United States v. Keith Churn

RECOMMENDED FOR FULL-TEXT PUBLICATION
Pursuant to Sixth Circuit I.O.P. 32.1(b)
File Name: 15a0224p.06
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE SIXTH CIRCUIT
_________________
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ┐
Plaintiff-Appellee, │
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│ No. 14-5720
v. │
>
│
KEITH CHURN, │
Defendant-Appellant. │
┘
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Middle District of Tennessee at Nashville.
No. 3:10-cr-00116—William J. Haynes, Jr., Chief District Judge.
Argued: August 4, 2015
Decided and Filed: September 10, 2015
Before: COLE, Chief Judge; GIBBONS and STRANCH, Circuit Judges.
_________________
COUNSEL
ARGUED: Andrew Guy, Kevin Potter, FEDERAL APPELLATE LITIGATION CLINIC, Ann
Arbor, Michigan, for Appellant. David M. Lieberman, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF
JUSTICE, Washington, D.C., for Appellee. ON BRIEF: Andrew Guy, Kevin Potter,
FEDERAL APPELLATE LITIGATION CLINIC, Ann Arbor, Michigan, Melissa M. Salinas,
OFFICE OF THE FEDERAL PUBLIC DEFENDER, Toledo, Ohio, Dennis G. Terez, OFFICE
OF THE FEDERAL PUBLIC DEFENDER, Cleveland, Ohio, for Appellant. David M.
Lieberman, Sandra G. Moses, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, Washington,
D.C., for Appellee.
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OPINION
_________________
COLE, Chief Judge. In December 2013, defendant Keith Churn was found guilty of
seven counts of bank fraud stemming from two schemes in which he received bank loans
1
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ostensibly to construct houses, but performed little to no work. The district court sentenced him
to 33 months in prison and ordered restitution of $237,950.50. On appeal, Churn argues his
conviction should be reversed and that he should receive a new trial because the district court
purportedly made various evidentiary errors. He also requests vacatur of a portion of his
restitution order, claiming the amount exceeds a statutory maximum, and vacatur of his sentence.
Because the district court did not commit any reversible evidentiary errors, entered an
appropriate restitution order, and properly sentenced Churn, we affirm the judgment of the
district court.
I. BACKGROUND
A. Churn Proposes Two Projects.
Defendant Keith Churn owned C&M Construction Management, a Tennessee
construction company specializing in remodeling and rehabilitation, since the late 1990s.
Around October 2006, Churn entered a business agreement with Dustin Rief, under which Rief
would purchase real property at 2408 Clarksville Pike, Nashville, Tennessee, and Churn would
install a modular—or prefabricated—house on the property. Churn would pay Rief rent during
the six-to-eight months of construction and would purchase the property from him upon
completion. For his efforts, Rief would receive $5,000 initially and an additional $5,000 after
Churn’s purchase, for a total of $10,000.
Rief financed the purchase and construction of the Clarksville Pike property with a
$187,800 construction loan from BancorpSouth Bank (“BSB”). Under the terms of the loan
agreement, a portion of the loan would be distributed upfront to purchase the property, and the
remaining funds would be distributed in stages to pay for construction. BSB disbursed
$66,758.19 for the purchase, leaving $121,041.81 for construction.
The same year, Churn proposed a similar investment to Milton Thomas. Thomas agreed
to obtain financing to purchase 956 Green Street, Franklin, Tennessee, and Churn agreed to
demolish the existing house and install a modular home. The two would split any profits. To
finance the project, Thomas received a $226,500 loan from BSB, $77,976.83 of which was
distributed to fund the property purchase.
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BSB distributed the portion of the loan for construction in “draws.” For each draw, the
bank would transfer money from the loan to Rief’s and Thomas’s checking accounts, which they
could then use to pay contractors. Before approving a draw, the bank might send an inspector to
the property, or it might review contractors’ receipts, to ensure that the claimed work was
actually being performed.
There were four draws made for the Clarksville Pike property: $25,000 on October 31,
2006; $15,000 on December 18, 2006; $30,000 on January 10, 2007, and $4,500 on January 12,
2007. On December 5, 2006, Churn submitted an invoice for $17,733 to BSB for permit fees,
disconnecting old utilities, grading, and preparing footings and foundations. Based on the
invoice, BSB approved a $15,000 draw on December 18.
On December 22, 2006, Churn submitted a specification sheet and an invoice to BSB,
which purportedly showed an order for a modular house from All American Homes of N.C.,
LLC (“AAH”). The invoice charged a down payment of $33,462, or approximately one-third of
the total cost of the modular house. Two weeks later, Churn informed a BSB loan officer, Lisa
Campsey, that the house would be set on February 8, 2007. Campsey later approved draws of
$30,000 and $4,500. During this period, a site inspector for BSB submitted periodic reports to
BSB indicating that demolition of the existing structure had occurred and the lot was cleared.
