1 Relevant Conduct & Felon-in-Possession Districts of Kansas & Western Missouri Guideline Training Seminar Kansas City, MO Thursday, February 25, 2016 February 18, 2016

2 Presenters Melody Brannon Federal Public Defender District of Kansas Rusty Burress Principal Training Advisor Office of Education & Sentencing Practice U.S. Sentencing Commission Duston Slinkard Criminal Coordinator, Topeka U.S. Attorney’s Office District of Kansas

3 §2K2.1 – “Felon-in-Possession” Unlawful Receipt, Possession, or Transportation of Firearms or Ammunition; or Prohibited Transactions Involving Firearms or Ammunition

4 §2K2.1(a) – Base Offense Levels (BOLs) Status, including “felon-in-possession” & “straw purchaser” of a firearm or ammunition More serious types of firearms Prior convictions of “crime of violence” or “controlled substance offense” Requires use of the “Categorical Approach” Eight BOLs, from 6 to 26, determined by various factors and combinations, including:

5 §2K2.1(b) – Specific Offense Characteristics (SOCs) and §2K2.1(c) – Cross Reference Number of firearms “Destructive device” Firearm stolen or had altered serial number Firearm trafficking Use, possession, or transfer of firearm or ammunition in connection with another offense 7 SOCs and 1 Cross Reference, including:

6 Impact of a Chapter Two Offense Guideline Being on the Included List at §3D1.2(d)

7 Relevant Conduct & Multiple Counts Acts in the same course of conduct, common scheme or plan as the offense(s) of conviction will be included There will only be a single application of the multiple counts of §2K2.1, based on all relevant conduct §§2K2.1 & 1B1.3(a)(2) & 3D1.2(d)

8 “Expanded Relevant Conduct” F-I-P Firearm 3 (§2K2.1) Offense of Conviction F-I-P Firearm 4 (§2K2.1) F-I-P Firearm 2 (§2K2.1) F-I-P Firearm 1 (§2K2.1) §1B1.3(a)(2): Course of Conduct, Common Scheme or Plan

9 “Expanded Relevant Conduct” (cont.) The guideline for the offense of conviction, §2K2.1, is on the “included list” at §3D1.2(d), so it uses “expanded Relevant Conduct” (§1B1.3(a)(2)) If there were counts of conviction for the other offenses they would also use §2K2.1 So if the other offenses were in the same course of conduct or common scheme or plan as the offense of conviction, they will be relevant conduct §1B1.3(a)(2): Course of Conduct, Common Scheme or Plan

10 Grouping Under “Rule (d)” “Straw” 3 (§2K2.1) “Straw” 4 (§2K2.1) “Straw” 2 (§2K2.1) “Straw” 1 (§2K2.1) One application, with the offense level for the group based on an aggregate of the firearms and the offense conduct “taken as a whole”

11 Issue: §2K2.1(a) – Base Offense Levels (BOLs) for More Serious Types of Firearms Semiautomatic firearm capable of accepting a large capacity magazine Application Note 2 requires that a magazine that could accept more than 15 rounds was either: attached to the firearm, or in close proximity to the firearm §2K2.1(a)(1), (a)(3), & (a)(4)

12 Selected Specific Offense Characteristics §2K2.1(b)

13 Number of Firearms SOC §2K2.1(b)(1), App. Note 5 Number of Firearms Increase in Level (A) 3-7 add 2 (B) 8-24 add 4 (C) add 6 (D) add 8 (E) 200 or more add 10

14 Stolen Gun/Obliterated Serial Number SOC If any firearm Was stolen, increase by 2 levels Had an altered or obliterated serial number, increase by 4 levels Strict liability standard §2K2.1(b)(4), App. Note 8 OR (i.e., cannot give both; use the greater)

15 Issue Regarding Stolen Firearm If the only offense is § 922(i), (j), or (u), or § 924(l) or (m) (offenses involving stolen firearms/ammunition) The BOL is determined under (a)(7) (BOL 12) Do not apply SOC (b)(4)(A) (+2) for stolen firearm, but the SOC for altered serial number (b)(4)(B) (+4) can apply §2K2.1(b)(4) & App. Note 8 AND

