United States v. Aduddell

FILED
United States Court of Appeals
Tenth Circuit
March 27, 2008
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALSElisabeth A. Shumaker
Clerk of Court
TENTH CIRCUIT
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
v. No. 07-6084
PAULA JEAN ADUDDELL, (D.C. No. CR-06-155-HE)
(W. D. Oklahoma)
Defendant-Appellant.
ORDER AND JUDGMENT*
Before BRISCOE, McKAY, and McCONNELL, Circuit Judges.
After examining the briefs and appellate record, this panel has determined
unanimously that oral argument would not materially assist in the determination of this
appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2); 10th Cir. R. 34.1(G). The case is, therefore,
submitted without oral argument.
Defendant Paula Aduddell was convicted of three criminal counts arising out of
her involvement in a counterfeit check operation: conspiracy to commit access device
fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371; aggravated identity theft, in violation of 18 U.S.C.
*
This order and judgment is not binding precedent, except under the doctrines of
law of the case, res judicata, and collateral estoppel. It may be cited, however, for its
persuasive value consistent with Fed. R. App. P. 32.1 and 10th Cir. R. 32.1.
§ 1028A(a)(1); and possession of stolen mail, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1708. Aduddell
was sentenced to a term of imprisonment of eighty-four months in connection with those
convictions. Following the district court’s entry of judgment, Aduddell filed an appeal
challenging her aggravated identity theft conviction, and raising two sentencing-related
issues. Aduddell did not challenge her convictions for conspiracy to commit access
device fraud or possession of stolen mail.
After briefing in this appeal was complete, but prior to oral argument, this court
issued its decision in United States v. Tatum, — F.3d —, 2008 WL 554818 (10th Cir.
Mar. 3, 2008), holding that counterfeit checks and account numbers printed on counterfeit
checks are not “access devices” within the meaning of that term as defined in 18 U.S.C. §
1029(e)(1). The United States has now filed a motion conceding that, in light of Tatum,
Aduddell was not properly charged with conspiracy to commit access device fraud or
aggravated identity theft. Specifically, the government concedes “that since counterfeit
checks are not access devices for purposes of 18 U.S.C. § 1029, Aduddell should not have
been charged with conspiracy to commit access device fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §
371 and such charge could not be a predicate offense for aggravated identity theft, in
violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1028A(a)(1).” Motion for Remand at 2. As a result, the United
States seeks a remand of Aduddell’s case with directions to the district court to vacate the
conspiracy to commit access device fraud and aggravated identity theft convictions.
After examining the record on appeal in this case, we agree with the government’s
assessment of Tatum and its effect on Aduddell’s convictions.
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We further conclude it is unnecessary to address the two sentencing issues raised
by Aduddell on appeal. In the first of those sentencing issues, Aduddell challenges the
district court’s imposition of a two-level enhancement pursuant to U.S.S.G. §
2B1.1(b)(4). Notably, however, the district court’s application of this enhancement
rested, in pertinent part, on a finding that Aduddell’s conspiracy “offense involved the
receiving and selling of stolen property, to wit: authentic checks and checkbooks.” ROA,
Vol. 3 at 12. Because Aduddell’s conspiracy conviction does not survive Tatum, and
because there is no indication in the record that the district court intended to apply the §
2B1.1(b)(4) enhancement on the basis of Aduddell’s possession of stolen mail conviction,
the issue is now moot. In her second sentencing issue, Aduddell challenges the district
court’s application of a ten-level enhancement pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 2B1.1(b)(1)(F)
based on its finding that the amount of intended loss associated with Aduddell’s
conspiracy conviction was $147,500. In light of our disposition of Aduddell’s conspiracy
conviction, this enhancement issue is likewise moot.
We GRANT the government’s motion and REMAND this case to the district court
with directions to VACATE Aduddell’s convictions for conspiracy to commit access
device fraud and aggravated identity theft and RESENTENCE her on her remaining
conviction for possession of stolen mail.
Entered for the Court
Mary Beck Briscoe
Circuit Judge
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