U.S.S.G. §2B6.1

(a) Base Offense Level: 8

(b) Specific Offense Characteristics

(1) If the retail value of the motor vehicles or parts (A) exceeded $2,500

but did not exceed $6,500, increase by 1 level; or (B) exceeded $6,500,

increase by the number of levels from the table in §2B1.1 (Theft, Property Destruction, and Fraud) corresponding to that amount.

(2) If the defendant was in the business of receiving and selling stolen

property, increase by 2 levels.

(3) If the offense involved an organized scheme to steal vehicles or vehicle

parts, or to receive stolen vehicles or vehicle parts, and the offense

level as determined above is less than level 14, increase to level 14.

Commentary

Statutory Provisions: 18 U.S.C. §§ 511, 553(a)(2), 2321.

Application Notes:

1. Subsection (b)(3), referring to an “organized scheme to steal vehicles or vehicle parts, or to receive

stolen vehicles or vehicle parts,” provides an alternative minimum measure of loss in the case of

an ongoing, sophisticated operation such as an auto theft ring or “chop shop.” “Vehicles” refers

to all forms of vehicles, including aircraft and watercraft. See Commentary to §2B1.1 (Theft,

Property Destruction, and Fraud).

2. The term “increase by the number of levels from the table in §2B1.1 (Theft, Property Destruction, and Fraud) corresponding to that amount,” as used in subsection (b)(1), refers

to the number of levels corresponding to the retail value of the motor vehicles or parts involved.

Background: The statutes covered in this guideline prohibit altering or removing motor vehicle identification numbers, importing or exporting, or trafficking in motor vehicles or parts knowing that the

identification numbers have been removed, altered, tampered with, or obliterated. Violations of

18 U.S.C. § 511 carry a maximum of five years imprisonment. Violations of 18 U.S.C. §§ 553(a)(2)

and 2321 carry a maximum of ten years imprisonment.