Court Opinion

ID: 4532964
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-05-08 16:00:39.634252+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:31:17.092733
License: Public Domain

United States Court of Appeals
                             For the Eighth Circuit
                         ___________________________

                                 No. 19-2353
                         ___________________________

                              United States of America

                         lllllllllllllllllllllPlaintiff - Appellee

                                            v.

                                      John Dailey

                       lllllllllllllllllllllDefendant - Appellant
                                       ____________

                     Appeal from United States District Court
                   for the Eastern District of Missouri - St. Louis
                                   ____________

                             Submitted: April 16, 2020
                               Filed: May 8, 2020
                                 ____________

Before SMITH, Chief Judge, WOLLMAN and GRASZ, Circuit Judges.
                             ____________

GRASZ, Circuit Judge.

       John Dailey, a podiatrist, pled guilty to submitting false reimbursement claims
for services in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1347 and 18 U.S.C. § 2, and creating a
materially false patient progress note in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1035(a)(2) and 18
U.S.C. § 2. The district court1 sentenced him to 27 months of imprisonment. Dailey
argues the district court committed procedural errors, including making a clearly
erroneous factual finding when refusing to depart downward under United States
Sentencing Guidelines Manual (“Guidelines” or “U.S.S.G.”) § 5H1.4. He also argues
the district court imposed a substantively unreasonable sentence. We affirm.

                                  I. Background

      Dailey worked for Aggeus Health Care, providing podiatry services to residents
of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. During his tenure, Dailey
submitted false Medicare reimbursement claims and progress notes. Dailey’s
fraudulent acts cost the United States $492,608.

       Dailey pled guilty to violating 18 U.S.C. § 1347(a)(1) and (2), and
§ 1035(a)(2). A presentence investigation report (“PSR”) was prepared, which
calculated his total offense level as 17 and his criminal history category as II. This
resulted in a recommended prison sentence of 27 to 33 months under the Guidelines.

       Between his plea and sentencing, Dailey was diagnosed with cutaneous T-cell
lymphoma mycosis fungoides, a rare, chronic, and incurable cancer. At sentencing,
Dailey asked the district court to depart downward from the advisory Guidelines
range under U.S.S.G. § 5H1.4, due to the diagnosis reflecting his physical
impairment. Dailey argued a sentence permitting home detention would allow for his
highly-specialized treatment to continue and would be as “efficient as, and less costly
than, imprisonment.” U.S.S.G. § 5H1.4. Dailey also asked the district court to vary
downward from the recommended sentence, in part because it was higher than the
sentences imposed on people he claims were the masterminds of the fraudulent

      1
       The Honorable Ronnie L. White, United States District Judge for the Eastern
District of Missouri.

                                         -2-
scheme. The district court declined to depart or vary downward and sentenced Dailey
to 27 months of imprisonment. During the sentencing hearing, the district court
erroneously stated Dailey was “being treated for skin lesions that may become
cancerous.” (emphasis added).

       Dailey appealed the sentence, arguing among other things that the district
court’s failure to recognize he already had cancer was procedural error. After oral
argument to this court, the government moved to remand the case to the district court
for resentencing. The government stated that “[i]n light of information developed and
received since the . . . sentencing, it appear[ed] that the interests of judicial economy
would be better served in this case by remanding the case to the district court.” The
government explained the parties would then be able to present to the district court
evidence regarding Dailey’s medical condition, as well as the ability of the Bureau
of Prisons to provide adequate treatment. We granted the government’s motion and
remanded the case to the district court for a full resentencing in January 2019.

       The district court conducted a resentencing hearing in June 2019. Once again,
Dailey asked the district court to depart and vary downward from the recommended
sentence for reasons similar to those previously advanced. The government again
opposed Dailey’s requests. The government presented testimony from a regional
director of the Bureau of Prisons, Paul Timothy Harvey, a licensed medical doctor
and captain in the U.S. Public Health Service. Dr. Harvey, testified that after
reviewing Dailey’s medical records, he believed the Bureau of Prisons could provide
all necessary treatment either on site at the prison or in the vicinity.

      After hearing the evidence and arguments from the parties, the district court
denied Dailey’s request for a downward departure and imposed the same sentence as
it had previously; 27 months of imprisonment. The district court explained the
government had established through Dr. Harvey’s testimony that the Bureau of
Prisons would be able to adequately continue Dailey’s treatment during his

                                          -3-
imprisonment. Dailey appealed, challenging the procedural soundness and
substantive reasonableness of his sentence. Specifically, he contests the district
court’s refusal to depart downward under U.S.S.G. § 5H1.4 and its imposition of a
sentence longer than ones received by other Medicare fraudsters.

