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ry) is computed without application of the enhancement for weapon possession or use
as otherwise required by subsection (b)(2) of that guideline. Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 924(c),
the mandatory minimum five-year sentence on the weapon-use count runs consecutively to the
guideline sentence imposed on the bank robbery count. See §5G1.2(a).
Unless specifically instructed, subsection (b)(1) does not apply when imposing a sentence under
a statute that requires the imposition of a consecutive term of imprisonment only if a term of
imprisonment is imposed (i.e., the statute does not otherwise require a term of imprisonment
to be imposed). See, e.g., 18 U.S.C. § 3146 (Penalty for failure to appear); 18 U.S.C.
§ 924(a)(4) (regarding penalty for 18 U.S.C. § 922(q) (possession or discharge of a firearm in
a school zone)); 18 U.S.C. § 1791(c) (penalty for providing or possessing a controlled
substance in prison). Accordingly, the multiple count rules set out under this Part do apply to
a count of conviction under this type of statute.
Background: This section outlines the procedure to be used for determining the combined offense
level. After any adjustments from Chapter 3, Part E (Acceptance of Responsibility) and Chapter 4,
Part B (Career Offenders and Criminal Livelihood) are made, this combined offense level is used to
determine the guideline sentence range. Chapter Five (Determining the Sentence) discusses how to
determine the sentence from the (combined) offense level; §5G1.2 deals specifically with determining
the sentence of imprisonment when convictions on multiple counts are involved. References in
Chapter Five (Determining the Sentence) to the "offense level" should be treated as referring to the
combined offense level after all subsequent adjustments have been made.
Historical Note: Effective November 1, 1987. Amended effective November 1, 1990 (see Appendix C, amendment 348); November 1,
1998 (see Appendix C, amendment 579); November 1, 2000 (see Appendix C, amendment 598); November 1, 2005 (see Appendix C,
amendments 677 and 680).
§3D1.2. Groups of Closely Related Counts
All counts involving substantially the same harm shall be grouped together into a single
Group. Counts involve substantially the same harm within the meaning of this rule:
(a) When counts involve the same victim and the same act or transaction.
(b) When counts involve the same victim and two or more acts or transactions
connected by a common criminal objective or constituting part of a common
scheme or plan.
(c) When one of the counts embodies conduct that is treated as a specific offense
characteristic in, or other adjustment to, the guideline applicable to another of the
counts.
(d) When the offense level is determined largely on the basis of the total amount of
harm or loss, the quantity of a substance involved, or some other measure of
aggregate harm, or if the offense behavior is ongoing or continuous in nature and
the offense guideline is written to cover such behavior.
§3D1.2 GUIDELINES MANUAL November 1, 2005
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Offenses covered by the following guidelines are to be grouped under this
subsection:
§§2B1.1, 2B1.4, 2B1.5, 2B4.1, 2B5.1, 2B5.3, 2B6.1;
§§2C1.1, 2C1.2, 2C1.8;
§§2D1.1, 2D1.2, 2D1.5, 2D1.11, 2D1.13;
§§2E4.1, 2E5.1;
§§2G2.2, 2G3.1;
§2K2.1;
§§2L1.1, 2L2.1;
§2N3.1;
§2Q2.1;
§2R1.1;
§§2S1.1, 2S1.3;
§§2T1.1, 2T1.4, 2T1.6, 2T1.7, 2T1.9, 2T2.1, 2T3.1.
Specifically excluded from the operation of this subsection are:
all offenses in Chapter Two, Part A;
§§2B2.1, 2B2.3, 2B3.1, 2B3.2, 2B3.3;
§2C1.5;
§§2D2.1, 2D2.2, 2D2.3;
§§2E1.3, 2E1.4, 2E2.1;
§§2G1.1, 2G2.1;
§§2H1.1, 2H2.1, 2H4.1;
§§2L2.2, 2L2.5;
§§2M2.1, 2M2.3, 2M3.1, 2M3.2, 2M3.3, 2M3.4, 2M3.5, 2M3.9;
§§2P1.1, 2P1.2, 2P1.3;
§2X6.1.
For multiple counts of offenses that are not listed, grouping under this subsection
may or may not be appropriate; a case-by-case determination must be made based
upon the facts of the case and the applicable guidelines (including specific
offense characteristics and other adjustments) used to determine the offense level.
Exclusion of an offense from grouping under this subsection does not necessarily
preclude grouping under another subsection.
Commentary
Application Notes:
1. Subsections (a)-(d) set forth circumstances in which counts are to be grouped together into a
single Group. Counts are to be grouped together into a single Group if any one or more of the
subsections provide for such grouping. Counts for which the statute (A) specifies a term of
imprisonment to be imposed; and (B) requires that such term of imprisonment be imposed to
run consecutively to any other term of imprisonment are excepted from application of the
multiple count rules. See §3D1.1(b)(1); id., comment. (n.1).
