U.S. Sentencing Commission Approves Major Changes To Fraud Guidelines

Vince Farhat is a Partner and Robert Barton is an Associate in the Los Angeles office.

Timothy Belevetz is a Partner in the Washington D.C. office.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Recent changes to the federal sentencing guidelines would lead to a number of major revisions to the law, including updates to the definition of "intended loss," the victims table and the meaning of "sophisticated means."
• The proposed white collar amendments follow criticism from defense lawyers and some judges who maintain that the sentencing guidelines have led to unduly harsh punishments. Although the guidelines are only advisory, federal judges must consider them in sentencing white collar defendants. Assuming Congress does not block them, the proposed amendments could have important implications for those charged with white collar offenses.