Court Opinion

ID: 2974052
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-22 17:12:04.469934+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:43:49.138483
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                                     Pursuant to Sixth Circuit Rule 206
                                             File Name: 06a0314p.06

                       UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                                        FOR THE SIXTH CIRCUIT
                                          _________________

                                                     X
                                Plaintiff-Appellee, -
 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
                                                      -
                                                      -
                                                      -
                                                          Nos. 05-1818/2006
          v.
                                                      ,
                                                       >
 KRISTOPHER ADAM GATES (05-1818) and BRADLEY -
                                                      -
                           Defendants-Appellants. -
 WILLIAM CONLEY (05-2006),

                                                      -
                                                     N
                       Appeal from the United States District Court
                  for the Western District of Michigan at Grand Rapids.
                     No. 04-00232—Gordon J. Quist, District Judge.
                                   Argued and Submitted: July 26, 2006
                                  Decided and Filed: August 24, 2006
   Before: BATCHELDER and McKEAGUE, Circuit Judges; ACKERMAN, District Judge.*
                                            _________________
                                                  COUNSEL
ARGUED: Kenneth P. Tableman, Grand Rapids, Michigan, for Appellant. Daniel Y. Mekaru,
ASSISTANT UNITED STATES ATTORNEY, Grand Rapids, Michigan, for Appellee.
ON BRIEF: Kenneth P. Tableman, Grand Rapids, Michigan, Edwin L. Hettinger, HETTINGER
& HETTINGER PC, Portage, Michigan, for Appellants. Daniel Y. Mekaru, ASSISTANT UNITED
STATES ATTORNEY, Grand Rapids, Michigan, for Appellee.
                                            _________________
                                                OPINION
                                            _________________
        McKEAGUE, Circuit Judge. Defendants Gates and Conley appeal their sentences following
the entry of guilty pleas to charges arising from their involvement in a counterfeit check cashing
scheme. For the reasons that follow, we affirm both sentences.

        *
          The Honorable Harold A. Ackerman, United States District Judge for the District of New Jersey, sitting by
designation.

                                                        1
Nos. 05-1818/2006 United States v. Gates, et al.                                                Page 2

                                        I. BACKGROUND
        Gates and Conley participated in an elaborate counterfeit check cashing scheme involving
as many as seven individuals. The scheme involved stealing outgoing mail containing checks,
creating counterfeit checks using the information procured from the stolen checks, stealing
identifications, and then cashing the counterfeit checks at a bank using the stolen identifications.
The scheme took place in Michigan, Indiana, Missouri, and Florida.
       A. Appellant Gates’s Role
        Gates stole outgoing mail from mailboxes in order to obtain bank routing and account
numbers from checks. The information obtained from the stolen checks was used to produce
counterfeit checks using a computer check-writing program. Gates also admitted to recruiting two
other individuals, co-defendants Bradley Heistand and Brent Vreeland, to go into the various banks
and cash the counterfeit checks. Testimony from one other individual, Henry Goble, indicates that
Gates attempted persistently, but unsuccessfully, to recruit him into the scheme as well.
         Gates agreed to plead guilty to Count One of the indictment charging him with conspiring
to open U.S. Mail, using stolen identification, and committing bank fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C.
§ 371. In exchange for his plea and his cooperation in the investigation, the Government agreed to
dismiss the remaining counts of the indictment against Gates, to not oppose a request for reduction
of the offense level for acceptance of responsibility, and to consider filing a motion for the reduction
of his sentence pursuant to the Sentencing Guidelines § 5K1.1, if he fully cooperated and materially
and substantially assisted the Government in the investigation or prosecution of others.
        During the sentencing hearing, Gates objected to the Presentence Investigation Report’s
(PSR) three-level enhancement for his role as a manager in the offense. The PSR indicated that
while Gates was not an organizer or a leader, he did serve as a manager by recruiting individuals and
directing them to cash the counterfeit checks. The district court overruled Gates’s objection, finding
that there were sufficient facts to support Gates’s role as a manager and that because five or more
people were involved, a three-point enhancement under § 3B1.1 was appropriate.
        Gates continued to object, asking the court to reconsider. The court emphasized Gates’s role
as a recruiter of two of the co-defendants and his persistent attempt to recruit Goble, noting that
Gates did not just steal checks, but was in between the organizers and those that cashed the checks.
        Gates also noted for the record his written objection to fact-finding by a preponderance of
the evidence, urging that although Sixth Circuit law is to the contrary, United States v. Davis, 430
F.3d 345 (6th Cir. 2005), suggests that facts that cause an increase in the offense level should be
found beyond a reasonable doubt. The district court clarified for the record that it had found the
facts supporting the sentence enhancement by a preponderance of the evidence, not beyond a
reasonable doubt.
        Gates also objected to the PSR’s finding that he was responsible for $30,549 in loss based
on all checks that were cashed in Missouri, and all checks cashed by co-defendant Heistand. Gates
stated that he was not aware of the last three checks cashed by Heistand, or any of the Missouri
checks. He reminded the court that he admitted to having received between $4500 and $5000 at his
plea hearing.
        The court overruled the objection to the loss enhancement recommendation in the PSR, but
stated that it would not consider any statements given by a confidential informant used in the case.
The court found that based on the facts set out in the PSR, most of which came from co-conspirators
or Gates himself, it was reasonably foreseeable to Gates that Hiestand would continue to cash checks
Nos. 05-1818/2006 United States v. Gates, et al.                                                            Page 3

