Opinion
13 Cr. 154 (RWS)
01-27-2014
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. JILFREDO GONZALEZ, Defendant.
SENTENCING OPINION
Sweet, D.J.
On June 12, 2013, Jilfredo Gonzalez ("Gonzalez" or "Defendant") pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal government funds pursuant to § 18 U.S.C. 371 and theft of government funds pursuant to § 18 U.S.C. 641.
For the reasons set forth below, Gonzalez will be sentenced to one year imprisonment followed by two years supervised release. A special assessment of $200 is imposed.
Prior Proceedings
Defendant was named in a Three-Count Indictment filed in the Southern District of New York on March 6, 2013. Count One charges that from January 2011 through February 1, 2013, in the Southern District of New York and elsewhere, Raymundo I. Hernandez, Andrius E. Gonzalez Francisco, Jilfredo Gonzalez, Dawin Brito, Isabel Garcia, Cristino Antonio Rodriguez and others conspired to steal money from the United States Treasury Department as they engaged In a scheme to obtain and cash fraudulent income tax return checks. Count Two charges that from January 2011 through February 1, 2013, in the Southern District of New York and elsewhere, Raymundo I. Hernandez, Andrius E. Gonzalez Francisco, Jilfredo Gonzalez, Dawin Brito, Isabel Garcia, and Cristino Antonio Rodriguez engaged in a scheme to obtain and cash fraudulent income tax return checks. Count Three charges that from at least January 2011 through February 1, 2013, in the Southern District of New York and elsewhere, Raymundo I. Hernandez, Andrius E. Gonzalez Francisco, Jilfredo Gonzalez, Dawin Brito, Isabel Garcia, and Cristino Antonio Rodriguez possessed and used the names and personal identifying information of other persons during and in relation to the offense charged in Count two of this indictment.
The Sentencing Framework
In accordance with the Supreme Court's decision in United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220 (2005), and the Second Circuit's decision in United States v. Crosby, 397 F. 3d 103 (2d Cir. 2005), the sentence to be imposed was reached through consideration of all of the factors identified in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a), including the Advisory Guidelines. Thus, the sentence to be imposed here is the result of a consideration of:
(1) the nature and circumstances of the offense and the history and characteristics of the defendant;18 U.S.C. § 3553(a). A sentencing judge is permitted to find all the facts appropriate for determining a sentence, whether that sentence is a so-called Guidelines sentence or not. See Crosby, 397 F.3d at 114-15.
(2) the need for the sentence imposed —
(A) to reflect the seriousness of the offense, to promote respect for the law, and to provide just punishment for the offense;(3) the kinds of sentences available;
(B) to afford adequate deterrence to criminal conduct;
(C) to protect the public from further crimes of the defendant; and
(D) to provide the defendant with needed educational or vocational training, medical care, or other correctional treatment in the most effective manner;
(4) the kinds of sentence and the sentencing range established for —
(A) the applicable category of offense committed by the applicable category of defendant as set forth in the guidelines . . .;(5) any pertinent policy statement . . . [issued by the Sentencing Commission];
(6) the need to avoid unwarranted sentence disparities among defendants with similar records who have been found guilty of similar conduct; and
(7) the need to provide restitution to any victims of the offense.
The Defendant
The Court adopts the facts set forth in the Presentence Investigation Report ("PSR") with respect to Defendant's personal and family history.
The Offense Conduct
The following description draws from the PSR. The specific facts of the underlying conduct are adopted as set forth in that document. These crimes were investigated by a special agent employed by the Internal Revenue Service (Agent-1) and a postal inspector employed by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (the Case Inspector). Tax Scheme Involving Puerto Rican Social Security Numbers and Electronic Filing Identification Numbers
The following is a description of a scheme involving the fraudulent use of stolen Social Security numbers to submit false and fraudulent federal tax returns. Typically, the scheme worked as follows.
Participants in the scheme employed stolen Social Security numbers (SSNs) assigned to residents of Puerto Rico and filed fraudulent federal tax returns seeking tax refunds on behalf of those individuals. Residents of Puerto Rico often do not file tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) because such filing is not required as long as all of the residents' income is derived from Puerto Rican sources. Thus, by using Puerto Rican SSNs, participants in the scheme, among other things, minimize the risks that a legitimate federal tax return already will have been filed by the person whose identity has been stolen. The fraudulently filed tax returns claim that the filer resides in one of the fifty states of the United States, for example, in New York State.
