William L. Bauer pleaded guilty on September 30, 1996, to two counts of interference with commerce by threats or violence in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1951 (Counts 1 and 3); three counts of use of a firearm during a crime of violence in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1) (Counts 2, 4, and 7); one count of bank robbery in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2113(a) and (d) 1 (Count 5); one count of bank robbery in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2113(a) and (e) (Count 6); and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g) (Count 8). In addition to being sentenced to five concurrent life imprisonment sentences, 60 months on Count 2 and 240 months on Counts 4 and 7, Bauer was ordered to pay a $175,000 fine and $47,860.13 in restitution. He appeals, contending that the district court erred in imposing a fine without making the appropriate findings as required by U.S.S.G. § 5E1.2(d), and that the requirement of mandatory life imprisonment under 18 U.S.C. § 3559(c) is unconstitutional. We affirm.
I. STATEMENT OF FACTS
The day after Bauer was charged in this case, the government filed notice under 18 U.S.C. § 3559 that it would seek life imprisоnment for Bauer based on four prior armed robbery convictions and one prior arson conviction. He originally pleaded not guilty but later changed his plea to guilty with no written plea agreement. The presentenee report (“PSR”) indicated that the statutory fine available under 18 U.S.C. § 3571(b)(3) for each of the eight counts was $250,000 while the United States Sentencing Guidelines *964 (“U.S.S.G.”) provided for a fine in the range of $17,500 to $175,000 under § 5E 1.2(c)(3). The sentencing recommendation prеpared by the probation officer and provided to the district court recommended a fine of $175,000 because of the potential for an increase in the defendant’s net worth in the future and due to Bauer’s possible participation in the Bureau of Prisons Inmate Financial Responsibility Program.
At the beginning of the sentencing hearing in March 1997, the district court judge noted that Bauer was part of the Witness Protection Program. He also stated that he would rely on a supplement to the PSR which contained information excluded from the PSR. The supplement was a two-page document filed pursuant to Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure 32(c)(3)(A) and 32(b)(5), 2 and indicated that Bauer may be entitled to a substantial sum of money in the future. After asking each side in open court whether they had had a chance to review the PSR, the court suggested that the defense might want the proceeding to continue in camera to discuss the confidеntial information contained in the supplement to the PSR. During the in camera proceeding, both parties indicated that they had had an opportunity to review the supplement and had no objections.
After resuming the sentencing hearing in open court, the court preserved Bauer’s challenge to the constitutionality of § 3559(c) which had been made in camera. After determining that neither side had objections to the PSR as supplemented, the court adopted the factuаl findings and Guidelines applications recited in the PSR. With respect to the fine, the court stated:
The court also feels that under the circumstances in the event the defendant’s net worth would increase in the future, and in consideration of the fact that the Bureau of Prisons has an inmate financial responsibility program in which defendant may participate, and because he in all likelihood would be given vocational — -a job while he’s in prison, the Court fеels that a fine in the amount of $175,000 is ordered.
Bauer filed a timely notice of appeal.
II. ANALYSIS
Bauer argues that the district court failed to make the findings required by U.S.S.G. § 5E1.2(d) before imposing the $175,000 fine. Because Bauer did not object to the fine at sentencing, this court reviews the imposition of the fine by the district court for plain error.
United States v. Olano,
Section 5E1.2 requires that a district court impose a fine unless the “defendant establishes that he is unable to pay and is not likely to become able to pay any fine.” § 5E1.2(a);
see also United States v. Sanchez-Estrada,
(1) thе need for the combined sentence to reflect the seriousness of the offense (including the harm or loss to the victim and the gain to the defendant), to promote respect for the law, to provide just punishment and to afford adequate deterrence; *965 (2) any evidence presented as to the defendant’s ability to pay the fine (including the ability to pay over a period of time) in light of his earning capacity and financial resources;
(3) thе burden that the fine places on the defendant and his dependents relative to alternative punishments;
(4) any restitution or reparation that the defendant has made or is obligated to make;
(5) any collateral consequences of conviction, including civil obligations arising from the defendant’s conduct;
(6) whether the defendant previously has been fined for a similar offense; and
(7) any other pertinent equitable considerations.
U.S.S.G. § 5E1.2(d). Similar statutory considerations are provided for in 18 U.S.C. § 3572(a). 3
The circuits havе taken different approaches as to whether the district court is required to make specific findings of fact regarding the factors relating to a defendant’s ability to pay a fine. Compare cases requiring express findings,
United States v. Quintero,
This circuit has included language in several opinions indicating that, like the Third, Fourth, and Eighth Circuits, express findings regarding the factors are required.
