United States v. Pons

SYKES, Circuit Judge.

Frank Pons was charged with committing wire fraud, 18 U.S.C. § 1343, and equity skimming, 12 U.S.C. § 1715z-19, and was released from custody pending trial. Two months before trial was scheduled to begin, he fled the country. He eventually turned himself in to U.S. authorities in Brazil and later pleaded guilty to the two offenses. At sentencing the district court applied a two-level upward adjustment for obstruction of justice, see U.S.S.G. § 3C1.1, refused to apply a reduction for acceptance of responsibility, see id. § 3E1.1, and imposed a within-guidelines prison term…