United States v. Geovanys Guevara , 894 F.3d 1301 ( 2018 )

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[PUBLISH]
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
________________________
No. 15-14146
________________________
D.C. Docket No. 1:14-cr-20792-JLK-1
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
versus
GEOVANYS GUEVARA,
Defendant-Appellant.
________________________
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Southern District of Florida
________________________
(July 11, 2018)
Before TJOFLAT and WILSON, Circuit Judges, and ROBRENO, * District Judge.
*
Honorable Eduardo C. Robreno, United States District Judge for the Eastern District of
Pennsylvania, sitting by designation.
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ROBRENO, District Judge:
Following a trial in the United States District Court for the Southern District
of Florida, a jury found Defendant-Appellant Geovanys Guevara guilty of violating
31 U.S.C. § 5324(b)(2) and 18 U.S.C. § 2 by causing or attempting to cause Sanfer
Sports Cars, Inc., a car dealership in Miami, to file certain Form 8300s with the
United States Treasury Department that contained material omissions and
misstatements of facts concerning Guevara’s identity as the individual who
provided cash payments of over $10,000 for the purchases of each of three sports
cars. Guevara now appeals his convictions and 48-month prison sentence.
We affirm Guevara’s convictions upon finding that the evidence, though
circumstantial only, was sufficient to support the jury’s verdict. We remand with
instructions to resentence Guevara, however, based on our conclusion that the
district court failed to make and explain factual findings that adequately support
the application of a two-level sentencing enhancement for obstruction of justice.
I.
The Bank Secrecy Act requires any person who is engaged in a non-
financial trade or business to file with the United States Treasury Department a
report of any cash payment over $10,000 received by the trade or business. See 31
U.S.C. § 5331. This report, known as a FinCEN Form 8300, requires the trade or
business to verify and record the name and address of the person from whom the
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cash payment was received, along with the identity, Social Security number, and
taxpayer identification number of any person or entity on whose behalf the
transaction and cash payment was to be effected.
Prior to the indictment in this case, law enforcement officers from the
Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) visited Guevara’s home on May 21, 2014, to
interview Guevara regarding the ownership of a certain Porsche, Ferrari,
Lamborghini, and Rolls Royce, all of which had been purchased from Sanfer for
cash. The Form 8300s submitted to the IRS listed an individual named Elvis
Quiroga (“E.Q”) as the individual who had provided over $10,000 in cash for the
purchase of each of these cars.
Initially, when the officers spoke with Guevara in the presence of his wife,
Guevara lied to the officers about his purchases and ownership of these four
vehicles. Several minutes later, however, after Guevara and the officers moved
away from Guevara’s wife, he admitted that he had lied while speaking in her
presence. Guevara further admitted that he was, in fact, the true owner of all the
vehicles, that the titles to all the vehicles had been placed in the name of Guevara’s
friend, E.Q., and that the owner of Sanfer, Carlos Santisteban (“Santisteban”),
knew that Guevara was paying for these vehicles and was their true owner.
Specifically, Guevara claimed that, for each transaction, he had visited Sanfer,
chosen the vehicle, paid for the vehicle using money from a therapy clinic he
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owned, and then instructed E.Q. to go to the dealership and become the registered
owner of the vehicle. For each purchase except the Lamborghini, Guevara stated
that he had paid E.Q. $1,000 to take title to the car.
Trial commenced on June 1, 2015. The Government’s first witness was
E.Q., who had known Guevara for approximately ten years. E.Q. testified that he
had agreed to put the titles to four of Guevara’s vehicles in his name because the
two were good friends who “got along . . . very well.” Trial Tr. 132 at 12-13. For
each of the four cars, E.Q. testified that Guevara had paid him $1000 to go to
Sanfer and take title to the car. E.Q. further testified that he had never indicated to
anyone at Sanfer that he was purchasing the cars, or that Guevara was purchasing
the cars for him. Finally, E.Q. testified that he did not know how Guevara had
paid for any of the cars, and that he, E.Q., never received any copies of the
paperwork filed for the purchase of the cars. The paperwork E.Q. never received
included letters addressed to E.Q. at his home address, stating, for each of the
Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Rolls Royce, that “[i]n compliance [with] IRS reporting
standards we have submitted the [Form 8300] to the Department of Treasury for
the above mentioned transaction.” Gov’t Exs. 7B, 7C, 7D.
