U.S. Attorney, John R. Fisher, Assistant U.S. Attorney, and Mary Patrice Brown, Assistant U.S. Attorney.
Before:  Williams, Rogers and Garland, Circuit Judges.
Opinion for the Court filed by Circuit Judge Rogers.
Rogers, Circuit Judge:

1
This case is here for a second time  on claims of sentencing error.  In United States v. Wolff, 127  F.3d 84 (D.C. Cir. 1997) ("Wolff I") the court remanded for  resentencing in view of the government's breaches of the plea  agreement.  See id. at 86-87.  On remand, the district court  sentenced Wolff to sixty-four months' incarceration and three  years' supervised release on each robbery count, the sentences to run concurrently.  The district court reimposed a  special assessment of $100.00 under 18 U.S.C.  3013, and  again ordered Wolff to pay restitution of $122.00 to Riggs  Bank and $1867.00 to Washington Federal Savings Bank.

2
Wolff contends the district court erred by applying a two level enhancement under  2B3.1(b)(2)(F) of the United  States Sentencing Guidelines Manual (1995) ("Guidelines"),  when the evidence failed to show an express threat of death,  and by failing to consider his ability to pay before ordering  restitution as required under the Victim Witness Protection  Act, 18 U.S.C.  3664(a) (1995).  As clarified at oral argument, Wolff also contends, in the event this court agrees with  his second claim of error, that the district court erred in  delegating part of its sentencing responsibility to the probation office.  Because our decision in United States v. Robinson, 86 F.3d 1197, 1202 (D.C. Cir. 1996), is dispositive of his  first claim of error, and we conclude that Wolff has failed to  show that the district court plainly erred with regard to its  statutory obligation to consider his ability to pay, we affirm  and do not reach his unlawful delegation claim.

I.

3
Wolff received a two-level sentence enhancement for making an express threat of death pursuant to  2B3.1(b)(2)(F) of  the Guidelines on the basis of a note that he handed to a  bank teller stating:  "give me all your big bills, $100s, $50s, and $20s, I have a gun.  I will kill people."  We see no merit  in Wolff's argument that this statement did not provide  sufficient basis for sentencing enhancement, as we fail to see  any material difference between the note used by Wolff in the  instant case and the demand note in Robinson that stated  "I'll shoot somebody in here now."  Robinson, 86 F.3d at  1202.  Each was an express threat of death within the  meaning of  2B3.1(b)(2)(F) of the Guidelines.1

4
In Robinson, the court explained that to qualify for this  enhancement it is sufficient that a reasonable person in the  position of the immediate victim of the robbery would "(1)  very likely [have] believed that the robber made a threat and  that the threat was to kill and (2) likely thought that his or  her life was in peril thereby experiencing 'significantly greater fear' than the intimidation required to commit robbery."86 F.3d at 1202.  The court left open "the possibility that a  court may enhance a sentence even if an ordinary person  would be placed in fear for someone else's life."  Id. at 1203.Wolff contends that the statement at issue here could not  reasonably have put the teller in fear for her life because it  referred only to "people in general."  Wolff maintains that Robinson is not dispositive as to such "general" statements.2Yet, from the statement of what are sufficient elements for  enhancement in Robinson, it necessarily follows that the bank  teller in the instant case could reasonably believe she was  included among the "people" Wolff was threatening to kill.See United States v. Murray, 65 F.3d 1161, 1166-67 (4th Cir.  1995).  The absence of the word "teller" in the note can  hardly be dispositive when the context of an ongoing robbery  is considered.  This was not an innocent encounter;  the  threat in the note enhanced the intimidation that robbery  alone would cause;  the teller was in the immediate chain of  custody of the money that Wolff sought to take from the  bank.  Moreover, the Guidelines would not appear to require  that the threat be specifically directed to a particular person  or specific target.  In any event, under the circumstances, a  reasonable teller could easily infer from the context of the  note that the threat to kill "people" included her.

5
Much like the Ninth Circuit in United States v. Strandberg,  952 F.2d 1149, 1151-52 (9th Cir. 1991), we conclude that the  statement by Wolff was equivalent to the note in Robinson.See also United States v. Figueroa, 105 F.3d 874, 879-80 (3d  Cir. 1997);  United States v. Robinson, 20 F.3d 270, 276-77  (7th Cir. 1994);  United States v. Bell, 12 F.3d 139, 139-40  (8th Cir. 1993).

6
Just as a reasonable teller receiving a note from a bankrobber would very likely infer that "shoot" means "kill,"a reasonable teller would also probably infer that athreat to kill "somebody in here" referred to him.  In-deed, in the highly-charged circumstances of a robbery,we think that the threat to "shoot somebody in here" ispractically indistinguishable from the threat to "shoot you."

