United States v. Fahm ( 1994 )


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  • USCA1 Opinion









    UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
    FOR THE FIRST CIRCUIT
    __________________

    No. 92-2215
    UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

    Appellee,

    v.

    HAKEEM FAHM,

    Defendant, Appellant.


    ____________________
    No. 93-1012
    UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

    Appellee,

    v.

    HAKEEM FAHM,

    Defendant, Appellant.


    ____________________

    APPEALS FROM THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

    FOR THE DISTRICT OF RHODE ISLAND

    [Hon. Francis J. Boyle, U.S. District Judge]
    ___________________


    ____________________

    Before

    Selya, Circuit Judge,
    _____________

    Bownes, Senior Circuit Judge,
    ____________________

    and Cyr, Circuit Judge.
    _____________


    ____________________

    Randy Olsen, with whom David N. Cicilline was on brief for
    ___________ __________________
    appellant.
    Edwin J. Gale, United States Attorney, for appellee.
    _____________


    ____________________
    January 5, 1994

    ____________________















    CYR, Circuit Judge. After failing to appear for sen-
    CYR, Circuit Judge.
    _____________

    tencing on credit-fraud charges in January 1991 before the United

    States District Court for the District of Rhode Island, appellant

    Hakeem Fahm was sentenced to a twenty-month prison term in

    September 1992. Three months later, the district court recon-

    sidered the original sentence sua sponte and imposed a twenty-one
    ___ ______

    month prison term. We deny Fahm's appeal from the original

    sentence and conclude that the district court was without juris-

    diction to "correct" it under Fed. R. Crim. P. 35(c).



    I
    I

    BACKGROUND
    BACKGROUND
    __________


    Fahm pled guilty in Rhode Island federal district court

    on November 29, 1990, to credit card fraud and conspiracy. See
    ___

    18 U.S.C. 1029(a)(2) (fraudulent use of unauthorized access

    devices) and (b)(2) (conspiracy to violate 1029(a)(2)). Fahm

    was twenty-one years of age at the time. Less than one month

    later, while released pending sentencing, he was arrested for

    obstructing a Rhode Island police officer in connection with a

    motor vehicle violation, whereupon he fled, failed to report to

    his pretrial services officer, and violated bail by absenting

    himself from the federal sentencing hearing scheduled for January

    1991. Shortly thereafter Fahm committed the crime of attempted

    credit card fraud, for which he was convicted and sentenced in

    the United States District Court for the District of Delaware.


    2














    After serving a five-month sentence on the latter charge, Fahm

    was returned to the District of Rhode Island for sentencing on

    the offenses of conviction.



    II
    II

    DISCUSSION
    DISCUSSION
    __________


    A. The Appeal from the Original Sentence.
    A. The Appeal from the Original Sentence.
    _____________________________________

    1. Reduction for Acceptance of Responsibility
    Reduction for Acceptance of Responsibility
    __________________________________________
    3E1.1(a) (Nov. 1990).
    3E1.1(a) (Nov. 1990).
    _____________________

    Notwithstanding his abscondence and subsequent federal

    conviction while awaiting sentencing on the offenses of convic-

    tion, Fahm frivolously asserts that the district court committed

    clear error, see United States v. Royer, 895 F.2d 28, 29 (1st
    ___ _____________ _____

    Cir. 1990), by denying him a two-level reduction for "acceptance

    of responsibility" pursuant to U.S.S.G. 3E1.1(a) (Nov. 1990).

    We find it quite unremarkable that Fahm's belated protestations

    of remorse fell on deaf ears in the district court ("I frankly

    don't believe . . . that [the defendant is] sorry. . . .). See
    ___

    United States v. O'Neil, 936 F.2d 599, 600 (1st Cir. 1991)
    ______________ ______

    (district court may look to later conduct to determine sincerity

    of defendant's claimed acceptance of responsibility).


