Commonwealth v. Moreau

Nov 30, 1973
Reporters:
,

The defendant was tried on two indictments, one charging extortion, the other larceny, and assigns as error the action of ‍​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‍the trial judge in denying motions for directed verdicts on both charges. The jury could have found that over a period of ten years the defendant made a series of threats to one Anthony Thonis, as a result of which ‍​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‍he received weekly payments from Thonis. This states the elements of the crime as they are delineated in G. L. c. 265, § 25, as amended. See Commonwealth v. Snow, 269 Mass. 598, 608 (1930); Commonwealth v. Pelligrini, 283 Mass. 300, 303 (1933); Commonwealth v. De Vincent, 358 Mass. 592, 595 (1971). On the ‍​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‍larceny charge, there was evidence of the transfer of money to the defendant based on false statements and promises which he made to one Kelley. There was a showing that the defendant made a false statement of fact, viz., an ‍​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‍intention to assist Kelley to attain a position in a social organization, known by him to be false, with the intent that Kelley should rely on its truth and as a *830result transfer money to the defendant. See Commonwealth v. Green, 326 Mass. 344, 348 ‍​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‍(1950), and cases cited. There was no error.

Robert V. Greco for the defendant. Terence M. Troyer, Assistant District Attorney, for the Commonwealth.

Judgments affirmed.