United States v. Melissa Beecroft

OPINION

O’SCANNLAIN, Circuit Judge:

Following her convictions for participating in an extensive mortgage-fraud conspiracy, a defendant was ordered to pay more than $2 million in restitution and to forfeit more than $100 million. We must decide whether either amount was erroneously calculated or unconstitutionally excessive.

I

A

From roughly 2003 through 2008, Melissa Beecroft took part in a multi-million dollar residential mortgage-fraud scheme in the Las Vegas area. Led by Steven Grimm and Eve Mazzarella, the conspirators recruited and paid straw purchasers 1 to buy homes at substantially…