    2. Upward Departure for Underrepresented Criminal History
    2. Upward Departure for Underrepresented Criminal History
    ______________________________________________________
    4A1.3 (Nov. 1991).
    4A1.3 (Nov. 1991).
    ___________________

    Next, Fahm challenges the upward departure imposed






    3














    pursuant to U.S.S.G. 4A1.3,1 which provides in relevant part:

    If reliable information indicates that the
    criminal history category does not adequately
    reflect the seriousness of the defendant's
    ___________ __ ___ ___________
    past criminal conduct or the likelihood that
    ____ ________ _______ __ ___ __________ ____
    the defendant will commit other crimes, the
    ___ _________ ____ ______ _____ ______
    court may consider imposing a sentence de-
    parting from the otherwise applicable guide-
    line range . . . .

    (Emphasis added.) Ignoring the overburden, Fahm argues that no

    unusual circumstances distinguish his case from the "mine-run for

    th[e] offense[s]" of conviction. United States v. Aguilar-Pena,
    _____________ ____________

    887 F.2d 347, 350 (1st Cir. 1989).


    a. The Decision to Depart.
    a. The Decision to Depart.
    ______________________

    The original presentence report (PSR) recommended a

    six-to-twelve month guideline sentencing range (GSR), based on an

    adjusted base offense level (ABOL) of ten and a level I criminal

    history category (CHC). The PSR addendum prepared prior to the

    sentencing hearing held on September 30, 1992 ("first hearing"),

    proposed a level II CHC based on Fahm's intervening Delaware sen-

    tence. See U.S.S.G. 4A1.2 cmt. 1. At the first hearing, the
    ___

    district court advised Fahm that it intended to depart to CHC IV,

    because (i) Fahm committed the Delaware offense while on bail,

    see id. at 4A1.3; United States v. Calderon, 935 F.2d 9, 12
    ___ ___ ______________ ________

    (1st Cir. 1991) (commission of offense while on release repre-

    sents breach of commitment to court), (ii) CHC II underre-

    ____________________

    1The revised presentence report recommended criminal history
    category II, based on Fahm's similar Rhode Island state convic-
    tion for fraudulent use of credit cards and his "prior sentence"
    on the federal credit-fraud offense in Delaware. See U.S.S.G.
    ___
    4A1.1(b), 4A1.2(a)(1),(4), cmt. 1.

    4














    presented his actual criminal conduct, and (iii) the CHC would be

    higher were any of several pending state and federal charges

    later to result in conviction, see U.S.S.G. 4A1.3(e); United
    ___ ______

    States v. Figaro, 935 F.2d 4, 7 (1st Cir. 1991).2
    ______ ______

    The decision to depart is subject to bifurcated review.

    First, all "quintessentially legal" rulings underlying the

    decision to depart, such as whether the guideline language

    permits or forbids departure for the kinds of reasons relied on
    _____ __ _______

    by the sentencing court, are subject to plenary review. United
    ______

    States v. Rivera, 994 F.2d 942, 951 (1st Cir. 1993). Second, in
    ______ ______

    reviewing its "judgment call" as to whether the particular
    __________

    circumstances warrant departure, id. at 951-52, "appropriate
    _____________ ___

    respect" is due the sentencing court's "superior 'feel' for the .

    . . case." United States v. Ramirez, No. 93-1403, slip. op at 7
    _____________ _______

    (1st Cir. Dec. 9, 1993).




    ____________________

    2Fahm does not argue that the original sentence contravened
    U.S.S.G. 4A1.3, which instructs the sentencing court to consid-
    er the adequacy of the next higher (or lower) CHC, rather than
    leapfrogging. See United States v. Aymelek, 926 F.2d 64, 70 (1st
    ___ _____________ _______
    Cir. 1991) (noting that sentencing court is "specifically in-
    structed to use 'as a reference, the guideline range for a
    defendant with a higher or lower criminal history category, as
    applicable'" (quoting U.S.S.G. 4A1.3, p.s.)); United States v.
    _____________
    Polanco-Reynoso, 924 F.2d 23, 25 (1st Cir. 1991) (approving
    _______________
    4A1.3 departure to next CHC). Since Fahm's one oblique allusion
    to the leapfrogging methodology appears in a parenthetical to a
    case citation, unaccompanied by argumentation, we adhere to our
    settled rule that "issues adverted to in a perfunctory manner,
    unaccompanied by some effort at developed argumentation, are
    deemed waived." United States v. Zannino, 895 F.2d 1, 17 (1st
    _____________ _______
    Cir.), cert. denied, 494 U.S. 1082 (1990) (citations omitted).
    _____ ______
    See also United States v. Emery, 991 F.2d 907, 913 n.9 (1st Cir.
    ___ ____ ______________ _____
    1993) ( 4A1.3 departure above CHC VI).

