Court Opinion

ID: 3041881
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-13 23:07:14.775568+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:55:03.298689
License: Public Domain

United States Court of Appeals
                            FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT
                                     ___________

                                     No. 05-3351
                                     ___________

United States of America,                 *
                                          *
             Appellee,                    *
                                          * Appeal from the United States
      v.                                  * District Court for the
                                          * District of South Dakota.
Clara Sophie Loefer,                      *
                                          *      [UNPUBLISHED]
             Appellant.                   *
                                     ___________

                               Submitted: February 6, 2007
                                  Filed: February 12, 2007
                                   ___________

Before RILEY, MAGILL, and MELLOY, Circuit Judges.
                            ___________

PER CURIAM.

       Clara Sophie Loefer (Loefer) pled guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess
with intent to distribute methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1),
(b)(1)(B) and 846. Calculating an advisory Guidelines sentencing range of 78 to 97
months’ imprisonment, the district court1 imposed a sentence of 87 months’
imprisonment, rather than the statutory minimum, a term of 60 months’ imprisonment.
Loefer argues that in setting her sentence, the district court relied on “erroneous facts”

      1
        The Honorable Karen E. Schreier, Chief Judge, United States District Court
for the District of South Dakota.
about Loefer’s leadership, recruitment, or involvement in the conspiracy and relied
on an impermissible factor by referring to her failure to cooperate.

      Loefer’s argument regarding the district court’s factual findings is without
merit. Loefer never objected to the presentence investigation report’s (PSR)
application of the role enhancement or its factual statements that the drugs were
primarily sold out of Loefer’s house and Loefer had “some control” over members of
the conspiracy by directing the sale of the drugs. Thus, the district court’s factual
findings regarding Loefer’s leadership role were not clearly erroneous. See United
States v. Rouillard, No. 06-1857, 2007 WL 188308, at *1 n.1 (8th Cir. 2007)
(accepting as true any unobjected to facts set forth in the PSR).

       Additionally, the district court did not rely on an impermissible factor–Loefer’s
failure to cooperate2–to sentence her in the middle of the Guidelines range. The
record indicates the court referred to Loefer’s failure to cooperate in order to respond
to her sentencing disparity concerns. In so doing, the court reasoned (1) Loefer had
a leadership role in the conspiracy, (2) the defendants who cooperated received
reduced sentences based on their cooperation, and (3) Loefer had not cooperated.
There is no sentencing disparity when a more culpable co-conspirator receives a
harsher sentence. See United States v. Plaza, 471 F.3d 876, 880 (8th Cir. 2006).

      Therefore, we affirm.
                      ______________________________

      2
       See U.S.S.G. § 5K1.2 (defendant’s refusal to assist authorities in investigation
of others may not be considered as aggravating sentencing factor).

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