UNITED STATES of America, Appellee,
v.
Peter BOYLAN, Defendant, Appellant.
UNITED STATES of America, Appellee,
v.
John E. CAREY, Defendant, Appellant.
UNITED STATES of America, Appellee,
v.
Thomas J. CONNOLLY, Defendant, Appellant.
UNITED STATES of America, Appellee,
v.
Matthew A. KILROE, Defendant, Appellant.
UNITED STATES of America, Appellee,
v.
John F. McCORMICK, Defendant, Appellant.
UNITED STATES of America, Appellee,
v.
Kenneth J. NAVE, Defendant, Appellant.
UNITED STATES of America, Appellee,
v.
Francis X. SHEEHAN, Defendant, Appellant.
Nos. 88-2214 to 88-2220.
United States Court of Appeals,
First Circuit.
Heard Dec. 6, 1989.
Decided March 14, 1990.
Thomas R. Dyson, Washington, D.C., with whom Albert Cullen, Jr., Boston, Mass., Robert D. Luskin, Jonathan A. Knee, Powell, Goldstein, Frazer & Murphy, Clifford M. Sloan, and Onek, Klein & Farr, Washington, D.C., were on brief, for appellant Thomas J. Connolly.
Robert D. Luskin, with whom Jonathan A. Knee, Powell, Goldstein, Frazer & Murphy, Clifford M. Sloan, and Onek, Klein & Farr, Washington, D.C., were on brief, for remaining appellants.
Paul Buckley, Milton, Mass., on brief, for appellant Peter Boylan.
Regina Quinlan, Boston, Mass., on brief, for appellant John E. Carey.
Anthony Traini and Leppo & Traini, Randolph, Mass., on brief, for appellant Matthew A. Kilroe.
Anthony M. Cardinale, Boston, Mass., on brief, for appellant John F. McCormick.
Paul F. Markham, Boston, Mass., on brief, for appellant Kenneth J. Nave.
Robert Muse, Washington, D.C., on brief, for appellant Francis X. Sheehan.
Diane M. Kottmyer and James B. Farmer, Sp. Attys., U.S. Dept. of Justice, with whom Wayne A. Budd, U.S. Atty., Boston, Mass., was on brief, for U.S.
Before TORRUELLA and SELYA, Circuit Judges, and COFFIN, Senior Circuit Judge.
SELYA, Circuit Judge.
Oliver Wendell Holmes is generally credited with pointing out that "we live by symbols"--and few symbols are better recognized than the lawman's badge. Yet the badge, like other emblemata of power, can be tarnished. These appeals present what the government believes--and defendants steadfastly deny--is a classic example of the genre.
I. TRAVEL OF THE CASE
A federal grand jury returned a 58-count indictment against appellants, former members of the Boston Police Department (BPD). During the relevant period, defendant Carey was a detective sergeant. Defendants Boylan, Kilroe, McCormick, Nave, and Sheehan were under Carey's supervision. Defendant Connolly was Sheehan's partner for a time. The indictment charged the defendants with violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), by participating in the affairs of an enterprise, the BPD, through a pattern of racketeering activity, 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1962(c) (1982), and with racketeering conspiracy, 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1962(d) (1982). The remainder of the indictment was checkerboarded, charging various defendants with various violations, and combinations of violations, of the Hobbs Act, 18 U.S.C. Secs. 1951, 1952 (1982), certain mail fraud statutes, 18 U.S.C. Secs. 1341, 1342 (1982), and the like. The specific offenses did double duty, serving (with some supplementation) as predicate acts undergirding the RICO charges.
Count 33 was dropped before trial. The defendants were tried together on the remaining charges. With minor exceptions--the jury acquitted Nave and Sheehan on one Hobbs Act count and acquitted Nave on a mail fraud charge--all defendants were convicted on all counts. Following the denial of sundry posttrial motions and the imposition of sentence, appeals were taken across the board.
Initially, we set forth the case's background. We then turn to the meat of defendants' menu of assigned errors, discussing the more colorable contentions and rejecting the remainder without comment. In the interests of clarity and for ease in reference, we have prepared an appendix summarizing the indictment and will henceforth assume the reader's familiarity with it.
