Case Information
*1 Before EDMONDSON and BARKETT, Circuit Judges, and ALARCÓN [*] , Senior Circuit Judge. ALARCÓN, Senior Circuit Judge:
* Honorable Arthur L. Alarcón, Senior U.S. Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit, sitting by designation.
Steven Siegel ("Siegel") was indicted on charges of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, wire fraud, bank fraud, and to launder monetary instruments, all in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371; and money laundering in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1956(a)(1)(A). Siegel pleaded guilty to these charges on July 19, 1996, and, as part of his sentence, was ordered to pay restitution in an amount totaling $1,207,000. Siegel now appeals from the order of restitution, arguing that the district court erred by ordering restitution in an amount which the record showed he was unlikely to be able to pay. We agree, and hold that the Victim and Witness Protection Act of 1982 (the "VWPA"), Pub.L. No. 97-291, 96 Stat. 1248, required the district court to consider Siegel's ability to pay when setting the amount of restitution to be ordered. Noting the disparity between the record evidence on Siegel's financial resources and the amount of restitution ordered by the district court, we vacate the order of restitution and remand for a reconsideration of the amount of restitution in light of Siegel's ability to pay.
I
The provisions for restitution set out in the VWPA were substantially аmended by the Mandatory Victims Restitution Act of 1996 (the "MVRA"), Pub.L. No. 104-132, 110 Stat. 1214, 1229-1236. The MVRA became effective April 24, 1996. Under the MVRA, the district court must order the payment of restitution in the full amount of the victim's loss without considering 1 Siegel also argues on appeal that the district court erred by ordering restitution in the amount of $1,207,000 when the record failed to establish the amount of loss actually suffered. We do not find Siegel's arguments persuasive on this issue, and, having determined that the district court did not err, we dispose of the issue without additional comment. See Eleventh Circuit Rule 36-1.
the defendant's ability to pay. See 18 U.S.C.A. § 3664(f)(1)(A) (West Supp. 1998). Prior to enactment of the MVRA, the district court was required to consider, among other factors, the defendant's ability to pay in fixing the amount of restitution to be made by a defendant. See 18 U.S.C.A. § 3664(a) (West 1985). [3]
Siegel contends that section 3664(f)(1)(A) should not be applied in reviewing the validity of the court's restitution order because to do so would violate the Ex Post Facto Clause of the United States Constitution. See U.S. Const. art. I, § 9, cl. 3. In setting forth the effective date of the MVRA, Congress stated that the amendments to the VWPA "shall, to the extent constitutionally permissible, be effective for sentencing proceedings in cases in which the defendant is convicted on or after the date of enactment of this Act [Apr. 24, 1996]." Pub.L. No. 104-132, § 211. The crimes alleged in the indictment occurred between February 1, 1988 and May 1, 1990. Siegel entered a guilty plea to two counts of the indictment on July 19, 1996. He was sentenced on March 7, 1997. Thus, the plea and sentencing proceedings occurred after the effective date of the statute eliminating the requirement that the court consider the financial needs and earning ability of the defendant in fashioning a restitution order. We must decide whether 2 Section 3664(f)(1)(A) states in pertinent part: "[I]n each order of restitution, the court shall order restitution to each victim in the full amount of each victim's losses as determined by the court and without consideration of the economic circumstances of the defendant." 18 U.S.C.A. § 3664(f)(1)(A) (West Supp. 1998). 3 Former section 3664(a) stated in pertinent part: "The court, in determining . . . the amount of . . . restitution, shall consider the amount of the loss sustained by any victim . . . the financiаl resources of the defendant, the financial needs and earning ability of the defendant . . . and such other factors as the court deems appropriate." 18 U.S.C.A. § 3664(a) (West 1985).
application of section 3664(f)(1)(A) to a crime committed before the effective date of the MVRA is constitutionally permissible.
The United States Constitution provides that "[n]o Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law
shall be passed" by Congress. U.S. Const. art. I, § 9, cl. 3. A law violates the Ex Post Facto
Clause if it "`appli[es] to events occurring before its enactment . . . [and] disadvantage[s] the
offender affected by it' by altering the definition of criminal conduct or increasing the punishment
for the crime." Lynce v. Mathis,
29 (1981)). The criminal conduct to which Siegel pleaded guilty occurred prior to the effective date of the MVRA. If the MVRA has increased the quantum of the punishment that may be imposed upon a person convicted of an offense defined in section 3663A(c)(1), it cannot be applied to Siegel. In resolving this question, we must first consider whether a restitution order is punishment under the MVRA.
