United States v. Davonte Hoskins ( 2023 )

RECOMMENDED FOR PUBLICATION
Pursuant to Sixth Circuit I.O.P. 32.1(b)
File Name: 23a0195p.06
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE SIXTH CIRCUIT
┐
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
│
Plaintiff-Appellee, │
> Nos. 22-1506/1552
│
v. │
│
DAJA DON-KEVIA SMITH (22-1506); DAVONTE │
RAYSHAD HOSKINS (22-1552), │
Defendants-Appellants. │
┘
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Western District of Michigan at Grand Rapids.
No. 1:21-cr-00020—Paul Lewis Maloney, District Judge.
Decided and Filed: August 23, 2023
Before: BATCHELDER, COLE, and NALBANDIAN, Circuit Judges.
_________________
COUNSEL
ON BRIEF: Kevin M. Schad, OFFICE OF THE FEDERAL PUBLIC DEFENDER, Cincinnati,
Ohio, for Appellant IN 22-1506. Julia A. Kelly, WILLEY & CHAMBERLAIN LLP, Grand
Rapids, Michigan, for Appellant in 22-1552. Timothy P. VerHey, Andrew Byerly Birge,
UNITED STATES ATTORNEY’S OFFICE, Grand Rapids, Michigan, for Appellee.
BATCHELDER, J., delivered the opinion of the court in which COLE and
NALBANDIAN, JJ., joined. NALBANDIAN, J. (pp. 14–15), delivered a separate concurring
opinion.
Nos. 22-1506/1552 United States v. Smith, et al. Page 2
_________________
OPINION
_________________
ALICE M. BATCHELDER, Circuit Judge. Daja Smith and Davonte Hoskins were co-
conspirators in a large bank-fraud scheme, in which they called the victims, pretending to be
from their bank, gained access to the victims’ accounts, and stole their money. Both pleaded
guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft, and both appealed,
arguing that their sentences are procedurally unreasonable. We affirm.
I.
a. Background
Between April 1, 2019, and April 1, 2020, Cedric Smith,1 Daja Smith (“Smith”), and
Davonte Hoskins defrauded banks and their customers of over a million dollars by using the
account holders’ personal identifying information without authorization. Twenty different banks
were subjected to the scheme. The three conspirators would purchase, via online “dump sites,”
identification information that hackers stole from financial institutions. This information
included the customers’ names, bank usernames, phone numbers, social security numbers, and
which banks held the accounts.
After obtaining this information, the conspirators would access the victim’s bank online,
type in the username, and be prepared to select “forgot my password.” The conspirator would
call the victim and “spoof” the phone number to make it appear that the conspirator was calling
from the bank. When the victim answered, the conspirator pretended to be a bank employee who
was concerned about suspicious activity associated with the account. He or she would tell the
victim that the victim needed to give the bank an identification code to verify the victim’s
identity. The co-conspirator would then trigger the “forgot my password” function on the
website, which sends a one-time code to the victim’s email or phone number. The victim would
provide that code to the conspirator, who would put the code in to change the password. This
1
Cedric Smith pleaded guilty and did not appeal his sentence.
Nos. 22-1506/1552 United States v. Smith, et al. Page 3
gave the conspirator full access to the victim’s account. The conspirator would withdraw funds
and send them to bank accounts or debit cards of other people, which helped hide his or her
identity as the spoofer.
On February 2, 2021, a federal grand jury indicted Daja Smith and Cedric Smith for bank
fraud conspiracy and aggravated identity theft in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1349 and 18 U.S.C.
§ 1028A. On May 4, 2021, Hoskins was added to the indictment and charged with the same
crimes. Smith and Hoskins pleaded guilty to both charges and admitted to their knowing
participation in the conspiracy. Hoskins had a written plea agreement, but Smith did not.
Daja Smith was heavily involved in the scheme. She made spoofing calls, sent stolen
funds to her bank account, solicited others to participate by depositing some of the money into
their debit-card accounts, wrote the spoofing script, and saved stolen bank information. She was
directly involved with six of the twelve banks that were subject to the fraud; the other six are
connected to her via the activity of her co-conspirators. On May 29, 2019, Smith told Hoskins
that she did not want to work for him anymore.