There were four draws on the loan for the Green Street property: $20,000 on December
15, 2006; $8,000 on January 10, 2007; $12,000 on January 18, 2007; $22,000 on January 23,
2007; and $668.91 on February 1, 2007. On January 17, 2007, Churn submitted a specification
sheet and an invoice to BSB, which purportedly showed an order for a modular house from
AAH. Like the invoice for the Clarksville Pike property, the invoice charged a down payment of
approximately one-third of the total cost of the modular house, or $33,638. Based on the
invoice, BSB approved draws of $12,000 and $22,000.
B. Questions Arise About the Projects.
At some point, Campsey grew suspicious about the progress of the projects. For the
Clarksville Pike property, although some demolition had been done, Campsey learned that the
tasks listed on the December 5, 2006, invoice were not actually completed, including “pulling”
No. 14-5720 United States v. Churn Page 4
the construction permit. Nor was the modular house set on February 8 as Churn said it would be.
Similarly, she visited the Green Street property, but found no completed work.
An inspector dispatched by BSB made similar observations. On his first visit to the
Clarksville Pike property in October 2006, he noted that the existing structure had been torn
down and cleared. But a few months later, on March 23, 2007, the inspector estimated that only
1.2 percent of the construction project had been completed. He later found that no additional
work was performed from then through July 17. The inspector also assessed the Green Street
property on March 16 and determined that only 1.2 percent of the construction project had been
completed; when he returned on July 17, he found that no work had been done since his March
16 visit.
Questions about Churn’s invoices arose as well. The invoices he submitted to BSB to
support draw requests purportedly reflected purchases for two “Hot Tamale”-style modular
houses. But AAH never received any orders or payments from Churn. AAH also did not
prepare the invoices Churn submitted to BSB. While the submitted invoices reflected a one-third
deposit on the total purchases, as well as costs associated with installing electrical and plumbing
“tie-ins,” AAH never required more than a 10-percent deposit—the industry standard. Indeed,
AAH was not even able or licensed to provide electrical or plumbing services.
On March 3, 2007, Campsey emailed Churn, stating that an AAH representative told her
that it had not received funds from Churn and would not start construction on modular homes
until it received the money. She stated that Churn’s representations to BSB that he had paid
deposits on the houses using the loans “greatly conflicts” with information given by AAH. Since
Churn had previously said that he would pay for the purchases through checks, Campsey
requested copies of cancelled checks and further information about what charges Churn had paid,
but she never received any. She also pointed out to Churn that there was no pad (a part of the
foundation) laid on the Green Street property even though Churn told her that it was already
installed.
Two days later, Churn told Campsey that she would “have the information that’s needed
by the end of the business day.” Churn also said that BSB’s inspector should “go by [the] site at
[the] end of this week” and that Churn “will also have in writing this week [a] guarantee from
No. 14-5720 United States v. Churn Page 5
[the] manuf[acturer] that we will have product this month on the sites.” (Id.) Campsey replied
by confirming an inspection date, requesting proof of payment, and asking for a written
guarantee from the manufacturer. She never received any of the items. When Campsey later
went to the Green Street property, she observed that “nothing had been done since the first time.
It was the same every single time . . . .” (Trial Tr., R. 80, PageID 296.)
Campsey later called Churn. He said that the houses were coming, but from IBC instead,
a different manufacturer. Churn promised to perform additional work on the properties, but
Campsey said that she no longer trusted him.
On March 8, 2007, Churn told Campsey that he “will be moving forward with the work
on the projects” and that she was “very wrong about [her] comments.” Churn said that he would
provide “[a]ll info” to Rief and Thomas, who would “deal with [her] directly.” (Id.) Campsey,
who had been in contact with Rief and Thomas throughout the projects, still never received any
documentation.
In early May 2007, BSB sent formal demand letters to Rief and Thomas, requesting
written confirmation that modular houses were being completed and verification of the delivery
dates. The letters warned that failure to provide the requested documentation or to complete the
site and foundation work by May 18, 2007, would result in the loans being payable immediately.
On May 18, Churn sent an email with two attachments to BSB. The first attachment was
an invoice from “C&M Construction Managment” [sic] to Rief, stating that the “deposite [sic]
has been paid for unit ordered for 2408 [Clarksville Pike] job site,” and confirming a $33,463
payment. The second attachment was a photo of modular houses sitting on trailers. Churn told
Campsey that the structures depicted would be delivered to the Clarksville Pike property.
Campsey quickly responded that “this information is not sufficient.” She again
demanded written confirmation from AAH verifying production of the units and the dates of
delivery, site preparation, and foundation work.
Churn responded five days later, on May 23, stating that the units were not from AAH,
but that BSB would be getting paperwork from C&M Construction Management directly. BSB
never received any paperwork. During its investigation, BSB located the modular houses shown
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in the photographs. After examining the houses’ serial numbers, the bank learned that they were
owned by other people, not Churn.
