United States v. Banta

165 F.R.D. 102, 1996 WL 84543
CourtDistrict Court, D. Utah
DecidedFebruary 22, 1996
DocketNo. 95-CR-190 G
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 165 F.R.D. 102 (United States v. Banta) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Utah primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Banta, 165 F.R.D. 102, 1996 WL 84543 (D. Utah 1996).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

BOYCE, United States Magistrate Judge.

The defendant, Gary Martin Banta, has made a motion for release, under 18 U.S.C. § 3143(b), pending appeal. Defendant pled guilty to one count of bank fraud under 18 U.S.C. § 1344. The count involved submitting a fraudulent loan application to a bank through an automobile dealership. The defendant has filed a notice of appeal and intends to challenge his sentence on the basis of the loss calculation. Defendant contends he should be released pending appeal under 18 U.S.C. 3143(b) because he meets the criteria for release and because he has raised an issue for which there is a substantial likelihood of a different sentence.

It is defendant’s contention that the amount of the loss from the fraudulent loan should be diminished by the value of two vehicles he gave to the bank as collateral on the loan. The trial judge applied USSG 2F1.1 Application Note 7 in calculating the loss. That section in its relevant part provides ... “if an intended loss that the defendant was attempting to inflict can be determined, this figure will be used if it is greater than the actual loss.” The actual loss in this case is agreed to be at least $17,000. The intended loss is arguably more. The intended loss according to the prosecution was the amount of the bank loan application. The defendant, in essence, contends either (1) the intended loss did not include the collateral [103]*103provided as a part of a scheme, or (2) the intended loss should be automatically reduced by the amount of the collateral that was actually acquired by the victim to offset any loss.

The loss in the case was calculated in the presentence report based on the intent of the defendant. It was set at the amount of the loan that was fraudulently obtained. The sentencing court accepted the defendant’s intent as the applicable standard without offset. The language of USSG 2F1.1 n. 7 is susceptible to this interpretation since it indicates intended loss is to govern over actual loss.1 However, it does not appear to address the question of whether the defendant’s intended loss should take into consideration his intent with regard to the collateral that would be claimed by the victim in the course of the scheme.

The defendant relies on United States v. Wright, 60 F.3d 240 (6th Cir.1995) for his contention he should be given credit for the recovered collateral. In that case, the defendant was convicted of obtaining three false bank loans based on false statements or reports. Id. p. 241. Defendant argued there was no intended loss (Id.). The Sixth Circuit noted the confusion in the USSG 2F1.1 n. 7 and commentary ¶ 7(b) which provides:

In fraudulent loan application cases and contract procurement eases, the loss is the actual loss to the victim (or if the loss has not yet come about, the expected loss). For example, if a defendant fraudulently obtains a loan by misrepresenting the value of his assets, the loss is the amount of the loan not repaid at the time the offense is discovered, reduced by the amount the lending institution has recovered (or can expect to recover) from any assets pledged to secure the loan. However, where the intended loss is greater than the actual loss, the intended loss is to be used.

The Sixth Circuit relying on Stinson v. United States, 508 U.S. 36, 113 S.Ct. 1913, 123 L.Ed.2d 598 (1993) found a conflict between the guideline, which requires a “loss” calculation and the Commentary’s intended loss standard, Wright, 60 F.3d p. 242. The court said loss should not include amounts that a bank can and does “easily recover by foreclosure, set off, attachment,” etc. The court in Wright referred to United States v. Buckner, 9 F.3d 452 (6th Cir.1993) (loan repayments reduce loss) and United States v. Lavoie, 19 F.3d 1102 (6th Cir.1994) (loss does not include what the bank can recover from other assets).

In a strong dissent in Wright, Judge Batchelder found no inconsistency between the guideline and the 7(b) example. The example simply defines actual loss and restates intended loss as governing if it is greater. 60 F.3d at p. 243. It also seems reasonable to observe that § 2F1.1 does not define loss and the commentary defines it in terms of actual loss and intended loss. It could reasonably be concluded there is no inconsistency between the Guideline and the Commentary. However, the Wright ease is a legitimate precedent to present to the Tenth Circuit for consideration. Consequently, defendant asserts that under 18 U.S.C. § 3143(b) there is a likelihood of a reduced sentence or of no imprisonment or that he will serve his imprisonment before the appeal process is completed. 18 U.S.C. § 3143(b)(l)(B)(iii) & (iv).

It is appropriate to consider the relevant Tenth Circuit cases. On the amount of loss, in United States v. Santiago, 977 F.2d 517 (10th Cir.1992) the court said the amount of the loss the defendant intends does not govern when the economic reality is that actual loss would exceed intended loss. This seems clear from the guideline’s Commentary and the court’s own comments on the applicable standard. The case does recognize a difference between actual and intended loss. However, the case was decided before the 1992 amendments to the Commentary to § 2F1.1. See also United States v. Smith, 951 F.2d 1164 (10th Cir.1991). But see United States v. Sapp, 53 F.3d 1100, 1104 (10th Cir.1995); United States v. Smith, 73 F.3d [104]*104374 (unpublished table), 1996 WL 5549 (10th Cir.1996).

In United States v. Haddock, 12 F.3d 950 (10th Cir.1993) the court said intended or actual loss may be used for the loss enhancement.2 The court concluded actual loss governs unless intended loss is greater. Where a loss is impossible (undercover sting operation) neither intended or actual loss is applicable United States v. Galbraith, 20 F.3d 1054 (10th Cir.1994). Accord United States v. Sneed, 34 F.3d 1570 (10th Cir.1994).

In United States v. Smith, supra 951 F.2d 1164 the court said the actual loss shall be determined by net value.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
165 F.R.D. 102, 1996 WL 84543, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-banta-utd-1996.