Opinion
The panel unanimously finds this case suitable for decision without oral argument. Fed. R.App. P. 34(a)(2).
NOT FOR PUBLICATION. (See Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure Rule 36-3)
Defendant was convicted, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, Thomas S. Zilly, J., of identity theft, and she appealed sentence. The Court of Appeals held that evidence supported two level increase based on non-monetary, psychological harm suffered by victim.
Affirmed.
Page 378.
Appeals from the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, Thomas S. Zilly, District Judge, Presiding.
Before RYMER, THOMAS, and MCKEOWN, Circuit Judges.
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and may not be cited to or by the courts of this circuit except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.
Tiffany Florence Sarden appeals the district court's sentencing determination to depart upward two levels based on the non-monetary, psychological harm suffered by the victim of her crime. We have jurisdiction under 18 U.S.C. § 3742(a)(1) and 28 U.S.C. § 1291 and we review the district court's decision to depart upward for abuse of discretion, see Koon v. United States, 518 U.S. 81, 99, 116 S.Ct. 2035, 135 L.Ed.2d 392 (1996). We affirm.
Sarden argues that there was insufficient evidence that the psychological distress suffered by the victim was more than that normally resulting from the crime of identity theft, relying on United States Sentencing Guidelines (U.S.S.G.) § 5K2.3. However, the district court's upward departure was pursuant to U.S. S.G. § 2F1.1, Application Note 11(c). Based on the victim impact statement that was submitted and the victim's testimony at sentencing, which explained the difficulties and extreme emotional problems that she suffered, the court was well within its discretion in finding that the loss to corporate victims determined under § 2F1.1(b)(1) did not fully capture the harmfulness and seriousness of Sarden's conduct.
AFFIRMED.