November 1, 2005 GUIDELINES MANUAL §3D1.2
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2. The term "victim" is not intended to include indirect or secondary victims. Generally, there will
be one person who is directly and most seriously affected by the offense and is therefore
identifiable as the victim. For offenses in which there are no identifiable victims (e.g., drug or
immigration offenses, where society at large is the victim), the "victim" for purposes of
subsections (a) and (b) is the societal interest that is harmed. In such cases, the counts are
grouped together when the societal interests that are harmed are closely related. Where one
count, for example, involves unlawfully entering the United States and the other involves
possession of fraudulent evidence of citizenship, the counts are grouped together because the
societal interests harmed (the interests protected by laws governing immigration) are closely
related. In contrast, where one count involves the sale of controlled substances and the other
involves an immigration law violation, the counts are not grouped together because different
societal interests are harmed. Ambiguities should be resolved in accordance with the purpose
of this section as stated in the lead paragraph, i.e., to identify and group "counts involving
substantially the same harm."
3. Under subsection (a), counts are to be grouped together when they represent essentially a
single injury or are part of a single criminal episode or transaction involving the same victim.
When one count charges an attempt to commit an offense and the other charges the commission
of that offense, or when one count charges an offense based on a general prohibition and the
other charges violation of a specific prohibition encompassed in the general prohibition, the
counts will be grouped together under subsection (a).
Examples: (1) The defendant is convicted of forging and uttering the same check. The counts
are to be grouped together. (2) The defendant is convicted of kidnapping and assaulting the
victim during the course of the kidnapping. The counts are to be grouped together. (3) The
defendant is convicted of bid rigging (an antitrust offense) and of mail fraud for signing and
mailing a false statement that the bid was competitive. The counts are to be grouped together.
(4) The defendant is convicted of two counts of assault on a federal officer for shooting at the
same officer twice while attempting to prevent apprehension as part of a single criminal
episode. The counts are to be grouped together. (5) The defendant is convicted of three counts
of unlawfully bringing aliens into the United States, all counts arising out of a single incident.
The three counts are to be grouped together. But: (6) The defendant is convicted of two counts
of assault on a federal officer for shooting at the officer on two separate days. The counts are
not to be grouped together.
4. Subsection (b) provides that counts that are part of a single course of conduct with a single
criminal objective and represent essentially one composite harm to the same victim are to be
grouped together, even if they constitute legally distinct offenses occurring at different times.
This provision does not authorize the grouping of offenses that cannot be considered to
represent essentially one composite harm (e.g., robbery of the same victim on different
occasions involves multiple, separate instances of fear and risk of harm, not one composite
harm).
When one count charges a conspiracy or solicitation and the other charges a substantive
offense that was the sole object of the conspiracy or solicitation, the counts will be grouped
together under subsection (b).
§3D1.2 GUIDELINES MANUAL November 1, 2005
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Examples: (1) The defendant is convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit extortion and
one count of extortion for the offense he conspired to commit. The counts are to be grouped
together. (2) The defendant is convicted of two counts of mail fraud and one count of wire
fraud, each in furtherance of a single fraudulent scheme. The counts are to be grouped
together, even if the mailings and telephone call occurred on different days. (3) The defendant
is convicted of one count of auto theft and one count of altering the vehicle identification
number of the car he stole. The counts are to be grouped together. (4) The defendant is
convicted of two counts of distributing a controlled substance, each count involving a separate
sale of 10 grams of cocaine that is part of a common scheme or plan. In addition, a finding is
made that there are two other sales, also part of the common scheme or plan, each involving
10 grams of cocaine. The total amount of all four sales (40 grams of cocaine) will be used to
determine the offense level for each count under §1B1.3(a)(2). The two counts will then be
grouped together under either this subsection or subsection (d) to avoid double counting. But:
(5) The defendant is convicted of two counts of rape for raping the same person on different
days. The counts are not to be grouped together.
5. Subsection (c) provides that when conduct that represents a separate count, e.g., bodily injury
or obstruction of justice, is also a specific offense characteristic in or other adjustment to
another count, the count represented by that conduct is to be grouped with the count to which
it constitutes an aggravating factor. This provision prevents "double counting" of offense
behavior. Of course, this rule applies only if the offenses are closely related. It is not, for
example, the intent of this rule that (assuming they could be joined together) a bank robbery
on one occasion and an assault resulting in bodily injury on another occasion be grouped
together. The bodily injury (the harm from the assault) would not be a specific offense
characteristic to the robbery and would represent a different harm. On the other hand, use of
a firearm in a bank robbery and unlawful possession of that firearm are sufficiently related to
warrant grouping of counts under this subsection. Frequently, this provision will overlap
subsection (a), at least with respect to specific offense characteristics. However, a count such
as obstruction of justice, which represents a Chapter Three adjustment and involves a different
harm or societal interest than the underlying offense, is covered by subsection (c) even though
it is not covered by subsection (a).