using the same scheme. In so deciding, the court pointed out Gates’s role in procuring the Missouri
checks, and assisting others in cashing them.
        The court found that Gates had an offense level of twelve, based on a Base Offense Level
of six, a six-level enhancement for a loss of $30,549, a two-level enhancement for use of an
unauthorized access device, a three-level enhancement for role as a manager, a three-level decrease
for acceptance of responsibility, and a two-level decrease for cooperating with the investigation and
assisting in the prosecution of others under § 5K1.1. Additionally, the court considered the
§ 3553(a) factors. Based on an offense level of twelve, and a criminal history category of VI
(because of numerous prior convictions), the court sentenced Gates to thirty-two months
imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and restitution of $17,795.
        B. Appellant Conley’s Role
       Conley was an organizer of the scheme, and he recruited Gates into the plan. Conley was
also responsible for obtaining stolen identifications used for cashing the counterfeit checks.
According to testimony from co-conspirators, Conley went to bars frequented by college students.
Once there, he would seek out patrons that resembled the individuals who would later cash the
checks. He would follow the students home, enter their homes, and steal their identifications.
        As part of his plea agreement with the Government, Conley agreed to plead guilty to Counts
One, Two, Six, and Thirty-Seven of the indictment. Count One charged Conley with conspiring to
open the U.S. Mail in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371; Count Two with obstructing correspondence in
violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1702; Count Six with using stolen identification in violation of 18 U.S.C.
§ 1028; and Count Thirty-Seven, committing bank fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1344. In
exchange for his guilty plea and agreeing to cooperate with the investigation, the Government agreed
to move to dismiss the remaining counts of the indictment, to not oppose a request for reduction of
his offense level for acceptance of responsibility, and to consider filing a motion for reduction of
sentence pursuant to sentencing guidelines § 5K1.1, if Conley fully cooperated and materially and
substantially assisted the Government in the investigation or prosecution of others. Conley
acknowledged, as part of the plea agreement, that the determination of whether substantial assistance
was provided was in the sole discretion of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and that the Government was
not promising to file such a motion.
        The U.S. Attorney’s office did not file a § 5K1.1 motion for a downward departure for
substantial assistance to the authorities, choosing instead to file a motion for an upward 1departure
based on the number of victims of the crime and Conley’s prior criminal history. JA 205. Conley
opposed the motion on the basis that it deprived him of the benefit of his plea bargain and “[left] him
out in the cold.”
        After considering the § 3553(a) factors, the district court found a total offense level of
twenty-one. The court determined that Conley had a Base Offense Level of six, and added a ten-
level enhancement for an amount of loss of $183,755, a two-level enhancement for more than ten
victims, a two-level enhancement for the production or trafficking of unauthorized access devices,
a four-level enhancement for Conley’s role as an organizer or leader of the conspiracy, and a three-
level decrease for acceptance of responsibility. The court found that Conley had a criminal history
category of VI, based on numerous prior convictions.

