Court Opinion

ID: 618521
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2011-12-08 14:48:52+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:50:45.060355
License: Public Domain

[DO NOT PUBLISH]

             IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

                      FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT           FILED
                       ________________________ U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
                                                          ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
                                                           DECEMBER 8, 2011
                              No. 11-11599
                          Non-Argument Calendar               JOHN LEY
                                                               CLERK
                        ________________________

                   D.C. Docket No. 1:10-cr-20707-CMA-2

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                      Plaintiff-Appellee,

                                    versus

RENE HORTA,

                                                      Defendant-Appellant.

                        ________________________

                 Appeal from the United States District Court
                     for the Southern District of Florida
                       ________________________

                             (December 8, 2011)

Before HULL, PRYOR and ANDERSON, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:

     Rene Horta appeals his 70-month total sentence, imposed after he pleaded
guilty to 1 count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C.

§ 1349, and 88 counts of bank fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1344(1). Horta

argues that the district court erred in calculating the intended loss under the

sentencing guidelines. We sua sponte raise the issue of a clerical error in Horta’s

judgment and commitment order.

                                           I.

      Horta argues that the district court erred in calculating the amount of

intended loss because the government presented no reliable or specific evidence at

the sentencing hearing, instead relying on information already presented to the

court and the government’s proffer.

      Normally, “a district court’s determination regarding the amount of loss for

sentencing purposes is reviewed for clear error.” United States v. Medina, 485

F.3d 1291, 1303 (11th Cir. 2007) (quotation omitted). However, where a

defendant fails to clearly articulate the grounds for an objection or fails to raise a

specific sentencing argument in the district court, this Court applies the plain error

standard. See United States v. Massey, 443 F.3d 814, 818 (11th Cir. 2006)

(addressing the clarity of an objection to the guidelines calculation). To succeed

on this point, Horta must show (1) an error that (2) is plain, (3) affects substantial

rights, and (4) seriously affects the fairness, integrity, or public reputation of

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judicial proceedings. United States v. Olano, 507 U.S. 725, 732, 113 S.Ct. 1770,

1776, 123 L.Ed.2d 508 (1993). For an error to affect substantial rights, it

generally “must have been prejudicial: It must have affected the outcome of the

district court proceedings.” Id. at 734, 113 S.Ct. at 1778.

      At sentencing, the government must prove by a preponderance of the

evidence any fact to be considered by the district court, United States v. Duncan,

400 F.3d 1297, 1304 (11th Cir. 2005), including the applicability of any guidelines

enhancements, United States v. Ndiaye, 434 F.3d 1270, 1300 (11th Cir. 2006).

When a defendant challenges a fact in the presentence report, the government’s

burden of proof is triggered. United States v. Lawrence, 47 F.3d 1559, 1566 (11th

Cir. 1995). The burden must be satisfied with “reliable and specific evidence.”

United States v. Sepulveda, 115 F.3d 882, 890 (11th Cir. 1997). “The findings of

fact of the sentencing court may be based on evidence heard during trial, facts

admitted by a defendant’s plea of guilty, undisputed statements in the presentence

report, or evidence presented at the sentencing hearing.” United States v. Wilson,

884 F.2d 1355, 1356 (11th Cir. 1989). Failure to object to an allegation in the

presentence report constitutes an admission for sentencing purposes, and failure to

object to a sentencing court’s findings of fact precludes the argument on appeal

that the findings were erroneous. United States v. Wade, 458 F.3d 1273, 1277

                                          3
(11th Cir. 2007).

      Under U.S.S.G. § 2B1.1(b)(1)(L), the defendant’s offense level is enhanced

by 22 levels if the loss was between $20 million and $50 million. The amount is

either the actual loss or the intended loss, whichever is greater. U.S.S.G.

§ 2B1.1(b)(1), comment. (n.3(A)). “‘Actual loss’ means the reasonably

foreseeable pecuniary harm that resulted from the offense.” U.S.S.G. § 2B1.1,

comment. (n.3(A)(i)). On the other hand, “intended loss” is the monetary harm

“that was intended to result from the offense.” Id., comment. (n.3(A)(ii)). Overall,

the district court needs only to make a reasonable estimate of the loss amount.

U.S.S.G. § 2B1.1, comment. (n.3(A)(ii)).

      Because he did not explicitly object to the reliability and specificity of the

evidence underlying the court’s findings, Horta’s challenge to the reliability and

specificity of the evidence at sentencing is reviewed for plain error. We conclude

that the district court’s findings were not plainly erroneous and its determination

of intended loss under U.S.S.G. § 2B1.1 was supported by a body of undisputed,

reliable, and specific evidence. The district court made clear that its consideration

of intended loss included Horta’s conduct and was not solely reliant on the face

value of the checks. Because Horta failed to present any countervailing evidence

as to intended loss, the district court was “especially justified in including the

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checks’ full face value in its intended loss calculation.” United States v. Grant,

431 F.3d 760, 765 (11th Cir. 2005). Therefore, the district court committed no

plain error in setting the amount of intended loss at $23,499,921.

                                          II.

        This Court may sua sponte raise the issue of clerical errors in the judgment

and remand with instructions that the district court correct the errors. See Massey,

443 F.3d at 822 (remanding with directions to the district court to correct the

clerical errors where the statute cited in the judgment and commitment order was

incorrect). Furthermore, “[i]t is fundamental error for a court to enter a judgment

of conviction against a defendant who has not been charged, tried, or found guilty

of the crime recited in the judgment.” United States v. Diaz, 190 F.3d 1247, 1252

(11th Cir. 1999).

      The indictment and judgment reference a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1349,

conspiracy to commit bank fraud, for Count 1. However, the indictment includes

88 counts of bank fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1344, while the judgment

erroneously labels these 88 counts of bank fraud as additional conspiracy

violations. It is clear from the plea hearing that Horta pled to all counts listed in

the indictment and that, therefore, the reference to the 88 counts of conspiracy was

an error. Those 88 counts should be listed as bank fraud, under § 1344. Because

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the error in the judgment is clerical, we vacate and remand for the limited purpose

of correcting the error.

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

Horta’s sentence, but we vacate and remand to the district court with directions to

correct the clerical error contained in Horta’s judgment and commitment order.

      AFFIRMED IN PART; VACATED AND REMANDED IN PART.1

      1
             Horta’s request for oral argument is DENIED.

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