Sometimes there may be several counts, each of which could be treated as an aggravating
factor to another more serious count, but the guideline for the more serious count provides an
adjustment for only one occurrence of that factor. In such cases, only the count representing
the most serious of those factors is to be grouped with the other count. For example, if in a
robbery of a credit union on a military base the defendant is also convicted of assaulting two
employees, one of whom is injured seriously, the assault with serious bodily injury would be
grouped with the robbery count, while the remaining assault conviction would be treated
separately.
A cross reference to another offense guideline does not constitute "a specific offense
characteristic ... or other adjustment" within the meaning of subsection (c). For example, the
guideline for bribery of a public official contains a cross reference to the guideline for a
conspiracy to commit the offense that the bribe was to facilitate. Nonetheless, if the defendant
were convicted of one count of securities fraud and one count of bribing a public official to
facilitate the fraud, the two counts would not be grouped together by virtue of the cross
reference. If, however, the bribe was given for the purpose of hampering a criminal
investigation into the offense, it would constitute obstruction and under §3C1.1 would result
November 1, 2005 GUIDELINES MANUAL §3D1.2
– 341 –
in a 2-level enhancement to the offense level for the fraud. Under the latter circumstances, the
counts would be grouped together.
6. Subsection (d) likely will be used with the greatest frequency. It provides that most property
crimes (except robbery, burglary, extortion and the like), drug offenses, firearms offenses, and
other crimes where the guidelines are based primarily on quantity or contemplate continuing
behavior are to be grouped together. The list of instances in which this subsection should be
applied is not exhaustive. Note, however, that certain guidelines are specifically excluded from
the operation of subsection (d).
A conspiracy, attempt, or solicitation to commit an offense is covered under subsection (d) if
the offense that is the object of the conspiracy, attempt, or solicitation is covered under
subsection (d).
Counts involving offenses to which different offense guidelines apply are grouped together
under subsection (d) if the offenses are of the same general type and otherwise meet the criteria
for grouping under this subsection. In such cases, the offense guideline that results in the
highest offense level is used; see §3D1.3(b). The "same general type" of offense is to be
construed broadly.
Examples: (1) The defendant is convicted of five counts of embezzling money from a bank. The
five counts are to be grouped together. (2) The defendant is convicted of two counts of theft of
social security checks and three counts of theft from the mail, each from a different victim. All
five counts are to be grouped together. (3) The defendant is convicted of five counts of mail
fraud and ten counts of wire fraud. Although the counts arise from various schemes, each
involves a monetary objective. All fifteen counts are to be grouped together. (4) The defendant
is convicted of three counts of unlicensed dealing in firearms. All three counts are to be
grouped together. (5) The defendant is convicted of one count of selling heroin, one count of
selling PCP, and one count of selling cocaine. The counts are to be grouped together. The
Commentary to §2D1.1 provides rules for combining (adding) quantities of different drugs to
determine a single combined offense level. (6) The defendant is convicted of three counts of tax
evasion. The counts are to be grouped together. (7) The defendant is convicted of three counts
of discharging toxic substances from a single facility. The counts are to be grouped together.
(8) The defendant is convicted on two counts of check forgery and one count of uttering the first
of the forged checks. All three counts are to be grouped together. Note, however, that the
uttering count is first grouped with the first forgery count under subsection (a) of this guideline,
so that the monetary amount of that check counts only once when the rule in §3D1.3(b) is
applied. But: (9) The defendant is convicted of three counts of bank robbery. The counts are
not to be grouped together, nor are the amounts of money involved to be added.
7. A single case may result in application of several of the rules in this section. Thus, for example,
example (8) in the discussion of subsection (d) involves an application of §3D1.2(a) followed
by an application of §3D1.2(d). Note also that a Group may consist of a single count;
conversely, all counts may form a single Group.
8. A defendant may be convicted of conspiring to commit several substantive offenses and also of
committing one or more of the substantive offenses. In such cases, treat the conspiracy count
as if it were several counts, each charging conspiracy to commit one of the substantive offenses.
See §1B1.2(d) and accompanying commentary. Then apply the ordinary grouping rules to
§3D1.2 GUIDELINES MANUAL November 1, 2005
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determine the combined offense level based upon the substantive counts of which the defendant
is convicted and the various acts cited by the conspiracy count that would constitute behavior
of a substantive nature. Example: The defendant is convicted of two counts: conspiring to
commit offenses A, B, and C, and committing offense A. Treat this as if the defendant was
convicted of (1) committing offense A; (2) conspiracy to commit offense A; (3) conspiracy to
commit offense B; and (4) conspiracy to commit offense C. Count (1) and count (2) are
grouped together under §3D1.2(b). Group the remaining counts, including the various acts
cited by the conspiracy count that would constitute behavior of a substantive nature, according
to the rules in this section.
Background: Ordinarily, the first step in determining the combined of
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