Churn stopped making monthly payments on the loans sometime in April 2007. While
Rief attempted to make some payments himself, he was ultimately unable to continue paying,
leading to the foreclosure of the Clarksville Pike property and Rief’s filing for personal
bankruptcy. Thomas also attempted to make some payments himself, but was unable to do so
after he lost his job; BSB foreclosed the Green Street property and Thomas also filed for
personal bankruptcy.
C. Churn’s Explanation.
Churn had a different understanding of events. According to him, he did place orders
with AAH, but sometime in mid-February to mid-March, it placed his orders on hold “because of
a lot of confusion that they said they were having from the bank.” (Trial Tr., R. 82, PageID 629–
30.) Churn attempted to contact other manufacturers to provide him with modular houses, but
was unable to locate any that would sell him units at a comparable cost. Later, he found some
modular houses at a defunct AAH plant; the houses were initially purchased by a nonprofit that
eventually had no use for them after a failed land deal. These, Churn claims, were the units in
the photograph he sent to BSB: Churn speculates that the bank was confused because the units
were associated with what were likely the names of the original buyers and not his.
Churn placed these newfound units “under contract” and met with Chris Marketti of BSB
to discuss a deal. (Trial Tr., R. 82, PageID 632.) Churn purportedly detailed a breakdown of
expenses for the Clarksville Pike property and tried to negotiate with BSB to pay him, but only
after delivery of the unit. BSB, however, “never followed up.” (Trial Tr., R. 82, PageID 667.)
Had the bank not ceased working with him, Churn believed that he could have completed the
deals.
D. Churn Is Indicted.
On May 5, 2010, a grand jury indicted Churn on thirteen counts of bank fraud under
18 U.S.C. § 1344, each count corresponding to a particular bank draw. The Clarksville Pike
property is the subject of Counts 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, and 13 in the indictment; the Green Street
No. 14-5720 United States v. Churn Page 7
property is the subject of Counts 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, and 12 in the indictment. The government
voluntarily dismissed Counts 1 and 4. The jury convicted Churn on Counts 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and
12, and acquitted him of the remaining four counts. The district court sentenced him to 33
months in prison and five years of supervised release, and ordered restitution of $237,950.50.
Churn appeals, arguing that he is entitled to a new trial, vacatur of his sentence, or vacatur of a
portion of the restitution order.
II. DISCUSSION
A. Standard of Review for Evidentiary Rulings.
Churn argues that the district court made several erroneous evidentiary rulings.
“Generally, a district court’s evidentiary rulings are reviewed for abuse of discretion.” United
States v. Chalmers, 554 F. App’x 440, 449 (6th Cir. 2014). If evidence was erroneously
admitted, we ask whether the admission was harmless error or requires reversal of a conviction.
United States v. Martinez, 588 F.3d 301, 312 (6th Cir. 2009).
B. Whether an Email About an Order Status Contained Inadmissible Hearsay.
Churn claims that the district court committed reversible error by admitting
impermissible hearsay in a printed email. During Campsey’s testimony, the government
introduced a March 3, 2007, email from her to Churn stating that she had spoken with an AAH
representative named “Bob.” The email stated that Bob “was not familiar with IBC or a house
coming out of Indiana.” (Id.) The email also reflected that Bob said that “the money needed
from [Churn] to start production of the homes was being wired by [Churn] to [AAH’s] corporate
office yesterday. . . . [I]f the wire was received by Monday it would take approximately 4 weeks
to get the materials then an additional 2 weeks to complete the structure.” (Id.) Campsey’s
email stated that the information provided by Churn “greatly conflicts with the information
given . . . by Bob.” (Id.) So she asked Churn to submit copies of the wire transfer and the
confirmation number, to notify her when he had installed a pad and block (a part of the
foundation) at the Green Street property, and to set up a meeting to “straighten out all the
confusion.” (Id.)
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Churn’s counsel objected that the “statements from Bob” in the email constituted
inadmissible hearsay. (Trial Tr., R. 80, PageID 282.) The government responded that it was
“not admitting [the email] for the truth of what Bob said, but for [Campsey’s] state of mind and
her concern over whether or not she was receiving accurate information,” leading her to
“question these other documents.” (Id. at 282–83.) The district court overruled the objection,
stating that the email illuminated Campsey’s “understanding, her state of mind, and her reaction
to it.” (Id. at 283.) The court then instructed the jury that the email was “being admitted for a
limited purpose. Not that what the other person actually said is true or not, but to explain the
basis of [Campsey’s] state of mind, to explain what [she] was doing.” (Id.)