        1
          While the Government identified the motion as one for an upward departure, the court stated “I don’t really
think you call those departures anymore, but nonetheless . . . .” The court then proceeded, treating the government’s
motion as one “for - - you might say, going outside the guideline range.” JA 212-213.
Nos. 05-1818/2006 United States v. Gates, et al.                                              Page 4

        Despite the Government’s motion for an upward departure, based on the number of victims,
the prior criminal history, and the nature of the crimes, the court sentenced Conley within the
original guideline calculation. Conley was sentenced to ninety-six months’ imprisonment, sixty
months on Counts One and Two, and ninety-six months on Counts Six and Thirty-Seven, to run
concurrently; three years supervised release on Counts One, Two and Six, and five years on Count
Thirty-Seven, to run concurrently; and restitution in the amount of $129,215.
                                          II. ANALYSIS
        Gates brings three issues on appeal. First, he argues that the district court erred in using a
preponderance of the evidence standard when it engaged in judicial fact-finding in order to
determine his sentence. He claims that the preponderance standard violated both his Fifth
Amendment due process rights and his Sixth Amendment right to jury trial. Second, he argues that
even under a preponderance of the evidence standard, there was insufficient evidence for the court
to find that he acted as a manager or supervisor of the scheme. Third, he argues that the doctrine
of constitutional avoidance requires a beyond a reasonable doubt standard for judicial fact-finding
at sentencing.
        Conley advances one issue on appeal. He raises a claim of prosecutorial misconduct,
because he entered into a plea agreement with the possibility of a § 5K1.1 motion for a downward
departure based on substantial assistance to the authorities, yet the government filed a motion for
an upward departure based on the number of victims of the crime and Conley’s prior criminal
history. We consider each issue in turn.
       A. Preponderance of the Evidence Standard
         Gates argues that the district court erred when it engaged in judicial fact-finding using a
preponderance of the evidence standard during his sentencing. While he acknowledges that this
court has, “at least by implication, approved the preponderance of evidence standard of proof,” he
argues that this standard violates the defendant’s right to due process of law. He claims that United
States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220 (2005), did not address a defendant’s Fifth Amendment due process
rights, and that “when there is a potential loss of liberty the government bears the burden of proving
guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.” Appellant’s Br. at 15 (quoting In re Winship, 397 U.S. 358, 363
(1970)). He urges the court to “announce a requirement that contested facts that will enhance the
sentence range require proof beyond a reasonable doubt.” Id. at 19.
       In response, the Government claims that since Booker was decided, this Court has
determined that district courts continue to have the power to engage in fact-finding in sentencing
determinations, just as they did prior to Booker. See United States v. Milan, 398 F.3d 445, 456 (6th
Cir. 2005) (stating “the district court is free to – and obviously will – engage in fact-finding as it
considers various options”). Moreover, the Government argues that this court has found that a
preponderance of the evidence standard is appropriate for sentencing determinations. “This Circuit
in unreported decisions has held that preponderance is the appropriate burden of proof at
sentencing.” Appellee’s Br. at 13 (citing United States v. Rodriguez-Ruiz, Nos. 04-1697, 04-1754,
2005 WL 3440343 (6th Cir. Dec. 14, 2005); United States v. Warwick, No. 04-6265, 2005 WL
2293478 (6th Cir. Sept. 20, 2005)).
        This court reviews a constitutional challenge to a sentence de novo. United States v. Beverly,
369 F.3d 516, 536 (6th Cir. 2004). In United States v. Coffee, 434 F.3d 887 (6th Cir. 2006), we
stated that judicial fact-finding for sentencing purposes must continue as it was conducted prior to
Booker, under a preponderance of the evidence standard. Id. at 897-98; see also United States v.
Green, No. 05-3786, 2006 WL 1307999, at *2 (6th Cir. May 12, 2006) (explaining that “this court
Nos. 05-1818/2006 United States v. Gates, et al.                                               Page 5

