United States v. Bonilla

579 F.3d 1233, 2009 U.S. App. LEXIS 18431, 2009 WL 2496730
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
DecidedAugust 18, 2009
Docket08-12127
StatusPublished
Cited by127 cases

This text of 579 F.3d 1233 (United States v. Bonilla) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Eleventh 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. Bonilla, 579 F.3d 1233, 2009 U.S. App. LEXIS 18431, 2009 WL 2496730 (11th Cir. 2009).

Opinion

FAY, Circuit Judge:

Mario Alberto Simbaqueba-Bonilla (“Bonilla”) appeals the district court’s imposition of a 108 month sentence. Bonilla pled guilty to 16 counts of conspiracy, access device fraud, identity theft, and aggravated identity theft. On appeal, Bonilla asserts that his plea was constitutionally invalid and that the subsequent sentence imposed was unreasonable and therefore should be vacated.

Specifically, Bonilla asserts that (i) the plea is invalid because the court failed to advise him of the consequences of his plea; (ii) the indictment was multiplicitous and violates the double jeopardy clause of the Constitution; (iii) the court failed to make a finding of a multi-object conspiracy; (iv) the court improperly determined the amount of loss; (v) the court erred by imposing multiple consecutive sentences; and (vi) the court’s pronouncement of the sentence was ambiguous and varied materially from the order of judgment.

We reverse only on the second issue and affirm as to all other claims. We hold that the indictment is multiplicitous and violative of the double jeopardy clause. We therefore vacate the convictions and sentences for the four counts of identity theft and modify the judgment accordingly.

I. BACKGROUND

From approximately June 9, 2004 through August 31, 2007 Bonilla and his wife, Neyla Alexandra Valero, installed software at the business centers of approximately 25 hotels in the United States and overseas, allowing them access to hotel guests’ personal and financial information. Bonilla and his wife used this information to unlawfully create and use credit cards, debit cards, pre-paid cards, and bank and investment accounts for their benefit without the hotel guests’ knowledge or approval.

Bonilla was apprehended in August 2007 and subsequently indicted for 16 separate counts: conspiracy to commit fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371 (Count 1); access device fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1029(a)(2) (Counts 2 through 7); identity theft in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1028(a)(7) and (b)(1)(D) (Counts 8 through 11); and aggravated identity theft in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1028A(a)(l) (Counts 12 through 16). The four counts of identity theft and five counts of aggravated identity theft are most relevant to this appeal. The identity theft counts charged that Bonilla obtained the social security numbers of four victims (T.J.M., P.S., J.S., and H.T.) with the intent to commit access device fraud. The five counts of aggravated identity theft charged that during and in relation to access device fraud, Bonilla opened and used credit cards obtained in the aforementioned four victims’ names (T.J.M, P.S., J.S., and H.T.) and in the name of a fifth victim (M.J.) whose social security number was not mentioned in the identity theft charges.

On January 9, 2008 Bonilla pled guilty to all 16 counts before the Honorable Paul C. Huck of the Southern District of Florida. At the change of plea hearing Bonilla stated that he was a college graduate and had been treated for bipolar disorder and alcoholism. He confirmed that he had been receiving his medication in prison and that he was not currently under the influence of any substances. Defense counsel stated *1238 that he believed Bonilla was capable of understanding the proceedings and participating in his defense. The government then made the following proffer:

[W]hile traveling extensively throughout the United States and overseas [Bonilla] would install and hide a commercially available software program capable of recording and later transmitting key strokes [sic] on computers located in hotel business centers ... Bonilla used that software to illegally obtain log-in names, passwords, account data and other personal and financial information of hotel guests using those computers without their knowledge or consent .... Such techniques [and others] resulted in defendant obtaining hundreds of personal identification information belonging to others. [Bonilla] using stolen personal identification information and financial information used Internet and telephone to access payroll investment banking and other financial and personal accounts belonging to others. Once he had access to the accounts he diverted or transferred funds from those accounts to credit cards, debit cards, prepaid cards, bank and investment accounts he had created in his name and/or in the names of those whose personal identification information he obtained without their knowledge or approval .... [Bonilla] used the stolen funds and unauthorized credit and debit cards to purchase expensive electronics and personal luxuries and to pay for domestic and international travel.

(Plea Hr’g Tr. at 16-18.)

The probation officer subsequently prepared a presentence investigation report (“PSI”) recommending a sentence in the guideline range of 108 to 135 months’ imprisonment for Counts 1 through 11. The probation officer noted that Count 12 carried a two-year consecutive term, and that Counts 13 through 16 could run concurrently at the discretion of the court.

On April 11, 2008 Bonilla was sentenced. The court’s oral pronouncement of the sentence was as follows: 60 months 1 each on Counts 1 through 11, to run concurrently; 24 months on Count 12, to run consecutively; and 24 months each count for Counts 13 through 16, to run concurrently to each other but consecutively to the other sentences imposed. 2 Thus, the total sentence was 108 months imprisonment. The written judgment and conviction, however, noted the sentence as 84 months imprisonment: 60 months as to Counts 1 through 11, running consecutively with 24 months as to Counts 12 through 16, which run concurrently to each other.

II. LEGAL STANDARD

We review sentencing arguments raised for the first time on appeal for plain error. United States v. Aguillard, 217 F.3d 1319, 1320 (11th Cir.2000). In order to find plain error, “(1) there must be error; (2) the error must be plain; and (3) the error must affect substantial rights.” *1239 Id. Moreover, under Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 52(b) the decision to correct the forfeited error is within the sound discretion of the court of appeals, and we should only exercise that discretion if the error “seriously affect[s] the fairness, integrity or public reputation of judicial proceedings.” United States v. Olano, 507 U.S. 725, 732, 113 S.Ct. 1770, 123 L.Ed.2d 508 (1993) (citations omitted).

We review the sentence imposed by the district court for reasonableness under an abuse of discretion standard.

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Bluebook (online)
579 F.3d 1233, 2009 U.S. App. LEXIS 18431, 2009 WL 2496730, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-bonilla-ca11-2009.