    5














    (i) Legal Rationale for Departure.
    (i) Legal Rationale for Departure.
    _____________________________

    The guidelines explicitly countenance upward departures

    pursuant to U.S.S.G. 4A1.3, based on the rationale adopted by

    the district court in this case: "[T]he criminal history score

    is unlikely to take into account all the variations in the

    seriousness of criminal history that may occur . . . . particu-
    ________

    larly . . . in the case of younger defendants (e.g., defendants
    _____ ____

    in their early twenties or younger) who are more likely to have

    received repeated lenient treatment, yet who may actually pose a

    greater risk of serious recidivism than older defendants."

    U.S.S.G. 4A1.3, backg'd. (emphasis added). Given Fahm's youth,

    the similarity and contemporaneity of his criminal conduct, and

    the fact that he had but one countable "prior sentence," see
    ___

    U.S.S.G. 4A1.2 cmt. 1, the district court correctly determined

    that departure was permissible pursuant to 4A1.3(d),(e),

    provided reliable information demonstrated that CHC II signifi-

    cantly underrepresented the seriousness of Fahm's actual criminal

    history and the risk of recidivism. Id.
    ___


    (ii) Factual Grounds for Departure.
    (ii) Factual Grounds for Departure.
    _____________________________

    Were we called upon to do so, we would review the

    sentencing court's findings of fact for clear error, Rivera, 994
    ______

    F.2d at 950, but Fahm challenges neither the reliability of the

    criminal history evidence nor the factual findings on which the







    6














    departure decision was based.3

    Nor can we fault the district court's "judgment call,"

    see United States v. Diaz-Villafane, 874 F.2d 43, 49-50 (1st
    ___ _____________ ______________

    Cir.), cert. denied, 493 U.S. 862 (1989), that Fahm's criminal
    ____ ______

    history warranted an upward departure pursuant to U.S.S.G.

    4A1.3(d),(e), a ruling we review with the considerable deference

    due the sentencing court's "special competence" and superior

    "feel" in the circumstances of the particular case, Ramirez, slip
    _______

    op. at 7; Rivera, 994 F.2d at 951-52. In far less egregious
    ______

    circumstances we have sustained an upward departure where the

    offenses of conviction were committed while the defendant was

    awaiting final disposition of a similar state charge. See
    ___

    Calderon, 935 F.2d at 12. Fahm committed these offenses while
    ________

    awaiting disposition of similar Massachusetts charges (larceny of

    an automobile and obtaining property under false pretenses) which

    had yet to result in conviction. See U.S.S.G. 4A1.3(e).
    ___

    Furthermore, while awaiting sentencing on the instant offenses,

    he committed a similar credit-fraud felony in Delaware. See
    ___

    United States v. Moore, 931 F.2d 3, 4 (1st Cir. 1991) (offenses
    _____________ _____


    ____________________

    3The district court grounded its decision to depart on
    information contained in the PSR and its addenda, derived primar-
    ily from public records, that Fahm recently engaged in similar
    adult criminal conduct that had not resulted in conviction, see
    ___
    4A1.3; Ramirez, slip op. at 8, and that he had committed offenses
    _______
    while released pending the disposition of other charges. As for
    the evidence that Fahm absconded before sentencing on the instant
    charges, the public record is irrefutable. See United States v.
    ___ _____________
    Garcia, 978 F.2d 746, 749 (1st Cir. 1992) (upholding 4A1.3
    ______
    departure where there was no dispute that defendant committed
    offenses after absconding on another charge). There was no clear
    error in the factual findings underlying the decision to depart.

