*2 PIERSOL, District Judge. pleading guilty After to mail fraud and taxes, pay failure to over federal Defen- Appellant Angela Smiley dant and originally im- sentenced 36 months of prisonment. days Seven after originally sentenced the Government moved to contending vacate her improperly failed to iden- tify for United States Probation an inter- holding est she was a condominium in Florida. The district court vacated the eventually sentence and sentenced seventy-two imprison- months of ment and ordered restitution $674,691.41. appeal Smiley amount of On Piersol, Dakota, sitting by designation. 1. The Honorable L. Lawrence Judge States District for the District of South by signing lacked the Statements as well as releases the district court contends that concerning financial information. authority to vacate her sentence Smiley also chal- resentence her. Prior the Government *3 of restitution ordered lenges the amount 3664(d)(5) pursuant moved to 18 U.S.C. court. We reverse the dis- by the district to extend the date for final determination Smiley’s origi- vacating order trict court’s restitution to no that days of later and the district court’s resen- nal sentence following sentencing date. The district Smiley affirm the district tencing granted January of but court this motion. On 2007, Smiley appeared for with court’s order of restitution. objections
no to the factual statements or Background I. application sentencing guidelines of to the presentence report. facts in the The dis- Smiley Appellant Angela and Defendant trict court found total offense level of 20 Payroll president of American history category and a criminal of with (APS). offered Service APS business range an incarceration to 41 of 33 months. payroll payroll and tax services clients Smiley The district court sentenced con- of preparation which included the IRS current terms 36 months. of the transmission of federal tax forms and 26, 2007, January On a week after the Smiley’s At direction APS draft- deposits. original sentencing, the Government filed a directly ed funds from its business clients’ Smiley’s motion to vacate sentence. In the purpose paying of its bank accounts for motion to vacate the Government contend- liabilities, federal tax APS business clients’ Smiley ed that when was interviewed pay numerous occasions failed to but on 16, 2006, Smiley Probation on November federal tax liabilities. Instead the clients’ failed to disclose an interest she held in a IRS, Smiley the funds to the forwarding of condominium2 in Florida. The Govern- pay employees’ used the funds to APS’ that a notice of ment further asserted fore- payroll operating expenses, pay and and to property closure had been served on this husband, salary pay her her own and 26, 2006, that a on October and foreclosure Smiley an employee. who was not APS 12, 2007, February for sale was scheduled made numerous false statements to APS Smiley pay her husband fail to should clients to conceal and further her business off the loan balance time. scheme. addition, represented that the motion Smi- 1, 2006, Smiley November waived On $44,000 membership ley purchased guilty to a two- pleaded indictment and golf in a club in with the condo- connection count information for mail fraud and fail- minium. It later revealed that pay ure to over federal taxes for the time membership golf club was terminat- it payments ed there were no made on January through September frame of of 2006. after October agreement recommended plea 2004. The plea a final level of 20. The total offense 26, 2007, the date that January On same required Smiley also to truth- agreement filed, the district the motion to vacate was fully complete information to the provide Vacating an Sentence. court entered Order (Probation) Probation office vacating United States The order the sentence refer- R. Cr. P. Flow enced clear error under by completing Net Worth and Cash 35(a) provides: days Agent 3. Fed. R. Cr. P. "Within Special 2. A with the Internal Revenue Service, Division, may sentencing, Criminal later testified correct a sen- after the court arithmetical, was a time share. the condominium from techni- tence resulted that she and her husband held later testified cal, or other clear error.” property. one-eighth fractional interest in the vacating Smiley’s original nancial to a in which as the basis Statements bank required Smiley also sentence. This order asserted individual net worth and accurate statement provide $2,574,000. 