                                     II. Analysis

       We review Dailey’s sentence under an abuse-of-discretion standard. United
States v. Feemster, 572 F.3d 455, 461 (8th Cir. 2009) (en banc). We first must
consider whether the district committed procedural error. Id. “‘Procedural error’
includes ‘failing to calculate (or improperly calculating) the Guidelines range,
treating the Guidelines as mandatory, failing to consider the § 3553(a) factors,
selecting a sentence based on clearly erroneous facts, or failing to adequately explain
the chosen sentence—including an explanation for any deviation from the Guidelines
range.’” Id. (quoting Gall v. United States, 552 U.S. 38, 51 (2007)). Absent
procedural error, we consider a sentence’s substantive reasonableness, taking into
account the totality of the circumstances. Id. We may presume a within-Guidelines
sentence is substantively reasonable. Id.

      We first consider Dailey’s argument that the district court committed clear error
in deciding not to depart downward under U.S.S.G. § 5H1.4. “Guideline § 5H1.4
permits a downward departure based on a defendant’s ‘extraordinary physical
impairment.’” United States v. Coughlin, 500 F.3d 813, 818 (8th Cir. 2007)
(quotingU.S.S.G. § 5H1.4).2 “A departure based on a physical condition is a

      2
          The relevant portion of Guideline § 5H1.4 states:

      Physical condition or appearance, including physique, may be relevant
      in determining whether a departure is warranted, if the condition or
      appearance, individually or in combination with other offender
      characteristics, is present to an unusual degree and distinguishes the case

                                          -4-
discouraged ground on which to depart and should be limited to exceptional
circumstances.” Id.

      We have identified three questions to determine whether an extraordinary
physical impairment exists to justify a downward departure: (1) whether the physical
condition of the defendant makes it so imprisonment would be more than a normal
hardship; (2) whether imprisonment would subject the defendant to more than normal
danger or inconvenience; specifically whether imprisonment would worsen the
defendant’s condition and whether the defendant requires special care the Bureau of
Prisons does not provide; and (3) whether the defendant’s physical condition has any
present effect on his or her ability to function. Id.

      Typically, we will not review a district court’s refusal to grant a downward
departure. United States v. McCoy, 847 F.3d 601, 607 (8th Cir. 2017). There are
exceptions to this rule, however, such as when the district court erroneously thought
it was without authority to grant a departure or when the district court had an
unconstitutional motive. Id.

       Here, Dailey maintains we may review, under a clear error standard, the district
court’s decision that his diagnosis and treatment did not constitute an extraordinary
physical condition for purposes of U.S.S.G. § 5H1.4. In support of his argument,
Dailey points to United States v. Robinson, where we explained the general rule
against reviewing denial of a downward departure did not foreclose review of a
district court’s finding that the defendant did not suffer from an extraordinary
physical impairment. 409 F.3d 979, 980–81 (8th Cir. 2005); accord United States v.
Denton, 434 F.3d 1104, 1115 (8th Cir. 2006) (reviewing the district court’s

      from the typical cases covered by the guidelines. An extraordinary
      physical impairment may be a reason to depart downward; e.g., in the
      case of a seriously infirm defendant, home detention may be as efficient
      as, and less costly than, imprisonment.

                                         -5-
determination that there was no extraordinary physical impairment for clear error).
In Robinson, we explained “an erroneous finding that the defendant lacks an
extraordinary physical impairment is an erroneous decision that the court lacks
authority to depart” from the Guidelines and we review that finding for clear error.
409 F.3d at 981. The government argues we got it wrong in Robinson, and that the
decision conflicts with numerous other decisions such as McCoy,3 where we applied
what the government contends is the “well-settled” rule.

       We need not resolve the apparent tension between Robinson and the McCoy
line of cases. Even if we were to assume Robinson controls, the district court’s
determination that Dailey’s diagnosis and treatment did not constitute an
extraordinary physical condition for purposes of U.S.S.G. § 5H1.4 was not clearly
erroneous. Dailey’s diagnosis no doubt confirms a very serious condition, which
creates special needs and requires specialized treatment. But through the testimony
of Dr. Harvey, the government convinced the district court of the Bureau of Prison’s
ability to accommodate Dailey’s condition and provide appropriate medical care.
After carefully reviewing the record, we are not left with a “definite and firm
conviction” that the district court was mistaken. See United States v. Garcia, 512
F.3d 1004, 1005 (8th Cir. 2008) (describing the clear error standard).