On appeal, Churn argues that the district court erred in two ways. First, he claims that it
wrongly admitted the evidence to show Campsey’s state of mind because the state-of-mind
exception under Federal Rule of Evidence 803(3) requires that the statement explain the
declarant’s, i.e., Bob’s, state of mind, not Campsey’s. Second, Churn claims that the district
court wrongly admitted the evidence to show the basis of Campsey’s undeclared mental state
rather than the declarant’s actual mental state. See Daniels v. Lafler, 192 F. App’x 408, 424 (6th
Cir. 2006) (“Federal Rule of Evidence 803(3) does allow the admission of statements as to the
declarant’s state of mind, but does not allow the admission of statements as to why the declarant
has said state of mind.”).
The government responds that the district court appropriately admitted the statements to
demonstrate their effect on Campsey. The statements, it says, are not being offered to prove the
truth of the matters asserted. See United States v. Boyd, 640 F.3d 657, 664 (6th Cir. 2011)
(“Statements offered to prove the listener’s knowledge are not hearsay.”). Rather, the
government claims it was trying to show that while Campsey “readily approved disbursements of
loan money [early on] based on invoices and representations from Churn,” she quickly grew
suspicious of Churn and demanded verification of his work. The statements in the email were
not introduced to prove the truth of Bob’s statement, the government contends, but rather to
explain Campsey’s conversation and why BSB demanded records, assurances, and meetings
from Churn. The reasons for BSB’s actions, in turn, serve to rebut Churn’s allegation that BSB
obstructed his dealings with AAH and hindered him from completing his projects. Because
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Bob’s statements are not hearsay, the government argues, they need no exception to be admitted,
and the state-of-mind exception under Rule 803(3) is irrelevant.
“A statement that is not offered to prove the truth of the matter asserted but to show its
effect on the listener is not hearsay.” Biegas v. Quickway Carriers, Inc., 573 F.3d 365, 379 (6th
Cir. 2009). Such a statement may be admitted to show why the listener acted as she did. See
United States v. Pugh, 273 F. App’x 449, 456 (6th Cir. 2008). If a statement is hearsay, it is
inadmissible unless some exception applies. Fed. R. Evid. 802. Federal Rule of Evidence
803(3) provides an exception to the bar against hearsay for “[a] statement of [a] declarant’s then-
existing state of mind (such as motive, intent, or plan) . . . but not including a statement of
memory or belief to prove the fact remembered or believed.” Fed. R. Evid. 803(3).
The district court did not abuse its discretion in admitting the email because the
statements therein are not hearsay. Whether Bob’s statements were true or not was irrelevant to
what the government was trying to show by introducing the email. As the government explained
to the district court, it was “not admitting that [email] for the truth of what Bob said, but for
[Campsey’s] state of mind and her concern over whether or not she was receiving accurate
information.” (Trial Tr., R. 80, PageID 282.) It did not matter whether Bob “was [] familiar
with IBC or a house coming out of Indiana,” whether “the money needed from [Churn] to start
production of the homes was being wired by [Churn] to [AAH’s] corporate office yesterday,” or
whether “if the wire was received by Monday it would take approximately 4 weeks to get the
materials then an additional 2 weeks to complete the structure.” A review of the trial transcript
supports the government’s assertion that it was simply trying to illustrate why Campsey became
suspicious and demanded verification from Churn about his work.
While the district court initially called the statements “hearsay,” it later clarified that the
statements were “[n]ot [being admitted to show that] what the other person actually said is true
or not, but to explain the basis of this witness’s state of mind, to explain what this witness was
doing.” (Trial Tr., R. 80, PageID 283.) The district court thus prudently instructed the jury that
the document was “being introduced for a limited purpose.” (Id.) Accordingly, “because the
government did not offer the statements for their truth, the statements fall outside of the
definition of hearsay.” United States v. Talley, 164 F.3d 989, 999 (6th Cir. 1999). And because
No. 14-5720 United States v. Churn Page 10
the email’s statements were only admitted to “show its effect on the listener,” Biegas, 573 F.3d
at 379, the government did not need to rely on the state-of-mind exception.
C. Whether Campsey’s Statement Concerning a County Permit Contained
Inadmissible Hearsay.
Churn claims that the district court committed plain error by admitting impermissible
hearsay about whether Churn secured a county permit. During Campsey’s testimony, the
government presented Churn’s first invoice submitted to BSB, which listed expenses for building
permit fees, disconnecting utilities, and certain construction work. BSB approved a $15,000
draw based on that invoice. The following exchange occurred:
[The government]: What work that is indicated on this invoice was actually
done?
[Campsey]: Through talking to the county,--
[Defense counsel]: Your Honor, I’m going to object to hearsay.
The Court: Restate your question.
[The government]: I will, Your Honor. Do you know personally what work was
done, based on your own observations?
...
[Campsey]: My own observation, none of this work was ever completed. And
through verification with the county, the permit was never pulled.
(Trial Tr., R. 80, PageID 270.) Churn’s counsel did not object at trial to Campsey’s question.