9, 2007, true April of On the dis- to the States Proba- of her assets enjoined Smiley, trict court and her hus- prepare a tion Office and for Probation to band, mother, father and father-in-law Report. Investigation revised Presentence affecting availability from or value of Smiley’s individually jointly-held or prop- dis- subsequent After made the erty property, seeking or marital without assets, the Government chal- closure prior approval from the district court. accuracy lenged completeness Smiley’s The district court also revoked information, and the *4 finding Smiley bond after that had misled fur- granted the Government’s motion for 2007, February 23, regard Probation with finding. ther fact On existence 1) 27, 2007, the district court ordered Probation to: April and location of assets. On inventory appraisal obtain an and of Smi- the district court ordered Probation to ley’s personal possession, including home storage search a container rented Smi- furnishings and vehicles owned ti- and/or ley and her report husband and to 2) Smiley; tled to obtain valuation of Smi- storage contents of the container to the 3) ley’s companies; husband’s a obtain 20, 2007, July On Court. years minimum of two of bank statements appraisal Smiley’s court ordered an every personal from each and and business personal residence. 4) husband; Smiley account of and her 14, 2007, July Smiley On to va- moved a listing obtain detailed of assets trans- cate sentencing hearing which was by Smiley ferred her husband from and/or 16, 2007, July ground scheduled for on the appearance the date of her initial of No- jurisdiction that the district court lacked 1, vember proceed seven-day period since the to cor- 15, 2007, Government, On March in rect a forth in sentence set Fed. R. Cr. P. injunction seeking pursuant to the All expired. 23, 2007, August On the Act, 1651(a), Writs 28 U.S.C. contended hearing on the motion to vacate the sen- Monthly that the three Net Worth and tencing hearing the district court clarified Flow completed by Cash Statements Smi- that it proceeding was not under R. ley on November and those P. proceeding but had been on the Cr. completed original sentencing after inherent of the court to determine accurately failed to and completely dis- whether fraud had been committed on the close assets. alleged The Government court at the time of the that in conducting inventory Probation its any and intended to vacate sentence if Smiley of the home located undisclosed such fraud had been committed. including assets a 1969 classic GTO vehi- Smiley appeared for resentencing on inventory cle.4 The also located financial August August 28 and 2007. The dis- documents from the summer of 2006 indi- trict court proceed- announced that it was cating Smiley that had transferred more ing authority “under the $851,000 Court’s inherent than satisfy stocks to bank debts, to determine whether or not the transferring contract a business Smiley’s Smiley’s imposed from father-in-law to sentence on Ms.
husband,
and April
product
2006 Personal Fi-
of fraud on the court.” The district
ley’s
4. The
many years.
was titled in the name of Smi-
vehicle
husband for
ley’s
father-in-law but had been used
Smi-
“failed to disclose
The district court resentenced Smiley
court found
any
based on
total offense level of
any
things
number of
number of
as
opposed to the offense level of 20 which
to Probation. The
financial statements”
applied
original sentencing,
at the
you
court stated: “Can I tell
resentenced
to Guidelines sen-
if I
what I would do then
knew
percent
tence of 72
imprisonment.
months of
January
I
everything today
knew on
19?
district court also ordered restitution in
crystal
No one can take
ball and
$674,691.41.
the amount of
it. But
I’ll be honest.
I
reconstruct
struggled
guideline
with whether a below
”
II. Discussion
appropriate....
origi-
sentence was
report
presentence
Smiley’s
nal
listed
net
Judgments
The Power to Vacate
Procured
$404,830,
presen-
and the final
worth
by Fraud
-
report
tence
listed her net worth as
Smiley contends that the district court
$55,387. The district court stated on the
in concluding
erred
that “fraud on the
August
resentencing
record at the
gave
court”
the district court an indepen-
fraud had been committed on the
jurisdictional
dent
basis to resentence her.
*5
totality
court based on the
of the circum-
States,
Smiley relies on Carlisle v. United
stances,
including
which he found as
Smi-
416, 426,
1460,
517 U.S.
116 S.Ct.
134
ley lying
being separated
about
from her
(1996),
L.Ed.2d
support
613
for her
pro-
husband and her husband’s failure to
position that
power
there is no inherent
of
information,5 failing
financial
to dis-
vide
the district courts to act in contravention
property,
inflating
the Florida
close
7-day
of the
time limit to correct a sen-
they
in
value of her assets when
were
tence that
in Fed.
is set forth
R. Cr. P. 35.
foreclosure,
failing
judg-
to disclose
Russell,
Smiley also relies on Bowles v.
ments of almost two million dollars that
2360,
551 U.S.
127
168
S.Ct.
