Court Opinion

ID: 3019950
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-13 22:21:59.992874+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:46:33.103222
License: Public Domain

United States Court of Appeals

                             FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT
                                    ___________

                                    No. 97-2972
                                    ___________

United States of America,                *
                                         *
             Appellee,                   *
                                         * Appeal from the United States
      v.                                 * District Court for the
                                         * District of Minnesota.
James Dale Castleberry,                  *
                                         *    [UNPUBLISHED]
             Appellant.                  *
                                    ___________

                            Submitted: January 7, 1998
                                Filed: January 12, 1998
                                    ___________

Before McMILLIAN, BEAM, and MORRIS SHEPPARD ARNOLD, Circuit Judges.
                             ___________

PER CURIAM.

       James Dale Castleberry challenges the 54-month sentence imposed by the
district court1 after he pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud, in violation of 18
U.S.C. § 1341; one count of embezzlement, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 666(a)(1)(A)
and (B); and one count of submitting a false tax return, in violation of 26 U.S.C.
§ 7206(1).2 We affirm.

      1
        The Honorable Michael James Davis, United States District Judge for the
District of Minnesota.
      2
       Specifically, Castleberry was sentenced to 54 months imprisonment on the mail
fraud charge, a concurrent 54-month sentence on the embezzlement charge, and a
concurrent 12-month sentence on the failure-to-file charge.
       At sentencing the district court departed upward from the 24-to-30 month
Guidelines imprisonment range to 60 months, crediting Castleberry with six months
served on a state sentence. For reversal, Castleberry first challenges the extent of the
departure. We reject his challenge. Castleberry, who was the chief deputy of the
Carver County Sheriff&s Department (sheriff&s department), stipulated in his plea
agreement that he falsely solicited charitable donations from individuals and businesses
who believed they were contributing to the sheriff&s department; Castleberry also
diverted funds from donations based on the sheriff&s department&s participation in the
Drug Abuse Resistance and Education program, and from fees--which Castleberry
overstated--for security provided by the sheriff&s department at a golf tournament. Over
a period of years, Castleberry diverted over $340,000 in such funds.

       The district court concluded departure was appropriate because Castleberry&s
actions had caused a loss of confidence in the sheriff&s department, significantly
disrupted the functioning of the sheriff&s department, and endangered public safety. In
the circumstances of this case, we believe the district court did not abuse its discretion
in departing to the extent it did. See Koon v. United States, 116 S. Ct. 2035, 2047-48
(1996) (standard of review); cf. United States v. Hart, 70 F.3d 854, 861-62 (6th Cir.
1995) (upward departure from 63 months to 10 years imprisonment was reasonable
based on Detroit chief of police&s level of responsibility and trust, and conversion of
$2.3 million in department funds, which interfered with department&s ability to prevent,
investigate, and prosecute crimes), cert. denied, 116 S. Ct. 1368 (1996).

      Next, Castleberry argues the district court erred in applying an enhancement
pursuant to U.S. Sentencing Guidelines Manual § 2F1.1(b)(3)(A) (1997) which
provides that two levels are added to a defendant&s base offense level if the offense
involved “a misrepresentation that the defendant was acting on behalf of a . . .
government agency.” Castleberry argues that this Guideline is ambiguous because it

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is unclear whether it applies to conduct such as Castleberry&s; specifically, Castleberry
maintains his conduct may not be covered because he did not misrepresent that he was
acting on behalf of the sheriff&s department but, instead, where the money was going.
We believe section 2F1.1(b)(3)(A) clearly applies as Castleberry informed potential
donors he was collecting funds on behalf of the sheriff&s department when he actually
was collecting funds on behalf of himself. See United States v. Lilly, 37 F.3d 1222,
1224-25, 1227-28 (7th Cir. 1994) (finding § 2F1.1(b)(3)(A) enhancement appropriate
when pastor told investors funds would be used to finance church improvements and
to build retirement complex, but took significant portion of proceeds for personal use),
cert. denied, 513 U.S. 1175 (1995).

      We likewise reject Castleberry&s final argument that the district court violated
Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 32(c)(3)(B) which mandates that, before imposing
sentence, the court must give defense counsel an opportunity to speak on behalf of the
defendant. See Fed. R. Crim. P. 32(c)(3)(B). A review of the sentencing transcript
unequivocally shows the district court heard argument from defense counsel as to the
government&s departure request and then inquired whether counsel had any further
comment before it imposed sentence at which time defense counsel spoke again.

      Accordingly, the judgment is affirmed.

      A true copy.

             Attest:

                     CLERK, U.S. COURT OF APPEALS, EIGHTH CIRCUIT.

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