II. BACKGROUND
In Boston, a Licensing Board (Board) regulates the dispensation and service of liquor, licensing vendors and enforcing state and municipal laws and regulations governing, inter alia, sales of alcoholic beverages, occupancy limits, conduct of licensed premises, and hours of operation. If rules are broken, the Board may impose penalties ranging from a warning, to probation, to suspension or revocation of an establishment's license. All Boston police detectives are considered agents of the Board responsible for inspecting licensed premises and reporting infractions; they are empowered to apply for criminal complaints and file charges with the Board as may be necessary.
Detectives are also eligible for private duty on their own time--duty which can be quite lucrative. The BPD's rules prohibit policemen from providing such private services except through official channels, i.e., in accordance with the police unions' collective bargaining agreements and BPD regulations, and for set fees. These rules safeguard the equal distribution of income-supplementing opportunities, ensure that matters remain aboveboard, and deter potential abuses. Officers are flatly prohibited from accepting more generous remuneration or performing details not posted and assigned through the proper departmental offices.
Between 1975 and 1986 each defendant was assigned for some period of time to work nights in District 4, encompassing Back Bay, the Fenway section, and certain other Boston neighborhoods. District 4 is a hotbed of nightclubs, saloons, and other establishments, including some so-called "gay bars," where appetites can be satisfied and thirsts slaked. According to the indictment, many of the alleged offenses occurred when defendants accepted cash payments outside the rules from proprietors of licensed establishments. Typically, the payments--anywhere from $100 to $600 per officer per occasion--were made during holiday season and at "vacation time." The defendants were said to have reciprocated by rendering favors ranging from the relatively innocuous (e.g., the provision of escort services when bank deposits were made; preferentially quick responses to disturbances) to the downright sinister (e.g., behind-the-scenes "help" in handling "problems" with the police; quashing of charges; influencing the Board's regulatory and enforcement actions). In the indictment, these events were clustered into several series of racketeering acts. Each series bore a letter designation corresponding to a separate person with some interest in a particular locus.
III. RACKETEERING
We begin with the contention that the evidence failed to show either a linked pattern of racketeering activity or a RICO conspiracy.
A. Evidentiary Sufficiency.
Defendants claim that the aggregate proof indicated only dubious free-lancing by some officers or, at worst, a cluster of small, disconnected, nickel-beer conspiracies.1 We summarize the alphabetized series of racketeering acts which the indictment alleged and the proof depicted, basing our narrative upon "the evidence in its totality, taken in the light most flattering to the government, together with all legitimate inferences to be drawn therefrom, in an effort to ascertain whether a rational trier of the facts could have found the appellant[s] guilty beyond any reasonable doubt." United States v. Tierney,
1. Series A. Norman Chaletzky owned interests in three nightclubs: 88 Queensbury; the 1270; and the Kentucky Tavern. From 1979 to 1986, Chaletzky paid Sheehan and Connolly semi-annually, in $500 increments, so that they would remain his "friends" rather than become his "enemies." In return, Connolly gave Chaletzky his home telephone number and the telephone number for the detectives' room at the precinct house. He promised that he and Sheehan would hold themselves available to "help" with license violations and would deal with the authorities on Chaletzky's behalf.
2. Series B. Five defendants (Boylan, Carey, Kilroe, McCormick, and Nave) received money from Joseph McGowan, a co-owner of the 1270, during the period 1983-85. The amounts ranged from $200 to $600 per payment. In return, the detectives forewarned McGowan of inspections, assisted him by "fixing" citations, and interceded with Board personnel to sidetrack adversary proceedings. The interventions appear to have been effective: during the relevant period, there were no disciplinary hearings involving the 1270 despite numerous reports of serious violations occurring there.
3. Series C and D. These counts involved Thomas Moloney, owner of Frank 'N SteinsS and Play It Again Sam's (PIAS), and co-owner, with Warren Frank, of Patrick Brady's Grand Back Bay Pub and Grill (Brady's). From 1980 to 1986, Moloney made periodic payments of $200 to $300 to Kilroe and the defendant who happened to be Kilroe's partner at the time. In December 1984, Frank also paid Kilroe $200. Kilroe gave Moloney the telephone number to the detectives' room, offered escort services, tried to exert influence when a citation for overcrowding was issued to PIAS, and prompted an unusually celeritous police response when an untoward incident occurred at FNS. Kilroe volunteered escort services to Frank and gave him a business card on which McCormick's name was written.