Churn now argues that the government introduced Campsey’s statement that “through
verification with the county, the permit was never pulled” to support the proposition that Churn
never used the disbursed money to secure the permit and pay fees. He asserts that the statement
was hearsay since no one from the county testified and no exception to the hearsay rule applied.
Churn maintains that the remaining evidence could not support his convictions on Counts 3 and
7. He points out that while Campsey testified that “none of this work was ever completed,” she
later conceded that the house was demolished and the pad cleared. (Trial Tr., R. 80, PageID
270–71; see also id. at 215.) Because this statement was the only evidence that he failed to
spend the disbursed money on building permits, Churn contends that its erroneous admission
directly affected his convictions on Counts 3 and 7 and thus prejudiced him. In addition, Churn
No. 14-5720 United States v. Churn Page 11
argues that “the county’s statements . . . severely damaged Mr. Churn’s credibility for the rest of
trial.”
Campsey’s statement called for hearsay. The content of the county records would fall
within an exception to the hearsay rule only if properly authenticated under Federal Rules of
Evidence 803(6). The outcome does not depend on whether Campsey learned about the permit
“[t]hrough talking to the county,” as she said, or whether she herself had checked the records.
Nonetheless, Churn fails to demonstrate that the error affected his substantial rights. See
United States v. Vonner, 516 F.3d 382, 386 (6th Cir. 2008) (en banc). Campsey’s
uncontroverted testimony, based on her personal observations, was that none of the work that
appeared on the invoice was ever completed. (See Trial Tr., R. 80, Page ID 268–71.) And the
bank relied on the invoice as a whole—not just the reference to the permit—in distributing the
draw in December 2006. (Id. at 271.) Thus, although the statement was clearly hearsay, Churn
is not entitled to relief.
D. Whether the District Court Properly Admitted Evidence of Another
Transaction as Res Gestae.
Churn argues that the district court abused its discretion and prejudiced him by admitting
testimony about a real-estate deal that did not underlie his charged offenses. During Rief’s
testimony, the government asked him whether Clarksville Pike was the only property in which
he invested with Churn. When Rief responded “[n]o” and identified another investment in 1712
North 24th Avenue, Churn’s counsel requested a sidebar. (Trial Tr., R. 81, PageID 404.)
Churn’s counsel informed the district court that the government’s trial brief stated that
the government intended to introduce evidence concerning the North 24th Avenue transaction
and that the government suggested it could do so under the res gestae exception for background
information related to the government’s allegations or Federal Rule of Evidence 404(b)’s
exceptions to the rule’s general prohibition against introducing evidence of other crimes or acts
to prove character. He objected, however, stating that the exceptions did not apply and that the
prejudice from the evidence would outweigh any probative value it had. The government
responded that the deal at issue “occurred at the same time,” was “part of the same series of
events,” and happened in the same manner as the Clarksville Pike and Green Street transactions,
No. 14-5720 United States v. Churn Page 12
and thus testimony about it was admissible, though the government also said that it did not
intend to introduce any documentary evidence. (Id. at 404–05.) The district court overruled
Churn’s objection and held that the testimony was “intrinsic evidence” because “it explains the
relationship between the witness and the defendant and the nature of their business relationship
and the course of their business dealings.” (Id. at 405–06.) It did not address whether the
testimony was admissible under Rule 404(b).
Rief then testified about his agreement with Churn concerning the Clarksville Pike
property, and stated that although the North 24th Avenue transaction “was a rehab, [] the deal
was set up the same.” (Id. at 406.) For both projects, Rief was responsible for obtaining
financing and Churn was responsible for the construction. Like Clarksville Pike, Rief testified
that “nothing happened with the property”—not only was the rehab never completed, “[i]t was
never started.” (Id. at 433.) Similarly, it was foreclosed. The government offered no more
testimony about the North 24th Avenue transaction.
On appeal, Churn argues that the district court abused its discretion by ruling that the
North 24th Avenue transaction was “intrinsic evidence” and thus admissible as res gestae. He
contends that the North 24th Avenue transaction cannot fit in this court’s definition of intrinsic
evidence, which “requires a connection to the charged offense,” United States v. Adams,
722 F.3d 788, 822 (6th Cir. 2013), one involving a “close temporal, spatial, and causal
proximity” between the prior act and charged offense, Chalmers, 554 F. App’x at 451. Here,
Churn says, the North 24th Avenue transaction was “merely background explanation” of Churn
and Rief’s relationship, and does not have any “direct connection” with the Clarksville Pike
deal, notably because a different financial institution was involved. Churn also asserts that the
prejudice from admitting testimony about the North 24th Avenue transaction outweighs its
probative value because providing a “better understanding” of Churn and Rief’s relationship
does not justify the possibility of the jury believing that Churn caused the foreclosure in the
North 24th Avenue transaction.
