Court Opinion

ID: 9557778
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 16:57:25.167443+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:06:49.985094
License: Public Domain

RILEY, Circuit Judge.
Thomas Coughlin (Coughlin), a successful and prominent corporate executive, pled guilty to six felony counts: five counts of aiding and abetting wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1343 and 2; and one count of filing false tax returns, in violation of 26 U.S.C. § 7206(1). After properly calculating an advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines range of 27 to 33 months’ imprisonment, the district court departed and varied downward eight levels, sentencing Coughlin to no imprisonment, 5 years’ probation under 18 U.S.C. § 3561(c)(1) of which 27 months is home detention, a $50,000 fine, and $411,218 in restitution. The government appeals. We reverse and remand.
I. BACKGROUND
From January 1997 to October 2001, Coughlin was Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.’s (Wal-Mart) Chief Operating Officer and then Wal-Mart’s Executive Vice President and Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors. During this period, Coughlin defrauded Wal-Mart by (1) directing that Wal-Mart employees’ travel vouchers be falsely adjusted to request unwarranted reimbursements, which were then converted into cash and pocketed by Coughlin; (2) falsifying invoices so Wal-Mart paid Coughlin’s personal expenses; (3) altering Wal-Mart employees’ expense vouchers to include fictitious expenses, which were then converted into cash and pocketed by Coughlin; (4) using large quantities of Wal-Mart gift cards for personal use; and (5) looting audio equipment and cameras using Wal-Mart’s Merchandise Transfer Report.
The United States Probation Office prepared a presentence investigation report (PSR). The PSR set Coughlin’s base offense level at 6 and, due to the amount of the loss, increased Coughlin’s offense level by 9 levels. See U.S.S.G. § 2Fl.l(a), (b)(l)(J).1 The PSR increased Coughlin’s offense level by 2 levels because the offense involved more than minimal planning, see id. § 2Fl.l(b)(2)(A), by 2 levels because Coughlin was the organizer of the criminal activity, see id. § 3Bl.l(c), and by 2 levels because Coughlin abused a position of trust, see id. § 3B1.3. Cough-lin’s adjusted offense level was 21. The PSR reduced Coughlin’s offense level by 3 levels for acceptance of responsibility. See id. § 3E1.1. Coughlin’s total offense level was 18, and Coughlin had a criminal history category I, resulting in an advisory Guidelines sentencing range of 27 to 33 months’ imprisonment.
At sentencing, the government and Coughlin stipulated the PSR properly calculated Coughlin’s advisory Guidelines *816sentencing range, and the court accepted the PSR’s calculation. The issues at sentencing were a departure based on Cough-lin’s health pursuant to Guideline § 5H1.4 and a variance based on the factors set forth at 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a).
Coughlin is in poor health. The record reflects Coughlin is six feet four inches tall and weighs about 330 pounds. Coughlin survived sudden cardiac death and has had an implantable cardioverter defibrillator since 2003. Coughlin presently suffers from cardiac arrhythmia, severe pulmonary hypertension, double vessel coronary atherosclerosis, type II diabetes, gout, eth-moid sinusitis, obesity, high blood pressure, severe allergies, and back and knee pain. Coughlin also suffers from severe obstructive sleep apnea, which necessitates the use of a continuous positive airway pressure machine at night to prevent a dangerous drop in Coughlin’s oxygen levels. Doctors have ordered Coughlin to control his weight and blood pressure since at least 1980, yet these warnings have generally gone unheeded.
Dr. Joel Carver (Dr. Carver), Coughlin’s treating physician, testified with a reasonable degree of medical certainty (1) sending Coughlin to prison would increase Coughlin’s stress level and significantly increase the risk of another heart attack; (2) Coughlin regularly took thirteen different medications, two of which Dr. Carver understood are not available through the Bureau of Prisons (BOP); and (3) Coughlin’s medications should not be changed. Dr. Carver has never visited a BOP facility and conceded he has no knowledge regarding how the BOP operates or treats the inmates medically, or even what medical capabilities exist within the BOP.2 Dr. Carver was asked on direct examination whether Coughlin could survive in the BOP, and Dr. Carver stated, “[it] honestly would be hard for me to speculate.” According to Dr. Carver, his medical opinion about Coughlin and the BOP is “[j]ust based on common sense.”
Dr. Tecora Ballom (Dr. Ballom), the Clinical Consultant for the South Central Region and Acting Clinical Director at the Federal Medical Center located at Cars-well, Texas, testified the BOP would review and assess Coughlin’s medical history and treat him appropriately. The BOP classifies inmates according to their medical needs. . Level one usually includes healthy patients with uncomplicated diseases who can perform the activities of daily living. Level two includes patients with chronic diseases who require more frequent monitoring. Level-three patients may not be able to perform all of the activities of daily living, require even more frequent monitoring, and are housed in a community with access to medical resources. Level-four patients have the most difficulty with daily living, require monitoring up to twenty-four hours a day, and are housed at medical referral centers.
