United States v. Beckley

UNPUBLISHED UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,  Plaintiff-Appellee, v.  No. 03-4299 ROBERT DAVID BECKLEY, a/k/a Robert Kyle Lynch, Defendant-Appellant.  Appeal from the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, at Durham. Frank W. Bullock, Jr., District Judge. (CR-02-331) Submitted: March 29, 2004 Decided: April 20, 2004 Before WIDENER, WILKINSON, and MOTZ, Circuit Judges. Affirmed by unpublished per curiam opinion. COUNSEL Camille M. Davidson, THE FULLER LAW FIRM, P.C., Charlotte, North Carolina, for Appellant. Anna Mills Wagoner, United States Attorney, Robert M. Hamilton, Assistant United States Attorney, Greensboro, North Carolina, for Appellee. 2 UNITED STATES v. BECKLEY Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit. See Local Rule 36(c). OPINION PER CURIAM: Robert David Beckley pled guilty to credit card fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1029(a)(3), (c)(1)(A)(i) (2000). He was sentenced to forty-four months imprisonment. On appeal, he argues that: (1) he received ineffective assistance of counsel; (2) the district court improperly increased his offense level by two for use of sophisticated means under U.S. Sentencing Guidelines Manual § 2B1.1(b)(8)(C) (2002); and (3) the district court erred in imposing a fourteen-level enhancement under USSG § 2B1.1(b)(1)(H) based on its calculation of the amount of loss attributable to him. Finding no reversible error, we affirm. Beckley first claims that he received ineffective assistance of coun- sel. In order to prevail on his ineffective assistance claim on direct appeal of his guilty plea, Beckley must not only demonstrate that his attorney’s actions were both deficient and prejudicial, see Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668 (1984), but it must "conclusively appear" from the appellate record that he did not receive effective rep- resentation. See United States v. Gastiaburo, 16 F.3d 582, 590 (4th Cir. 1994) (citing cases). In addition, as to the prejudice prong, Beck- ley must show there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s error, he would not have pled guilty. See Hill v. Lockhart, 474 U.S. 52 (1985). We do not find that ineffective assistance conclusively appears on the face of the record. Beckley next argues that the district court erred in imposing a two- level enhancement under USSG § 2B1.2(b)(8)(C) for use of sophisti- cated means. This court reviews a sentencing court’s factual findings for clear error and its related legal conclusions, including the applica- tion of the sentencing guidelines, de novo. United States v. Daughtrey, 874 F.2d 213, 217 (4th Cir. 1989). We find no error in the court’s application of this guideline. UNITED STATES v. BECKLEY 3 Last, Beckley argues that the district court did not correctly deter- mine the amount of loss attributable to him, and therefore, maintains that the court improperly applied USSG § 2B1.1(b)(1)(H). This sec- tion provides that, if the loss exceeded $400,000, fourteen levels are added to defendant’s offense level. The Government must establish the amount of loss by a preponderance of the evidence. United States v. Harris, 882 F.2d 902, 907 (4th Cir. 1989). The court need only make a reasonable estimate of the loss based on available informa- tion. USSG § 2B1.1, comment. (n.2(C)). Without an affirmative showing by the defendant that information in the presentence report is inaccurate, the district court is free to adopt the presentence report’s findings without more specific inquiry or explanation. United States v. Terry, 916 F.2d 157, 162 (4th Cir. 1990). Because Beckley did not object to the loss calculation in the district court, this claim is reviewed for plain error. See Fed. R. Crim. P. 52(b); United States v. Olano, 507 U.S. 725, 731 32 (1993). Four con- ditions must be met before this court will notice plain error: (1) there must be error; (2) it must be plain under current law; (3) it must affect substantial rights, typically meaning the defendant is prejudiced by the error in that it affected the outcome of the proceedings; and (4) the error must seriously affect the fairness, integrity, or public reputa- tion of judicial proceedings. Id. at 733-37. The amount of loss used in determining the offense level is the greater of the actual or intended loss. USSG § 2B1.1, comment. (n.2(A)). We find that the district court did not commit plain error in its imposition of the fourteen-level enhancement under USSG § 2B1.1(b)(1)(H). Accordingly, we affirm Beckley’s sentence. While we grant Beck- ley’s motion to file a pro se "Supplement to Appeal Brief," we find his pro se claims without merit. Furthermore, we deny Beckley’s motion to proceed pro se, his motion to file a reply brief to govern- ment’s answer to appeal brief filed by counsel, and his motion for a court order directing the U.S. Attorney to provide a full and complete copy of an itemized list of credit card account numbers with the maxi- mum credit limit for each, itemized attempted purchases, and the actual loss on each card alleged. We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before the court and argument would not aid the decisional process. AFFIRMED