Davonte Hoskins communicated on social media about the fraud, which included sharing
the victims’ stolen information, sharing the websites where this type of stolen information can be
purchased, telling others how to purchase this information, and sharing debit card numbers that
could receive the fraudulent proceeds. Hoskins also received money from the fraudulent
transfers. He was directly involved with four, possibly five, of twelve banks; his connections
with seven of the banks were indirectly connected to him through his co-conspirators. Hoskins
was not held liable for the very first bank the conspiracy defrauded—People’s United Bank—
because he did not join the conspiracy until afterwards. Hoskins’ involvement with American
Savings Bank is disputed, as a video shows him bragging about receiving $30,000 in fraudulent
transfers from this bank, but then in the same video he said he claimed to not know anything
about fraudulent activity at this bank.
The defendants’ Presentence Investigation Reports (“PSRs”) determined the total loss
amount based on both actual loss and intended loss. Actual loss, the amount of money stolen,
was $1,171,673.97. Intended loss includes the actual loss plus the funds the conspirators tried to
Nos. 22-1506/1552 United States v. Smith, et al. Page 4
steal but were unsuccessful at obtaining, which totaled $2,158,297.80. The PSR recommended
that Hoskins and Smith each receive a 16-level enhancement to their Guidelines score because
they each intended over $1.5 million in losses. See U.S.S.G. § 2B1.1(b)(1). Both defendants
objected to this enhancement on the grounds that other conspirators’ conduct should not be
attributed to them because they were not directly involved with all the banks listed.
b. Sentencing Hearings
i. Smith’s Sentencing Hearing
At Smith’s sentencing hearing, the district court overruled her objection that some of the
relevant conduct included in her offense level should not be included because she was not
directly involved with several of the banks. The court found that it was “clear” that Smith knew
“exactly what she was doing, knew exactly who she was dealing with, and she’s out looking for
other” potential victims’ information. The court explained that even though including intended
loss results in a greater enhancement, the court only had to come up with a reasonable estimate
of loss and Smith should not be rewarded for the banks’ doing their job and catching the fraud.
Because Smith knew and regularly dealt with the main conspirators, Cedric Smith and Hoskins,
whatever they did was jointly undertaken activity. Further, the district court concluded, the
purpose of the scheme was to hide money, so calculating the loss as intended loss was
appropriate.
The court sentenced Smith to 36 months in prison for the conspiracy charge, which
included a downward variance for low likelihood of recidivism. The court also sentenced her to
a consecutive 24 months for the aggravated-identity-theft charge. Smith was held accountable
for the full amount of the intended losses and was ordered to pay restitution in the full amount of
the actual loss, which was $1,171,673.97.
Nos. 22-1506/1552 United States v. Smith, et al. Page 5
ii. Hoskins’s Sentencing Hearing
At his sentencing hearing, the district court overruled Hoskins’s objections. Hoskins
objected to including the conduct of others in his offense level and the use of intended loss, not
actual loss, to calculate his Guidelines score. Although the court recognized that the Guidelines
and its commentary are not binding, the court “believe[d] under the circumstances of this case,
[that intended loss is] the accurate measure of the totality of the criminality of Mr. Hoskins and
his co-conspirators.” As for the relevant conduct objection, the court found that Hoskins was
“clearly . . . jointly undertaking activity with his co-conspirators” and that the actions of the
Smiths were “reasonably foreseeable within the meaning of the relevant conduct guideline”
because Hoskins “knew precisely what [they] were doing.” The court also found that it was
“clear” that information about the elements of the fraud was going back and forth among the co-
conspirators, which was relevant to the loss amount.
The court sentenced Hoskins to 48 months in prison for the conspiracy charge, which was
within the Guidelines range, as well as 24 months for the aggravated-identity-theft charge,
consecutive to the conspiracy sentence. The court attributed the full amount of the intended loss
to Hoskins, minus the intended amount at Peoples United Bank because Hoskins was not part of
the conspiracy at that time. The total loss attributed to him for purposes of scoring the
Guidelines was $1,846,932.65, but he was only ordered to pay restitution in the amount of the
actual loss, which was $966,922.97.
The defendants timely appealed.
II.