4. Series F. The Blacke brothers, George and Lawrence, operated Nine Lansdowne. They made frequent payments to Nave and Sheehan in the 1984-86 time frame. The detectives gave the brothers their home telephone numbers and assisted them in divers ways: for example, the officers "straightened out" a patron who had frightened the Blackes; on another occasion, they resolved a dispute which arose out of a fight in the club. Nave and Sheehan would pick up George Blacke in their police cruiser, ask if he "needed anything" and if "everything was okay;" Blacke would then pay them $100 apiece "to stay in good." The Blackes made other payments to Nave, Sheehan, Boylan, and Kilroe.
5. Series H. Connolly rendered unauthorized escort services to John Moriarty, the manager of the Cafe Budapest. Connolly did the honors personally for the most part, often in a police car. Sheehan frequently accompanied him. In return, Connolly received free meals and drinks for himself, his family and friends. He also accepted interest-free loans.
6. Series I. Jean Tasse, an employee of a corporation which operated two nightclubs (Metro and Spit), paid Boylan, Connolly, Nave, and Sheehan in excess of the established rates for police details and made other cash payments to them. To reciprocate, Nave, Sheehan, and Boylan came to the corporation's assistance when it was cited for violations.
7. Series J. United Liquors (UL), a wholesaler, owned a billboard overlooking Fenway Park. Baseball fans, eager to avoid mounting ticket prices, often mounted the billboard instead to watch Boston Red Sox games in a cost-effective manner. Mary Fortier, a UL employee, called Sheehan in 1983 to arrange a security detail to ward off sign-perchers. Sheehan did not process the request through proper channels. Rather, he supplied Fortier with the names of policemen whom he said had performed the work and stipulated amounts to be paid to each. Following Sheehan's instructions, Fortier mailed checks to Sheehan's address for him to distribute to the designated police officers. The list, however, was bogus. Except for checks written to Nave (which Nave negotiated) and one check to Boylan, see infra note 5, Sheehan forged the payees' signatures and kept the money. This practice continued through 1985; 96 checks, totalling some $14,000, were transmitted. Neither Nave nor Sheehan reported the income for tax purposes.
At the expense of some repetition, we also scrutinize the evidence from a slightly different coign of vantage, taking the defendants one by one, in alphabetical order.
1. Boylan. The evidence showed that from 1984 through 1986 Boylan helped Carey and Kilroe "fix" numerous citations against the 1270 by intervening with line officers. A good illustration concerns a 1984 citation stemming from the alleged rape of a minor at the 1270. Boylan, Carey, and Kilroe reported periodically to McGowan on their efforts to influence members of the Board and shelve the citation. At Christmas that year, Boylan's payment from the 1270 was picked up by Carey (who collected payments for a number of the defendants). The citation eventually came to naught.
In 1983-85, Boylan was one of several officers (including Nave, Sheehan, and Connolly) to whom Tasse paid $900 annually. Boylan contacted Nave and Sheehan for Tasse when Tasse could not do so directly. The trio teamed to cover up violations. According to Tasse's testimony, Boylan collected money not only for himself, but on occasion for Nave, Sheehan, and other defendants. Boylan also accepted other payments, e.g., $200 from Frank (who had given the money to Kilroe to split with Boylan) and $200 from Lawrence Blacke (also via Kilroe).
2. Carey. Carey was introduced to McGowan by Sheehan. Carey, Boylan, and Kilroe visited McGowan at the 1270 in 1984. Carey told him that they had come to be "taken care of." After receiving $300 each, Carey told McGowan to call if he had any "problems." Carey returned to the 1270 later that summer to pick up money for another detective. He told McGowan to let him know whenever McGowan wanted to have an after hours party. In November, Carey worked with Kilroe and Boylan to prevent prosecution of the rape citation described earlier. McGowan gave Carey $600 to be divided between the officer who wrote the citation and a Board employee.