The government responds that because “Churn executed a scheme to defraud banks by
inducing individuals to obtain construction loans and the banks to disburse those loans,” the
North 24th Avenue transaction “falls into this scheme.” Since “this transaction evidences ‘the
No. 14-5720 United States v. Churn Page 13
very scheme alleged in the indictment,’” the government argues, it is “intrinsic” to that scheme
and the district court correctly admitted the testimony. Id. at 37 (quoting United States v.
Weinstock, 153 F.3d 272, 277 (6th Cir. 1998)). In addition, the government claims that Churn
never raised an objection based on Rule 403 and therefore has waived this argument on appeal.
Finally, the government contends that any error in admitting the testimony is harmless because
of the overwhelming evidence of fraud from the two charged offenses.
This court “ha[s] recognized the admissibility of res gestae, or background evidence, in
limited circumstances when the evidence includes conduct that is ‘inextricably intertwined’ with
the charged offense.” United States v. Clay, 667 F.3d 689, 697 (6th Cir. 2012). “Proper
background evidence has a causal, temporal or spatial connection with the charged offense.”
Hardy, 228 F.3d at 748. “[Such] evidence may include evidence that is a prelude to the charged
offense, is directly probative of the charged offense, arises from the same events as the charged
offense, forms an integral part of the witness’s testimony, or completes the story of the charged
offense.” United States v. Grooms, 566 F. App’x 485, 491 (6th Cir. 2014) (internal quotation
marks omitted).
Res gestae is sometimes also known as “intrinsic evidence.” “Intrinsic acts are those that
are inextricably intertwined with the criminal act charged or a part of the criminal activity as
opposed to extrinsic acts, which are those that occurred at different times and under different
circumstances from the offense charged.” United States v. Stafford, No. 98-1187, 1999 WL
1111519, at *4 (6th Cir. Nov. 24, 1999). We have “acknowledge[d] that the distinctions among
res gestae, inextricably intertwined evidence, intrinsic evidence, and background evidence [are]
far from clear.” Adams, 722 F.3d at 822 n.26. But we often treat the various concepts similarly.
See id.
Res gestae evidence does not implicate Federal Rule of Evidence 404(b), which generally
bars evidence of past acts to prove character, but with some exceptions. Hardy, 228 F.3d at 748.
Notably, this court “allow[s] the trial court to admit evidence regarding a defendant’s unindicted
criminal activity when that activity is ‘intrinsic’ or ‘inextricably intertwined’ with charges named
in the indictment.” United States v. Potts, No. 97-6000, 1999 WL 96756, at *9 (6th Cir. Feb. 2,
1999) (emphasis added). Even if evidence is res gestae, we “must also find that the district court
No. 14-5720 United States v. Churn Page 14
did not abuse its discretion in concluding that the probative value of the evidence was not
substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice pursuant to Federal Rule of Evidence
403.” United States v. Joseph, 270 F. App’x 399, 406 (6th Cir. 2008) (per curiam).
Rief’s testimony about the North 24th Avenue transaction was res gestae because it was
“closely related in both time and nature to the crime charged.” United States v. Vincent,
681 F.2d 462, 465 (6th Cir. 1982) (internal quotation marks omitted). As Rief stated at trial, “the
deal was set up the same” as the Clarksville Pike transaction. (Trial Tr., R. 81, PageID 406.)
The district court correctly found that the testimony “explains the relationship between the
witness and the defendant and the nature of their business relationship and the course of their
business dealings.” (Id. at 405–06.) And as the government proffered, Churn persuaded Rief to
invest in both that transaction and the Clarksville Pike transaction around the same time. While
Churn attempts to distinguish the two transactions by pointing out that the North 24th Avenue
transaction did not involve a loan from a bank, that distinction is immaterial; we only require that
the facts are “closely related,” not identical. See Vincent, 681 F.2d at 465. That Churn was not
indicted for the North 24th Avenue transaction is also irrelevant because we have held that even
unindicted activity can be “inextricably intertwined” with the actual charges. Potts, 1999 WL
96756, at *9.
In ruling that the evidence was admissible, the district court correctly concluded that the
probative value of the evidence was not outweighed by unfair prejudice. Because the court did
not abuse its discretion in admitting the res gestae evidence, reversal is unwarranted.
E. Whether the Cumulative Weight of Evidentiary Errors Warrant Reversal.
Churn argues that the cumulative weight of the district court’s erroneous evidentiary
rulings prejudiced him and thus reversal is warranted. “Errors that might not be so prejudicial as
to amount to a deprivation of due process when considered alone, may cumulatively produce a
trial setting that is fundamentally unfair.” Walker v. Engle, 703 F.2d 959, 963 (6th Cir. 1983).
Although the court erred in admitting Campsey’s testimony about verifying county permit
records, that error was harmless and thus did not affect his substantial rights. Accordingly, there
is no basis for reversal based on cumulative error.