Both defendants argue that the district court erred when it attributed to them the conduct of
others involved in the conspiracy. Hoskins also argues that the district court erred when it
included intended-loss amounts in his offense level. And Smith argues that the district court
should not have ordered her to pay all the restitution in full.
Because the defendants preserved their arguments that their sentences are procedurally
unreasonable, we review for an abuse of discretion. United States v. Nunley, 29 F.4th 824, 830
Nos. 22-1506/1552 United States v. Smith, et al. Page 6
(6th Cir. 2022). Preserved objections to fact-findings and the district court’s determination of the
amount of loss we review under a deferential clear-error standard. United States v. Thomas, 933
F.3d 605, 608 (6th Cir. 2019); United States v. Riccardi, 989 F.3d 476, 481 (6th Cir. 2021).
Legal questions, such as the interpretation of the Guidelines, we review de novo. Riccardi, 989
F.3d at 481.
a. Attribution of Relevant Conduct
Both defendants argue that the district court erred when it attributed to each of them all
the loss from the conspiracy instead of attributing only loss they were directly involved with.
Both argue that their co-conspirators’ separate fraud at the other banks was not within the scope
of their agreements, nor was that fraud reasonably foreseeable, because there is no proof they
were involved with or had knowledge of that activity. Smith also argues that the district court
failed to make the required particularized findings to hold her accountable for the conduct of
others.
We review de novo whether conduct is “relevant conduct.” United States v. Donadeo,
910 F.3d 886, 893 (6th Cir. 2018). We review for clear error the district court’s underlying
factual findings. Id.To determine the amount of loss attributable to each defendant under the theft guideline,
§ 2B1.1(b), the court looks at any “relevant conduct.” Under the Guidelines, relevant conduct is:
(1) (A) all acts and omissions committed, aided, abetted, counseled, commanded,
induced, procured, or willfully caused by the defendant; and
(B) in the case of a jointly undertaken criminal activity (a criminal plan, scheme,
endeavor, or enterprise undertaken by the defendant in concert with others,
whether or not charged as a conspiracy), all acts and omissions of others that
were—
(i) within the scope of the jointly undertaken criminal activity,
(ii) in furtherance of that criminal activity, and
(iii) reasonably foreseeable in connection with that criminal activity;
that occurred during the commission of the offense of conviction, in
preparation for that offense, or in the course of attempting to avoid
detection or responsibility for that offense;
Nos. 22-1506/1552 United States v. Smith, et al. Page 7
(2) solely with respect to offenses of a character for which § 3D1.2(d) would require
grouping of multiple counts, all acts and omissions described in subdivisions (1)(A)
and (1)(B) above that were part of the same course of conduct or common scheme or
plan as the offense of conviction;
(3) all harm that resulted from the acts and omissions specified in subsections (a)(1) and
(a)(2) above, and all harm that was the object of such acts and omissions; and
(4) any other information specified in the applicable guideline.
U.S.S.G. § 1B1.3(a)(1)-(4). A defendant may be held accountable for the conduct of others only
if that conduct meets all three criteria in § 1B1.3(a)(1)(B)(i)-(iii). Donadeo, 910 F.3d at 894;
U.S.S.G. § 1B1.3 cmt. n.3(A).
To hold a defendant accountable for the conduct of others in the conspiracy, the district
court “must make particularized findings with respect to both the scope of the defendant’s
agreement [to engage in jointly undertaken criminal activity] and the foreseeability of his co-
conspirators’ conduct before holding the defendant accountable for that conduct.” Donadeo, 910
F.3d at 899 (emphasis and alteration in original) (citation and quotation marks omitted).
Scope. First, we look at the scope of the criminal conduct these defendants “agreed to
jointly undertake.” United States v. Bailey, 973 F.3d 548, 574-75 (6th Cir. 2020) (quoting
Donadeo, 910 F.3d at 895). The scope of the conduct that a defendant may be held accountable
for under the Guidelines is “narrower than the conduct embraced by the law of conspiracy.” Id.
at 574 (citation omitted). “[A]ny explicit agreement [and any] implicit agreement fairly inferred
from the conduct of the defendant and others may be considered.” Donadeo, 910 F.3d at 895(alterations in original) (citation and quotation marks omitted). Six factors help us determine the
scope of the conduct that a defendant agreed to jointly undertake: “(1) the existence of a single
scheme; (2) similarities in modus operandi; (3) coordination of activities among schemers;
(4) pooling of resources or profits; (5) knowledge of the scope of the scheme; and (6) length and
degree of the defendant's participation in the scheme.” Id. (citation omitted).
