2009 FEDERAL SENTENCING GUIDELINES MANUAL

CHAPTER 2 - PART H - OFFENSES INVOLVING INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS

3.      PRIVACY AND EAVESDROPPING

§2H3.3.      Obstructing Correspondence

                   (a)       Base Offense Level: 

                               (1)       6; or

                               (2)       if the conduct was theft or destruction of mail, apply §2B1.1 (Theft, Property Destruction, and Fraud).

Commentary

Statutory Provision: 18 U.S.C. § 1702. For additional statutory provision(s), see Appendix A (Statutory Index).

Background: The statutory provision covered by this guideline is sometimes used to prosecute offenses more accurately described as theft or destruction of mail. In such cases, §2B1.1 (Theft, Property Destruction, and Fraud) is to be applied.

Historical Note: Effective November 1, 1987. Amended effective November 1, 1990 (see Appendix C, amendment 313); November 1, 2001 (see Appendix C, amendment 617).