16 Issue Regarding Stolen Firearm (cont.) However, if the BOL is not determined under (a)(7), e.g., BOL (a)(6)(A) (BOL 14) for “prohibited person”: SOC (b)(4)(A) for stolen firearm (+2) will also apply, (unless SOC (b)(4)(B) for altered serial number (+4) also applies, as only the greater is used) §2K2.1, App. Note 8 Note: There is a similar application for a conviction for an altered serial number, BOL (a)(7), and SOC (b)(4)(B)

17 “Trafficking” SOC If the defendant engaged in the trafficking of firearms, increase by 4 levels Note the limitations of the definitions in Application Note 13(B) §2K2.1(b)(5) & App. Note 13

18 Used or Possessed in Connection with Another Offense SOC & Cross Reference §2K2.1(b)(6)(B) & (c)(1) and App. Note 14

19 “In Connection With” In General: Apply if the firearm or ammunition facilitated, or had the potential of facilitating another (felony) offense Specific Guidance When a Burglary or Drug Trafficking: When a firearm is taken in the course of a burglary When a firearm is in close proximity to drugs, drug manufacturing materials, or drug paraphernalia §2K2.1(b)(6)(B) & (c)(1) and App. Note 14

20 “Used or Possessed” SOC If the defendant: Used or possessed any firearm or ammunition in connection with another felony offense Possessed or transferred any firearm or ammunition with knowledge, intent, or reason to believe that it would be used or possessed in connection with another felony offense Increase by 4 levels, with floor of 18 §2K2.1(b)(6)(B) and App. Note 14 OR

21 “Used or Possessed” Cross Reference If the defendant: Used or possessed any firearm or ammunition cited in the offense of conviction in connection with commission or attempted commission of another offense Possessed or transferred a firearm or ammunition cited in the offense of conviction with knowledge or intent that it would be used or possessed in connection with another felony offense Apply the cross reference, if greater than § 2K2.1 §2K2.1(c)(1) and App. Note 14 OR

22 Amendment #784, Effective 11/1/14 Clarified the operation of Relevant Conduct at §2K2.1 regarding a firearm or ammunition having been used or possessed in connection with another offense Addressed distinctions among 4 th, 5 th, 6 th, 7 th, & 11 th Circuits Limits the cross reference at §2K2.1(c)(1) to the firearm(s) or ammunition cited in the offense of conviction Commission policy decision

23 Amendment #784, Effective 11/1/14 §2K2.1, App. Note 14(E) has explanation and examples: The firearm or ammunition that is the basis for the SOC and cross reference is established by relevant conduct at §1B1.3(a)(1) or (a)(2) However, the SOC and cross reference themselves are relevant conduct under §1B1.3(a)(4) Clarification of the Operation of Relevant Conduct in §2K2.1(b)(6)(B) and (c)(1)

24 Relevant Conduct (a)(1) & (a)(2): Analysis to establish relevant acts (a)(3): Harms resulting from, or that were the object of the acts established in (a)(1) & (a)(2) -E.g., “loss” and “injury” are harms (a)(4): Information specified for application in a particular guideline §1B1.3(a)

25 Distinctions Between §2K2.1(b)(6)(B) and (c)(1) SOC (b)(6)(B) applies to Firearm(s) and/or ammunition cited in the offense of conviction AND Firearm(s) and/or ammunition that are not cited in the offense of conviction but are in “the same course of conduct/common scheme or plan as the offense of conviction

26 Distinctions Between §2K2.1(b)(6)(B) and (c)(1) (cont.) Cross reference (c)(1) applies only in cases in which the firearm(s) and/or ammunition cited in the count of conviction was used or possessed in connection with another offense

27 Pointers for §2K2.1(b)(6)(B) and (c)(1) Can be based on any federal, state, or local offense (e.g., drug trafficking, robbery, assault, murder), except Not another firearms or explosive offense If the firearm or ammunition was involved in more than one offense, the cross reference is applied to the one resulting in the greatest offense level §2K2.1, App. Note 14(C) & §1B1.5, App. Note 3