While questioning E.Q., the Government moved its Exhibit 1 into evidence.
Exhibit 1 was a set of five computer-generated summaries created by an
unidentified IRS employee on an unidentified date and time. The one-page
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certification accompanying these summaries stated the following under the heading
“CERTIFICATE OF OFFICIAL RECORD”:
I certify that the annexed records were retrieved at my direction, and
are true and complete transcripts of information reported on
IRS/FinCEN Form 8300 (OMB No. 1545-0892/1506-BSA
Identification Numbers: 31000019592832, 31000026273057,
31000027204734, 31000036312176 and 31000055261633, under the
custody of this office.
Gov’t Ex. 1. The certification was signed by “Linda K. Gammon, Chief Law
Enforcement Support Section.” The trial court admitted Exhibit 1 into evidence
without objection.
The next Government witness was a man named Ebian Boza, who had been
a car salesman at Miami Lakes Auto Mall in February 2013, when Guevara had
purchased a Camaro for cash there. Boza testified that he had advised Guevara at
that time that “[e]very time you buy a car, if you pay in cash more than
$10,000.00, you have to sign a form for the IRS.” Trial Tr. 130 at 60:24-25; 61:1-
2.
The Government then called Officer Azael Acay of the City of Hialeah
Police Department and Police Officer Joseph Miller, each of whom testified that
they had conducted separate routine traffic stops of Guevara while he was driving a
Rolls Royce. Later, the Government read a stipulation into the record that witness
Sulkary Herbas, if called to testify, would state that, between April 2013 and
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September 2013, she observed Guevara driving both the Lamborghini and the
Rolls Royce.
The Government’s next witness was Miami-Dade Police Officer Ulysses
Lopez, who had acted as an interpreter for IRS Agent Harlan Daar when Agent
Daar interviewed Guevara outside of his residence regarding vehicles purchased
from Sanfer. Officer Lopez testified that his report reflected that Guevara had
made a photo identification of Santisteban; Guevara had told the officers that he
had told Santisteban that he was going to buy cars and put them in E.Q.’s name;
Santisteban knew that Guevara was the true owner of the vehicles that he
purchased; and Santisteban knew that the money to buy the vehicles came from
Guevara.
The Government then called Special Agent Vincent Joseph Lozowicki, who
testified that he had reviewed and analyzed Guevara’s financial records from
Ocean Bank and Bank of America. Lozowicki used these records to complete an
income restructuring for Guevara, which is a method of verifying a person’s
income when no official records exist. This restructuring showed Guevara’s
income as $118,350 for 2009, $69,557 for 2011, and $323,488 for 2013. These
amounts notwithstanding, Guevara had applied for and received a low income tax
credit during each of these years.
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The Government’s final witness was Agent Daar, who testified about his
interview of Guevara outside of Guevara’s house prior to the indictment. He
testified that once Guevara was comfortable speaking out of the presence of his
wife, he had not hesitated to admit that he was the true owner and purchaser of the
Rolls Royce, the Lamborghini, the Porsche, and the Ferrari. Guevara also had
described to Agent Daar the procedure he had used to make each purchase.
Agent Daar was next asked general questions concerning the filing of Form
8300s. When asked whose responsibility it was to file the forms, he responded that
it is the responsibility of the “trader” who receives the cash. Additionally, Agent
Daar testified that the form requires the name of the person who actually gives the
cash, the date the cash is received, the amount of cash received, and information
about the business receiving the cash and the individual filling out the form. He
also testified that Guevara did not have to sign the forms that were completed and
sent to the IRS by Sanfer.1 On cross-examination, Agent Daar testified that he had
never asked Guevara any questions regarding the Form 8300s. 2
1
A purchaser is not required to sign a Form 8300. See Trial Tr. 130 at 83:3-4; see also
FinCEN Form 8300, available at https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f8300.pdf (leaving no space
for a purchaser’s signature).