7
Robinson, 86 F.3d at 1202.  Therefore, the district court did  not err in enhancing Wolff's sentence under  2B3.1(b)(2)(F).

II.

8
The Victim Witness Protection Act, 18 U.S.C. §§ 3663-3664  (1995), requires that, prior to ordering restitution, the district  court "shall consider the amount of loss sustained by any  victim as a result of the offense, the financial resources of the  defendant, the financial needs and earning ability of the  defendant and the defendant's dependents, and such other  factors as the court deems appropriate."  18 U.S.C.  3664(a)  (1995).3  Wolff contends for the first time on appeal that the  district court failed to consider his ability to pay restitution.Because our review is for plain error, Wolff must show not  only that the district court erred but that he suffered prejudice as a result.  See United States v. Bapack, 129 F.3d 1320,  1327 (D.C. Cir. 1997);  United States v. Thompson, 113 F.3d  13, 15 (2d Cir. 1997);  United States v. Olano, 507 U.S. 725,  732-34, 736, 113 S. Ct. 1770, 1776-79, 123 L.Ed.2d 508 (1993).Even under our modified view of plain error in sentencing,  see United States v. Saro, 24 F.3d 283, 287-88 (D.C. Cir.  1994), cert. denied, 591 U.S. 956 (1996), Wolff has not met his  burden.

9
At his original sentencing, the district court ordered Wolff  to pay restitution of $122.00 to Riggs Bank and $1,867.00 to  Washington Federal Savings Bank.  At the sentencing hearing, the district court indicated that it had considered the  information in Wolff's presentence report.  That report concluded that Wolff did not currently have the ability to pay a  fine, restitution, or the cost of supervision or incarceration.But the report also stated that Wolff was 30 years old at the time of sentencing in 1996, had no dependents, was in good  mental and physical health, had a Bachelor of Science degree  from Dolgealflea Polytechnic in England, had previously been  employed at a local business for seven years earning approximately $500 weekly, and had produced award-winning movie  videos.  Wolff does not dispute the accuracy of this information, nor does he dispute that the district court referenced the  original judgment at his resentencing.

10
Clearly, under the statutory mandate, the district court  could properly take into account the defendant's educational  level, employable skills, and financial status, including family  cost-of-living expenses upon release from prison and other  obligations.  Consideration of the statutory factors is demonstrated when a district court indicates expressly at some  point prior to ordering a defendant to pay restitution that the  court has considered the defendant's financial situation and  has concluded, in light of identified evidence or uncontested  proffers, that the defendant has the ability to pay.  A district  court's consideration of a defendant's ability to pay also may  be demonstrated implicitly by its adoption of the explained  conclusion in the presentence report, or through some other  statement by the court indicating in more than a perfunctory  manner that it has considered the defendant's financial situation.  See Rezaq, 134 F.3d at 1141;  Bapack, 129 F.3d at 1328.

11
Looking at the record, see, e.g., Rezaq, 134 F.3d at 1141, it  is sufficiently clear, albeit just barely, by cobbling together  statements at various points in Wolff's sentencing hearings,  that there was no plain error.4

12
First, and foremost, the district court's remarks at sentencing indicate that it had reviewed the presentence report prior  to imposing sentence.  This alone can suffice to show that the  district court considered the defendant's ability to pay.  See  Bapak, 129 F.3d at 1327;  Davis, 117 F.3d at 464;  United  States v. Castner, 50 F.3d 1267, 1278 (4th Cir. 1995);  United  States v. Mizrachi, 48 F.3d 651, 657 (2d Cir. 1995);  United  States v. Osborn, 58 F.3d 387, 389 (8th Cir. 1995);  United  States v. Nelson, 5 F.3d 254, 258-59 (7th Cir. 1993), cert.  denied, 510 U.S. 1098, 114 S. Ct. 937, 127 L.Ed.2d 228 (1994).At the end of Wolff's first sentencing hearing, the district  court referenced the findings in the report with regard to the  amount of restitution due each victim bank, and at his resentencing hearing, the district court read from and paraphrased  its discussion of restitution at the first sentencing hearing.Thus, in amending the restitution amount suggested in the  presentence report to reflect money already recovered by one  of the victim banks, the district court remarked "I can only  deal with the information that I have from the presentence  report...."  Furthermore, in the judgment imposing the  restitution on Wolff, the district court indicated that it had  adopted the factual findings of the presentence report.