has consistently turned aside constitutional challenges to sentences premised on preponderance of
the evidence judicial fact-finding”).
         We find that the district court committed no Fifth or Sixth Amendment violation when it
used a preponderance of the evidence standard. Prior to Booker, the sentencing guidelines called
for the use of a preponderance of the evidence standard at sentencing “to meet due process
requirements and policy concerns,” U.S.S.G. § 6A1.3, and this court held that the requirements of
due process were met when courts engaged in fact-finding using a preponderance of the evidence
standard. United States v. Mayle, 334 F.3d 552, 556 (6th Cir. 2003) (noting that the “Supreme Court
has held that application of the preponderance standard at sentencing generally satisfies due
process”). Following Booker, we stated in United States v. Milan, 398 F.3d 445, 455-56 (6th Cir
2005): “Indeed, the Supreme Court severed and excised 18 U.S.C. § 3553(b)(1) which required
district courts to sentence defendants ‘within the applicable Guidelines range’ but recognized that
the ‘remainder of the [Sentencing Reform Act] functions independently.’” In Milan, we considered
the defendant’s Sixth Amendment challenge to his sentence, but the rationale underpinning the
holding is equally applicable to Gates’s Fifth Amendment challenge. Therefore, we find that
judicial fact-finding in sentencing proceedings using a preponderance of the evidence standard post-
Booker does not violate either Fifth Amendment due process rights, or the Sixth Amendment right
to trial by jury.
       B. Sufficiency of the Evidence
        Next, Gates argues that even if the preponderance of the evidence standard is proper, there
is inadequate evidence to support the enhancement of his sentence. In particular, he claims that
there was inadequate evidence showing that he exercised a leadership role in the check scheme, a
finding that led to a three-point enhancement in his sentencing determination. He claims that
although he admitted to recruiting two people into the scheme, he denied that he was a manager or
a supervisor. Further, he claims that there is no factual support for the court’s conclusion that he
gave instructions to Heistand, another member of the conspiracy, concerning what role Heistand
would play. Gates claims that there was nothing in the PSR to show that he was acting in a
management role. He states that he had no control over the division of proceeds, and that Conley
was the one who directed the other conspirators to present the counterfeit checks for cashing. Id.
         The Government counters Gates’s arguments by referring to the sentencing guidelines, which
state: “If the defendant was a manager or supervisor (but not an organizer or leader) and the
criminal activity involved five or more participants or was otherwise extensive, increase by 3
levels.” Appellee’s Br. at 17 (quoting U.S.S.G. § 3B1.1(b)). The comment to the guidelines outline
the factors that the district court should consider when deciding whether an enhancement is proper:
1. the exercise of decision making authority; 2. the nature of participation in the commission of the
offense; 3. the recruitment of accomplices; 4. the claimed right to a larger share of the fruits of the
crime; 5. the degree of participation in planning or organizing the offense; 6. the nature and scope
of the illegal activity; and 7. the degree of control and authority exercised over others. Id. (citing
U.S.S.G. § 3B1.1 cmt., n.4.) It is not necessary for the defendant to meet each of these requirements.
United States v. Ospina, 18 F.3d 1332, 1337 (6th Cir. 1994).
        Next, the Government cites United States v. McDaniel, 398 F.3d 540 (6th Cir. 2005), a case
with similar facts to those here. In McDaniel, the defendants engaged in a scheme to steal outgoing
checks from the U.S. Mail. Id. at 543. Then, they altered the checks and inserted the names of the
individuals who were recruited to cash the checks. Id. In that case, we found that even though a
defendant was not the primary organizer of the scheme, the fact that he recruited another co-
conspirator and taught him the method for altering the checks was enough evidence to support an
enhancement as a manager or supervisor. Id. at 552.
Nos. 05-1818/2006 United States v. Gates, et al.                                               Page 6