    7














    involving "the same sort of dishonesty and misappropriation of

    other people's property" are "similar"). Thus, the district

    court reasonably concluded that CHC II underrepresented Fahm's

    actual criminal history, a finding well supported, inter alia, by
    _____ ____

    the similar credit-fraud related charges committed within two

    years of the instant offenses, evidencing a serious pattern of

    recidivism not reflected in the conventional CHC calculation

    under U.S.S.G. 4A1.1 and 4A1.2. See Figaro, 935 F.2d at 7
    ___ ______

    ("the recency of a prior offense may be considered an indicator

    of increased likelihood of recidivism, exacerbating the serious-

    ness of a defendant's criminal history."); United States v.
    ______________

    Aymelek, 926 F.2d 64, 70 (1st Cir. 1991).
    _______


    b. The Degree of Departure.
    b. The Degree of Departure.
    _______________________

    The reasonableness of the degree of departure is

    reviewed with "appropriate respect" for the sentencing court's

    "special competence," Rivera, 994 F.2d at 952, and substantial
    ______

    deference to its weighting of departure factors properly consid-

    ered under the guidelines. See Williams v. United States, ___
    ___ ________ ______________

    U.S. ___, ___, 112 S. Ct. 1112, 1121 (1992).

    The criminal conduct alleged in the four cases pending

    against Fahm in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, as well as the

    federal charge pending in the District of Rhode Island, see 18
    ___

    U.S.C. 3146(a)(1) (failure to appear for sentencing), which

    were not reflected in the CHC calculation, constituted grounds

    which, by analogy, see Aymelek, 926 F.2d at 70 (using analogies
    ___ _______

    for 4A1.3(e) departures), plainly indicated that neither CHC II

    8














    nor III adequately reflected the seriousness of Fahm's criminal

    conduct. See U.S.S.G. 4A1.3(e) ("prior," "similar" criminal
    ___

    conduct not yet resulting in conviction appropriate for consider-

    ation in departure decision); Diaz-Villafane, 874 F.2d at 50
    ______________

    (pending charges not used in CHC calculation may be considered in

    departure decision); United States v. Brown, 899 F.2d 94, 98 (1st
    _____________ _____

    Cir. 1990) (nature of conduct involved in pending charges, based

    on record documentation, supports 4A1.3 departure). But cf.
    ___ ___

    U.S.S.G. 4A1.3, p.s. (prior arrest record alone not to be
    _____

    considered under 4A1.3); Rivera, 994 F.2d at 949 (citing
    ______

    Williams, ___ U.S. at ___, 112 S. Ct. at 1117).4
    ________

    ____________________

    4Although "mechanistic bean counting" is an inadequate guide
    to the reasonableness of departure rulings, see United States v.
    ___ _____________
    Emery, 991 F.2d 907, 913-14 (1st Cir. 1993) (where "the sentenc-
    _____
    ing court[] [has] articulated grounds for departing [which]
    permit us adequately to assess the reasonableness of the depar-
    ture. . . . [n]o more is exigible."), we note that the reason-
    ableness of the district court's decision to depart to CHC IV is
    strongly supported by the unadjudicated state and federal charges
    pending against Fahm, and by analogous criminal conduct not
    reflected in the original CHC calculation. There are two felony
    charges pending against Fahm in Massachusetts, dating from 1988,
    for larceny of an automobile and obtaining property under false
    pretenses, see Mass. Gen. L. ch. 266 27A(a), 30, 34. Further,
    ___
    after Fahm defaulted on these two charges, a warrant issued; this
    default conduct is analogous to a federal charge of flight from
    prosecution, see 18 U.S.C. 1073(1); see also Aymelek, 926 F.2d
    ___ ___ ____ _______
    at 71 (federal law governs classification of criminal conduct for
    guideline sentencing purposes). Moreover, there is a felony
    charge outstanding against Fahm for violating Rhode Island
    banking laws in 1990, see R.I. Gen. L. 19-19-2 (issuing fraudu-
    ___
    lent check), and another 1990 Rhode Island state charge for
    obstructing a police officer with the use of an alias, see R.I.
    ___
    Gen. L. 11-32-1 (up to one year in prison), see also Moore, 931
    ___ ____ _____
    F.2d at 5 n.3 (minor convictions, in aggregate, can show pattern
    of conduct supporting finding of recidivism).
    Yet pending as well is a federal felony charge for failure
    to appear at the sentencing hearing originally scheduled for
    January, 1991. See 18 U.S.C. 3146(a)(1). Finally, the CHC
    ___
    calculation in the PSR did not reflect that Fahm committed the