Tape recorded conversations revealed that in the fall of 1984 Carey received $1400 from McGowan for himself, McCormick, Boylan, Kilroe, and a fifth person. Carey stated that McCormick asked him to make the collection. He acknowledged that another officer had been paid off and that McCormick was involved. Carey told McGowan that he and his cohorts "can assist you like we have in the past," and warned McGowan against attempting to bribe a particular (honest) deputy. Carey also told McGowan about a time when he, Boylan, and Kilroe were miffed because they thought they had been shortchanged in a payoff.
The record shows that Carey gave tit for tat. A typical example of illicit assistance occurred in 1985. In respect to an overcrowding violation, Carey told McGowan that court proceedings would be pretermitted and that "we'll take care of the Board." His prediction proved prophetic: neither a court action nor a Board hearing eventuated. Carey and Kilroe later explained to McGowan how they ensured that the complaint would not be prosecuted. In 1985 and 1986, Carey, Boylan, and Kilroe derailed other charges by intervening with the detectives who issued the citations. When Carey was transferred in June 1985, he advised McGowan that another detective would continue to "take care of" the 1270 and that McGowan could pay for the service through Carey.
3. Connolly. Chaletzky was introduced to Connolly and Sheehan in 1979. The detectives told him that they "oversaw" the clubs in District 4 and that if Chaletzky had any problems with the police he should contact them. In exchange, Connolly and Sheehan were each to receive $500 at Christmas and at vacation time. Connolly picked up the money twice a year at Chaletzky's office, sometimes accompanied by Sheehan. Sheehan also received $150 or $200 from Chaletzky through Connolly for Sheehan's efforts in respect to a homicide investigation involving 88 Queensbury. Connolly asked for extra money after he expedited a gun permit that Chaletzky wanted.
McGowan testified that Connolly and Sheehan came to the 1270 one night and told him he was "in trouble" for overcrowding and serving a minor. After being informed that the 1270 was part of Chaletzky's family of clubs, the pair never issued a citation. When Connolly was transferred, he told Chaletzky he could still "help" if there were any "problems" and passed along his new telephone number.
As already recounted, Connolly, via Nave, received several payments from Metro and Spit. And, he accepted free meals, beverages, and loans from Cafe Budapest in return for escort services and the like.
4. Kilroe. In December 1983, Kilroe became McCormick's partner (replacing Nave). They took money from McGowan. Kilroe was also involved with Carey and Boylan in quashing the rape citation against the 1270. During February 1985, Chaletzky gave Kilroe $100 to take care of an overcrowding violation. Beginning around then, Kilroe and Boylan performed a series of mock inspections for the benefit of the 1270.
From 1979 to 1986 Kilroe picked up $400-$600 annually from Moloney. Boylan and McCormick were likewise implicated. On one occasion, Kilroe and Boylan were reprimanded after attempting to influence a police officer who had reported an overcrowding incident at PIAS. Moloney told Frank that Kilroe and his partners were the only police they could count on and that he (Moloney) paid them every Christmas. Kilroe also received $400 for himself and Boylan from the Blackes after Nave suggested that such a payment was in order. In 1985, Kilroe and Boylan took George Blacke for a ride in their police car and told him they would "work with" him if there were ever a "problem." Once Kilroe scared off a disgruntled patron who had threatened Blacke; Blacke gave Kilroe $400. Boylan acknowledged receiving half of the payoff.
5. McCormick. McCormick wrote a citation against the 1270 and the Board scheduled a hearing in September 1982. Sheehan told McGowan not to worry because the hearing was "all set." Sheehan was right. McGowan paid McCormick and Nave in January 1983. Later in 1983, after Kilroe became McCormick's partner, they collected money from McGowan. McCormick reminded McGowan to call if he had "any trouble." He informed McGowan that Nave was now Sheehan's partner and would henceforth take care of his own payments. McCormick also stated that Chaletzky (whom he regarded as McGowan's boss) was "paying off" Sheehan. In 1984, McCormick sent Carey to pick up the detectives' "vacation money" from McGowan (including money for McCormick). In March 1985, McCormick told McGowan that an overcrowding citation had been deep-sixed. And as mentioned earlier, Kilroe received cash from Moloney and split it with McCormick.
