Court Opinion

ID: 2973628
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-22 17:04:57.008182+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:32:24.561853
License: Public Domain

NOT RECOMMENDED FOR FULL-TEXT PUBLICATION
                           File Name: 06a0258n.06
                            Filed: April 13, 2006

                                           No. 05-1028

                          UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                               FOR THE SIXTH CIRCUIT

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,                        )
                                                 )
       Plaintiff-Appellee,                       )
                                                 )    ON APPEAL FROM THE UNITED
v.                                               )    STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE
                                                 )    WESTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN
PAUL MICHAEL SEDORE,                             )
                                                 )
       Defendant-Appellant.                      )

       Before: SUHRHEINRICH, ROGERS and COOK, Circuit Judges.

       PER CURIAM. Paul Michael Sedore appeals his sentence for identity theft in violation of

18 U.S.C. § 1028(a)(7) and defrauding the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in violation of 18 U.S.C.

§ 286. We vacate the sentence and remand the case for re-sentencing under the now-advisory

provisions of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and the factors identified in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a), in

accordance with United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220 (2005). We also provide guidance regarding

the application of certain Guidelines provisions Sedore challenges with this appeal.

       First, in determining whether Sedore abused a position of trust under U.S.S.G. § 3B1.3, the

district court may reevaluate whether Sedore occupied a position of trust, reassessing who qualifies

as a victim within the meaning of U.S.S.G. § 2B1.1 cmt n.1—the IRS and/or the individuals whose

personal information Sedore used for his scheme. See United States v. Guidry, 199 F.3d 1150, 1160
No. 05-1028
United States v. Sedore

(10th Cir. 1999) (holding that a “position of trust must be found in relation to the victim of the

offense” and concluding that, although the government was the victim of the defendant’s false tax-

return filings, the defendant did not occupy a position of trust with the government).

       Second, the district court may reexamine its decision to enhance Sedore’s sentence for

obstruction of justice under U.S.S.G. § 3C1.1 by determining whether Sedore acted “with

knowledge that he . . . [was] the subject of an investigation or with the correct belief that an

investigation [of him] [was] probably underway.” United States v. Brown, 237 F.3d 625, 628 (6th

Cir. 2001) (internal quotations omitted); accord United States v. Baggett, 342 F.3d 536, 541 (6th Cir.

2003) (“[A] defendant who engages in obstructive conduct prior to the investigation, prosecution,

or sentencing of the instant offense is not subject to the enhancement.”).

      The sentence is vacated and the case is remanded to the district court for re-sentencing.

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