United States v. Bernard Gelb

944 F.2d 52, 1991 U.S. App. LEXIS 17975, 1991 WL 173339
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Second Circuit
DecidedAugust 6, 1991
Docket527, Docket 90-1396
StatusPublished
Cited by41 cases

This text of 944 F.2d 52 (United States v. Bernard Gelb) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Bernard Gelb, 944 F.2d 52, 1991 U.S. App. LEXIS 17975, 1991 WL 173339 (2d Cir. 1991).

Opinion

GEORGE C. PRATT, Circuit Judge:

Defendant Bernard Gelb appeals from an order and an amended judgment entered in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Bruce M. Van Sickle, United States District Judge for the District of North Dakota, sitting by designation. The order denied his motion under Fed.R.Crim.P. 32 and 35 and 28 U.S.C. § 2255 for various forms of post-conviction relief; the amended judgment sought to correct certain errors in the original judgment of conviction.

Gelb was charged in a 78-count superseding indictment with defrauding the United States Postal Service and related offenses. Through his company, EDP Medical Computer Systems, Inc. (“EDP”), Gelb engaged in a scheme to avoid paying postage on mass mailings. He bribed postal officials to ensure that his fraud went undetected. He also subscribed to corporate tax returns that falsely claimed as tax deductions postage for which he never paid.

After a month-long jury trial, Gelb was convicted on one count of racketeering (18 U.S.C. § 1962(c)), one count of mail fraud (18 U.S.C. § 1341), 44 counts of bribery (18 U.S.C. § 201(b)(1)(C)), and three counts of *54 filing false corporate tax returns (26 U.S.C. § 7206(1)). The jury acquitted Gelb of some of the other counts; the rest were dismissed.

On January 13, 1989, Judge Van Sickle sentenced Gelb as follows: on the racketeering count, 13 years and a $25,000 fine; on the mail fraud count, 5 years and a $1,000 fine; on six of the bribery counts, 13 years each to run concurrently; on each of the other 38 bribery counts, 5 years probation; on one of the tax counts, 5 years and a $75,000 fine; and on each of the other two tax counts, 5 years probation. The 5-year sentences for mail fraud and for tax fraud were to run consecutively to each other, although concurrently with the 13-year sentences for racketeering and bribery, which were to run concurrently with each other. In addition, Gelb was ordered, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3663, to pay restitution to the United States Postal Service in the amount of $5,000,000.

Since Gelb’s offenses were committed before the Sentencing Guidelines went into effect, Gelb’s sentence is governed by pre-guidelines principles. Gelb appealed his conviction and we affirmed. United States v. Gelb, 881 F.2d 1155 (2d Cir.), cert. denied, 493 U.S. 994, 110 S.Ct. 544, 107 L.Ed.2d 541 (1989).

By this post-conviction motion, Gelb has raised six new issues. He claims that: (1) his 13-year prison term is disproportionately severe and requires reduction; (2) a provision in the judgment violates his fifth amendment right against self-incrimination by conditioning consideration of leniency or early release on his disclosure of other alleged criminal activity; (3) the restitution award is improper; (4) the presentence report was inaccurate and deficient; (5) his tax conviction sentence should be vacated because his original sentence as well as his amended sentence were incorrectly based on a statutory amendment which had not become applicable to him; and (6) any re-sentencing should be conducted by a different judge.

We agree that the district judge erred as to the sentences on the tax counts and in failing to expressly consider the factors required by 18 U.S.C. § 3664 when awarding restitution. Therefore, we remand for further proceedings for the imposition of correct sentences on the tax convictions and to reconsider the restitution award. Because we find no merit to Gelb’s other arguments, we affirm the district court’s order and amended judgment in all other respects.

DISCUSSION

A. Motion to Reduce Sentence

Gelb contends that his sentence must be reduced because it is disproportionately severe, thus violating his eighth amendment protection against cruel and unusual punishment. Before considering the merits of this argument, we first address the question of waiver raised by the government. The government contends that under 28 U.S.C. § 2255, a defendant cannot collaterally attack on an issue which he failed to raise on his direct appeal. Without delving into the intricacies of § 2255 review, we note that Gelb asks for post-conviction relief under rule 32 and former rule 35 as well as under § 2255. Although the government is correct in suggesting that § 2255 relief will rarely be granted as to matters available for review where a conviction has been upheld on appeal, we have held, in the context of a motion under former rule 35, that a criminal defendant’s election not to raise sentencing issues in a prior direct appeal does not constitute a waiver. United States v. Weichert, 836 F.2d 769, 772 (2d Cir.1988); United States v. Ursillo, 786 F.2d 66, 69-71 (2d Cir.1986). Since Gelb complied with the procedural requirements of former rule 35(b), his claim has not been waived.

However, we do not agree that his claim has any merit. In general, “a sentence within the legal limits and not based on materially inaccurate or otherwise improper information or communications will not be set aside on an appeal.” United States v. DiPaolo, 804 F.2d 225, 234 (2d Cir.1986). Gelb’s sentence was under the statutory maximum, and he has not shown any “extraordinary” circumstances that *55 demonstrate a need for reducing his sentence. See United States v. Golomb, 754 F.2d 86, 90 (2d Cir.1985). Given the seriousness of his crimes and the extent of his fraudulent conduct, his sentence is not disproportionately severe. Thus, Gelb is not entitled to a reduction in his sentence.

B. Fifth Amendment Right against Self-Incrimination

Gelb also challenges a provision of the judgment which he contends conditions leniency or early release on his willingness to cooperate with the government. He claims the provision violates his fifth amendment right against self-incrimination. The challenged provision states:

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

United States v. Bankins
District of Columbia, 2025
United States v. Bastien
111 F. Supp. 3d 315 (E.D. New York, 2015)
United States v. Etheridge
999 F. Supp. 2d 192 (District of Columbia, 2013)
United States v. Weingarten
713 F.3d 704 (Second Circuit, 2013)
United States v. Lowe
632 F.3d 996 (Seventh Circuit, 2011)
United States v. Roberto Rosario
386 F.3d 166 (Second Circuit, 2004)
United States v. Pabon-Cruz
321 F. Supp. 2d 570 (S.D. New York, 2003)
United States v. John Gammarano
321 F.3d 311 (Second Circuit, 2003)
United States v. Monroe Evans
Eighth Circuit, 2002
United States v. Erdil
230 F. Supp. 2d 292 (E.D. New York, 2002)
United States v. Abraham McLeod
251 F.3d 78 (Second Circuit, 2001)
United States v. Subir Chaklader
232 F.3d 343 (Second Circuit, 2000)
Reyes v. United States
944 F. Supp. 260 (S.D. New York, 1996)
Gordils v. United States
943 F. Supp. 346 (S.D. New York, 1996)
United States v. Van Pelt
938 F. Supp. 697 (D. Kansas, 1996)
United States v. Laura E. Murray
101 F.3d 1392 (Second Circuit, 1996)
United States v. Abiodun T. Giwah
84 F.3d 109 (Second Circuit, 1996)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
944 F.2d 52, 1991 U.S. App. LEXIS 17975, 1991 WL 173339, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-bernard-gelb-ca2-1991.