6. Nave. Nave's dealings vis-a-vis McGowan have already been chronicled and do not bear repetition. We add two lagniappes: (1) Nave did not allow Carey to retrieve his cut from McGowan. He did so himself, stating that he did not want "Carey and them picking mine up." (2) Nave also met McGowan at court and made inquiries on his behalf concerning matters which might be pending against the 1270.
The Blackes paid money to both Nave and Sheehan. In 1985-86, George Blacke paid them $100 apiece every other month "to stay in good with them and to be able to call them if I needed them." The Blackes also began paying Kilroe and Boylan at Nave's suggestion. Nave and Sheehan responded promptly whenever the Blackes sought their help.
Nave also collected money from Tasse for himself and other officers (including Boylan, Connolly, and Sheehan). In exchange, the detectives gave special attention to Tasse's businesses. If one of his bars was cited, Tasse would call Nave or Sheehan.
7. Sheehan. Sheehan was involved with Connolly in protecting Chaletzky's clubs and often accompanied Connolly when money changed hands. It was Sheehan who introduced McGowan to Nave. Sheehan spoke with a Board member about a case against McGowan while it was pending; later, accompanied by Nave, he told McGowan: "Don't worry, it's all set." The 1270 received only a wrist slap; its license was not suspended.
Sheehan had a plethora of other connections to the operation. He and Nave participated together in dealings with the Blackes; both were in the group which took money from Tasse; and Sheehan aided Connolly in furnishing escort services to Cafe Budapest.
Having done little more than scratch the tip of a fair-sized iceberg,2 we limn the legal parameters of our inquiry. In order to convict a defendant for a RICO conspiracy, the government must prove:
(1) the existence of an 'enterprise,' (2) that the defendant knowingly joined the enterprise and (3) that the defendant agreed to commit, or in fact committed, two or more specified predicate crimes as part of his participation in the affairs of the enterprise.
United States v. Torres Lopez,
Factors to be considered in deciding whether one, or many, conspiracies were demonstrated include the nature, design, implementation, and logistics of the illegal activity; the participants' modus operandi; the relevant geography; and the scope of coconspirator involvement. See United States v. Rivera-Santiago,
To be guilty, colloguers need not be joined at the chest like Chang and Eng. A RICO conspiracy does not demand total fusion or that all defendants participate in all racketeering acts, know of the entire conspiratorial sweep, or be acquainted with all other defendants. See United States v. Stratton,
The evidence, we think, was more than ample to meet the applicable standard and tie the specified racketeering acts together. The prosecution may, of course, "prove its case through the use of circumstantial evidence so long as the total evidence, including reasonable inferences, is sufficient to warrant a jury to conclude that the defendant is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt." United States v. Campa,
By the same token, we think that the proof of each defendant's complicity was convincing. Indeed, if the prosecution's version is accepted, there is little question that each defendant was extensively involved in a shared plan preying upon licensed premises, with every defendant participating in at least two predicate acts. The jury could well have concluded that the defendants (1) schemed to conduct the BPD's affairs through racketeering acts in pursuit of their mutual goal, and (2) were imbricated as a group, viewing themselves as interchangeable in important respects. One defendant, Carey, literally supervised five of the other defendants. Save only for Connolly, each of the defendants was directly connected by word and deed to all other defendants in the course of at least one racketeering act. And Connolly was sufficiently implicated: his intercourse with Boylan, Nave, and Sheehan in four of the Series I crimes, to cite one handy illustration, bespoke his complicity. As we have said, an accused's lack of direct connection with, or knowledge of, every racketeering act or series, does not preclude the inference of a single conspiracy; nor does it preclude the inference that a particular defendant was a champion of the master conspiracy. See Garcia-Rosa,
To be sure, there was no proof of an express agreement. That is unsurprising: criminal conspiracies are by their nature clandestine. But an implied agreement can, and often does, suffice to ground a conspiracy charge. See, e.g., Glenn,
In a criminal case, the jury's finding of guilt need not be inevitable. If the evidence, though susceptible to conflicting inferences, is adequate to permit a reasonable trier of fact to have found the essential elements of the charged crime beyond a reasonable doubt, a guilty verdict may appropriately be returned. See Torres Lopez,
B. Jury Instructions: Conspiracy.
Appellants next assert that the district court's charge enfeebled their defense by glossing over the multiple conspiracy rule. We are unpersuaded.