Participants in the scheme obtain the federal tax refund checks in various ways, including by causing them to be mailed by the United States Treasury to addresses to which the participants have access. Fraudulently obtained tax refund checks may be cashed with the assistance of either corrupt bank employees, corrupt check cashers, or individuals with business checking accounts who may not be required to have the payee named on the face of the check, a person normally in Puerto Rico, appear at the time that the check is cashed. In some instances, participants in the scheme cause tax refunds to be directly deposited into bank accounts controlled by them. All electronically filed tax returns are transmitted to the IRS through an Electronic Filing Identification Number (EFIN). EFINs are issued by the IRS to electronic return originators, such as online tax software providers (e.g., TurboTax, TaxSlayer), businesses (e.g., H&R Block), or individual tax preparers (e.g., accountants) to enable them to file tax returns with the IRS. The Defendant's Scheme
According to information learned by the Case Inspector, since approximately 2004, CC-1 has participated in a scheme which involved the filing of fraudulent income tax returns using the stolen identifying information of residents of Puerto Rico. Among other things, CC-1 obtained EFINs from other co-conspirators and then used those EFINs to file fraudulent income tax returns after he had obtained stolen identifying information of residents of Puerto Rico that CC-1 had obtained from other co-conspirators. CC-1 also sold these EFINs to other co-conspirators to enable them to also file fraudulent income tax returns using stolen identifying information of residents of Puerto Rico. Further, CC-1 installed tax filing software on computers of other co-conspirators, taught co-conspirators how to use the tax software, and assisted them with setting up bank accounts to automatically have tax refunds electronically deposited into bank accounts.
At the time of CC-1's arrest, in plain view, the Case Inspector observed approximately 15 laptop computers in CC-1's home, as well as lists containing names, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers. From further conversations with CC-1, the Case Inspector learned that through a network of individuals who know how to cash Treasury checks, CC-1 also had provided fraudulent Treasury refund checks to others to cash, for a percentage of the face value of the check.
On February 4, 2013, voluntarily and at the direction of law enforcement, CC-1 placed multiple separate calls, which were recorded, to Raymundo I. Hernandez ("Hernandez"), Andrius E. Gonazlez Francisco ("Gonzalez Francisco"), and Jilfredo Gonzalez ("Gonzalez"). During those conversations, CC-1 informed Hernandez, Gonzalez Francisco and Gonzalez that, among other things, CC-1 had Treasury refund checks that had to be cashed. CC-1 arranged meetings with Hernandez, Gonzalez Francisco and Gonzalez.
On February 4, 2013, the Case Inspector observed Hernandez meet with CC-1, after he moved the meeting location with CC-1 because he did not like what he believed to be a police presence in the area. During that meeting, Hernandez agreed to use his contacts to cash the checks and took possession of approximately 80 United States Treasury checks and agreed to cash those checks for CC-1. Hernandez was arrested shortly thereafter, at approximately 8:30 p.m., after first fleeing from law enforcement.
On February 4, 2013, Gonzalez Francisco met with CC-1 at a pre-arranged location. After a discussion of percentages, Gonzalez Francisco took possession of approximately 50 United States Treasury checks and agreed to cash those checks. Gonzalez Francisco also specifically asked CC-1 whether the checks were "white" or "yellow," referring to United States Treasury checks sent via the United States mail or blank checks printed using tax refund software. During that meeting, Gonzalez Francisco contacted an unknown co-conspirator, confirming that Gonzalez Francisco received "yellow" checks and asking about percentages. Gonzalez Francisco was arrested shortly thereafter at approximately 11:30 p.m.
