United States v. Schwanke, No. 12-1149 (7th Cir. 2012)
Annotate this CaseAfter agreeing to cooperate with authorities investigating his drug-distribution conspiracy, Schwanke received a death threat from his coconspirator, fled to the Philippines, and stayed for four years. Later he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute marijuana, 21 U.S.C. 846, 841(a)(1), and was sentenced to 50 months’ imprisonment. Schwanke challenged his sentence, arguing that the district court improperly adjusted his offense level upward under U.S.S.G. 3C1.1 for obstruction of justice. The Seventh Circuit affirmed. The district court’s findings sufficiently reflected Schwanke’s willful obstruction of justice: Schwanke fled the jurisdiction before being indicted; knew during his years abroad that an investigation into the conspiracy was ongoing; recognized the possibility of federal charges given his initial cooperation with authorities in exchange for his release without formal charges; and hid in the Philippines for years without contacting authorities.
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