    9














    The grave signs of recidivism relied on by the district

    court likewise weighed heavily in favor of a substantial upward

    departure as well.5 The pending Massachusetts false pretenses

    and larceny charges and the Rhode Island banking law charge

    involved alleged conduct similar to the instant credit card fraud

    offense, and Fahm's flight to avoid prosecution in this case is a

    carbon copy of his uncharged conduct of failing to answer to the

    Massachusetts charges following release pending prosecution. See
    ___

    U.S.S.G. 4A1.3(e), p.s. The Rhode Island obstruction charge,

    based on Fahm's alleged use of an alias to mislead a police


    ____________________

    offenses of conviction after having defaulted (i.e., failed to
    ____
    appear) on the Massachusetts charges, which would warrant two
    additional CH points. See U.S.S.G. 4A1.1(d) (add two points if
    ___
    instant offense committed while on bail).
    These pending state and federal charges, combined with the
    two-point 4A1.1(d) increase and the analogous uncharged crimi-
    nal conduct, would aggregate eight additional criminal points at
    a minimum. Ascribing even a single criminal history point to
    each pending state charge, and one to the pending federal charge,
    would result in five points. See U.S.S.G. 4A1.1(a),(b),(c)
    ___
    (assigning, respectively, three points for sentence above thir-
    teen months, two points for sentences between three and thirteen
    months, and one point for under three months). Neither these
    pending charges, nor the analogous conduct (amounting to an
    additional one point), nor the two-point 4A1.1(d) increase,
    were taken into account in the CHC calculation, which totalled
    three criminal history points. Thus, at its lowest range (8
    points), the pending charges, analogous conduct, and the 4A1-
    .1(d) increase, combined with the three points originally as-
    signed, would indicate a level V CHC. See U.S.S.G. 5A (sen-
    ___
    tencing table).

    5At the first hearing, the district court found:

    You haven't spent much time in jail in spite of the
    number of brushes you've had with the law, and maybe
    that's the problem . . . but at age [21] . . . it's
    about time . . . for you to accept responsibility for
    what you did and pay the penalty . . . I'm going to
    make an upward departure in this case.

    10














    officer, occurred while he was awaiting sentencing on the instant

    offense as well, see U.S.S.G. 4A1.3(d) (committing crime while
    ___

    awaiting sentencing is a factor to be weighed under 4A1.3), as

    did the pending charge for failing to appear for sentencing in

    Rhode Island federal district court. These charges and the

    uncharged analogous conduct all involved criminal activity within

    two years of the offenses of conviction. See U.S.S.G. 4A1.1(e)
    ___

    (two-point criminal history increase to reflect recency of

    offense); Figaro, 935 F.2d at 7 (treating recency of offense as
    ______

    evidence of recidivism) ( 4A1.3 departure). The district court

    further found that Fahm had been treated leniently in the past,

    and had persisted before and since the offenses of conviction

    in the same pattern of credit fraud.

    Given Fahm's significantly underrepresented criminal

    history and his serious recidivism, as evidenced by the recency

    of his criminal conduct and his commission of criminal offenses

    while released awaiting prosecution on other charges, the degree

    of the departure imposed by the district court was reasonable.

    See generally United States v. Joan, 883 F.2d 491, 496 (6th Cir.
    ___ _________ _____________ ____

    1989) (adopting Diaz-Villafane three-step analysis and assigning
    ______________

    as factors in determining reasonableness of departure: the

    seriousness of the past conduct, recidivism risk, conduct not

    resulting in convictions, previous lenient treatment, and deter-

    rent effect) (combined 4A1.3 and 5K2.0 departure).


