United States v. Williams

MEMORANDUM *

The United States challenges the district court’s four-level downward departure that resulted in sentencing Louis Williams to a term of probation following his guilty plea to Social Security fraud in violation of 42 U.S.C. § 408 (a)(4). We have jurisdiction under 18 U.S.C. § 3742 (b) and 28 U.S.C. § 1291 , and we reverse.

Despite our considerable deference to the district court in these matters, departure in these circumstances was an abuse of discretion. See Koon v. United States, 518 U.S. 81, 98 , 116 S.Ct. 2035 , 135 L.Ed.2d 392 (1996). We may assume that the ability to repay restitution should be characterized as something other than a socio-economic factor in the circumstances here. However, we must still address the determination that this case fell outside the heartland. “The relevant question ... is not ... whether a particular factor is within the heartland as a general proposition, but whether the particular factor is within the heartland given all the facts of the case.” Koon, 518 U.S. at 99-100 (citation and internal quotations omitted).

The considerations articulated by the district court, including Williams’s ability to work and repay restitution, his…