Court Opinion

ID: 2739656
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-10-03 15:01:24.808188+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:51:03.894638
License: Public Domain

Case: 13-15513     Date Filed: 10/03/2014   Page: 1 of 5

                                                              [DO NOT PUBLISH]

               IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

                        FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
                          ________________________

                                 No. 13-15513
                             Non-Argument Calendar
                           ________________________

                  D.C. Docket No. 2:13-cr-00065-MHT-TFM-1

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                                  Plaintiff-Appellee,

                                       versus

KEVIN JACKSON,

                                                              Defendant-Appellant.

                           ________________________

                   Appeal from the United States District Court
                       for the Middle District of Alabama
                         ________________________

                                 (October 3, 2014)

Before TJOFLAT, JORDAN, and ANDERSON, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:

      Kevin Jackson appeals his 102-month total sentence, imposed at the top of

the guidelines range after he pled guilty to 1 count of possession of unauthorized
              Case: 13-15513     Date Filed: 10/03/2014    Page: 2 of 5

access devices, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1029(a)(3) and 2; and 1 count of

aggravated identity theft, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1028A(a)(1) & (c)(4), and 2.

On appeal, Jackson first argues that the district court clearly erred in finding him

responsible for the entire intended-loss amount of $1,718,089 that the court

calculated under U.S.S.G. § 2B1.1(b)(1)(I). He then argues that the district court

clearly erred in finding that a video showing his assault of his girlfriend was

related to his convictions for fraud offenses, rendering the court’s consideration of

that evidence improper.

      Upon review of the record and after consideration of the parties’ briefs, we

affirm.

                                          I.

      The district court’s determination of loss amount is reviewed for clear error.

United States v. Barrington, 648 F.3d 1178, 1197 (11th Cir. 2011). Clear error

will be present when we are “left with a definite and firm conviction that a mistake

has been committed.” United States v. Crawford, 407 F.3d 1174, 1177 (11th Cir.

2005) (citation omitted). The district court’s interpretation of the Sentencing

Guidelines is reviewed de novo. Barrington, 648 F.3d at 1197.

      “The Guidelines do not require a precise determination of loss,” and a court

“need only make a reasonable estimate of the loss, given the available

information.” Id. (citation omitted). Nevertheless, a sentencing court “may not

                                          2
               Case: 13-15513     Date Filed: 10/03/2014     Page: 3 of 5

speculate about the existence of a fact that would result in a higher sentence, and

the government must support its loss calculation with ‘reliable and specific

evidence.’” Id. (citation omitted).

      Section 2B1.1 of the Guidelines provides for a 16-level increase for a fraud

offense involving a loss amount that is more than $1,000,000, but less than

$2,500,000. U.S.S.G. § 2B1.1(b)(1)(I). Application notes clarify that “loss is the

greater of actual loss or intended loss.” U.S.S.G. § 2B1.1, comment. (n.3(A)).

“Intended loss” is “the pecuniary harm that was intended to result from the

offense.” Id., comment. (n.3(A)(ii)). The Guidelines acknowledge that a

sentencing court “is in a unique position to assess the evidence and estimate the

loss,” and, therefore, “the court’s loss determination is entitled to appropriate

deference.” Id., comment. (n.3(C)). Conduct relevant to sentencing includes all

acts that a defendant “committed, aided, [or] abetted.” U.S.S.G. § 1B1.3(a)(1)(A).

      The district court did not clearly err in holding Jackson responsible for the

entire intended-loss amount because Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) Special

Agent Christopher Forte’s testimony at sentencing provided “reliable and specific

evidence” both about how the loss amount was calculated and about Jackson’s

responsibility for that amount. Moreover, even accepting Jackson’s contention that

he personally did not file all of the false tax returns attributed to him, his storage of

the information necessary to file those returns was a sufficient basis for holding

                                            3
              Case: 13-15513     Date Filed: 10/03/2014    Page: 4 of 5

him responsible for the loss amount stemming from them under the principles of

relevant conduct.

                                          II.

      A district court’s factual findings are reviewed for clear error and its

application of the Guidelines to those facts is reviewed de novo. United States v.

McGuinness, 451 F.3d 1302, 1304 (11th Cir. 2006). Notwithstanding an error, we

are not required to vacate the sentence and remand a case if the district court likely

would have sentenced the defendant the same way without the error. United States

v. Scott, 441 F.3d 1322, 1329 (11th Cir. 2006).

      When determining what sentence to impose within the guidelines range, a

district court “may consider, without limitation, any information concerning the

background, character and conduct of the defendant, unless otherwise prohibited

by law.” U.S.S.G. § 1B1.4.

      The district court must impose a sentence “sufficient, but not greater than

necessary to comply with the purposes” listed in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a)(2), including

the need to reflect the seriousness of the offense, promote respect for the law,

provide just punishment for the offense, deter criminal conduct, and protect the

public from the defendant’s future criminal conduct. See 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a)(2).

In imposing a particular sentence, the court must also consider the nature and

circumstances of the offense, the history and characteristics of the defendant, the

                                          4
               Case: 13-15513    Date Filed: 10/03/2014    Page: 5 of 5

kinds of sentences available, the applicable guidelines range, the pertinent policy

statements of the Sentencing Commission, the need to avoid unwarranted

sentencing disparities, and the need to provide restitution to victims.

Id. § 3553(a)(1), (3)-(7).

      The district court did not clearly err in finding that Jackson’s assault of his

girlfriend was related to his fraud scheme because testimony at sentencing

indicated that the disappearance of materials needed to continue the fraud was the

motivation for the attack. Moreover, even if the district court did clearly err in

finding that the assault was related to the fraud, any error was harmless because the

district court likely would have sentenced Jackson the same way in considering

evidence of the assault under § 1B1.4 and § 3553(a)(1).

      AFFIRMED.

                                          5