L.Ed.2d
against Smiley
entered
or her busi-
were
(2007),6
96
proposition
for the
that
January
in
of 2007. The district
ness
authority
possess
federal courts
“no
to cre-
although Smiley’s
court stated that
con-
jurisdictional
equitable exceptions
ate
duct after the initial
was not
requirements.” Smiley cites to decisions
fraud,
relevant to the determination of
jurisdiction-
which hold that Rule 35 sets a
limit,
judging
this conduct was relevant in
Smi-
al time
which cannot
extended.
be
ley’s credibility. The district court dis-
Higgs,
v.
sentence,
jurisdic-
holding
court has no
vance” to its
was the inherent
district
if
power
tion to alter a
even
the sen-
of federal courts to vacate their own
See
that a
legally
judgments upon proof
tence was
erroneous.
fraud has
597(8th
Austin,
perpetrated upon
States
been
the court. The
Fed. R.
Cir.2000)(interpreting former
quoted
Court
Hazel-Atlas Glass Co. v.
Cr.
35(c)
in
R.
Co.,
P.
which is now set forth
Hartford-Empire
322 U.S.
245-
Fed.
35(a)).
P.
(1944),
L.Ed. 1250
in
64 S.Ct.
Cr.
“
recognizing
power
equity
‘historic
States,
In Carlisle v. United
the Su-
fraudulently begotten judg
to set aside
that a
court did
preme Court held
”
integrity
ments’
in order to maintain the
authority
grant
not have the
a defen-
safeguard
public.
of the courts and
untimely
dant’s
motion for
also
recognized
Court
Chambers
acquittal.
Supreme
Court reasoned
power to
an independent
court’s
conduct
7-day
that R. Cr. P. 29 with its
time
investigation
determining
it
whether
has
unambiguous
limit was
and that
plain
been the victim of fraud. 501
at
U.S.
authority
grant
court
the district
had no
However,
S.Ct. 2123.
the Court
untimely
judg-
motion
postverdict
also
Chambers
admonished
because of
acquittal.
rejected
ment of
The Court
potency
powers
pow
of inherent
these
argument
defendant’s
ers must be exercised with restraint and
within
super-
acted
its “inherent
discretion. Id.
visory power” so as to “circumvent or con-
flict with the Federal Rules of Criminal
challenges Smiley’s
The Government
425-25,
Procedure.”
In Chambers v.
501 U.S.
In
(1991),
United States
111 S.Ct.
relied case, ju- Washington at hand. In the tioned “whether the district court has him- repeatedly misrepresented defendant risdiction to resentence defendant Gregg,” misrep- and the self as “Kennard statutory authority absence of to do so.” not disclosed until after Fincher, resentation was United States v. 538 F.3d correcting the time for a sentence had 35(a). R. P. passed under Fed. Based Cr. We need not and will not deter misrepresentation, “Gregg’s” this crimi- on mine in this case whether a district court two and the total history category nal historically recognized pow inherent has a nine, yielding level a Sentenc- offense criminal judgments procured er to vacate range of six to twelve ing Guidelines power fraud or whether such has been Washington misrepre- months. Had not abrogated by Congress, even if because identity and had his criminal sented his any power misrep this inherent still exists history properly using been calculated his resentations made in this case would not record, history criminal category true his justify vacating power the sentence. The would have been four and his offense level judgments procured by to vacate fraud nine, yielding range Guidelines of twelve must be exercised with restrain and dis court eighteen months. district cretion, see Chambers 501 U.S. at vacating an order its issued sen- 2123, and S.Ct. with consideration of the directing resentencing tence and on based long general prohibits established rule that upon fraud the court. The Third Circuit setting judg the alteration or aside of instructing issued writ of mandamus expiration ments after the of the term vacating district court to vacate its order judgments finally when such were entered. sentence. See Hazel-Atlas Co. v. Glass Hartford- Washington, In the Third held Circuit Co., Empire at U.S. S.Ct. may modify that a district court its own It must be shown clear and convincing only specific criminal sentence under stat- evidence that there was fraud on the court utory circumstances set forth in R. with all being doubts resolved favor of 35(a) 3582(c). Cr. P. and 18 U.S.C. finality judgment. of a Bulloch v. Third further that a Circuit held (10th States, power sponte court lacks inherent sua Cir.1985). addition, necessary it is
