United States v. Gjidija

369 F. App'x 282
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Second Circuit
DecidedMarch 15, 2010
Docket07-3546-cr
StatusUnpublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 369 F. App'x 282 (United States v. Gjidija) 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. Gjidija, 369 F. App'x 282 (2d Cir. 2010).

Opinion

SUMMARY ORDER

Naim Gjidija appeals from a judgment of conviction entered on July 16, 2007, sentencing him to 132 months imprisonment and ordering him to pay $841,890 in restitution upon a plea of guilty to multiple counts of robbery and burglary, one count of felon in possession of a firearm, and one count of mail fraud. Gjidija asserts that the order of restitution must be vacated because it failed to identify the amounts of loss attributable to each individual victim as prescribed by 18 U.S.C. § 3664(f)(1)(A). Gjidija also argues that his counsel provided constitutionally ineffective legal representation in failing to object to the order of restitution during sentencing.

We construe Gjidija’s appeal to this court as a direct appeal of the sentence imposed in his criminal case, despite a complicated procedural path. Gjidija was sentenced on October 13, 2004, and the district court entered the judgment the following day. Gjidija sought to appeal on the ground that the total dollar amount of restitution was miscalculated by the district court. He argued that although his plea agreement stipulated that he would not appeal the sentence, it did not so constrict him as to an appeal of the amount of restitution. To pursue these claims, Gjidi-ja’s appellate counsel, who was also his trial counsel, filed a timely notice of appeal *284 on October 26, 2004. Soon thereafter Gjidija’s counsel was arrested and indicted on charges of racketeering, conspiracy to commit murder, and obstruction of justice. Gjidija’s counsel neglected to perfect the appeal. This court issued a mandate on October 18, 2005 dismissing the appeal. On June 16, 2006, citing 28 U.S.C. § 2255, Gjidija moved before the district court to vacate his conviction on the grounds that he received constitutionally ineffective counsel when his appellate counsel failed to perfect his appeal. The government agreed that Gjidija’s counsel was ineffective and asked the district court to vacate the sentence and to re-enter judgment so as to allow Gjidija to pursue a direct appeal on the question of restitution. The government also requested that the district court appoint counsel for Gjidija under the Criminal Justice Act (“CJA”), 18 U.S.C. § 3006A(b), to assist him with the appeal. On July 16, 2007 the district court granted Gjidija’s motion, vacated the October 2004 sentence and entered a new judgment imposing the identical sentence. The court also ordered that CJA counsel be appointed to represent Gjidija. We assume the parties’ familiarity with the underlying facts, the procedural history, and the issues presented for review.

Gjidija asserts that pursuant to the Mandatory Victim Restitution Act (“MVRA”), 18 U.S.C. § 3663A, the restitution order entered by the district court was required to itemize the restitution owed to each individual victim, specifying the exact amount of restitution each victim is due. Gjidija asserts that the district court entered a “blanket” order of restitution awarding the named victims a total of $841,890 in restitution, but without identifying the loss amounts attributable to each victim. Because Gjidija did not object to the order of restitution during the sentencing proceedings we review this argument for plain error. See Fed R.Crim. P. 52(b); United States v. Boyd, 222 F.3d 47, 49 (2d Cir.2000); cf. United States v. Helmsley, 941 F.2d 71, 98 (2d Cir.1991) (“[I]f a defendant fails to object to certain information in the presentence report, [he] is barred from contesting the sentencing court’s reliance on that information, unless such reliance was plain error.”). “A finding of plain error requires ‘(1) error, (2) that is plain, and (3) that affects the defendant’s substantial rights.’ ” United States v. Gomez, 580 F.3d 94, 100 (2d Cir.2009) (quoting United States v. Carter, 489 F.3d 528, 537 (2d Cir.2007)). If the first three criteria are met, this court will exercise its discretion to remedy the error “provided that the error seriously affects the fairness, integrity, or public reputation of judicial proceedings.” Carter, 489 F.3d at 537. Given the terms of the restitution order and the fact that it is grounded on information set out in the presentence report (“PSR”), there is no plain error to be reviewed.

The district court ordered restitution in the amount of $841,890, specifying that “[e]ach [restitution] payment made by the defendant shall be divided amongst the persons named in proportion to their com-pensable injuries.” The total amount of restitution recommended in the PSR was $841,890. That total represents the sum of the dollar-speeific losses attributed to specific victims as presented in the PSR. 2 It was permissible for the court to rely upon the PSR in apportioning the restitution award. The MVRA stipulates that to determine an accurate figure of restitution “the court shall order the probation officer *285 to obtain and include in its presentence report ... information sufficient for the court to exercise its discretion in fashioning a restitution order.” 18 U.S.C. § 3664(a). “After reviewing the report of the probation officer, the court may require additional documentation or hear testimony.” 18 U.S.C. § 3664(d)(4). “Any dispute as to the proper amount or type of restitution shall be resolved by the court by the preponderance of the evidence. The burden of demonstrating the amount of loss ... shall be on the attorney for the Government.” 18 U.S.C. § 3664(e). Given the terms of the restitution order and its dollar calculation and repayment distribution by reference to the individual losses set out in the PSR, Gjidija’s claim that the district court ordered an impermissible ‘blanket’ restitution award is without merit.

In the alternative, Gjidija asserts the district court erred by relying upon a PSR that lacked sufficient documentation to support the loss amounts calculated therein. Applying the plain error standard, we hold that this claim also fails as Gjidija has proffered no affirmative evidence showing that the amounts of restitution calculated by the Government and adopted by the district court do not represent the losses suffered by the victims. See United States v. Harris, 302 F.3d 72

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Gjidija v. United States
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Bluebook (online)
369 F. App'x 282, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-gjidija-ca2-2010.