See Monem,
Based on what may be perceived as inconsistencies in our case law, wе take this opportunity to make clear that any language in our earlier opinions which may have been interpreted as requiring specific findings on each of the seven factors is not the position of this court. Rather, we explicitly reiterate that the rule in this circuit is that express or specific findings regarding each of the relevant factors to be considered before imposing a fine are not required.
5
Several considerations lead us to restate this conclusion. First, express findings are not mandated by either the Guidelines or by statute. Section 5E1.2(d) of the Guidelines states only that the court “shall consider” the seven factors but does not require express findings regarding each factor. U.S.S.G. § 5E1. 2(d);
see Morgano,
In addition, we believe that our clarification today accurately represents the approach we have used in our earlier decisions on this issue, despite some language tо the contrary. In
Masters,
this court appeared to support a rule requiring specific findings for each of the factors.
Masters,
Subsequently, however, in
Jones,
Later, in
Morgano,
we reiterated that a sentencing court was not required to make specific findings as to each factor, and concluded that “[t]he record must merely indicate the court considered the statutory factors, in general, in arriving at the fine.”
Morgano,
Similarly, in
Granado,
In
Flores-Sandoval,
While we have vacated and remanded judgments imposing fines for failure to make specific findings, the remand was necessary in those cases because of the district court’s failure to make any findings of fact at all or because of inconsistencies between what the district court stated it intended to do and the actual fine imposed. For example, in
Vargas,
the district court adopted the findings of the PSR, which included a financial analysis оf the defendant, and imposed a fine.
Vargas,
More recently, in
Monem,
this court remanded for an articulation of factors when the district court stated that it was accepting the recommendation in the PSR and imposing the minimum fine of $15,000 when, in fact, the PSR had recommended that Monem receive a fine below the minimum provided for by the Guidelines.
Monem,
Although not resolving a conflict among the circuits, our intent in disavowing any language which may have implied that express findings are necessary is twofold. First, our clarification will relieve any tension within our circuit as to whether express findings are required as to each of the factors to be considered before imposing a fine. Second, it will eliminate the significant burden which our prior language may have placed on district courts to articulate their findings, particularly in light of the numerous eases in which fines are imposed. As indicated by our earlier decisions, our intent never has been to bind the district court to a strict, and often unnecessary, adherence tо articulating its findings on each of the relevant factors. Despite some language to the contrary, we have consistently followed an approach which focuses on whether the district court properly has considered the necessary factors prior to imposing a fine. Of course, express find *968 ings as to each factor are helpful in demonstrating that the district court considered the relevant factors and we encouragе district courts to continue to make express findings when possible. But a record can show that the appropriate consideration took place despite the- lack of specific findings on each factor, and a meaningful basis for reviewing the district court’s considerations of the relevant factors is all that is necessary.
We therefore hold that express findings generally are not required regarding each of the seven factоrs to be considered when imposing a fine. Rather, we conclude that the sentencing court must consider the relevant factors and provide a reasoned and reviewable basis for its decision to impose a fine. We will remand the imposition of a fine only when it is unclear that the district court properly has considered the relevant factors, such as when the district court adopts the factual findings contained in the presentence reрort but deviates from the fine recommendation, if any, made by the United States Probation Office, or alternatively, if the district court declines to adopt the findings in the presentence report and makes no findings of its own. We believe that such an approach ensures consideration of the factors listed in § 5E1.2(d) without placing an added burden on the district court to make specific findings which are not mandated by statute or by the Guidelines. We are confidеnt that our clarification today will continue to ensure such compliance.
