United States Seventh Circuit

District court improperly applied obstruction of justice enhancements to two participants in an organized nationwide scheme to identify and target for theft more than 100 jewelry salespersons. Regarding one, an attempted suicide cannot be considered an obstruction of justice; regarding the other, no actual investigative impediment or hindrance was shown to result from his unsworn statements.

Appellate Information

• Decided 03/16/2004
• Published 03/16/2004

Judges

• BAUER, Circuit Judge., Before BAUER, POSNER, and DIANE P. WOOD, Circuit Judges.

Court

• United States Seventh Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellees:
  
• John F. Podliska (argued), John J. Scully, Office of U.S. Atty., Chicago, IL, for Plaintiff-Appellee., Jeffrey N. Cole (argued), Cole & Staes, Chicago, IL, for Defendant-Appellant William Hanhardt., Andrew T. Staes (argued), Cole & Staes, Chicago, IL, for Defendant-Appellant Joseph Basinski., Marc W. Martin (argued), Chicago, IL, for Defendant-Appellant Guy S. Altobello., John M. Beal, Chicago, IL, for Defendant-Appellant William R. Brown.