4 Section 3663A(c)(1) states in pertinent part:
This section shall apply in all sеntencing proceedings for convictions of, or plea agreements relating to charges for, any offense --
(A) that is --
(i) a crime of violence, as defined in section 16; (ii) an offense against property under this title, including any offense committed by fraud or deceit; or
(iii) an offense described in section 1365 (relating to tampering with consumer products); and (B) in which an identifiable victim or victims has suffered a physical injury or pecuniary loss.
Section 3663A(a)(1) of Title 18 expressly describes restitution as a penalty under
§ 3664(f)(1)(A). See 18 U.S.C. § 3663A(a)(1) (West Supp. 1998) ("the сourt shall order, in
addition to . . . any other penalty authorized by law, that the defendant make restitution").
Although not in the context of an ex post facto determination, this court has noted that restitution
is a "criminal penalty meant to have strong deterrent and rehabilitative effect." United States v.
Twitty,
We must next consider whether the imposition of restitution under the MVRA is an
increased penalty as prohibited by the Ex Post Facto Clause. In Lindsey v. Washington, 301 U.S.
397,
[T]he ex post facto clause looks to the standard of punishment prescribed by a statute, rather than to the sentence actually imposed. . . . [A]n increase in the possible penalty is ex post facto, regardless of the length of the sentence actually imposed, since the measure of punishment prescribed by the later statute is more severe than that of the earlier.
Id. at 799 (citations omitted).
Prior to the enactment of the MVRA, the district courts had the discretion to order "that
the defendant make restitution to any victim of the offense." 18 U.S.C.A. § 3663 (West 1985).
[5]
See United States v. Williams,
Under the MVRA, an award of restitution is no longer discretionary. See 18 U.S.C.A. § 3663A(a)(1) (West Supp. 1998). The district court must order restitution in the full amount of each victim's losses without consideration of the defendant's economic circumstances. See 18 U.S.C.A. § 3664(f)(1)(A) (West Supp. 1998). The effect of the MVRA can be detrimental to a defendant. Previously, after considering the defendant's financial condition, the court had the 5 Section 3663(a)(1) stated in pertinent part: "The cоurt, when sentencing a defendant convicted of an offense under this title . . . may order, in addition to or in lieu of any other penalty authorized by law, that the defendant make restitution to any victim of the offense." 18 U.S.C.A. § 3663(a)(1) (West 1985).
6 Section 3663A(a)(1) states in pertinent part: "Notwithstanding any other provision of law, when sentencing a defendant convicted of an offense described in subsection (c), the court shall order, in addition to or in lieu of, any other penalty authorized by law, that the defendant make restitution to the victim of the offense. . . ." 18 U.S.C.A. § 3663A(a)(1) (West Suрp. 1998).
discretion to order restitution in an amount less than the loss sustained by the victim. Under the MVRA, however, the court must order restitution to each victim in the full amount.
In United States v. Baggett,
But under the old version of the VWPA, the procedure is reversed: the court must first consider the defendant's financial circumstances before setting the amount of restitution to be paid. 18 U.S.C. § 3664(a) (1995).
At the time appellants were sentenced, the amended VWPA thus had the potential to increase the amount of restitution they would have to pay, from an amount set by the сourt by taking into account appellants' financial circumstances, to full restitution. Accordingly, if the court determines that the VWPA should apply to this case, it must use the old version to avoid running afoul of the Ex Post Facto Clause. See United States v. Thompson,113 F.3d 13 , 15 n.1 (2d Cir. 1997) (dictum).
Baggett,
We are persuaded by the analysis adopted in the majority of the circuits on this issue.