No. 14-5720 United States v. Churn Page 15
F. Whether the District Court Imposed an Erroneous Sentence.
Churn argues that the district court improperly based its sentence on conduct underlying
charges for which he was acquitted. “This court reviews a constitutional challenge to a
defendant’s sentence de novo wherever the defendant preserves the claim for appellate review.”
United States v. Copeland, 321 F.3d 582, 601 (6th Cir. 2003).
Churn argues that this court should reverse his prison sentence and remand for
resentencing because the district court used dismissed and acquitted conduct to increase his
prison sentence to an “unreasonable” level. Nonetheless, Churn acknowledges that this court
“currently allows district courts to consider dismissed and acquitted conduct when imposing
sentences below the statutory maximum.” Indeed, the Supreme Court of the United States, as
well as an en banc panel of this court, has held that “a jury’s verdict of acquittal does not prevent
the sentencing court from considering conduct underlying the acquitted charge, so long as that
conduct has been proved by a preponderance of the evidence.” United States v. Watts, 519 U.S.
148, 157 (1997) (per curiam); United States v. White, 551 F.3d 381, 383 (6th Cir. 2008) (en
banc). Churn does not argue that the conduct underlying the acquitted charges was not proven
by a preponderance of the evidence. Because the district court correctly applied existing law in
determining Churn’s sentence, we affirm the sentence imposed by the district court.
G. Whether the District Court Imposed an Erroneous Restitution Order.
Churn argues that the district court violated his right to a jury trial under the Sixth
Amendment of the United States Constitution by using facts it found on its own to increase the
restitution amount imposed upon him beyond the maximum allowed under the Mandatory
Victims Restitution Act (“MVRA”), 18 U.S.C. § 3663A. In his sentencing memorandum, Churn
argued that “restitution should only apply to the counts of conviction,” and thus he should only
be ordered to pay $97,600. (Sentencing Mem., R. 89, PageID 771.) At the sentencing hearing,
Churn’s counsel objected to the district court’s reliance on the four acquitted and two dismissed
counts to augment the calculated loss for which restitution was ordered. The district court
overruled the objection and ordered restitution of $237,950.50, or $140,350.50 more than the
amount of harm linked to his convicted counts.
No. 14-5720 United States v. Churn Page 16
On appeal, Churn argues that because restitution is a criminal punishment, and any fact
that increases punishment beyond a statutory maximum must be found by a jury under Apprendi
v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466 (2000), the district court unconstitutionally enhanced his restitution
under the MVRA based on judicial factfinding. He also claims that the Supreme Court’s
decision in Southern Union Co. v. United States, 132 S. Ct. 2344 (2012), confirms his position
that restitution orders must be based on facts found by a jury.
The government rejects Churn’s premise that the MVRA has a statutory maximum and
therefore maintains that Apprendi does not apply to the statute. Thus, the government
distinguishes Southern Union, which involved a punishment scheme with a statutory maximum
fine, from this case. Even assuming that the MVRA has a statutory maximum, the government
argues that because the statute also has an exception for criminal conduct involving a scheme,
conspiracy, or pattern of criminal activity, and Churn was convicted of “knowingly execut[ing],
or attempt[ing] to execute, a scheme or artifice” to defraud a bank, 18 U.S.C. § 1344, the district
court correctly ordered restitution based on Churn’s entire scheme, which included conduct
underlying the dismissed and acquitted counts.
“This court reviews a constitutional challenge to a defendant’s sentence de novo
wherever the defendant preserves the claim for appellate review.” Copeland, 321 F.3d at 601.
Under the MVRA, a district court “shall order” a defendant to make restitution to “an
identifiable victim or victims [who] has suffered a [] pecuniary loss.” 18 U.S.C. § 3663A(a)(1),
(c)(1)(B). “Victim” is defined as:
[A] person directly and proximately harmed as a result of the commission of an
offense for which restitution may be ordered including, in the case of an offense
that involves as an element a scheme, conspiracy, or pattern of criminal activity,
any person directly harmed by the defendant’s criminal conduct in the course of
the scheme, conspiracy, or pattern.
18 U.S.C. § 3663A(a)(2).
The Supreme Court of the United States has held that, other than the existence of a prior
conviction, “any fact that increases the penalty for a crime beyond the prescribed statutory
maximum must be submitted to a jury, and proved beyond a reasonable doubt.” Apprendi,
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530 U.S. at 490. However, we have noted that “[a]n intra-circuit split exists [in the Sixth
Circuit] on the question of whether the MVRA specifies a statutory maximum.” United States v.
Winans, 748 F.3d 268, 272 n.2 (6th Cir. 2014). In United States v. Sosebee, this court observed
that “we have [] held that restitution orders are not affected by the Supreme Court’s ruling in
Apprendi v. New Jersey . . . because the restitution statutes do not specify a statutory maximum.”
419 F.3d 451, 461 (6th Cir. 2005). We also pointed out that the Third, Seventh, Eighth, and
Tenth Circuits have held that Apprendi does not apply to restitution orders under the MVRA. Id.
