United States of America, Appellee-Cross-Appellant v. David Rosse, Defendant-Appellant-Cross-AppelleeUnited States of America, Appellee-Cross-Appellant v. David Rosse, Defendant-Appellant-Cross-Appellee
Defendant-appellant-cross-appellee David Rosse appeals from a judgment of the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut (Ellen Bree Burns, Judge), following his guilty plea to a one-
Rosse claims that the District Court did not understand that it had discretion to depart downward based upon Rosse’s conditions of confinement. Rosse, who had entered into a cooperation agreement with the Government, had been released on bond following his guilty plea, but the District Court revoked his bond when he made false statements during his cooperation. Thereafter, Rosse was imprisoned in a series of correctional facilities for two years prior to his sentencing. At sentencing, Rosse alleged that, during these two years, he received neither medication for his back pain nor food suitable for his vegetarian diet. After evidentiary hearings, the District Court decided not to depart downward.
“A district court’s decision not to depart downward from the sentencing guidelines is within the court’s discretion and generally unreviewable on appeal.”
United States v. Miller,
The Government, on its cross-appeal, contends that the District Court erred in determining Rosse’s base offense level because the court reasoned that a conviction for money laundering, rather than a RICO conspiracy conviction involving money-laundering, was necessary for a base offense level of 23. We review the District Court’s legal interpretation and construction of the Sentencing Guidelines
de novo. See United States v. Hidalgo-Macias,
The Government urges us to apply Sentencing Guidelines § 2Sl.l(a)(l), whereas Rosse asks us to affirm the sentencing court’s application of § 2Sl.l(a)(2). At issue is the meaning of the phrase “if convicted under 18 U.S.C. § 1956(a)(1)(A), (a)(2)(A), or (a)(3)(A).” The Government argues, and Rosse concedes, that the term “convicted” does not require a defendant to have been “convicted” of one of the substantive money laundering promotion offenses enumerated in § 2S1.1(a)(1): “An express direction to apply a particular factor only if the defendant was convicted of a
The Government argues that although Rosse was convicted of a RICO conspiracy under 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d), his base offense level should be calculated as if he were “convicted under 18 U.S.C. § 1956(a)(1)(A), (a)(2)(A) or (a)(3)(A).” These three statutory subsections deal with the promotion of money laundering. Nevertheless, the language of Commentary No. 6 of § 1B1.3 only expands the definition of conviction “in respect to that particular statute.” Here, Rosse’s conviction was based on the substantive offense of participation in a RICO conspiracy, 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d), not “conspiracy, attempt, solicitation, aiding or abetting, accessory after the fact, or misprision of felony” in respect to 18 U.S.C. § 1956(a)(1)(A), (a)(2)(A) or (a)(3)(A).
Cf. United States v. Ruggiero,
Finally, we agree with the Government that the District Court erred in stating that Rosse’s argument was “apparently confirmed by the Sentencing Commission itself,” when such “confirmation” came from a Commission helpline operator. The Sentencing Commission’s telephone helpline ((202) 502-4545) specifically warns callers that its suggestions “do not necessarily represent the official position of the Commission” and are not “definitive” or “binding” on any court. In light of our own de novo review of Rosse’s sentence, however, we find such error to be harmless.
Accordingly, we affirm the District Court’s judgment.
Notes
. The charged offense concluded in May 1999. Thus, because of ex post facto issues in this case, the District Court applied—and the parties do not contest—the Sentencing Guidelines in effect at the time of the offense. See U.S.S.G. § 1B1.11(b)(1).