         We review a district court’s decision concerning a defendant’s role in an offense for clear
error. “A district court’s determination regarding a defendant’s role in the offense is reversible only
if clearly erroneous.” United States v. Davis, 306 F.3d 398, 423 (6th Cir. 2002). In this case, Gates
admitted to recruiting other individuals to act as check-cashers. He proposed the scheme to the
recruits, drove them to the bank, and shared in the proceeds. See Sent. Tr. JA 183 (district court
relying on grand jury testimony of co-conspirator to determine Gates’s involvement). There is no
question that there were more than five participants in the scheme. See PSR, JA 225 (listing seven
co-defendants). In view of the directions in the sentencing guidelines, and our ruling in McDaniel,
the district court did not commit clear error when it found that Gates was a manager.
       C. Constitutional Avoidance
        In Gates’s final issue on appeal, he claims that the doctrine of constitutional avoidance
requires the trial court to use a beyond a reasonable doubt standard at sentencing. He states: “In
the absence of statutes or guidelines foreclosing proof beyond a reasonable doubt and where there
is a serious doubt as to the constitutionality of the use of the preponderance standard, the court
should re-examine [Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 32] and the Guidelines and interpret them
in a way that avoids any constitutional issues.” Appellant’s Br. at 24.
        The Government argues that the doctrine does not apply in this instance, because it is
reserved for situations in which the court is asked to choose between competing plausible
interpretations of statutory text. The Supreme Court explained the doctrine in Rust v. Sullivan, 500
U.S. 173, 190 (1991) (quoting Blodgett v. Holden, 275 U.S. 142, 148 (1927)), stating: “as between
two possible interpretations of a statute, by one of which it would be unconstitutional and by the
other valid, our plain duty is to adopt that which will save the Act.”
        The Government asserts that there is no ambiguity in the guidelines. “The guidelines clearly
state that the sentencing court can consider information that ‘has sufficient indicia of reliability to
support its probable accuracy.’” Appellee’s Br. at 21 (quoting U.S.S.G. § 6A1.3 (a)). The comment
to U.S.S.G. § 6A1.3(a) states that the commission believes that a preponderance of the evidence
standard is appropriate in order to meet due process requirements for sentencing. Id., cmt.
        We review a constitutional challenge to a sentence de novo. United States v. Beverly, 369
F.3d 516, 536 (6th Cir. 2004). As the Government has properly pointed out, the doctrine of
constitutional avoidance is inapplicable here, because the guidelines are not susceptible to two
competing interpretations, one that would raise constitutional concerns, and one that would not. For
this reason, Gates’s final issue on appeal is without merit.
       D. Conley’s Issue on Appeal
         Conley advances one issue on appeal. He claims that the district court committed plain error
when it failed to find prosecutorial misconduct on the part of the U.S. Attorney for not filing a
§ 5K1.1 motion, which rendered the proceeding unfair and resulted in a sentence that violates due
process. He claims that instead, the Government asked for an upward departure in Conley’s
sentence in “direct opposition to its promise in the plea agreement entered into with defendant dated
March 11, 2005, which states the U.S. Attorney’s Office will decide whether to file a motion for a
reduction of sentence pursuant to Sentencing Guidelines § 5K1.1 and Rule 35(b) of the Federal
Rules of Criminal Procedure.” Appellant’s Br. at 4. He claims that the Government left him “out
in the cold” when it did not ask for a reduction in his sentence based on his “substantial assistance,”
and instead asked for an upward departure based on uncharged conduct. Conley does not deny the
basis of the Government’s request for an upward departure (his breaking and entering in order to
steal identifications from his victims), but instead claims that the upward departure “contravenes the
spirit of the plea bargain.” Appellant’s Br. at 5.
Nos. 05-1818/2006 United States v. Gates, et al.                                               Page 7