Factor one—existence of a single scheme. Here, it is clear that one scheme existed:
fraud via spoofing, using stolen information to steal money from people’s bank accounts. Each
of the conspirators engaged in this scheme. This factor is easily met.
Nos. 22-1506/1552 United States v. Smith, et al. Page 8
Factor two—modus operandi. This factor is just as easily met, as all the modus operandi
were identical. After the stolen information was obtained, the conspirators would spoof the
bank’s phone number, get the victim to provide a code, and change the account password so
money could be stolen. The money would then be moved to different accounts to conceal where
the money came from and to hide the connection to the conspirators.
Factors three and four—coordination of activities and pooling of resources or profits. To
engage in this scheme, the co-conspirators had to coordinate and share resources, so these factors
are met. Indeed, they shared the stolen information, shared the account information for
depositing the stolen funds, and used the same specific script when spoofing the bank’s phone
number. Smith herself wrote and saved the script. She also regularly used social media to find
individuals willing to share their account information so the conspiracy would have accounts into
which to deposit the stolen funds. Similarly, Hoskins shared information about how to conduct
the fraud and who would receive the stolen funds. Smith and Hoskins also both deposited stolen
funds into their own accounts.
Factor five—knowledge of the scope of the scheme. Smith, Hoskins, and Cedric Smith
all knew each other. They knew what the scheme entailed. They communicated with each other
throughout the duration of the conspiracy. Both defendants clearly knew the scope of the
scheme. This factor is satisfied.
Factor six—length and degree of participation. Despite Smith’s claim that she left the
conspiracy, she was involved the entire time. Her PSR shows that she was directly involved with
one of the bank frauds in April 2019, and the last bank fraud she was involved with ended in
April 2020. As described above, she was thoroughly involved with the entire conspiracy the
whole time. For Hoskins’s part, he was involved the entire time except for the very first bank,
for which the district court did not hold him responsible.
Nos. 22-1506/1552 United States v. Smith, et al. Page 9
Because Smith and Hoskins both engaged in the activity described above, the district
court correctly found that all the conspirators’ conduct was within the scope of the criminal
conduct the defendants “agreed to jointly undertake.”2
Criminal activity and foreseeability. Requirements two and three of
§ 1B1.3(a)(1)(B)—that the activity be in furtherance of criminal activity and that it was
reasonably foreseeable—are also easily met. The activity was clearly in furtherance of criminal
activity; the whole point was to steal other people’s money. It was also reasonably foreseeable
that others in the conspiracy, who knew how to conduct the fraudulent scheme, might steal funds
from banks with which neither Smith nor Hoskins was directly involved. Smith played a role in
major parts of the conspiracy by providing bank accounts to deposit stolen funds into and writing
the spoofing script. Hoskins also played a major role. He found the victims’ information online
so the conspirators could use it to steal money. It was reasonably foreseeable that others in the
conspiracy would use this information to conduct more fraud.
The district court correctly held both defendants responsible for the relevant conduct of
their co-conspirators. When it sentenced Smith, the district court stated that Smith “aligned
herself with Mr. Hoskins and Mr. Smith,” who were the leaders, and that she “knew exactly what
she was doing” and whom “she was dealing with on a regular basis.” The court also explained
that, even though not all of the money was deposited into her account, “the whole purpose of
th[e] scheme is to hide where the money is going.” And when it sentenced Hoskins, the court
stated that “this clearly was jointly undertaken activity. Knowledge is not the same as . . .
actions being reasonably foreseeable. Mr. Hoskins knew precisely what Mr. Smith and Miss
Smith were doing. He was jointly undertaking activity with his co-conspirators. The actions of
the Smiths were, in the [c]ourt’s judgment, reasonably foreseeable within the meaning of the
relevant conduct guidelines.” The court elaborated that there was “information going back and
[f]orth concerning the elements of the fraud in terms of banks, numbers, etcetera, which the
2
In her reply brief, Smith argues that the government forfeited its detailed argument about the scope of her
conduct and joint intent because the government did not make these arguments at sentencing. She argues that,
instead, they focused more broadly about accountability for a conspiracy generally. We disagree. Not only did the
government make this argument, but it argued that Smith bought the stolen information, that she directly talked to
the victims, stole their money, and routed the money elsewhere. These arguments are directly related to scope and
joint intent.