Dr. Ballom testified Coughlin probably would be classified as a level-three patient (or possibly as a level-four patient), which would include access to medical treatment for patients with pacemakers and defibrillators and availability to a continuous positive airway pressure machine at night. Dr. Ballom discussed the procedure by which Coughlin could continue to take his current medications that are not typically available through the BOP. Dr. Ballom testified the BOP could help Coughlin cope with any increase in stress by using medical monitoring and possibly psychological or psychiatric consultations. Dr. Ballom noted Dr. Carver’s testimony concerning an increase in stress appeared to assume Coughlin would be housed at a level one or two prison from a camp situation to a *817maximum-security penitentiary rather than at a dormitory-style facility. Dr. Bal-lom also testified Coughlin’s health conditions might improve because Coughlin would be in a controlled environment.
The district court agreed with Dr. Bal-lom and found “[Coughlin] is at a very high risk. And [the court is] equating that to an extraordinary physical impairment and, therefore, under [Guideline § ] 5H1.4, [the court finds] that there should be a downward departure ... by a level of eight.” This resulted in an adjusted total offense level of 10 and an advisory Guidelines sentencing range of 6 to 12 months’ imprisonment. The district court further observed, in addition to a downward departure under Guideline § 5H1.4, Coughlin could be entitled to a downward departure under Guideline §§ 5H1.6 (concerning family ties and responsibilities as well as community ties), 5H1.11 (concerning charitable and employment-related contributions as well as prior good works), and 5K2.0 (concerning grounds for a departure not otherwise considered in the Guidelines). The district court declined to grant a further downward departure on these grounds because “the reduction given under [Guideline § 5H1.4] is appropriate.” The court sentenced Coughlin to no imprisonment, 5 years’ probation of which 27 months is home detention, a $50,000 fine, and $411,218 in restitution. In the alternative, if our court ruled on appeal that the district court abused its discretion in departing downward pursuant to Guideline § 5H1.4, the district court imposed an identical sentence as a non-Guidelines sentence, adopting the previous findings for a § 3558(a) analysis. The district court concluded “home detention with electronic monitoring is going to be in [Coughlin’s] best interests.” This appeal followed.
II. DISCUSSION
After United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220, 125 S.Ct. 738, 160 L.Ed.2d 621 (2005), the sentencing court first must calculate the advisory Guidelines sentencing range. See United States v. Ture, 450 F.3d 352, 356 (8th Cir.2006). Next, the sentencing court -must decide whether a traditional departure from the advisory Guidelines sentencing range is appropriate based either on Parts H or K of Chapter Five of the Guidelines, policy statements, or commentary. See United States v. Dalton, 478 F.3d 879, 881 (8th Cir.2007). The sentencing court has then arrived at a final advisor ry Guidelines sentencing range. Id. Then, the sentencing court must consider the factors set forth at 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) to determine whether to impose a sentence within or without the final advisory Guidelines sentencing range. See id.; United States v. Rouillard, 474 F.3d 551, 555 (8th Cir.2007). The sentencing court must impose a. sentence tailored to the § 3553(a) factors. See Booker, 543 U.S. at 245-46, 125 S.Ct. 738. On appeal, we address the reasonableness or unreasonableness of the sentence. See Rita v. United States, 551 U.S. —-, 127 S.Ct. 2456, 2465, 168 L.Ed.2d 203 (2007); Booker, 543 U.S. at 261, 125 S.Ct. 738.
A. Physical Condition Departure
.The first issue before the court is the propriety of the district court’s downward departure pursuant to Guideline § 5H1.4. We review for abuse of discretion departures from the Guidelines, Rouillard, 474 F.3d at 555, and review for clear error the district court’s factual finding that Coughlin suffers an extraordinary physical impairment, see United States v. Robinson, 409 F.3d 979, 981 (8th Cir.2005). If an appellate court “is left with the definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been committed,” then a factual finding is clearly erroneous even if some evidence supports the factual finding. Anderson v. City of Bessemer City, 470 U.S. 564, 573, 105 S.Ct. 1504, 84 L.Ed.2d 518 (1985).
*818Guideline § 5H1.4 permits a downward departure based on a defendant’s “extraordinary physical impairment.” 3 A departure based on a physical condition is a discouraged ground on which to depart and should be limited to exceptional circumstances. See Koon v. United States, 518 U.S. 81, 95-96, 116 S.Ct. 2035, 135 L.Ed.2d 392 (1996); United States v. Johnson, 318 F.3d 821, 823-24 (8th Cir.2003), vacated on other grounds, 416 F.3d 884 (8th Cir.2005). A defendant’s physical condition must be “assessed in the light of the situation the defendant would encounter while imprisoned.” Johnson, 318 F.3d at 826. To determine if an extraordinary physical impairment exists, we ask three questions. First, “[i]s the particular defendant’s physical condition such that he or she would find imprisonment more than the normal hardship?” United States v. Rabins, 63 F.3d 721, 729 (8th Cir.1995). Second, “[wjould imprisonment subject him or her to more than the normal inconvenience or danger?” Id. Specifically, would imprisonment worsen his or her condition or does he or she require special care not provided by the BOP? Id. at 728; accord Robinson, 409 F.3d at 981; Johnson, 318 F.3d at 826. Third, “[d]oes the physical condition have any substantial present effect on the defendant’s ability to function?” Rabins, 63 F.3d at 729.