    B. Reconsideration of Original Sentence.
    B. Reconsideration of Original Sentence.
    ____________________________________

    At the September 30 sentencing, after overruling Fahm's

    11














    objection to the 4A1.3 departure ruling and denying his request

    to stay "imposition" of sentence, the court immediately proceeded

    to impose the twenty-month prison sentence but nonetheless

    allowed defense counsel two weeks within which to submit written

    opposition to the departure ruling. At the second sentencing

    hearing, on December 22, the district court declined to reconsid-

    er its 4A1.3 departure ruling, then indicated that it intended

    to correct an earlier oversight by increasing Fahm's ABOL by two

    levels for unlawful flight from prosecution. Defense counsel

    objected that the court lacked jurisdiction to reconsider under

    Fed. R. Crim. P. 35 but made no explicit reference to the seven-

    day limitation period in Rule 35(c). See Fed. R. Crim. P. 35(c);
    ___

    infra at p. 15. The court then increased the original prison
    _____

    sentence to twenty-one months, bringing it within the revised 21-

    to-27 month GSR.

    On appeal, Fahm claims that the district court lacked

    jurisdiction to increase the sentence originally imposed on

    September 30. See Fed. R. Crim. P. 35(c). The government, on
    ___

    the other hand, characterizes the December 22 hearing as a mere

    continuation of the first hearing, and accordingly contends that

    the seven-day limitation period in Rule 35(c) was not implicated.

    Alternatively, the government argues that the district court

    possessed inherent power to reconsider the original sentence

    notwithstanding the limitation period in Rule 35(c). We conclude

    that neither government theory is tenable.




    12














    1. Fed. R. Crim. P. 35(c)(1991).
    1. Fed. R. Crim. P. 35(c)(1991).
    ___________________________

    The district court judgment and docket entry plainly

    reflect that the twenty-month prison sentence was "imposed" on

    September 30. See United States v. Morillo, ___ F.3d ___, No.
    ___ _____________ _______

    93-1388, slip op. at 11 n.8 (1st Cir. Nov. 8, 1993) (noting

    likelihood that "imposition of sentence," within meaning of Rule

    35(c), occurs on date judgment entered) (dictum) (citing United
    ______ ______

    States v. Zuleta-Molina, 840 F.2d 157, 158 n.1 (1st Cir. 1988));
    ______ _____________

    United States v. Carr, 932 F.2d 67, 69 (1st Cir.), cert. denied,
    ______________ ____ ____ ______

    112 S. Ct. 112 (1991); see also Fed. R. Crim. P. 32(b)(1) ("The
    ___ ____

    judgment shall be signed by the judge and entered by the

    clerk."). Moreover, the September 30 hearing transcript reflects

    that the court pronounced the original sentence after overruling
    _____ __________

    Fahm's objection to the 4A1.3 departure. Later in the hearing,

    defense counsel sought to stay imposition of sentence pending
    __________

    submission of opposition to the 4A1.3 departure. Although the

    court categorically denied a stay leaving its twenty-month

    sentence in place it allowed defense counsel time to submit

    written opposition. The district court record thus belies any

    interpretation that sentence was not imposed on September 30.

    Consequently, we must decide whether the original sentence was

    subject to reconsideration by the district court on December 22,

    well beyond the time allowed under Rule 35(c).

    Rule 35(c) states:

    (c) Correction of Sentence by Sentencing
    (c) Correction of Sentence by Sentencing
    Court. The court, acting within 7 days after
    Court ______
    the imposition of sentence, may correct a
    __________
    sentence that was imposed as a result of

    13














    arithmetical, technical, or other clear
    error.