2
When asked, “[m]atter of fact, you didn’t even show him the Form 8300,” Agent Daar’s
response was, “Well, there is no need to show him that form because he doesn’t sign that form.”
Trial Tr. 140 at 70:4-6.
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At the conclusion of the Government’s case-in-chief, Guevara moved for
judgment of acquittal. The motion was denied. The defense rested without calling
any witnesses or presenting any evidence—and then moved again for judgment of
acquittal, which was again denied. Ultimately, the jury found Guevara guilty as to
Counts 2, 3, and 4 of the indictment. 3
On June 12, 2015, Guevara filed two additional motions for judgment of
acquittal: one based on his assertion that the Government had failed to introduce
the actual Form 8300s or certified copies thereof, and one arguing insufficiency of
the evidence. The Government opposed the motions for judgment of acquittal on
June 25, 2015, and the trial court denied the motions on August 24, 2015.
The Probation Office issued a Presentence Investigation Report (“PSI”).
Applying the 2014 Sentencing Guidelines Manual, Guevara’s base offense level as
to Counts 2-4 was set at 18, pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 2S1.3(a)(2).4 The Probation
Office recommended a two-level enhancement pursuant to § 2S1.3(b)(2) based on
the jury’s finding that Guevara had committed the offense as part of a pattern of
unlawful activity involving more than $100,000 in a twelve-month period. It also
recommended a two-level enhancement pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 3B1.1(c), which
3
The jury found Guevara not guilty as to Count 1, which pertained to the Porsche.
4
This set the base offense level at 6 and added 12 levels pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 2B1.1,
based on the amount of funds involved in the transactions.
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pertains to an organizer, leader, manager, or supervisor in any criminal activity.
Finally, the Probation Office recommended that the district court impose a two-
level enhancement, pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 3C1.1, for willfully obstructing justice
or attempting to obstruct justice or impede an investigation. Guevara’s adjusted
offense level was 24, and because he did not receive any reductions in the original
PSI, his total offense level was also 24. 5
Guevara filed five objections to the PSI, including an objection to the two-
level enhancement for obstruction of justice. At sentencing, based in part on the
Government’s agreement, the district court granted Guevara’s objection to the
determination of the amount of funds involved in the offense and reduced the base
offense level to 16. The district court denied Guevara’s remaining objections.
As a result of the district court’s rulings, Guevara’s final offense level was
22, criminal history category I, which resulted in an advisory sentencing guidelines
range of 41 to 51 months’ imprisonment. The district court then sentenced
Guevara to 48 months’ imprisonment as to all three counts. At the conclusion of
the sentencing hearing, Guevara preserved his objections for appeal.
5
Guevara had no criminal history points, and therefore had a criminal history category of
I. Guevara’s advisory sentencing guidelines range, based upon a total offense level 24 and a
criminal history category of I, was 51 to 63 months’ imprisonment. Pursuant to 31 U.S.C.
§ 5324(d)(2), Guevara faced a statutory maximum term of ten years’ imprisonment.
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II.
When a claim of error is preserved, this Court reviews the sufficiency of the
evidence de novo. United States v. Bowers, 811 F.3d 412, 424 (11th Cir. 2016).
Specifically, the Court considers “whether, under the totality of the circumstances,
there is sufficient evidence to support a jury verdict when the facts are viewed in
the light most favorable to the government.” Id. (quoting United States v. Mieres-
Borges, 919 F.2d 652, 658 (11th Cir. 1990)); see also United States v. Louis, 861
F.3d 1330, 1333 (11th Cir. July 10, 2017) (“When considering claims regarding
sufficiency of the evidence, we view the evidence in the light most favorable to the
government.”). “Evidence is sufficient to support a conviction if a reasonable trier
of fact could find that the evidence established guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.”