vacate its own criminal sentence based on alleged misrep examine the nature of the upon fraud court. The Third Circuit impetus vacating resentation that is the might reasoned that “to the extent there judgment procured by fraud. at point have one been inherent vacate a [to criminal sentence justi Fraud on court which *8 court], upon on fraud pow- based the such vacating judgment narrowly fies is de by abrogated Congress pursuant er was to fined as “fraud which is directed to the 3582(c) § and Federal Rule of Criminal judicial machinery itself and is not fraud 35(a).” Procedure 549 F.3d 2008 WL parties between the or fraudulent docu at 5173327 *8. ments, perjury.” false statements or Bul 1121; also, loch at see United States v. Recently, this to asked re- Buck, 281 F.3d mand a the case so district court could The standard for fraud on the court in the imposed vacate the sentence it based on a exercising context of the court misrepresentations defendant’s its inherent and so the powers principles district court could resentence the under the of defen- Hazel-At during pendency dant the of appeal. higher his las Glass is and distinct the from obviously standard for fraud under well as the general more chaotic state of Smi- 60(b)(3). ley’s A fraud finding of finances reveals the unlikelihood of Fed.R.Civ.P. justi Smiley “is paying on the court under this standard restitution though even by egregious miscon only fied the most overstated her net worth. itself, the court such as duct directed to After Counsel at the bribery judge jury or or of of fabrication hearing advised the district court ” by City counsel.... evidence Greiner Smiley was repaying every committed to (8th Champlin, 152 F.3d of victims, dime to her the district court Cir.1998)(quoting Landscape Properties, so, asked if there a plan doing (8th Vogel, Inc. V. counsel advised that Smiley intended to Cir.1995)). arising Rules from the inher work and that position she was to powers ent of the courts have evolved liquidate assets and secure additional narrow, exceedingly require and to become loans. The district justifiably court was power to set aside a troubled about that misrepresentation. upon based fraud on the court involve the Smiley’s sentencing memorandum, howev- actually being by court deceived the mis er, Smiley’s service, focused on community Anchen, representation. Joseph See J. family commitment to and unlikelihood of Broader is Better: The Inherent Powers of recidivism, not the ability or intention to Courts, Federal 64 N.Y.U. Ann. Surv. Am. restitution, make as the basis for a vari- (2008). L., 37, 69 ance. In her allocution at sentencing Smiley made no reference to anything we do not condone While making Significantly, restitution. as was full less than disclosure for defendants noted, previously the district court sen- submitting financial forms as required tenced near the middle of the Guidelines 3664(d)(3),7 § 18 U.S.C. we do not believe range and grant request did not for a prior that the nondisclosures that occurred variance. original sentencing Smiley’s case Also, egregious constitute the “most miscon the record does not support vacating duct” so that the value of convincing clear and evidence the finding outweighed general principle Smiley misrepresented sentence the relation- supporting finality judgments. fail ship with her husband since the record ure report the fractional inter that Smiley’s establishes con- husband property presentence est Florida that was firmed sub with writer that he ject to foreclosure proceedings separated as well as and his wife had been for a time. addition, report judgments against failure to her the husband testified he had did not influence the uncooperative district court to sen been with in provid- tence Sentencing ing outside the Guidelines.8 financial information to Probation. As- equity suming debt versus information set deciding without that the district original presentence forth report had the inherent to set aside 3664(d)(3) provides: 7. 18 U.S.C. requires relating tion that the court to such appropri- other factors as the court prepare Each defendant deems shall and file probation fully with the officer an affidavit ate. *9 describing the financial resources of the defendant, including complete listing of The financial condition of did not by impact all assets owned or controlled the defen- the restitution that was owed under dant as of the date on which the defendant Mandatory the Victims Restitution Act since arrested, the financial needs and earn- mandatory. restitution is See United States v. ing ability the of defendant and the defen- Miller, (8th Cir.2005). 419 F.3d 794 dependents, dant’s and such other informa- 1146 tion, an and there is no clear error in the original