The rule's underpinnings are firm. The criminal law does not permit responsibility to be founded on mere association. Guilt "is not a matter of mass application," but "remains individual and personal, even as respects conspiracies." Kotteakos v. United States,
In this case, there were clearly multiple conspiracies: the indictment charged not only the omnibus RICO conspiracy involving all seven defendants, but six separate sub-conspiracies involving different groupings of defendants, see supra note 1. Recognizing as much, the district court purposed to cover the point in its instructions: "Should you find that any defendant participated in a conspiracy that was different from those charged in the indictment, that determination would be no basis for finding the defendant guilty of any of the offenses charged." Appellants complain that this reference suggested that the government was only precluded from proving conspiracies outside the scope of the indictment3 and could have misled the jurors into convicting a defendant on the RICO count so long as he was found to have entered into any of the charged sub-conspiracies, regardless of whether the omnibus RICO conspiracy, or the particular defendant's participation therein, was proven.
We decline appellants' invitation to treat this single admonition in a vacuum. Read as a whole, the jury instructions were sensitive to defendants' rights. The court impressed upon the jury that each element of each charged offense had to be found beyond a reasonable doubt as to each defendant before a guilty verdict could be returned against that defendant. At the very outset of its formal instructions, the court asked the jury to "give separate consideration to each defendant and each charge," that is, to "consider each count and each defendant separately, considering the evidence as it bears against that defendant on that count in accordance with the instructions." The court repeatedly emphasized and reemphasized that the defendants were to be treated severally and individually in connection with each particular charge. As to the RICO conspiracy, the court framed the question as whether "the government carried its burden of proving each defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of the charge listed," reminding the jury that the "essential elements are required to be proved beyond a reasonable doubt in order to establish the guilt of a particular defendant." And the jury was explicitly advised of its duty to determine whether the conspiracies existed "as charged."
Throughout the instructions, the court stressed that mere association or presence was insufficient to establish a given conspiracy. In instances too numerous to catalogue profitably here, the court made references to the defendants and the charges against them in singular form, focusing the jury's attention on "each defendant considered separately" according to "each charge." Time and again the court repeated that the government's burden was in no way lessened by the multiplicity of defendants and of charges. To say more would only paint the lily. We gauge each jury instruction in the context of the charge as a whole, not in isolation. See United States v. Serino,
A trial judge has no obligation to use the precise language that a defendant prefers. Cintolo,
IV. JOINDER AND SEVERANCE
Before trial, each defendant unsuccessfully moved for severance under Fed.R.Crim.P. 8(b) and 14.4 They now argue that they were improperly joined in this single indictment and that the trial court abused its discretion in denying their motions to sever.
A. Joinder.
We begin with the unassailable: "The government is entitled to charge and join parties on the basis of what it reasonably anticipates proving against all." United States v. Martinez,
We need not pursue too closely the type of affiliating circumstances generally required for joinder since we have squarely held joinder to be proper where, as here, a single RICO count "embrace[s] all of the acts and transactions upon which the other ... counts [are] based." United States v. Tashjian,
This case exemplifies the general rule. The indictment charged each defendant with substantive RICO violations, with joining the overall RICO conspiracy, and with personally committing several predicate acts. The RICO charges embraced all the events upon which the other 56 counts were based. There was ample reason for shaping the indictment in this manner: similarities among the predicate acts--including their tight geographic and chronological setting and the coconspirators' common employment--suggested the existence of a joint criminal enterprise. The public benefit of a common trial was readily apparent. By and large, the racketeering acts and corresponding counts presented the requisite "sameness" to warrant joinder. Furthermore, the evidence presented at trial was ample to convict all defendants of the omnibus conspiracy. This is a good assurance that joinder was not a result of prosecutorial bad faith but was founded on a reasonable, good faith basis in fact. See Arruda,
Deciding whether to grant or deny a severance is a matter committed to the trial court's sound discretion; we will interfere with the exercise of that discretion only upon a demonstration of manifest abuse. Arruda,
In the present case, of course, the same considerations which authorize joinder militate in favor of overruling defendants' Rule 14 claim. Moreover, we discern no unfair or unacceptable level of prejudice, that is, we see little beyond the type and degree of prejudice customary in virtually all high-profile trials of multiple defendants and charges. There is nothing to suggest that the number of defendants and charges was so large that the jury could not distinguish among them. See Luna,
V. VARIANCE
Appellants assert with considerable fervor that there were material variances between the conspiracies charged and proven. We are fully satisfied, for reasons implicit in what we have already written, that no variance existed among the several bar/restaurant/nightclub protection schemes, on the one hand, and the charged RICO conspiracy, on the second hand. The only doubtful area concerns whether the UL crimes (Series J) were properly within the scope of the master conspiracy; and if not, whether transferred guilt (or "spillover") attributable to them led the jury to convict on the RICO charges.