Bowers, 811 F.3d at 424 (quoting United States v. Maxwell, 579 F.3d 1282, 1299
(11th Cir. 2009)).
“The test for sufficiency of evidence is identical regardless of whether the
evidence is direct or circumstantial, and ‘no distinction is to be made between the
weight given to either direct or circumstantial evidence.’” Mieres-Borges, 919
F.2d at 656-57 (quoting United States v. Gonzales, 719 F.2d 1516, 1521 (11th Cir.
1983)). “It is not necessary for the evidence to exclude every reasonable
hypothesis of innocence or be wholly inconsistent with every conclusion except
that of guilt.” United States v. Garcia, 447 F.3d 1327, 1334 (11th Cir. 2006)
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(quoting United States v. Bell, 678 F.2d 547, 549 (5th Cir. Unit B 1982) (en banc)).
This Court “[will not] reverse a conviction for insufficiency of the evidence unless
[it] conclude[s] that no reasonable factfinder could find proof of guilt beyond a
reasonable doubt.” Mieres-Borges, 919 F.2d at 656.
A.
The Bank Secrecy Act makes it illegal to knowingly and intentionally “cause
or attempt to cause a nonfinancial trade or business to file a report required under
section 5331 or any regulation prescribed under such section that contains a
material omission or misstatement of fact.” 31 U.S.C. § 5324(b)(2). The elements
of this offense require the Government to prove that (1) the defendant had
knowledge of the currency transaction reporting requirements, (2) the defendant
knowingly caused or attempted to cause the non-financial trade or business to file a
report that contained a material omission or misstatement of fact, and (3) the
purpose of causing or attempting to cause the non-financial trade or business to file
a report that contained a material omission or misstatement of fact was for the
defendant to evade the currency transaction reporting requirement of 31 U.S.C.
§ 5331, and the regulations promulgated thereunder. See United States v.
MacPherson, 424 F.3d 183, 189 (2d Cir. 2005).
Guevara takes issue with only the Government’s proof regarding the second
element. Specifically, Guevara argues that the evidence was insufficient to show
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that he caused or attempted to cause the false filings because there was no evidence
that he ever tried to persuade, influence, coax, encourage, convince, threaten, or
even request that Sanfer file Form 8300s containing misstatements regarding
Guevara’s identity as the buyer of the vehicles. However, Guevara cites no
authority suggesting that such evidence is necessary to sustain a conviction under
31 U.S.C. § 5324(b)(2), and the parties agree that “cause” means “[t]o bring about
or effect.” Black’s Law Dictionary (10th ed. 2014); see Appellee’s Br. 23;
Appellant’s Reply Br. 4 (“[T]he Defendant joins in the definition of ‘cause’ put
forth by the Government in its brief, to wit: ‘[t]he term “cause” means to bring
about or into existence, to make happen. See Black’s Law Dictionary.’”).
The Government identifies numerous propositions established by
circumstantial evidence at trial, including that Guevara selected, negotiated, and
paid for each of the vehicles; Guevara knew, at least following the purchase of the
Camaro from the Miami Lakes Auto Mall, that, as a result of each cash purchase, a
Form 8300 had to be completed; Guevara solicited E.Q. to act as a straw buyer; the
Form 8300s should have identified Guevara’s roles in the transactions, as provider
of the currency and as the person on whose behalf the transactions were occurring;
and, the Form 8300s, like the title paperwork, falsely identified E.Q. as the
provider of the currency and did not identify Guevara as the person on whose
behalf the transactions were occurring. See Appellee’s Br. 26-28. Based on this
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evidence, the Government argues that a jury could reasonably conclude that
Guevara caused or attempted to cause Sanfer to file the Form 8300s containing
material misstatements as to the identity of the true purchaser of the cars, in
violation of 31 U.S.C. § 5324(b)(2).