Nos. 22-1506/1552 United States v. Smith, et al. Page 10
[c]ourt also considers to be important in its consideration of the appropriate loss amount in this
case.” The district court did not err.
Smith’s argument that the district court did not make the required particularized findings
to hold her accountable for the relevant conduct of others is also without merit. Because Smith
did not raise this argument before the district court, we review it for plain error. Donadeo, 910
F.3d at 899. The threshold for a “particularized finding” is low. See id. at 899-900. And here,
the district court’s statements that Smith knew with whom she was dealing and what she was
doing relate to both the scope of the agreement and the foreseeability of her co-conspirators’
activities. The district court did not plainly err.
b. Intended Loss
Hoskins argues that the Guidelines commentary, which allows a court to hold a defendant
responsible for both actual and intended loss, conflicts with the ordinary definition of “loss,” so
he should be held responsible for only the actual loss, not the intended loss. See U.S.S.G.
§ 2B1.1 cmt. n.3(A). This court recently decided this issue in a similar case. In United States v.
You, 74 F.4th 378 (6th Cir. 2023), we held that the term “loss” in the fraud guideline is
ambiguous, so the Guidelines commentary is entitled to deference. Id. at 397–98. We think it
would be useful to elaborate a bit further on why the term “loss” in U.S.S.G. § 2B1.1 is
ambiguous. Because we cannot use the commentary itself to find an ambiguity,3 we must look
to the Guidelines themselves to determine whether the word “loss” is ambiguous. See Milner v.
Dep’t of Navy, 562 U.S. 562, 574 (2011) (“Legislative history, for those who take it into account,
is meant to clear up ambiguity, not create it.”); Robinson v. Shell Oil Co., 519 U.S. 337, 341
(1997) (“The plainness or ambiguity of statutory language is determined by reference to the
language itself, the specific context in which that language is used, and the broader context of the
statute as a whole.”).4 “[B]efore concluding that a rule is genuinely ambiguous, a court must
3
We do not interpret You as holding that the commentary makes the term “loss” ambiguous. The court
explicitly referenced the “context and purpose” of the Guidelines when it found that “loss” is ambiguous. You,
74 F.4th at 397.
4
In Robinson, the court found that the term “employees” was ambiguous because in some sections of the
statute it meant one thing, and in other sections it meant something else. Robinson, 519 U.S. at 343-44. The court
Nos. 22-1506/1552 United States v. Smith, et al. Page 11
exhaust all the ‘traditional tools’ of construction,” which include looking at the text, structure,
history, and purpose of the guideline. Kisor v. Wilkie, 139 S. Ct. 2400, 2415-16 (2019); United
States v. Phillips, 54 F.4th 374, 380 (6th Cir. 2022); Riccardi, 989 F.3d at 483. This court has
held that Kisor applies to interpretation of the Guidelines. Riccardi, 989 F.3d at 479-80, 485; see
also Phillips, 54 F.4th at 379.
Although the dictionary definition of the term “loss” does not contemplate anything close
to intended loss, Riccardi, 989 F.3d at 486, Kisor’s demand that we look at the whole structure
of the Guidelines results in our conclusion that the term “loss” is ambiguous. In every
sentencing, a court must follow the instructions in guidelines §§ 1B1.1, 1B1.2, and 1B1.3 to
determine the offense level for a particular crime. Section 1B1.1 instructs a court to determine
the relevant substantive-offense (the crime the defendant committed) guideline applicable
pursuant to § 1B1.2. After the court determines the applicable substantive-offense guideline per
§ 1B1.2’s instructions, the court must use both § 1B1.3, which is the relevant-conduct guideline,
and the substantive-offense guideline to determine the offense level. The relevant-conduct
guideline instructs the court to consider “all harm that resulted from the acts and omissions [of
the jointly undertaken criminal activity] and all harm that was the object of such acts and
omissions” when deciding what the offense level is. U.S.S.G. § 1B1.3(a)(3) (emphasis added).