       Nor do we detect any other procedural error. Dailey’s complaint that the
district court inadequately explained its reasons for imposing the chosen sentence is

      3
       Besides McCoy, the government cites an array of cases, both before and after
Robinson, where we have refused to review the denial of a motion to depart
downward under U.S.S.G. § 5H1.4. See United States v. Wanna, 744 F.3d 584,
588–89 (8th Cir. 2014); United States v. Stong, 773 F.3d 920, 926 (8th Cir. 2014);
United States v. Varner, 678 F.3d 653, 658–59 (8th Cir. 2012); United States v.
Toothman, 543 F.3d 967, 971 (8th Cir. 2008); United States v. Washington, 467 F.3d
1122, 1124–25 (8th Cir. 2006); United States v. Eagle, 133 F.3d 608, 611 (8th Cir.
1998); United States v. Kessler, 48 F.3d 1064, 1065 (8th Cir. 1995).

                                         -6-
without merit. There is no requirement that the district court mechanically recite the
sentencing factors listed in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a), but “[r]ather, it simply must be clear
from the record that the district court actually considered the . . . factors in
determining the sentence.” Feemster, 572 F.3d at 461 (quoting United States v.
Walking Eagle, 553 F.3d 654, 659 (8th Cir. 2009)). Here, the district court referenced
the § 3553(a) factors and discussed several of them in detail. The district court took
into account the nature and circumstances of the offense, including Dailey’s role in
the Medicare fraud and the resulting harm to the United States taxpayers. The district
court also took into account Dailey’s history and characteristics, explaining Dailey
“enjoyed a childhood free of neglect or abuse,” “was actively raised by both parents
who remain married,” had “no history of mental issues or substance abuse,” and was
“being treated for a rare form of skin cancer.” And when Dailey argued that a
Guidelines sentence would create unwarranted disparities because the two
masterminds of the scheme were each sentenced to only twelve months of
imprisonment, the district court observed this alleged disparity was warranted
because Dailey had a prior conviction for virtually the same crime, increasing his
Criminal History for purposes of the Guidelines.

        It is true the district court’s explanation of its decision to not depart downward
under U.S.S.G. § 5H1.4 was less than robust. But looking at the record as a whole,
it is clear the district court considered the factors identified in Coughlin as relevant
when considering a downward departure. 500 F.3d at 818. The district court
explained that, after reviewing the record, it found Dailey’s “diagnosis and treatment
does not evidence an extraordinary physical condition that warrants departing
downward pursuant to U.S. Sentencing Guidelines Section 5H1.4.” Further, the
district court found persuasive Dr. Harvey’s testimony that the Bureau of Prisons
would be able to “adequately continue [Dailey’s] treatment during his confinement.”
Taken in light of the evidence presented at the resentencing hearing, which largely
focused on Dailey’s condition and the Bureau of Prisons’ ability to treat him, we
conclude the district court’s explanation was sufficient.

                                           -7-
       Having identified no procedural error, we are left only to decide whether
Dailey’s 27-month sentence is substantively unreasonable. “We begin from a
presumption of reasonableness given that his sentence is at the very bottom of the
applicable guideline range.” United States v. Sharkey, 895 F.3d 1077, 1080–81 (8th
Cir. 2018). Dailey tries to overcome this presumption by pointing to the disparity
between his sentence and the twelve-month sentences imposed on defendants he
claims were the masterminds of the Medicare-fraud scheme. But we agree with the
district court’s observation that the Guidelines recommended a longer sentence for
Dailey because of his higher Criminal History category, since he had previously
committed another similar crime. Thus, it is no surprise that Dailey received a longer
sentence. See United States v. Davis-Bey, 605 F.3d 479, 482–83 (8th Cir. 2010)
(recognizing U.S.S.G. § 3553(a)(6) directs courts to consider the need to avoid
unwarranted disparities among defendants with similar records, and holding a
difference in criminal history is a legitimate distinction warranting a disparity in
sentences).

      The within-Guidelines sentence was not substantively unreasonable.

                                  III. Conclusion

      We affirm the district court’s judgment.
                         __________________________

                                         -8-