We agree with the Government. The evidence established that Boza
informed Guevara of the Form 8300 requirement when Guevara purchased a
Camaro for cash at the Miami Lakes Auto Mall in February. Accordingly, a
reasonable factfinder could conclude that Guevara knew, prior to purchasing the
Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Rolls Royce from Sanfer for cash, 6 that Sanfer would
have to file a Form 8300 for each of those vehicles. 7 Armed with this knowledge,
Guevara recruited and paid E.Q. to act as the straw buyer for the vehicles.
Guevara’s use of a straw man facilitated the filing of the Form 8300s containing
material misstatements by suggesting to Sanfer that E.Q., not Guevara, was the
buyer who should be listed on the Form 8300s—and, ultimately, the Form 8300s
6
The purchases of these vehicles took place, respectively, in March 2013, April 2013,
and September 2013. Only Guevara’s purchase of the Porsche from Sanfer preceded the
purchase of the Camaro from the Miami Lakes Auto Mall.
7
We agree with the Government’s observation that the “not guilty” verdict on Count 1—
related to Guevara’s purchase of the Porsche from Sanfer, which was the only purchase from
Sanfer that took place prior to his purchase of the Camaro from the Miami Lakes Auto Mall—
tends to suggest that the jury inferred the element of knowledge from Guevara’s conversation
with Boza. See supra n.6; Appellee’s Br. 25 (“The jury’s split verdict demonstrates that the jury
was convinced beyond a reasonable doubt, at least after the purchase of the Camaro from a
different dealership, that Guevara was aware that purchasing a vehicle with at least $10,000 in
cash would trigger reporting obligations, specifically those created in 31 U.S.C. § 5324(b)(2),
and necessitate the filing of a Form 8300.” ).
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pertaining to each vehicle were materially false because they listed E.Q., not
Guevara, as the true buyer. Finally, the income reconstruction evidence indicated
that Guevara purposely sought to evade the currency transaction reporting
requirement of 31 U.S.C. § 5331, lest the filing of such reports lead to an
investigation of the income he was not reporting on his tax returns. Viewing this
evidence in the light most favorable to the Government and drawing all reasonable
inferences in favor of the verdict, we cannot conclude that “no reasonable
factfinder could find proof of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.” See Mieres-
Borges, 919 F.2d at 656.
B.
Guevara argues separately that the evidence was insufficient to support his
conviction specifically on the basis that the Government was required to submit
into evidence the original Form 8300s, or certified copies thereof.
Ordinarily, we review a district court’s evidentiary rulings for an abuse of
discretion. United States v. Henderson, 409 F.3d 1293, 1297 (11th Cir. 2005). If a
defendant fails to preserve an evidentiary ruling by contemporaneous objection,
however, then this Court reviews “only for plain error.” United States v. Turner,
474 F.3d 1265, 1275 (11th Cir. 2007). “To demonstrate plain error, the defendant
must show that there is ‘(1) error, (2) that is plain and (3) that affects substantial
rights. If all three conditions are met, an appellate court may then exercise its
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discretion to notice a forfeited error, but only if (4) the error seriously affects the
fairness, integrity, or public reputation of judicial proceedings.’” Id. at 1276(quoting United States v. Monroe, 353 F.3d 1346, 1349 (11th Cir. 2003)).
Guevara faults the Government for choosing not to offer into evidence either
the original Form 8300s or certified copies thereof, despite having both in its
possession. He contends that the best evidence rule required submission of the
original or copied 8300 forms to prove their contents—i.e., that they contained
material omissions or misstatements of fact.
The best evidence rule, codified as Federal Rule of Evidence 1002, requires
the production of originals to prove the content of any writing, recording or
photograph. Fed. R. Evid. 1002; United States v. Howard, 953 F.2d 610, 612 n.1
(11th Cir. 1992) (per curiam). “The purpose of the best evidence rule is to prevent
inaccuracy and fraud when attempting to prove the contents of a writing.” United
States v. Ross, 33 F.3d 1507, 1513 (11th Cir. 1994). An original is not required if
it is lost or destroyed, unless it has become unavailable through bad faith. Fed. R.
Evid. 1004.