We believe that the Seventh Circuit's view of restitution in Nеwman ,
II
Siegel asserts that the district court abused its discretion in ordering restitution to the
victims in the amount of $1,207,000.00 where the undisputed facts set forth in the presentence
report ("PSR") demonstrate thаt he is unable to pay the amount of restitution ordered by the
court presently or in the future. The district court adopted the probation officer's recitation of the
facts in fashioning the restitution order. The validity of a restitution order is reviewed for abuse
of discretion. See United States v. Blaik,
The Government contends that Siegel did not object to the amount of the restitution order. It maintains that Siegel's failure to object to the order of restitution compels this court to review it for plain error. The Government offers several arguments in support of its contention that Siegel failed to object to the amount of the restitution order. During oral argument, the Government suggested for the first time that, as a matter of fairness, Siegel's failure to file a written objection to the probation officer's report on the ability-to-pay issue, as required by the local rules of the district court, precluded Siegel from raising the issue at the sentencing hearing. The Government 7 General Rule 88.8 of the Local Rules of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida ("General Rule 88.8") states in pertinent part: "Within fourteen (14) days of *9 asserts that Siegel's failure to challenge the PSR on this basis hampered its ability to present evidence to demonstrate that Siegel has the ability to pay restitution in the full amount of the victims' losses. Second, the Government argues in its responsive brief to this court that Siegel failed to meet the statutorily imposed burden of persuasion on the question whether he had the ability to pay restitution in the full amount of the loss suffered by the victims. Third, the Government asserts that defense counsel's objection fоllowing the imposition of sentence by the district court was in relation to the restitution order's impact on Siegel's release date, not on his financial inability to pay restitution in the amount of $1,207,000. Lastly, the Government maintains that even if the objection was sufficient to preserve the issue for appeal, it was withdrawn when defense counsel said "All right," and then failed to re-assert the objection at the conclusion of the sentencing procedure. We disagree with the Government's arguments and address each in turn.
The Government's contеntion that Siegel failed to comply with the local rules is not apposite. In the PSR, the probation officer informed the court that "[g]iven the defendant's current financial condition, it does not appear he has the ability to pay a fine." The Government did not contest this finding. While the probation officer also stated that "the court may wish to order restitution in this case," the probation officer did not find that Siegel had the present or future ability to satisfy an order of restitution for the total amount of the loss suffered by the victims. Because the probation officer made no finding that Siegel had the financial ability to pay receipt of the report, counsel for the defendant and the government must communicate any objections, in writing, to each other and to the probation officer." S.D. Fla. L.R., General Rule 88.8.
restitution in any amount, the PSR did not contain an adverse finding regarding Siegel's financial ability to pay restitution. Siegel had no reason to object to the PSR on the ability-to-pay issue because he believed the findings accurately reflected his finanсial circumstances. Furthermore, at the time the probation office filed the PSR with the court, there were no grounds to object to a disparity between Siegel's ability to pay and the amount of restitution ordered since no restitution order had been imposed.
The Government's argument that Siegel failed to meet his burden of persuasion that he did
not have the financial resources or earning capacity to pay $1,207,000 is devoid of merit. The
Government correctly observes that a defendant has the burden of persuading the district court by
a preponderance of the evidence that he does not have the ability to pay restitution for the full
amount of the victims' losses. See 18 U.S.C.A. § 3664(d) (West 1985). In United States v.
Fuentes,
court finds that the defendant more likely than not will be unable to pay full restitution. Id. at 1531.
Here, the PSR showed that Siegel's liabilities were greater than his assets, his current income was minimal, and his future earning capacity was limited by the fact that he suffers from a congenital spinal defect. This undisputed evidence was sufficient to demonstrate that Siegel no longer had access to the fruits of his crime at the time of sentencing, and satisfied his burden of persuading the court that he did not have the financial ability or future earning capacity to pay the full amount of the loss to the victims. The Government failed to produce any evidence to demonstrate that the facts set forth in the PSR were not credible.
Siegel maintains that at the sentencing hearing, he objected to both "the amount of restitution ordered as well as Mr. Siegel's inability to pay that restitution." Appellant's Brief at 4. The Government argues that the objection made by defense counsel at the sentencing hearing was not in regards to the restitution order itself, but rather to its effect on Siegel's release date.
The court pronounced sentence on March 7, 1997. After hearing argument from counsel, the court announced for the first time that it would adopt "the factual findings and guidelines application in the presentence report." With respect to the loss suffered by the victims, the court stated: "The Court finds that the Defendant is not able to pay a fine and also make restitution in this case; therefore no fine will be imposed in this case. The Court will order the Defendant, howеver, to make restitution to the victims of these crimes." In ordering Siegel to pay $1,207,000, the district court made no finding concerning Siegel's financial ability to pay restitution in any amount.
Following the court's pronouncement of its sentencing decision, Siegel's counsel stated:
"Your honor, I'm concerned about the order of restitution. I know my client has nowhere near
those kind of monies to pay back, and I'm concerned that that would have some sort of an adverse
effect on his release date. I know he doesn't have a million dоllars." (emphasis added) In
response to this contention, the court commented: "Well, he can pay what he can pay, just like the
rest of us in this life." The court did not find that Siegel had the ability to pay the full amount of
the loss to the victims. In Fuentes, we held that a court abuses its discretion when it orders full
restitution in the face of an implied finding that "the defendant more likely than not will be unable
to pay full restitution."
