Aaron Ashcraft wire and bank fraud case — E.D. Cal., Sacramento

Case summary

The United States filed an information on April 25, 2022 charging Aaron Ashcraft with two counts of wire fraud under 18 U.S.C. § 1343 and five counts of bank fraud under 18 U.S.C. § 1344 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California, No. 2:22-cr-00087-KJM. A government letter to the court states the parties negotiated a written plea agreement under which he agreed to plead guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of bank fraud, and asked for a change-of-plea hearing on May 9, 2022. He was sentenced to 41 months on each of counts 1 and 4, concurrently, with 36 months of supervision, restitution of $1,803,461.24 and a $200 assessment. In January 2024 the parties stipulated to a reduction to 33 months under Amendment 821's zero-point provision.

Case at a glance

What was Ashcraft sentenced to?

41 months as to each of counts 1 and 4, to be served concurrently, for a total of 41 months, imposed in December 2022 — the parties' stipulation gives the sentencing date as December 13, 2022 and the Bureau of Prisons record as December 12, 2022. The Bureau of Prisons record adds 36 months of supervision, a $200 felony assessment, no fine and restitution of $1,803,461.24.

Why was the sentence reduced?

The Sentencing Commission's Amendment 821 added the zero-point provision at USSG § 4C1.1, made retroactive from February 1, 2024. The parties stipulated that it lowered Ashcraft's total offense level from 22 to 20 and his guideline range from 41-51 months to 33-41 months, and jointly asked for 33 months on each of counts 1 and 4, concurrently. The Bureau of Prisons record of April 2024 lists a new sentence imposed of 33 months, with the basis for the change recorded as the guidelines criminal-history decision of November 1, 2023.

What else did Ashcraft ask the court for?

He filed pro se motions for compassionate release under 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(1)(A) and, after that was denied, for reconsideration; the filings here are the government's requests for extensions of time to respond and the orders granting them. Eight stipulations on this page continued his self-surrender date, and the Bureau of Prisons record shows he was committed on September 6, 2023.

Summary written from the documents on this page; every sentence is sourced.