United States v. Keeney

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
United States v. Keeney, 170 F. App'x 785 (3d Cir. 2006)

United States v. Keeney

Opinion

OPINION

BARRY, Circuit Judge.

Christine Keeney appeals the judgment of sentence and, more specifically, the District Court’s application of the United States Sentencing Guidelines (“U.S.S.G.”). We have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291 and 18 U.S.C. § 3742(a), and will affirm.

Appellant had ownership interests in massage parlors in Pennsylvania and Maryland where sexual services were offered in exchange for money. On July 29, 2004, she pled guilty to a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1952(a)(3), which, upon conviction, sanctions those who “travel[] in interstate or foreign commerce or uses the mail or any facility in interstate or foreign commerce, with intent to — otherwise promote, manage, establish, carry on, or facilitate the promotion, management, establishment, or carrying on, of any unlawful activity....” The underlying offenses were prostitution and money laundering.

Prior to sentencing, appellant made efforts to assist law enforcement agents in their investigations of similar businesses. Those efforts were fruitless. At her sentencing hearing, appellant nevertheless raised the prospect of receiving credit under § 5K1.0 of the Sentencing Guidelines for that assistance. She also objected to a four-level adjustment for role in the offense, pursuant to § 3B1.1(a) of the Sentencing Guidelines. The District Court applied the four-level adjustment and awarded a three-level reduction for acceptance of responsibility. With a total offense level of 15 and a criminal history category of I, appellant’s guideline range *787 was 18 to 24 months. Her request for a downward departure from that range under § 5K1.0 was denied, and she was sentenced to 18 months incarceration.

Appellant argues, first, that the District Court failed to adequately consider the sentencing factors set forth in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a). That argument is unavailing. The District Court calculated the applicable guideline range and found that the range, though advisory, did “a good job of reflecting all of the interests that need to be balanced here,” such as “punishment, deterrence,” and “some sort of recognition on the community’s behalf.” (A92) The District Court was required to do no more. See United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220, 125 S.Ct. 738, 757, 160 L.Ed.2d 621 (2005) (“[The Federal Sentencing Act post-Booker'] requires a sentencing court to consider Guidelines ranges, but it permits the court to tailor the sentence in light of other statutory concerns as well.”).

Appellant argues, next, that in light of the facts of her case, the District Court unreasonably declined to downward depart under § 5K2.0 of the Sentencing Guidelines. Appellant never requested that the District Court do so, restricting her request to a downward departure for substantial assistance under § 5K1.0. Accordingly, the argument is waived.

Finally, appellant argues that the District Court erred when it gave her a four-level adjustment for role in the offense, an adjustment permitted “[i]f the defendant was an organizer or a leader of a criminal activity that involved five or more participants or was otherwise extensive.” U.S.S.G. § 381.1(a). 1 Appellant contends that the government was re-

quired to demonstrate that “she engaged five or more others in interstate travel to promote prostitution or money laundering.” (Appellant’s Br. at 25 (emphasis added)) She does not contend that the government failed to offer proof of the interstate commerce element of 18 U.S.C. § 1952(a)(3), and cites no authority for reading that element into § 3Bl.l(a). Moreover, she “does not dispute ... that five or more people worked at her massage parlors and illegally performed sexual activity.” (Id.) We see no error in the District Court’s conclusion that the four-level adjustment was warranted. 2

The judgment of sentence will be affirmed.

1

. Appellant properly preserved this argument for appeal, and our review is plenary. See United States v. Zats, 298 F.3d 182, 185 (3d Cir. 2002).

2

. We reject appellant’s argument that, post- Booker, the adjustment must be supported by proof beyond a reasonable doubt.

Reference

Full Case Name
UNITED STATES of America v. Christine KEENEY, Appellant
Status
Unpublished