Court Opinion

ID: 3017615
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-13 22:17:45.4859+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:47:06.360964
License: Public Domain

___________

                                    No. 96-1175
                                    ___________

United States of America,               *
                                        *
              Appellee,                 *
                                        *   Appeal from the United States
     v.                                 *   District Court for the
                                        *   Northern District of Iowa.
Rickie Perkins,                         *
                                        *         [UNPUBLISHED]
              Appellant.                *

                                    __________

                      Submitted:    November 20, 1996

                           Filed:   November 29, 1996
                                    __________

Before BOWMAN, MAGILL, and LOKEN, Circuit Judges.

                                    ___________

PER CURIAM.

     Rickie Perkins pleaded guilty to theft of government funds, in
violation of 18 U.S.C. § 641.        The district court1 assessed a two-level
increase for more than minimal planning under U.S. Sentencing Guidelines
Manual § 2B1.1(b)(4)(A), because Perkins' conduct involved repeated acts
over a period of time; and imposed a sentence of twelve months and a day.
On appeal, counsel challenges the two-level increase in a brief filed
pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967).       Perkins was granted
leave to file a pro se supplemental brief, but he has not done so.           We
affirm.

     We review for clear error the district court's finding that

     1
      The Honorable Michael J. Melloy, Chief Judge, United States
District Court for the Northern District of Iowa.
Perkins engaged in more than minimal planning.           See United States v. Sykes,
4 F.3d 697, 699-700 (8th Cir. 1993) (per curiam).                "'More than minimal
planning' means more planning than is typical for commission of the offense
in a simple form," and "is deemed present in any case involving repeated
acts over a period of time, unless it is clear that each instance was
purely opportune."          U.S. Sentencing Guidelines Manual § 1B1.1, comment.
(n.1(f)).

        After    Perkins    was    discharged   from   his   railroad   job,   he   began
receiving unemployment insurance benefits from the United States Railroad
Retirement Board.         To collect benefits, Perkins was required to complete
a claim form bi-weekly.           From August 1992 to June 1993, Perkins submitted
thirteen forms on which he falsely indicated that he was not employed
elsewhere, wrongfully claiming benefits for 110 days on which he had
actually worked for other employers.              We conclude the district court did
not clearly err in finding more than minimal planning, because Perkins
repeatedly submitted misleading claim forms over an extended period of
time.    See United States v. Callaway, 943 F.2d 29, 31 (8th Cir. 1991); see
also Sykes, 4 F.3d at 699-700 (repetitive nature of criminal conduct,
alone, may warrant increase).

        Having carefully reviewed the record, we have found no nonfrivolous
issue for appeal.         See Penson v. Ohio, 488 U.S. 75, 80 (1988).          Counsel's
motion to withdraw is granted.

        Accordingly, the judgment of the district court is affirmed.

        A true copy.

                Attest:

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

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