Because Guevara did not object during trial to the admission of Exhibit 1,
the five computer-generated summaries of the relevant Form 8300s submitted by
Sanfer to the IRS, the issue is being raised for the first time on appeal, and we
therefore review for plain error only. See United States v. Deverso, 518 F.3d 1250,
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1255 (11th Cir. 2008) (reviewing admission of evidence for plain error where
objection to authenticity made at trial was different from objection proffered on
appeal).
On the merits, we agree with Guevara that the Government failed to satisfy
the best evidence rule by failing to introduce the original Form 8300s under
Federal Rule of Evidence 1002 to prove that each Form 8300 contained “a material
omission or misstatement of fact.” 31 U.S.C. § 5324(b)(2). The content of the
Form 8300s relevant to the charges in this case are the portions of these forms
identifying E.Q., rather than Guevara, as the purchaser of the cars. Because the
Government sought to prove this content for purposes of establishing “material . . .
misstatement[s] of fact” under 31 U.S.C. § 5324(b)(2), the Form 8300s, or
duplicates thereof,8 should have been introduced into evidence.9
Notwithstanding this error, Guevara has failed to show that the admission of
Exhibit 1 affected his “substantial rights,” or that any error “seriously affect[ed] the
fairness, integrity, or public reputation of judicial proceedings.” Turner, 474 F.3d
8A duplicate is admissible to the same extent as an original, unless there is a genuine
question of authenticity or it would be unfair to admit the duplicate. Fed. R. Evid. 1003.
9
We note additionally that Exhibit 1 is not a public or business record, but rather a
computer-generated summary of certain transactions. Insofar as this summary does not pertain
to voluminous records subject to Federal Rule of Evidence 1006 and was prepared specifically
for purposes of litigation, the decision to admit it was error. See United States v. Arias-
Izquierdo, 449 F.3d 1168, 1183-84 (11th Cir. 2006) (“Rule 803(6) requires that both the
underlying records and the report summarizing those records be prepared and maintained for
business purposes in the ordinary course of business and not for purposes of litigation.” (citing
United States v. Kim, 595 F.2d 755, 760-64 (D.C. Cir. 1979))).
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at 1275-76 (quoting Monroe, 353 F.3d at 1349). Even without any evidence
whatsoever that a Form 8300 containing the material misstatement of fact alleged
by the Government was actually filed, Guevara still could have been convicted of
attempting to cause a false Form 8300 to be filed. That is, even if the Government
had not shown at all—through Exhibit 1 or otherwise—that filed Form 8300s
actually listed E.Q. as the buyer rather than Guevara, a jury could reasonably
conclude that Guevara structured the transactions using a straw buyer for the
purpose of keeping his name off the Form 8300s.10 For these reasons, we maintain
that the evidence was sufficient to sustain Guevara’s convictions, even despite the
Government’s failure to satisfy the best evidence rule.
C.
Having found the evidence sufficient to uphold the jury’s verdict finding
Guevara guilty of the offense described in 31 U.S.C. § 5324(b)(2), we next
consider Guevara’s argument that the district court erred in applying a two-level
sentencing enhancement for obstruction of justice.
“When considering a district court’s imposition of an enhancement for
obstruction of justice,” this Court “review[s] the district court’s factual findings for
clear error and the application of the factual findings to the sentencing guidelines
10
Guevara concedes, albeit in a different section of his brief, that “to prove that a
defendant attempted to cause” a non-financial trade or business to file a report that contains a
material omission or misstatement of fact, “the Government would not be required to introduce
evidence that the nonfinancial trade or business did in-fact [sic] file such a report.” Appellant’s
Br. 33.
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de novo.” United States v. Perkins, 787 F.3d 1329, 1341 (11th Cir. 2015). “Unless
it is harmless, an error in the district court’s calculation of the applicable guideline
range warrants reversal.” Id. (citing United States v. Barner, 572 F.3d 1239, 1247
(11th Cir. 2009)). “A calculation error is harmless when a district judge clearly
states that she would impose the same sentence regardless of the enhancement, and
the sentence imposed is reasonable.” Id. (citing United States v. Keene, 470 F.3d
1347, 1349-50 (11th Cir. 2006)).
Pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 3C1.1, a defendant’s offense level will be increased
by two levels if:
(1) the defendant willfully obstructed or impeded, or attempted to
obstruct or impede, the administration of justice with respect to the
investigation, prosecution, or sentencing of the instant offense of
conviction, and (2) the obstructive conduct related to (A) the
defendant’s offense of conviction and any relevant conduct; or (B) a
closely related offense . . . .
U.S.S.G. § 3C1.1. The enhancement may apply to conduct that occurred prior to
the start of the investigation for the prosecuted offense only if the conduct was
“purposefully calculated, and likely, to thwart the investigation or prosecution of
the offense of conviction.” Id. cmt. (n.1).
“Section 3C1.1 contains a clear mens rea requirement of willfully
obstructing or attempting to obstruct the administration of justice.” United States
v. Burton, 933 F.2d 916, 918 (11th Cir. 1991) (per curiam). Generally, this Court
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requires an explanation by the district court as to why it has applied the obstruction
of justice enhancement:
In order to permit meaningful appellate review, when a district court
applies the obstruction enhancement because a defendant made false
statements, not under oath, to law enforcement officers, it must find
that the statements were false and material. It must also explain how
the statements significantly obstructed or impeded the investigation or
prosecution of the offense.
United States v. Alpert, 28 F.3d 1104, 1107 (11th Cir. 1994) (en banc); see also
United States v. Banks, 347 F.3d 1266, 1269 (11th Cir. 2003) (explaining that, “if
the district court ch[ooses] to apply the § 3C1.1 enhancement, ‘it should note
specifically what each defendant did, why that conduct warrants the enhancement,
and, if applicable, how that conduct actually hindered the investigation or
prosecution of the offense’” (quoting Alpert, 28 F.3d at 1107-08)). Nevertheless, if
the record “clearly reflects the basis for the enhancement and supports it,” then
individualized findings regarding the obstruction of justice enhancement are not
necessary. United States v. Taylor, 88 F.3d 938, 944 (11th Cir. 1996).
We have difficulty reviewing the application of the § 3C1.1 enhancement in
this case because the district court failed to make and explain factual findings as to
how Guevara obstructed or impeded the investigation or prosecution. See Alpert,
28 F.3d at 1107; see also Banks, 347 F.3d at 1269 (“[W]e cannot proceed with
appellate review of this sentence until after findings are made by the sentencing
court in the language of § 3C1.1 and in accordance with Alpert.”). The district
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court in this case made nothing more than vague, equivocal statements regarding
Guevara’s tax returns, use of a straw buyer to commit the crime with which he was
charged, and initial misstatements to agents during the interview outside of his
home.
We may overlook the lack of supportive factual findings and nevertheless
affirm the imposition of the § 3C1.1 enhancement only if the record “clearly
reflects the basis for the enhancement and supports it.” See Taylor, 88 F.3d at 944.
This record does not, however, clearly reflect how Guevara’s behavior in regard to
his tax returns, use of a straw buyer to commit the crime, or initial misstatements
(not under oath) to agents interviewing him outside of his home were calculated
to—let alone actually did—thwart the investigation or prosecution.
The district court’s imposition of the two-level enhancement for obstructing
justice seems to have hinged primarily on Guevara’s handling of his tax returns,
many of which were filed several years before the offense conduct took place:
[T]he other matter that was referred to at the end, it may be under this
category of this two points that that should be considered; and that is
the fact that he failed to file tax returns when he obviously had a
lavish income or access to a lavish income, a very substantial income.
And the fact that at the same time he was cheating the program that
provides money for people who can’t eat, who don’t have enough
money to eat on, is outrageous.
So whether that is within this range of obstruction of justice—so that
would militate in favor of leaving the two points in.
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Sentencing Tr. at 26:15-25. The district court never explained how Guevara’s
“outrageous” behavior in regard to his tax returns impeded the investigation or
prosecution, but instead concluded only vaguely that “the obstruction of justice,
when factoring in [Guevara’s] conduct and his tax returns and some of these
others, warrants that two points. So the objection is overruled to that.” Id. at 29:7-
11.