28 Issue Regarding Relevant Conduct Defendant, a felon with a prior conviction for a crime of violence, was dealing drugs and using a firearm in relation to the offense, § 924(c) A subsequent execution of a warrant and search found the defendant in possession of a different firearm §§2K2.1 & 1B1.3(a)(2) & 3D1.2(d)

29 Issue Regarding Relevant Conduct (cont.) In the application of §2K2.1 for the conviction for felon- in-possession citing the firearm seized in the search, is the firearm in the § 924(c) included in the relevant conduct? Will the firearm in the § 924(c) be used in counting the number of firearms (SOC (b)(1))? If the § 924(c) firearm was stolen, would that be a basis for applying the stolen firearm SOC ((b)(4)(A))? §§2K2.1 & 1B1.3(a)(2) & 3D1.2(d)

30 Issue Regarding Relevant Conduct (cont.) Will the SOC for Used/Possessed in Connection with an Offense ((b)(6)(B)) apply? The cross reference ((c)(1))? If the drug trafficking, the § 924(c), and the felon-in- possession are being sentenced at the same time, will the counts group? §§2K2.1 & 1B1.3(a)(2) & 3D1.2(d)

31 Drug Trafficking, § 924(c) & Felon-in-Possession § 924(c) count runs consecutively to all counts Offense Level = 26 Count 1: §2D1.1 Drug Trafficking = 26 Count 3: §2K2.1 Felon-in-Poss = 22 (Cross Ref = N/A) Count 2: §2K2.4 § 924(c) 60 mos. consec. Group Counts 1 and 3 under §3D1.2(c)

32 Other Issues Regarding “Used or Possessed” The defendant, a felon, committed the state offenses of assault and use of a firearm in the assault A week after that offense occurred, the defendant was arrested with a different firearm The state prosecuted the assault and use of a firearm in the assault, and as a result, the defendant was sentenced to 5 years’ imprisonment; thus far he has served one year of that sentence §2K2.1(b)(6)(B) & (c)(1) and App. Note 14

33 Other Issue Regarding “Used or Possessed” (cont.) The defendant was then prosecuted federally for the different firearm he had possessed, and is now convicted of felon-in-possession of that firearm Will the firearm in the state offense be relevant conduct to the firearm in the instant federal offense? Will the Used/Possessed SOC and/or cross reference apply based on the state assault? §2K2.1(b)(6)(B) & (c)(1) and App. Note 14

34 Other Issue Regarding “Used or Possessed” (cont.) Will the 5-year state sentence be counted for criminal history points? Will §5G1.3(b) apply, which directs the court to adjust the instant federal sentence for the period of imprisonment already served on the undischarged term, and to impose the instant federal sentence to run concurrently with the undischarged term? §2K2.1(b)(6)(B) & (c)(1) and App. Note 14

35 Note the Distinctions While the firearms considered in the determination of Used/Possessed are relevant conduct under §1B1.3(a)(1) or (a)(2), the Used/Possessed SOC & cross reference themselves are relevant conduct under §1B1.3(a)(4) A previous sentence is not counted for criminal history if it is relevant conduct under any of the provisions of §1B1.3(a)(1)-(4) (See 4A1.2(a)(1) & App. Note 1) §2K2.1(b)(6)(B) & (c)(1) and App. Note 14(E)

36 Note the Distinctions (cont.) §5G1.3(b), directing that the instant federal sentence be imposed to run concurrently with an undischarged term of imprisonment, and adjusted for imprisonment already served on the undischarged sentence, is not to be based on relevant conduct under §1B1.3(a)(4) (See §5G1.3(c) & App. Note 3) §2K2.1(b)(6)(B) & (c)(1) and App. Note 14(E)

37 Note the Distinctions (cont.) Note, however, that use of the §2K2.1(c)(1) cross reference will result in application using the relevant conduct applicable for the cross referenced offense (See §1B1.5) §2K2.1(b)(6)(B) & (c)(1) and App. Note 14(E)

38 END