The first and third questions are not in dispute; thus, we will focus on the second question. Coughlin’s only evidence regarding how imprisonment would affect Coughlin’s health is Dr. Carver’s testimony that life in prison is more stressful than life outside of prison and Coughlin should avoid stress. Dr. Carver has never visited a BOP facility. Dr. Carver conceded he had no personal knowledge of prison conditions or where Coughlin would be housed within the BOP, nor does Dr. Carver have specific knowledge regarding the accompanying stress level. “Common sense” was the basis for Dr. Carver’s opinion. In contrast, Dr. Ballom’s testimony was based on her considerable personal experiences with the BOP. Dr. Ballom commented that while life in prison may be stressful, the BOP has the capability to help inmates cope with stress. Furthermore, Dr. Bal-lom stated a controlled environment helps many inmates control and manage their health problems and the BOP will provide Coughlin with any medication or other necessary medical care. The record, omitting conjecture, does not show Coughlin’s condition will worsen in a BOP facility or that Coughlin requires special care the BOP cannot provide, that is, the record does not establish imprisonment would subject Coughlin to more than the normal inconvenience or danger.
Coughlin relies on United States v. Wadena, 470 F.3d 735 (8th Cir.2006), where this cpurt affirmed a sentence of 5 years’ probation based in part on the defendant’s poor health. In Wadena, the defendant had a worsening kidney disease, which required three-hour dialysis treatments three times a week. Id. at 737. Here, Coughlin’s health ailments were not as severe as Wadena’s ailments. On this record, the district court clearly erred in finding Coughlin suffers an extraordinary physical impairment and abused its discretion by departing downward eight levels pursuant to Guideline § 5H1.4. The no *819imprisonment sentence is not supported by the record.
B. Non-Guidelines Sentence
In the event our court concluded the district court abused its discretion in departing downward pursuant to Guideline § 5H1.4, the district court imposed the same sentence as a non-Guidelines sentence based on (1) -Coughlin’s family ties and responsibilities, as well as community ties; (2) Coughlin’s charitable and employment-related contributions, as well as prior good works; and (3) other factors not otherwise considered in the Guidelines, such as Coughlin’s “fall from grace.”4 Although the district court identified certain factors that could in the abstract support the imposition of a non-Guidelines sentence, the district court failed to consider these factors in the context of § 3553(a). Under § 3553(a), in imposing a non-Guidelines sentence, the district court must also consider the seriousness of the offense, promotion of respect for the law, just punishment, adequate deterrence, protection of the public from further crimes, and the avoidance of unwarranted sentencing disparities. Perhaps Coughlin’s family ties and station in the community, as well as his lofty corporate position of trust and power, exacerbate the nature of his crimes, especially for Coughlin’s victims: Wal-Mart, and more generally, American businesses. The record does not reflect the district court ever weighed both the aggravating and the mitigating nature of Cough-lin’s conduct upon his family and community, Coughlin’s position with Wal-Mart, and the other relevant factors in § 3553(a).
Section 3553(c)(2) of Title 18, United States Code, requires the sentencing court to state with specificity the reasons for the imposition of a non-Guidelines sentence. See United States v. Paz, 411 F.3d 906, 911 (8th Cir.2005). Section 3553(c)(2) specifically informs “the parties of the reasons for a particular sentence outside of the guidelines range,” aids the appellate court in reviewing a Guidelines departure or non-Guidelines sentence, and assists “the Sentencing Commission in collecting sentencing data and in maintaining a comprehensive database on all federal sentences.” Id. Here, the district court did not state the reasons with sufficient specificity for the non-Guidelines sentence, especially considering the factors relied upon by the district court (1) are ordinarily not relevant in determining a sentence and are discouraged grounds for the imposition of a non-Guidelines sentence; (2) were • not weighed against the negative impact Coughlin’s crimes had on his family, community, and employer; and (3) were not balanced with the other considerations in § 3553(a)(1), (2), and (3).
III. CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, we must remand for resentencing. Cf. United States v. Peterson, 455 F.3d 834, 837-38 (8th Cir.2006). The district court’s eight level departure or variance, based on this record, does not fall within the range of reasonableness. We reverse Coughlin’s sentence and remand for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.5 Both the government and Coughlin should have an opportunity to supplement the sentencing *820record with additional evidence and argument on these resentencing issues, if either desires to do so.