On February 5, 2013, Jilfredo Gonzalez met with CC-1 at the prearranged location, along with Dawin Brito ("Brito"). Prior to arriving at the location, Gonzalez informed CC-1 that he would accept whatever checks CC-1 had, and requested a minimum of "150" which CC-1 understood to be 150 checks. During that meeting, CC-1, Gonzalez and Brito discussed, among other things, that they were both partners in cashing checks. After a discussion of percentages, CC-1 showed Gonzalez and Brito envelopes containing United States Treasury refund checks. CC-1 informed Gonzalez and Brito that one envelope contained 100 checks and another 50 checks, which Gonzalez and Brito both agreed to cash. Gonzalez and Brito were arrested shortly thereafter at approximately 2:20 a.m.
On February 6, 2013, at the direction of law enforcement, CC-1 placed a call to a second co-conspirator ("CC-2") with whom CC-1 had previously worked to cash checks. During that conversation, CC-1 and CC-2 discussed, in code, that CC-1 had United States Treasury checks to be cashed. Thereafter, CC-2 informed CC-1 that he would be putting CC-1 in touch with others to cash those checks.
On February 6, 2013, a person later identified as Rodriguez called CC-1, but CC-1 missed the call. CC-1 thereafter returned the telephone call and, during that conversation Rodriguez informed CC-1 that CC-2 provided Rodriguez with CC-1's contact information and proceeded, in code, to discuss United States Treasury checks. During that conversation, Rodriguez asked what "color" CC-1 had. CC-1 thereafter arranged a meeting with Rodriguez.
On February 8, 2013, Isabel Garcia ("Garcia") called CC-1 and Garcia informed CC-1 that CC-2 provided Garcia with CC-1's contact information and proceeded to discuss the cashing of United States Treasury checks. During that conversation, Garcia stated that an Arab cashed many checks previously but that she was currently using a Dominican check casher. CC-1 thereafter arranged a meeting with Garcia.
On February 10, 2013, Rodriguez met with CC-1 at a pre-arranged location. While at the meeting, and after a discussion of percentages, Rodriguez took possession of approximately 80 United States Treasury checks and agreed to cash those checks. Rodriguez was arrested shortly thereafter at approximately 4:20 p.m.
On February 10, 2013, Garcia met with CC-1 at a pre-arranged location. While at the meeting, Garcia requested "100" meaning $100,000 in United State Treasury checks. Garcia thereafter took possession of approximately 20 United States Treasury checks and agreed to cash those checks and also asked for copies of identifications that corresponded to those checks. Garcia was arrested shortly thereafter at approximately 7:15 p.m.
The Government's position is that Hernandez should be held accountable for between $400,000 and $1,000,000 in intended loss.
Brito should be held accountable for between $1,000,000 and $2,500,000 in intended loss.
Gonzalez should be held accountable for between $1,000,000 and $2,500,000 in intended loss.
Rodriguez should be held accountable for between $400,000 and $1,000,000 in intended loss.
Francisco Gonzalez should be held accountable for between $200,000 and $400,000 in intended loss.
Garcia should be held accountable for between $120,000 and $200,000 in intended loss.
According to the FBI and the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services, Bureau of Identification, Gonzalez has no prior criminal convictions.
The Defendant reported that he has no assets, income, or liabilities. Gonzalez reported that he has not filed income taxes in the past three years. An inquiry was made to the IRS to confirm this information. According to Equifax, there is no credit history found for the defendant with the associated social security number. As Gonzalez is presently incarcerated, he has no monthly expenses. Based on his financial profile, it appears that he is unable to pay a Court fine.
The Relevant Statutory Provisions
The maximum term of imprisonment on Count One is five years imprisonment, pursuant to § 18 U.S.C. 371. The maximum term of imprisonment for Count Two is ten years, pursuant to § 18 U.S.C, 641. If a term of imprisonment is imposed, the Court may impose a term of supervised release of not more than three years per count, pursuant to § 18 U.S.C. 3583(b)(2). The Defendant is eligible for not less than one nor more than five years' probation per count, pursuant to § 18 U.S.C. 3561(c)(1).
The maximum fine is the greatest of $250,000 or twice the gross gain/loss from the offense per count, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 3571. A special assessment of $100 per count, for a total of $200, is mandatory, pursuant to § 18 U.S.C. 3031.
As a result of committing the offenses alleged in Count 1 and 2 of the Information, Defendant shall forfeit to the U.S., pursuant to 18 USC 981(a)(1)(C) and 28 USC 2461, all property, real or personal, constituting or derived from proceeds traceable to the offense.