13
It might also be said that the district court did not accept  such evidence at face value, for it specifically stated that, as of  the time of sentencing, the amount of Wolff's prison pay  "probably is meager."  Although a defendant could have  other financial resources, the district court's remark is some  indication that the court was considering Wolff's financial  status.  In addition, at the conclusion of Wolff's first sentencing hearing, the district court stated that it had not "been  able to find that there has been any ability to pay."  Although  this statement is unclear, it does suggest that the district  court recognized that it was obligated to consider Wolff's  ability to pay if it was going to impose financial conditions as  part of the sentence, or as the government suggests, the statement may have referred to Wolff's inability to pay a fine,  cost of imprisonment, or supervision.

14
Considering the burden on Wolff to show error by the  district court in ordering restitution, see 18 U.S.C.  3664(d),  we conclude that Wolff cannot show error that seriously  affected the fairness, integrity, or public reputation of the  judicial proceedings.  See Olano, 507 U.S. at 736, 113 S. Ct. at  1779.  Although at oral argument he emphasized that he was  represented by court-appointed counsel, and the presentence  report noted a large debt, namely a loan of $8,000 from a  friend, and concluded, based in part on Wolff's statement that  he had no assets, that he was financially unable to pay  restitution, the district court was not required to reach the  same conclusion.  The presentence report also included information about Wolff's somewhat remarkable educational and  working history that could reasonably cause the district court  to conclude that Wolff had the ability to earn a decent living  and then some.  The court could reasonably view a personal  loan in a different light than a commercial loan with due dates  and clear legal consequences upon default.  Wolff's contention at oral argument that the district court's reference at  sentencing to avoiding double recovery by a victim bank  indicates that it was applying the wrong statute, and therefore was unaware of the need to consider his ability to pay,  fails to demonstrate plain error;  not only did the district  court refer to the need to find an ability of pay, neither the  government nor the 1995 Act or its successor, see supra n.3,  suggest the propriety of such recovery.

15
Accordingly, because Wolff's challenge to the enhancement  of this sentence under  2B3.1(b)(2)(F) of the Guidelines is  meritless and he has failed to demonstrate that the district  court plainly erred by not considering his ability to pay  restitution, we affirm the judgment of conviction.

Notes:

1
 Application note 6 to the commentary to  2B3.1 of the Guidelines states:
An "express threat of death," as used in subsection (b)(2)(F), may be in the form of an oral or written statement, act,   gesture, or combination thereof.  For example, an oral or written demand using words such as "Give me the money or I  will kill you", "Give me the money or I will shoot you", "Give  me your money or else (where the defendant draws his hand across his throat in a slashing motion)", or "Give me the money  or you are dead" would constitute an express threat of death.     The court should consider that the intent of the underlying provision is to provide an increased offense level for cases in which the offender(s) engaged in conduct that would instill in a      reasonable person, who is a victim of the offense, significantly greater fear than that necessary to constitute an element of the offense of robbery.
Guidelines  2B3.1 comment, n.6.

2
 Wolff suggests that Robinson left open, for example, the ques-tion of whether statements such as "I have a gun" and "I will shoot somebody out here" are statements to which  2B3.1(b)(2)(F) applies.

3
 We apply the statute in effect at the time of the criminal conduct, as both parties agree, in light of the court's decisions that application of the later enacted Mandatory Victims Restitution Act of 1996, Title II, Subtitle A of the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996, Pub. L. No. 104-132, 110 Stat. 1214 (codified at 18 U.S.C. §§ 3663-3664 (1996)), which eliminated the requirement that the district court consider the defendant's ability to pay before ordering restitution in a case like this, 18 U.S.C.  3664(f)(1)(A) (1996), would raise ex post facto concerns.  See United States v. Rezaq, 134 F.3d 1121, 1141 n.13 (D.C. Cir. 1998);  Bapack, 129 F.3d at 1327 n.13.

4
 Although the district court did not make express findings as to  Wolff's ability to pay restitution, the statute does not require as  much.  See Bapack, 129 F.3d at 1328.  Accord United States v.  Davis, 117 F.3d 459, 463 (11th Cir. 1997);  United States v. Sanders,  95 F.3d 449, 456 (6th Cir. 1996);  United States v. Lavin, 27 F.3d 40,  42 (2d Cir. 1994);  United States v. Rogat, 924 F.2d 983, 986 (10th  Cir. 1991);  United States v. Ryan, 874 F.2d 1052, 1053 (5th Cir.  1989).  Additionally, we note that while express findings are not  required, a clear indication on the record of the district court's  consideration of the statutory factors would facilitate appellate  review;  in this regard, counsel on both sides could assist the district  court.  Cf. United States v. Dudley, 104 F.3d 442, 447 (D.C. Cir.  1997).