In cases like this one, § 1B1.2 instructs the court to refer to § 2X1.1 (Attempt,
Solicitation, or Conspiracy) and the substantive-offense guideline to determine the offense level.
Id. § 1B1.2(a). Section 2X1.1(a) tells the court to use the “base offense level from the guideline
for the substantive offense, plus any adjustments from such guideline for any intended offense
conduct that can be established with reasonable certainty.” Id. § 2X1.1(a). The applicable
substantive-offense guideline here is the fraud guideline, U.S.S.G. § 2B1.1. The court must use
the instructions in both the fraud guideline (§ 2B1.1) and the relevant conduct guideline
(§ 1B1.3) to determine the base-offense level. The fraud guideline requires a base offense level
of 6 or 7, and then increases according to the amount of “loss” involved. Id. § 2B1.1(a), (b)(1).
then went on to resolve the ambiguity and determine what the term “employees” means by looking at the broader
context of the statute. Id. at 345-46.
Nos. 22-1506/1552 United States v. Smith, et al. Page 12
The use of the term “harm” in the relevant-conduct guideline clearly contemplates harm
that actually occurred and harm that the person intended to cause. In the context of fraud,
regardless of whether the case involves a conspiracy, that harm is “loss.” The relevant-conduct
guidelines’ contemplation of actual and intended loss makes the term “loss” in the fraud
guideline ambiguous, i.e., whether it means only actual loss or also includes intended loss. If the
fraud guideline does not include intended loss, then the court cannot meaningfully apply the
relevant-conduct guideline, which is applicable to all sentencings and contemplates intended
harm as conduct for which a defendant should be held accountable. The context of the
Guidelines therefore renders the term “loss” in the fraud guideline (§ 2B1.1(b)) ambiguous.
Because the word “loss” under U.S.S.G. § 2B1.1 is ambiguous and the commentary
meets the other two Kisor considerations as explained in You, the district court did not err when
it considered intended loss in determining Hoskins’s offense level. You, 74 F.4th at 397–98.
c. Smith’s Restitution Order
We review restitution orders for abuse of discretion. Bailey, 973 F.3d at 576. The
government must prove the amount of restitution by a preponderance of the evidence. Id.;
18 U.S.C. § 3664(e). A district court “does not err by using conspiracy principles to determine a
defendant’s amount of restitution.” Bailey, 973 F.3d at 576. A defendant may be ordered to pay
a restitution amount that “reflects the loss caused by the entire conspiracy, even wh[en the court]
simultaneously find[s] an amount of loss that reflects only conduct closely related to the
defendant.” Id.
The Mandatory Victim Restitution Act (“MVRA”) governs restitution awards. 18 U.S.C.
§ 3663A. The amount of loss is different from restitution; restitution makes a victim whole,
while the Guidelines punish for wrongdoing. Bailey, 973 F.3d at 576. But, even if a defendant
played only a small role in the conspiracy, the amount the victims lost because of the conspiracy
does not change. Id. The MVRA gives the district court the discretion to distribute liability for
restitution for the victims’ losses over multiple defendants if they are responsible for said loss,
but it is not required to do so. 18 U.S.C. § 3664(h); Bailey, 973 F.3d at 576.
Nos. 22-1506/1552 United States v. Smith, et al. Page 13
Because the district court is not required to apportion the restitution amount equally
amongst the defendants, the district court did not err when it ordered Smith to pay restitution in
full. The court found that Smith was heavily involved in the conspiracy. Several of her actions
allowed the conspiracy to thrive, such as her documenting how to make a spoofing phone call.
We find no error in the district court’s using of its broad discretion to order restitution and its
using conspiracy principles to do so.
III.
For the foregoing reasons, we affirm.
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___________________
CONCURRENCE
___________________
NALBANDIAN, Circuit Judge, concurring. I agree with the majority that we are bound
by this Court’s decision in United States v. You, 74 F.4th 378 (6th Cir. 2023), and I join the
opinion. I write separately to express my disagreement with You’s conclusion that “loss” is
ambiguous and that we should therefore defer to the guidelines commentary’s view that “loss”
means the “greater of actual or intended loss.” See id. at 397 (quoting U.S.S.G. § 2B1.1 cmt.
n.3(A)).