Six years later, however, this court stated in United States v. Freeman that “the restitution
statute [MVRA] ‘does set a statutory maximum on the amount of restitution.’” 640 F.3d 180,
193 (6th Cir. 2011) (quoting United States v. Gordon, 480 F.3d 1205, 1210 (10th Cir. 2007)
(original emphasis)). That maximum, we said, is “the amount causally linked to the offense of
conviction.” Id. (internal quotation marks omitted). In making this determination, we did not
address Sosebee’s contrary statement.
Here, even if the MVRA prescribes a statutory maximum, the district court did not
exceed it. Churn was convicted of “knowingly execut[ing], or attempt[ing] to execute, a scheme
or artifice to defraud a financial institution” when he was convicted of bank fraud. 18 U.S.C.
§ 1344(1). Because each count of the indictment corresponded to a particular draw related to the
Clarksville Pike or Green Street properties, the district court did not impose a restitution amount
greater than the amount of harm directly caused by Churn’s “criminal conduct in the course of
the scheme, conspiracy, or pattern [of criminal activity].” 18 U.S.C. § 3663A(a)(2). Therefore,
the order did not go beyond any maximum specified in the MVRA and did not violate Apprendi,
even if Apprendi applies to the MVRA.
As Churn acknowledges, however, we have already squarely held that “restitution orders
are not affected by the Supreme Court’s ruling in Apprendi v. New Jersey . . . because the
restitution statutes do not specify a statutory maximum.” Sosebee, 419 F.3d at 461. We adhere
to that principle now. As a published decision, Sosebee is controlling authority for all
subsequent panels of this court absent a reversal by the Supreme Court or an en banc panel of
this court, and Freeman’s statement does not alter our conclusion to the extent it conflicts with
Sosebee. See Darrah v. City of Oak Park, 255 F.3d 301, 309–10 (6th Cir. 2001). Accordingly,
No. 14-5720 United States v. Churn Page 18
Apprendi does not apply to the MVRA and the district court’s restitution calculation need not be
limited only to Churn’s convicted offenses.
Contrary to Churn’s argument, Southern Union does not cast doubt on the conclusion we
reach—if anything, it reinforces our decision. Southern Union involved a gas company that was
charged with violating the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, which provides for a
maximum criminal fine of $50,000 per day of violation. 132 S. Ct. at 2349. Although the
indictment accused the company of violating the statute for 762 days, the court instructed the
jury that it could convict based on one day’s violation, which the jury did. Id. The court set a
maximum potential fine of $38.1 million, i.e., $50,000 multiplied by 762 days. Id. The
defendant appealed, arguing that any fact resulting in a fine over the statutory daily maximum
had to be found by a jury. Id. The Supreme Court agreed. Id. at 2357. But the statute in
Southern Union had a defined statutory daily maximum. The MVRA does not. Thus, Southern
Union does not apply here.
The weight of authority supports our conclusion. At least four cases from this court have
followed Sosebee in the wake of Freeman and Southern Union, holding that judge-found facts
can be used to calculate restitution under the MVRA and that Southern Union does not dictate
otherwise, whereas there appears to be no case to the contrary. United States v. Johnson, 583 F.
App’x 503, 510 (6th Cir. 2014) (reaffirming Sosebee’s holding “that restitution [under the
MVRA] falls outside the bounds of the Sixth Amendment” and rejecting contention that
Southern Union “calls Sosebee into question”); United States v. Rogers, 580 F. App’x 347, 352
(6th Cir. 2014) (rejecting argument that defendant was entitled to a “jury finding on the loss-
amount for restitution purposes,” noting that other circuits are in accord, and distinguishing
Southern Union); United States v. Jarjis, 551 F. App’x 261, 261–62 (6th Cir. 2014) (per curiam)
(same); see also United States v. Agbebiyi, 575 F. App’x 624, 632–33 (6th Cir. 2014) (holding
that Apprendi and Southern Union do not require facts underlying MVRA restitution calculations
to be found by a jury). Similarly, every circuit court (except the Federal Circuit) has held that
Apprendi does not apply to the MVRA. See United States v. Bengis, 783 F.3d 407, 411–13 (2d
Cir. 2015); Jarjis, 551 F. App’x at 261–62 (citing cases from Fourth, Seventh, and Ninth
Circuits); United States v. Milkiewicz, 470 F.3d 390, 403–04 (1st Cir. 2006) (citing cases from
No. 14-5720 United States v. Churn Page 19
Second, Third, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, Tenth, and Eleventh Circuits). Many of
these cases have also distinguished Southern Union and held that it does not extend Apprendi’s
rule to restitution. For all these reasons, we conclude that the district court’s restitution order
was proper.
III. CONCLUSION
Because the district court did not commit any reversible evidentiary errors and properly
took account of dismissed or acquitted conduct in sentencing Churn, we affirm its judgment.