A. Was There a Variance?
Our analytic roadmap is well drawn:
[A]n appellate court, reviewing the type of alleged variance ... should ask the following questions. (1) Is the evidence sufficient to permit a jury to find the (express or tacit) agreement that the indictment charges? (2) If not, is it sufficient to permit a jury, under a proper set of instructions, to convict the defendant of a related, similar conspiracy? (3) If so, does the variance affect the defendant's substantial rights or does the difference between the charged conspiracy and the conspiracy proved amount to "harmless error?"
Glenn,
We start by stating the obvious: the UL plot, on its face, seems a breed apart from the other racketeering allegations mentioned in the indictment. For one thing, the illegal activity--defrauding a business by trick--was dissimilar in nature and kind to that involved in the bar/restaurant/nightclub schemes. The method of operation was foreign to the other schemes; rather than being accomplished through a series of consensual payments resulting from extortion or improper favors, Series J involved the procurement of money through mail fraud, forgery, and misrepresentation. Such methodologic differences are important. See, e.g., Rivera-Santiago,
To be sure, criminal conspiracies come in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, and styles. Yet, a prosecutor cannot string disparate incidents together by strands of supposition and surmise and expect the tie to bind. In this instance, the government argues that all the defendants, in Series J and beyond, used their official positions illegally to gain things of value. That is so--but it cannot be enough. There must be more of a nexus than rough temporal and geographic identity and affiliation with the same governmental unit. Were the government's generality legally sufficient, the prosecution could enfold within the RICO conspiracy charge every other BPD officer who, for example, may have accepted gratuities for voiding parking tickets in District 4 during the same time frame. We cannot accept that the law would allow painting with so broad a brush, conglomerating a bewildering array of markedly dissimilar criminal acts as part of a single RICO conspiracy on so tenuous a connection as has been demonstrated here. The UL affair did not belong within the confines of the omnibus RICO conspiracy. To this extent, a variance existed.
B. Was There Prejudice?
At the bottom line, the finding that the UL scheme constituted a variance does not profit the appellants: we conclude that the variance did not impact any defendant's substantial rights and, thus, can be dismissed as harmless.6 Variance requires reversal only where defendants demonstrate that the difference in proof somehow affected their "substantial rights" so that they were "significantly prejudiced." Glenn,
Slightly more troubling is the defendants' united protest that prejudice inured because UL evidence, admitted without limitation, tainted the jury's perception of the case. The defense premise is sound in the abstract: courts must be vigilant in guarding against transference of guilt from evidence incriminating a defendant involved in one conspiracy to other defendants involved in a different conspiracy. See United States v. Levine,
Inasmuch as joinder of the Series J counts with the remainder of the charges was proper, see supra Part IV(A), and because the district court carefully charged the jury to treat each count separately, Nave and Sheehan are hard pressed to complain about this kind of spillover. The other defendants' claims of prejudice rest on an even more ephemeral postulate: because the UL scheme was so repugnant and the government's proof of it so incontrovertible, these appellants say, they were prejudiced by admission of the evidence (even though it did not refer directly to them). The argument is vapid. The UL affair stemmed from nonperformance of a security detail which, if handled through official channels, could appropriately have been commissioned. The bar protection schemes involved thinly veiled threats endangering the continuing viability of the victims' business enterprises and livelihoods and also involved conduct impermissible under any circumstances. The latter were amply proven and seem far more reprehensible. Evidence of payroll-padding would not appear, realistically, to add much fuel to so torrid a fire.