We note further that the approach we adopt today is not at odds with those circuits which require express findings regarding the relevant factors to be considered. For example, the Fourth and Eighth Circuits, while stating that they adhere to requiring express findings, have affirmed fines where specific findings on each factor have not been made. See
United States v. Hyppolite,
In this case, the record establishes, even without express findings, that the district court carefully considered the seven factors listed in § 5E1.2(d). Although not making express findings regarding each factor, the district court satisfied its duty to consider the relevant factors by adopting the PSR and the supplement to the PSR and by making express findings with respect to Bauer’s ability to pay the fine. The PSR detailed Bauer’s criminal history, including the sentences for the prior offenses. The PSR also discussed the amounts of money stolen by Bauer to be considered in the restitution determination and did not indicate that Bauer had financial responsibilities to any dependents in discussing his personal and family data. The supplement to the PSR provided additional details regarding Bauer’s financial status and his participation in the Witness Protection Program which were not included in the original PSR in order to maintain its confidentiality. The supplement was made available to both parties who reviewed its contents prior to the sentencing hearing and who approved оf its contents
*969
during the
in camera
portion of the hearing. Further, the court’s statements that the fine was appropriate in light of the potential future payment to Bauer and the possibility of Bauer’s employment while incarcerated were not in conflict with the facts set forth in the PSR as supplemented. Accordingly, in light of the sensitive nature of the information contained in the supplement to the PSR and the district court’s attempt to honor the confidentiality of the information, the court’s failure to more fully articulate its reasons for imposing the fine after considering the relevant factors was not plainly erroneous.
See Flores-Sandoval,
Although Bauer asserts that the PSR does not support the district court’s imposition of a fine because the PSR states that Bauer had no income or assets, he ignores the supplement to the PSR which he received and approved, and the findings of which were ultimately adopted by the district court as its own. Bauеr also argues in his reply brief that the district court’s reliance on the information was inappropriate because the statute of limitations had expired with respect to any claim that Bauer might bring to recover the money allegedly promised to him by the government. However, this argument, having been raised initially in his reply brief, has been waived.
See United States v. Sertich,
Finally, Bauer asserts that the term of mandatory life imprisonment provided for in 18 U.S.C. § 3559(c) is unconstitutional. As Bauer concеdes, this argument already has been rejected by this court in
United States v. Washington,
III. CONCLUSION
The confidential nature of the information relied upon by the district court and the fact that the district court considered the relevant factors in making its determination indicate that its imposition of a fine in the amount of $175,000 was not plainly erroneous. In addition, Bauer makes no argument which would cause this court to reconsider its decision in Washington regarding the constitutionality of the three-strikes provision. Accordingly, the decision of the district court is
Affirmed.
Notes
. The indictment states that Count 5 was a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2113(a) and (d). It appears that the Presentence Report and the judgment incorrectly indicate that Count 5 was a violation of § 2113(a) and (b).
. Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 32(b)(5) provides that "[t]he presentenсe report must exclude: ... (B) sources obtained upon a promise of confidentiality; or (C) any other information that, if disclosed, might result in harm, physical or otherwise, to the defendant or other persons.” Further, Rule 32(c)(3)(A) states that ”[i]f the court has received information excluded from the presentence report under subdivision (b)(5) the court — in lieu of making that information available — must summarize it in writing, if the information will be relied on in determining sentence.”
. 18 U.S.C. § 3572(a) states:
(a) Factors tо be considered. — In determining whether to impose a fine, and the amount, time for payment, and method of payment of a fine, the court shall consider, in addition to the factors set forth in section 3553(a)(1) the defendant’s income, earning capacity, and financial resources;
(2) the burden that the fine will impose upon the defendant, any person who is financially dependent on the defendant, or any other person (including a government) that would be rеsponsible for the welfare of any person financially dependent on the defendant, relative to the burden that alternative punishments would impose;
(3) any pecuniary loss inflicted upon others as a result of the offense;
(4) whether restitution is ordered or made and the amount of such restitution;
(5) the need to deprive the defendant of illegally obtained gains from the offense;
(6) the expected costs to the government of any imprisonment, supеrvised release, or probation component of the sentence;
(7) whether the defendant can pass on to consumers or other persons the expense of the fine; and
(8) if the defendant is an organization, the size of the organization and any measure taken by the organization to discipline any officer, director, employee, or agent of the organization responsible for the offense and to prevent a recurrence of such an offense.
.
Cf. United States v. Paskett,
. Although we believe that the language which may have implied that specific findings are required on each factor before imposing a fine is restricted to the five cases we have noted, our holding applies to any of our previous decisions which contain a similar implicatiоn.
. Although we cited United States v. Ahmad, 2 F.3d 245 (7th Cir.1993), among others, for the proposition that specific findings are required before imposing a fine, we note that, in Ahmad, we stated that the "Guidelines regulate fines no less than imprisonment and impose a detailed sequence of considerations that we sketched in Turner." Id. at 248 (emphasis added).
. We also observe that, the Fifth Circuit has held that specific findings are not required except when the district court adopts the factual findings in the PSR showing a limited or no ability to pay a fine but imposes a fine based on additional evidence submitted by the government indicating the defendant's ability to pay.
United States v. Fair,