    (Emphasis added.) The advisory committee note explains that new

    Rule 35(c) recognizes the power of a sentencing court to correct

    certain types of sentencing errors "discovered shortly after the

    sentence is imposed." Fed. R. Crim. P. 35(c) advisory commit-

    tee's note (1991 amendment). Compare Carr, 932 F.2d at 71 n.5
    _______ ____

    (pre-Rule 35(c) case). The relevant case law likewise compels

    the conclusion that the district court lacked jurisdiction to

    correct its original sentence beyond the limitation period

    prescribed in Rule 35(c). Morillo, slip op. at 10 ("[Rule
    _______

    35(c)'s] interval constitutes a limitation . . . and the limita-

    tion is absolute") (dictum); United States v. Turner, 998 F.2d
    ______________ ______

    534, 536 (7th Cir.), cert. denied, 62 U.S.L.W. 3409 (1993).
    ____ ______


    2. Inherent Power.
    2. Inherent Power.
    ______________

    The government alternatively contends, Rule 35(c)

    notwithstanding, that the district court possessed the inherent

    power to reconsider Fahm's ABOL to correct an obvious oversight.

    The government relies on United States v. Rico, 902 F.2d 1065 (2d
    _____________ ____

    Cir.), cert. denied, 498 U.S. 943 (1990), and United States v.
    ____ ______ ______________

    Cook, 890 F.2d 672 (4th Cir. 1989).6 Upon careful consideration
    ____

    of the rule, the advisory committee's note, and relevant case

    law, we conclude that the court had no inherent power to increase

    its original sentence.

    ____________________

    6See also Carr, 932 F.2d at 71 (pre-Rule 35(c) case recog-
    ___ ____ ____
    nizing limited "inherent power" to reconsider sentence during
    appeal period).

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    The 1991 amendment to Rule 35(c) was intended to codify

    the result reached in Rico and Cook but requires as well that the
    ____ ____

    sentencing court act within the time frame prescribed in the
    ___ ______

    rule, see Morillo, slip op. at 11 n.8, so as to: (i) "reduce the
    ___ _______

    likelihood of jurisdictional questions in the event of an appeal"

    from the original judgment; (ii) "provide the parties . . . an

    opportunity to address [on appeal] the court's correction of the

    sentence, or lack thereof"; and (iii) "reduce the likelihood of

    abuse of the rule by limiting its application to acknowledged and

    obvious errors in sentencing," Fed. R. Crim. P. 35(c) advisory

    committee's note (1991 amendment).7 See United States v. Ross,
    ___ _____________ ____

    ___ F.3d ___, 1993 WL 452716 at *5 (7th Cir. 1993); United States
    _____________

    v. Daddino, 5 F.3d 262, 265 (7th Cir. 1993) (per curiam) (exclu-
    _______

    sive authority for correction of obvious judicial errors and
    ________

    omissions derives from Rule 35(c)).8

    Since the narrow window of opportunity allowed under

    Rule 35(c) closed long before the district court reconsidered its

    ____________________

    7Therefore, for example, even though Fahm's oral request for
    reconsideration of the 4A1.3 departure ruling on September 30
    was made within the limitation period, the court would have been
    required to act on the request within the seven-day period
    ___
    (properly calculated) following entry of the judgment of convic-
    tion on October 2, 1992. See Morillo, slip op. at 10. Accord-
    ___ _______
    ingly, on December 22 the district court was without jurisdiction
    under Rule 35(c) to "correct," in any way, its original sentence.
    See also Fed. R. Crim. P. 45(a),(b) (rules governing computation
    ___ ____
    and enlargement of time).

    8There is no suggestion, either by the parties or in the
    appellate record, that the twenty-one month sentence was imposed
    pursuant to Fed. R. Crim. P. 36. In any event, Rule 36 is
    considered generally inapplicable to judicial errors and omis-
    ________
    sions. Daddino, 5 F.3d at 264-65. See generally 3 Charles A.
    _______ ___ _________
    Wright, Federal Practice and Procedure 611 (2d ed. Supp. 1993).
    ______________________________

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    original sentence, and the court lacked inherent power to do so,

    the original sentence must be reinstated. See Turner, 998 F.2d
    ___ ______

    at 536 ("The district court's inaction had the same effect as

    denying the motion, making the judgment final on the date the

    district judge's power to alter the sentence expired.").

    The twenty-one month prison sentence imposed on
    _______________________________________________________

    December 22, 1992, is to be vacated; the original twenty-month
    _________________________________________________________________

    prison sentence imposed on September 30, 1992, is to be reinstat-
    _________________________________________________________________

    ed. So ordered.
    __ __________




































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