Following this colloquy, the district court inquired of counsel whether they had any objections to the court's findings of facts and conclusions of law, or tо the manner in which the sentence was pronounced. Defense counsel replied: "Your honor, I would like to reserve my objections."
The court responded: "All right. What objections have you, sir?" Siegel's counsel responded: "The objections to the role in the offense. The dollar amount, also, your Honor, I would like to reserve my objections to the dollar amount." The court then stated: "The Defendant's renewed objections made at the conclusion of the sentencing hearing will be overruled."
In United States v. Fox,
The objection made by defense counsel at the sentencing hearing adequately raised the
issue of a disparity between the amount of restitution ordered and the undisputed facts set forth in
the PSR suggesting that Siegel may not have the financial ability or earning capacity to pay
restitution in the amount of $1,207,000. In United States v. Weir,
The Governmеnt maintains, however, that even if the objection was sufficient to preserve the issue for appeal, it was withdrawn. Without citation to any authority, the Government argues:
Even assuming, arguendo, that appellant can be construed to have objected to the order of restitution, when he expressed his concern regarding the ability [sic] it might have on his client's release, he withdrew the objection when he stated "All right", in response to Judge Gonzalez' response that appellant "can pay what he can pay." (Government's Br. аt 12) (emphasis added).
A lawyer's professional and courteous submission to a trial court's authority to make a final
ruling on a contested issue should not be construed as a withdrawal of an objection. See, e.g. ,
Guam v. Marquez ,
Because we conclude that Siegel made a proper objection before the district court on the
issue of the disparity between the amount of restitution ordered and the record evidence on his
ability to pay, we review the validity of the restitution order for abuse of discretion. See
Remillong,
III
In Remillong, this court held that "we will not uphold the district court's exercise of
discretion if the record is devoid of any evidence that the defendant is able to satisfy the
restitution order." Id. (quoting United States v. Patty,
In Fox ,
Here, the only evidence in the record regarding Siegel's financial ability to pay the
restitution was the PSR findings adopted by the district court. The PSR showed, however, that
Siegel had no assets and that he had debts in the amount of $7,500. Siegel's income varied
between $400 and $1,000 a month. His expenses totaled $250 per month. The PSR also
acknowledged that Siegel was born with spina bifida, a congenital defect which Siegel argues
limits his future earning capacity. Thus, the record does not support a finding that Siegel likely
will be able to pay $1,207,000 in restitutiоn. Additionally, as was the case in Remillong, the
PSR concluded that "it does not appear he has the ability to pay a fine." See Remillong, 55 F.3d
at 575 ("The PSR, which Judge Sharp adopted at sentencing, states that `it does not appear that
[Remillong] has the ability to pay a fine.'"). Furthermore, as in Remillong, no evidence was
presented by the Government showing Siegel's ability to pay the amount of restitution ordered
within the statutory period. See id. Assuming that Siegel made periodic payments of $750 per
*16
month ($1000 in income -$250 in expenses = $750) he would havе to pay that amount for more
than 130 years to comply with the court's order. In Fuentes, this court stated: "The sentencing
court must fashion a restitution order so that the defendant reasonably will be able to comply
with the order within the statutorily mandated time period." Fuentes,
Despite the uncontroverted evidence in the record showing Siegel's inability to pay, the
court ordered restitution in the full amount of the victims' losses. Given the disparity between the
amount of restitution ordered and the evidence in the record demonstrating Siegel's inability to
pay that amount, we conclude that "it is not improbable that the judge failed to consider the
mandatory factor and was influenced thereby." See Remillong,
(1) Thе court may require that such defendant make restitution under this section within a specified period or in specified installments.
(2) The end of such period or the last such installment shall not be later than --
(A) the end of the period of probation, if probation is ordered; (B) five years after the end of the term of imprisonment imposed, if the court does not order probation; and
(C) five years after the date of sentencing in any other case. (3) If not otherwise provided for by the court under this subsection, restitution shall be made immediately.
18 U.S.C.A. § 3663(f) (West 1985). *17 vacate the court's order that Siegel pay restitution in the full amount of the victims' losses. Upon remand, the district court is directed to consider Siegel's financial resources, financial needs, and earning ability in fixing the amount of restitution that he must pay. In deciding the amount of restitution Siegel must pay, the district court should also require Siegel to account for the approximately $200,000 he obtained from the victims of his crimes. If the court finds that any of this money remains in Siegel's control, it should be considered in any award of restitution to the victims.
The sentencing order is VACATED and REMANDED with directions.
