Summary
affirming the imposition of a $100,000 fine which was $70,000 above the advisory guidelines range where the defendant was a “millionaire” and such a fine was appropriate to ensure that the sentence was punitive to the defendant
Summary of this case from United States v. VandebrakeOpinion
No. 10-2097.
Submitted: December 17, 2010.
Filed: December 23, 2010.
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, Robert W. Pratt, Chief Judge
Alfredo Parrish, Des Moines, IA, for appellant.
Mary C. Luxa, AUSA, Des Moines, IA, for appellee.
Kris Koestner pleaded guilty to one count of tampering with a witness, 18 U.S.C. § 1512(b)(3), to cover up the fraudulent use of food stamp benefits at his grocery store in Centerville, Iowa. Consistent with the written plea agreement, the district court sentenced Koestner to one year of probation. However, noting that Koestner was a "millionaire," the court also imposed a $100,000 fine, an amount that was $70,000 above the advisory guidelines range, see U.S.S.G. § 5E1.2(c)(3), but well-within the statutory maximum for the offense, $250,000, see 18 U.S.C. § 3571(b)(3). Koestner appeals, arguing the fine is substantively unreasonable. We deferentially review the reasonableness of a sentence for abuse of discretion. "[I]t will be the unusual case when we reverse a district court sentence — whether within, above, or below the applicable Guidelines range — as substantively unreasonable." United States v. Feemster, 572 F.3d 455, 464 (8th Cir. 2009) (en banc) (quotation omitted). We affirm.
The Honorable Robert W. Pratt, Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa.
Koestner argues that the district court abused its discretion because it based the amount of the fine on his financial means, not on the nature of his offense. This is contrary to U.S.S.G. § 5H1.10, Koestner argues, which instructs that "Socio-Economic Status [is] not relevant in the determination of a sentence." But this advisory Policy Statement does not trump the governing statute, which provides that the district court, in determining the amount of a fine, must consider Koestner's "income, earning capacity, and financial resources," in addition to other factors such as "the need to deprive the defendant of illegally obtained gains from the offense." 18 U.S.C. § 3572(a)(1), (5); see U.S.S.G. § 5E1.2(d)(2), which further provides, "The amount of the fine should always be sufficient to ensure that the fine, taken together with other sanctions imposed, is punitive."
Here, Koestner was a relatively wealthy retailer who acquired at least a portion of his wealth by fraudulent abuse of the food stamp program. The district court described Koestner's relevant conduct as "extremely egregious. . . . Defendant systematically exploited the poor, defrauded the State of Iowa out of significant sums of money, and attempted to interfere with the administration of justice." In these circumstances, in lieu of a prison sentence, a substantial fine was appropriate not only to ensure that the sentence was punitive as to Koestner personally, but also to deter other retailers from similar conduct. Thus, the amount of the fine was reasonably related not only to Koestner's ability to pay a fine, but also to the relevant conduct associated with his offense. There was no abuse of discretion. We reject Koestner's argument that we may not consider the district court's additional explanation of its reasons for imposing an upward variance set forth in its Order denying Koestner's motion to stay the fine pending appeal. Compare Feemster, 572 F.3d at 459 (considering statements made at a post-sentencing hearing).
The judgment of the district court is affirmed.