According to the Government, no forfeiture or restitution is due because the Defendants were arrested upon receiving the checks and thus, prior to cashing the checks. The Guidelines
The November 1, 2012 edition of the United States Sentencing Commission Guidelines Manual has been used in this case for calculation purposes pursuant to § 1B1.11(a). The Court finds the following with respect to the Defendant's applicable offense level, criminal history, recognition of responsibility, and term of imprisonment:
Pursuant to Defendant's plea allocution, Defendant's base offense level is six. U.S.S.G. §2B1.1(a)(2). Pursuant to §2B1.1(b)(1)(I), an increase of 16 levels is warranted because the intended loss was more than $1,000,000 but not more than $2,500,000. Assuming the Defendant clearly demonstrates acceptance of responsibility, to the satisfaction of the Government, through his allocution and subsequent conduct prior to the imposition of sentence, a two-level reduction will be warranted, pursuant to §3E1.1(a). Furthermore, assuming the Defendant has accepted responsibility as described in the previous paragraph, an additional one-level reduction is warranted, pursuant to §3E1.1(b), because the Defendant will have given timely notice of his intention to enter a plea of guilty, thereby permitting the Government to avoid preparing for trial and permitting the Court to allocate its resources efficiently. In accordance with the foregoing calculations, the applicable offense level is 19.
Based upon the calculations set forth above, the defendant's stipulated Guidelines range is 30 to 37 months' imprisonment (the "Stipulated Guidelines Range"). In addition, after determining the defendant's ability to pay, the Court may impose a fine pursuant to §5E1.2. At Guidelines offense level 19, the applicable Guidelines fine range is $6,000 to $60,000.
Defendant's Criminal History Category is I.
The guideline range for a term of supervised release is at least one year but not more than three years per count, pursuant to §5D1.2(a)(2). The Court shall order a term of supervised release when required by statute (§5D1.1(a)(1)), or except for a deportable alien who is likely to be deported after imprisonment, when a term of imprisonment of more than one year is imposed (§5D1.1(a)(2)). Because the applicable guideline range is in Zone D of the Sentencing Table, the defendant is not eligible for probation, pursuant to §5B1.1. The Remaining Factors of 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a)
Having engaged in the Guidelines analysis, this Court also gives due consideration to the remaining factors identified in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) to impose a sentence "sufficient, but not greater than necessary," as is required by the Supreme Court's decision in Booker, 543 U.S. 220, and the Second Circuit's decision in Crosby, 397 F.3d 103.
Under 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a)(1), the Court considers "the nature and circumstances of the offense and the history and characteristics of the defendant." Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3553 (2)(A), the Court weighs the need for the sentence imposed to reflect the seriousness of the offense, to promote respect for the law, and to provide just punishment for the offense.
Given the Defendant's lack of criminal history, the lack of victim impact, the fact that all co-conspirators were arrested before any losses were incurred, and the nature of the offense, the sentence imposed is appropriate. At the time of sentencing, January 30, 2014, Defendant will have been incarcerated for approximately eleven months. The Sentence
For the instant offense, Defendant Gonzalez will be sentenced to one year imprisonment followed by two years supervised release.
The standard conditions of supervision (1-13), set forth in the judgment, shall be imposed with the additional special conditions:
(1) The defendant shall obey the immigration laws and comply with the directives of immigration authorities.
(2) The defendant shall submit his person, residence, place of business, vehicle, or any other premises under his control to a search on the basis that the probation officer has reasonable belief that contraband or evidence of a violation of the conditions of the release may be found. The search must be conducted at a reasonable time and in reasonable manner. Failure to submit to a search may be grounds for revocation. The defendant shall inform any other residents that the premises may be subject to search pursuant to this condition.
(3) The defendant is to report to the nearest Probation Office within 72 hours of release from custody.
Due to inability to pay, no fine is imposed.
A special assessment of $200, payable to the United States, is mandatory and shall be due immediately.
The terms of this sentence are subject to modification at the sentencing hearing scheduled for January 30, 2014.
It is so ordered. New York, NY
January 27, 2014
__________
ROBERT W. SWEET
U.S.D.J.