U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, 2009

United States v. Sandra Buckeridge

United States v. Sandra Buckeridge
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit · Decided June 1, 2009 · Barry, Hardiman, Cowen
326 F. App'x 72

United States v. Sandra Buckeridge

Opinion

OPINION OF THE COURT

HARDIMAN, Circuit Judge.

Sandra Buckeridge appeals her conviction for aggravated identity theft in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1028A(a)(l) (Count IV). Buckeridge argues that § 1028A(a)(l) requires that the Government prove beyond a reasonable doubt that she knew the documents she used in committing her underlying felony belonged to an actual person. This issue, which was the subject of a difference of opinion among the United States Courts of Appeals, was resolved by the Supreme Court in Flores-Figueroa v. United States, — U.S. —, 129 S.Ct. 1886, 173 L.Ed.2d 853 (2009). In Flores-Figueroa, the Court held that the Government must show that the defendant knew that the means of identification he used belonged to another person in order to prove aggravated identity theft. Id. at 1888. Because the Government made no effort to prove that Buckeridge had such knowledge, it has rightly conceded in its supplemental brief that Buckeridge’s conviction for aggravated identity theft must be vacated. Accordingly, we will vacate Buckeridge’s conviction on Count IV and remand for resentencing.

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