I.
We must answer whether “loss” in U.S.S.G. § 2B1.1(b)(1) is ambiguous before turning to
the definition that the guidelines commentary provides.1 “Where, as here, a legal text does not
define a term, we generally ‘give the term its ordinary meaning.’” United States v. Riccardi,
989 F.3d 476, 486 (6th Cir. 2021) (citation omitted). In Riccardi, we said that we didn’t need “to
decide whether one clear meaning of the word ‘loss’ emerges from the potential options,”
because comment note 3(F)(i), the applicable commentary to § 2B1.1 in Riccardi (and not the
applicable commentary in this case or in You), was unreasonable in any event.2 Id.
You decided the question Riccardi left open—that is, whether “loss” in § 2B1.1(b)(1) is
ambiguous. And You, claiming to rely on Riccardi, held that “loss” is ambiguous. You, 74 F.4th
at 397 (“Although Riccardi declined to declare ‘loss’ ambiguous, its reasoning makes it easy for
us to conclude that the definition of loss ‘has no single right answer.’” (quoting Kisor v. Wilkie,
139 S. Ct. 2400, 2415 (2019))). But I think You took Riccardi a step too far because Riccardi,
which again dealt with a different commentary provision, explicitly left open the question of
whether “loss” is ambiguous.
1
U.S.S.G. § 2B1.1(b)(1) says, “If the loss exceeded $6,500, increase the offense level as follows[.]” The
applicable commentary in You and in this case defines “loss” as the “greater of actual or intended loss.” U.S.S.G.
§ 2B1.1 cmt. n.3(A).
2
The relevant commentary in Riccardi imposed a $500 minimum loss amount for each stolen gift card
involved in that case, regardless of the actual value of the gift card. Id. at 483.
Nos. 22-1506/1552 United States v. Smith, et al. Page 15
I think “loss” is clear because “anyone who heard th[e] phrase [“loss”] would presume
that the speaker was referring to the damage that resulted from the crime . . . . not the amount
almost lost or intended to be lost.” United States v. Kennert, No. 22-1998, 2023 WL 4977456, at
*4 (6th Cir. Aug. 3, 2023) (Murphy, J., concurring). In other words, for the reasons Judge
Murphy gave in Kennert, I think the ordinary meaning of “loss” is how much loss the defendant
actually caused, not how much loss the defendant intended to cause. See Kennert, 2023 WL
4977456, at *4 (“Frankly, I find the phrase ‘actual loss’ redundant (sort of like ‘minor
modification’ or ‘necessary requirement’).”); United States v. Banks, 55 F.4th 246, 255–58 (3d
Cir. 2022) (holding that “loss” is not ambiguous and only refers to actual loss).
Because I think “loss” is not ambiguous and does not include intended loss, I would not
defer to the commentary’s interpretation of “loss” as “the greater of actual or intended loss.”3
See U.S.S.G. § 2B1.1 cmt. n.3(A).
II.
But You binds us, so I concur.4
3
I note that I disagreed with the majority in Riccardi on what kind of deference we should give the
commentary to the guidelines if a guidelines provision is unclear. The majority applied the Kisor framework to the
commentary to the guidelines. Riccardi, 989 F.3d at 485–86. I disagreed and would have applied Stinson
deference, since that’s the latest word the Supreme Court has given us on “the standard for deferring to sentencing
guideline commentary.” Id. at 490 (Nalbandian, J., concurring) (citing Stinson v. United States, 508 U.S. 36(1993)); see id. at 491 (explaining that the Supreme Court didn’t intend “that Stinson and Seminole Rock would
march in lockstep”).
4
The majority says that we could not properly apply U.S.S.G. § 1B1.3, the relevant-conduct guideline, if
“loss” meant anything other than “actual and intended loss.” (Maj. Op. at 13.) But You already decided that “loss”
is ambiguous, so I would not use § 1B1.3 to interpret § 2B1.1. I note that the majority’s relevant-conduct argument
under § 1B1.3 is separate from any argument as to § 2X1.1, which governs relevant conduct—that is, “intended
offense conduct”—in attempt cases. See Kennert, 2023 WL 4977456, at *5 (Murphy, J., concurring).