        In response, the Government offers the content of the plea agreement. The agreement states,
in relevant part:
       The U.S. Attorney’s Office will decide whether to file a motion for reduction of
       sentence pursuant to Sentencing Guidelines § 5K1.1 and Rule 35(b) of the Federal
       Rules of Criminal Procedure. The defendant fully understands that such a motion
       may be made pursuant to law if, and only if, the Defendant fully cooperates with the
       Government and materially and substantially assists the Government in the
       investigation or prosecution of others. The determination of whether the Defendant
       has provided substantial assistance to the United States, or to designated state or
       local law enforcement authorities, will be made in the sole discretion of the U.S.
       Attorney’s Office. The Defendant fully understands that this paragraph is not a
       promise by the Government to file such a motion.
Appellee’s Br. at 7 (quoting Conley Plea Agreement JA 67) (emphasis added in brief).
         The Government then offers its statement at Conley’s sentencing hearing as an explanation
for its failure to request the downward departure.
       Your Honor, Mr. Hettinger made reference to Mr. Conley’s cooperation. I don’t
       want this Court to go forward without mentioning that Mr. Conley, as part of his plea
       agreement, committed to cooperation with the government. And he did, in fact, meet
       on at least two occasions with Special Agent Schichtel and Postal Inspector Locke
       and proffered information. I think [the lack of a § 5K1.1 downward departure
       motion] is a function of two things. First of all, Mr. Conley, being one of the last
       individuals to come in and speak to the government, is in a position of providing
       information that had been shared by everyone else and was not in a position to do
       anything on his own behalf. [Second] [h]e attempted to provide information
       regarding other offenses, but that information was vague and much of it was just not
       of substantial assistance in the investigation or prosecution of others.
Appellee’s Br. at 8 (quoting Conley Sentencing Tr. 17-18, JA 215-16). The Government points out
that seven co-conspirators cooperated before Conley was even arrested.
        The Government also states that Conley failed to raise this issue below, although Conley
complained that he had given information pertaining to the investigation and was “punished” with
a motion for an upward departure rather than rewarded with a downward departure. Conley never
raised a claim of prosecutorial misconduct below, nor did he file a motion to compel the filing of
a § 5K1.1 departure motion. However, the Government acknowledges that Conley’s assistance was
discussed during the sentencing.
        This circuit will review a claim for prosecutorial misconduct based on the Government’s
failure to enter a § 5K1.1 motion for a downward departure only if there is a claim of an
unconstitutional motivation. United States v. Benjamin, 138 F.3d 1069, 1073 (6th Cir. 1998) (citing
Wade v. United States, 504 U.S. 181, 185-86 (1992) (“We hold that federal district courts have
authority to review a prosecutor’s refusal to file a substantial-assistance motion and to grant a
remedy if they find that the refusal was based on an unconstitutional motive.”)). A claim based on
bad faith is not reviewable. See United States v. Moore, 225 F.3d 637, 641 (6th Cir. 2000).
Nos. 05-1818/2006 United States v. Gates, et al.                                                               Page 8

       Because Conley failed to raise this issue below, and he has alleged no unconstitutional
motivation in this instance,2 his prosecutorial misconduct claim is not reviewable by this court.
                                              III. CONCLUSION
     For all of the aforementioned reasons, the sentences imposed by the district court are
AFFIRMED.

         2
          Conley claims that the Government left him “out in the cold” when it failed to enter the motion for a downward
departure, a claim that can be interpreted, at best, as a bad faith claim. JA at 4.