We agree with Guevara that it cannot be the case both that Guevara’s motive
for wanting Sanfer to file Form 8300s containing false information was to hide
income he did not report on his tax returns, and also that Guevara’s motive for
hiding income by not reporting it on his tax returns was to impede any potential
future prosecution he might face for wanting Sanfer to file Form 8300s containing
false information. See Appellant’s Br. 55-56. Although it may have been
reprehensible or even illegal for Guevara to claim low income tax credits, it cannot
be said that that behavior was necessarily “purposefully calculated, and likely, to
thwart the investigation or prosecution of the offense of conviction,” U.S.S.G.
§ 3C1.1 cmt. (n.1)—particularly given that Guevara did not commit the offense
until years later.
Further, the record does not clearly reflect why the district court believed
Guevara’s use of a straw man to buy sports cars warranted an enhancement for
obstruction of justice. Guevara’s use of a straw buyer was certainly part of his
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offense conduct and constitutes circumstantial evidence strongly supporting an
inference that he knowingly caused or attempted to cause Sanfer to file false Form
8300s in violation of 31 U.S.C. § 5324(b)(2). See supra discussion II.A. But the
use of deception as part of committing a crime is not itself grounds for application
of the § 3C1.1 enhancement, and the record does not clearly reflect how Guevara’s
use of a straw buyer satisfies the § 3C1.1 “mens rea requirement of willfully
obstructing or attempting to obstruct the administration of justice.” Burton, 933
F.2d at 918.
Finally, although making a false statement to law enforcement officers may
warrant application of the § 3C1.1 enhancement under certain circumstances,11
application of the enhancement on this ground is appropriate only if “such conduct
actually resulted in a significant hindrance to the investigation or prosecution.”
Alpert, 28 F.3d at 1107 (emphasis added) (quoting U.S.S.G. § 3C1.1 cmt. n.5(a));
see also United States v. Shriver, 967 F.2d 572, 575 (11th Cir. 1992) (finding, in a
case where “the record reflect[ed] that [the defendant] made a false statement, not
under oath, to a law enforcement officer,” an enhancement under U.S.S.G. § 3C1.1
was not warranted because “[n]o evidence in the record show[ed] that [the
defendant’s] false statement ‘significantly obstructed or impeded the official
11
One example of conduct deemed “obstructive” under § 3C1.1 is “providing a
materially false statement to a law enforcement officer that significantly obstructed or impeded
the official investigation or prosecution of the [offense of conviction].” U.S.S.G. § 3C1.1 cmt.
(n.4(G)). “Material” statements are those that, “if believed, would tend to influence or affect the
issue under determination.” Id. cmt. n.6.
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investigation.’” (quoting U.S.S.G. § 3C1.1 cmt. n.3(g))). Here, rather than
identifying any actual hindrance—significant or otherwise—the district court noted
specifically that “the misstatements that were made or the outright lies that were
made to the officers from time to time and then retracted and then changed and
modified . . . were no impediment at all to the agents.” Sentencing Tr. 129 at 25:3-
10 (emphasis added).
In light of the foregoing, we vacate Guevara’s sentence and remand with
instructions for the district court to resentence Guevara. Insofar as the district
court decides to apply a two-level enhancement under § 3C1.1 for obstruction of
justice, the court must make and explain factual findings that support the
application of that enhancement. See Alpert, 28 F.3d at 1108 (requiring that, “[o]n
remand, if the district court applies the § 3C1.1 enhancement, it should note
specifically what [the] defendant did, why that conduct warrants the enhancement,
and, if applicable, how that conduct actually hindered the investigation or
prosecution of the offense.”).
III.
For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the district court with respect to
Guevara’s convictions is AFFIRMED. Guevara’s sentence, however, is
VACATED, and the case is hereby REMANDED for reconsideration of whether
and why a two-level enhancement for obstruction of justice is warranted.
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