the it was still abuse original the sen- of discretion to vacate district court’s determination of the heightened the standard tence since amount of restitution. court was not met
fraud on the in.this vacating original the sen- case. The order III. Conclusion sentence of sev- subsequent tence and the if a We conclude even district enty-two imprisonment of are re- months historically possesses recognized inher- is remanded with versed and the matter judgment ent to vacate criminal original to reinstate the sen- instruction fraud, by in procured conduct issue tence. which before the occurred sen- Disputed Restitution Amounts in tencing this case does not fall within the to the restitution Smiley stipulated upon narrow definition of “fraud the court” amounts owed to all but seven victims. which to vacate a required judgment. is government contends vacating We reverse the order by a of evi prove preponderance failed to subsequent judgment sentence and the disputed restitution amounts for dence seventy-two months these seven victims and claims that imprisonment, affirm but Inspector regarding Postal who testified court’s order of restitution. accepted the restitution owed these victims they the amounts these victims stated COLLOTON, Judge, concurring Circuit conducting indepen were owed without judgment. investigation of the amounts dent owed. assuming Even that a district court en- government has the burden of joys in power, inherent cases of fraud on proving pre the restitution amount court, in judgment to vacate a a crimi- ponderance of evidence. United nal case outside the limits established (8th Young, v. 272 States F.3d 3582(c) 18 U.S.C. and Federal Rule of Cir.2001). review for clear error the We 35(b), Criminal Procedure the court ex- court’s determination plains that “fraud on the court” must be amount of restitution. United States v. “narrowly defined as ‘fraud which is di- Fogg, 409 F.3d judicial machinery rected to the itself and transcript July of the 2007 restitu parties is not fraud between the or fraudu- hearing tion reveals that when the Postal documents, lent perju- false statements or Inspector interviewed victims issue ” Ante, ry.’ (quoting at 1144 v. Bulloch regarding pur their losses for restitution (10th States, poses, most of victims had these reviewed Cir.1985)); see also United States records, their own bank records received Throckmorton, 61, 65-67, 98 U.S. 25 L.Ed. Smiley, correspondence from no (1878) (“The doctrine is ... well settled tices from the Internal Revenue Service. judgment that the court will not set aside a Also, the knowledgeable victims were because it was founded on a fraudulent matters, business and tax and the Postal instrument, evidence, perjured or or for Inspector had received infor records and any actually matter presented legal mation from some of the victims’ assailed.”); and considered in the addition, representatives. the Postal Commentary, Rule 60b on Other Inspector instructed the victims to calcu Effect of Judgment, Methods 4 Fed. adding penal late their losses without of Relief from (1941) (“[B]y ties and Rules Serv. the ma- interest. The Government met its fraud, proving jority burden in the amount perjury of restitu- view intrinsic such as *10 evidence, documentary is of falsified or use courts.”). in federal for relief ground
not a in this case re- district court
Because in- exclusively misrepresentations, on
lied disclosures, to dis- and failures
complete Smiley during pre- by Angela
close at her
sentencing process and judgment. I concur in the court’s
hearing, of the inherent application
Even would not authorize
available civil cases vacate the
the district court to case, no “fraud on because there was
this I in that context. as defined
the court” the evidence is no view on whether
express clearly and convinc- to establish
sufficient misrepresentations made
ingly agree court. I with the
to the district Smiley’s challenge to disposition of
court’s court’s order of restitution. Petitioner, Jerry DUKULY,
Baraka Attorney FILIP,1 Acting
Mark
General, Respondent.
No. 07-3873. Appeals, States Court of
Eighth Circuit. Sept. 2008.
Submitted:
Filed: Jan. Mukasey Attorney Michael B. Appellate Pro- former General 1. Pursuant to Federal Rule of 43(c)(2), Acting Attorney General cedure Respondent in this case. Filip automatically Mark is substituted for
