United States v. Harmon, No. 18-3469 (8th Cir. 2019)
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Defendant appealed his sentence after being convicted of fraudulently registering the personal vehicles of St. Louis residents in Illinois to avoid Missouri tax. The court held that the method of calculation resulted in a loss amount that was a reasonable estimate of loss to the State of Missouri. The district court correctly applied the eight-level sentencing enhancement for a loss amount greater than $95,000 but less than $150,000 under USSG 2B1.1(b)(1)(E); the loss amount was well supported by evidence; and the loss amount was not clearly erroneous.
The court also held that the district court did not clearly err by adopting the government's proposed loss amount when it imposed the restitution award. However, the record did not establish with the required clarity that the district court exercised its independent judgment in reaching its decision to impose the two-level sentencing enhancement for obstruction of justice under USSG 3C1.1. Accordingly, the court vacated the sentence and remanded for resentencing.
Court Description: Melloy, Author, with Kelly and Stras, Circuit Judges] Criminal case - Sentencing. The district court did not clearly err in determining the loss to the State of Missouri in a scheme to avoid sales tax on autos as the amount was supported by the evidence and was obviously sufficient to trigger the enhancement for loss in Guidelines Sec. 2B1.1(b)(1)(E); nor did the court clearly err in adopting the government's proposed loss amount for purposes of imposing restitution; the record does not establish with the requisite clarity that the district court exercised its independent judgment in imposing a two-level enhancement for obstruction of justice under Guidelines Sec. 3C1.1; the sentence is, therefore, vacated, and the matter is remanded for further proceedings. Judge Stras, concurring in part and dissenting in part.
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