. All citations to the Guidelines are to the 2000 version. See generally United States v. Carter, 490 F.3d 641, 643 (8th Cir.2007).

. Dr. Carver relied upon a letter written by Phillip Wise (Wise), which discussed the conditions within the BOP in general. Dr. Carver did not know Wise’s credentials.

. Guideline § 5H1.4, in relevant part, provides:
Physical condition or appearance, including physique, is not ordinarily relevant in determining whether a sentence should be outside the applicable guideline range. However, an extraordinary physical impairment may be a reason to impose a sentence below the applicable guideline range; e.g., in the case of a seriously infirm defendant, home detention may be as efficient as, and less costly than, imprisonment.

. All of the grounds discussed by the district court in support of a non-Guidelines sentence are “not ordinarily relevant in determining whether a sentence should be outside the applicable guideline range." U.S.S.G. §§ 5H1.6, 5H1.11; see also id. § 5K2.0 (stating if “an offender characteristic or other circumstances” is “not ordinarily relevant,” the characteristic or circumstance may be a ground for a departure "if such characteristic or circumstance is present to an unusual degree and distinguishes the case from the 'heartland' cases covered by the guidelines”).

. The district court found Coughlin did not have the ability to pay interest and waived *820interest on Coughlin's fine and restitution. The PSR calculated Coughlin's net worth to be in excess of $50 million. The district court plainly erred by concluding Coughlin did not have the ability to pay interest and on remand should reconsider Coughlin's ability to pay interest. See United States v. Carter, 481 F.3d 601, 608 n. 5 (8th Cir.2007).