U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, 2005

United States v. Debellotte

United States v. Debellotte
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit · Decided August 30, 2005 · Traxler, Shedd, Hamilton
142 F. App'x 183

United States v. Debellotte

Opinion

PER CURIAM:

Kenneth R. Debellotte appeals the twenty-one-month sentence imposed by the district court after Debellotte pled guilty to wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C.A. § 1343 (West Supp. 2005). Debellotte contends that the district court erred by enhancing his sentence under U.S. Sentencing Guidelines Manual § 2B1.1(b)(8)(B) (2003). We affirm.

The district court applied a two-level enhancement under USSG § 2B1.1(b)(8)(B) on the ground that a substantial part of the fraud scheme was committed outside the United States. Debellotte argues that the enhancement was inappropriate under United States v. Booker, — U.S.-, 125 S.Ct. 738, 160 L.Ed.2d 621 (2005). Excluding the two-level enhancement under § 2B1.1(b)(8)(B) and without considering the three-level downward adjustment for acceptance of responsibility, see United States v. Evans, 416 F.3d 298, 300 & n. 4 (4th Cir. 2005), Debellotte’s offense level would have been 17. With a criminal history category of I, Debellotte’s guideline range would have been twenty-four to thirty months. USSG Ch. 5, Pt. A (Sentencing Table). Because Debellotte’s twenty-one month sentence is *184 below this range, we find that no Sixth Amendment error occurred. Moreover, Debellotte’s challenge to the applicability of the enhancement in determining his guideline range is without merit because the record makes clear that the enhancement was appropriate.

For these reasons, we affirm Debellotte’s conviction and sentence. We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before the court and argument would not aid the decisional process.

AFFIRMED

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