The sockdolager is that the trial court's instructions provided ample prophylaxis. Notwithstanding the number of defendants, the evidence was presented in a well-structured, compartmentalized fashion that minimized the risk of spillover to particular defendants from evidence directed at others.8 At every turn, the trial judge reminded the jury to treat each defendant and each charge separately. In these ways, the chance for harm--remote and speculative to begin with--was further reduced. The court's precautions supply considerable assurance that no unfair prejudice resulted from the variance. We see no basis for ordering a new trial.
VI. CONTINUITY
Appellants assign error to the trial court's failure, during jury instructions, specifically to mention "continuity" as an element of proving racketeering activity. Alternatively, they urge that even if the court's instructions were adequate the evidence failed to demonstrate the requisite continuity between the alleged predicate acts.
A. Instructional Error: Continuity.
The Criminal Rules furnish our point of embarkation: "No party may assign as error any portion of the charge or omission therefrom unless that party objects thereto ... stating distinctly the matter to which that party objects and the grounds of the objection." Fed.R.Crim.P. 30. Parties must "clearly object," Glenn,
Appellants say they properly preserved continuity as a ground of appeal anent the charge. The record belies the claim. In the trial court, appellants' objections were aimed not at the requirement of continuity, but at the supposed need to prove multiple schemes as a prerequisite to mounting a RICO prosecution (an idea now thoroughly discredited).9 Typical is the objection lodged during the post-charge bench conference:
I think that you only gave half of the pattern instruction. I think the other half is that if the racketeering acts are too closely related together, that they may be subparts of the same transaction and not separate racketeering acts. And I think the evidence has to show multiple episodes of racketeering activity and not merely repeated acts that carry out the same criminal conduct....
This objection, fairly viewed, directed the court's attention away from, instead of toward, continuity. Litigants cannot expect a judge, particularly at the tail end of a long and complex trial, to be clairvoyant. "[R]obes and gavels are the tools of a jurist's trade--not tea leaves or crystal balls." United States v. Ladd,
The plain error hurdle is high. See, e.g., United States v. Hunnewell,
The language of RICO itself makes explicit the requirement of "a pattern of racketeering activity." 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1962(c). RICO's use of the word "pattern" is to be taken in its "ordinary meaning," that is, the predicate acts must "fall into an[ ] arrangement or order." H.J. Inc. v. Northwestern Bell Telephone Co., --- U.S. ----,
In the absence of any pat formula, the Court has instructed us to use a flexible approach toward the pattern requirement, "deriv[ing] from a common-sense, everyday understanding of RICO's language and Congress' gloss on it." H.J. Inc.,
Continuity may be demonstrated "in a variety of ways." H.J. Inc.,
Defendants are correct that the court below omitted the specific word "continuity" from its jury instructions. But the word itself should not be accorded talismanic significance. Despite the expurgation, the substance of the point was covered. To cite one specific example, the court stated:
[A]t least two racketeering acts are necessary ..., but proof of two separate racketeering acts does not necessarily constitute a pattern of racketeering activity. Proof of two is necessary, but that proof alone is not sufficient. Two of something does not constitute a pattern by itself. The two acts must be connected in some way. Criminal conduct forms a pattern if it embraces criminal acts that have the same or similar purposes, results, participants, victims, or methods of commission, or are otherwise interrelated by distinguishing characteristics and are not separated, isolated events.... You may find that two or more acts are part of a pattern, that even though they are different from each other, they are related to the affairs of the enterprise ... in such a way as to form a pattern of racketeering activity. Again, just finding two acts were committed is not enough. They must be in a pattern. They must form a pattern.
This instruction unarguably apprised the jury of the pattern requirement. At best, then, appellants' point reduces to a claim that the court misguggled the charge by failing satisfactorily to define this element of the offense. The claim will not wash.
The charge stressed that "something more" than two acts was necessary to prove a racketeering pattern and evoked that "something more" in commonsense terms consonant with the Court's teachings. The instruction succinctly recited types of "distinguishing characteristics" on which the jury could rely to show the requisite interrelationship. Cf. Fleet Credit, at 446. The characteristics mentioned by the lower court adequately evinced the concept that continuity requires "a series of related predicates extending over a substantial period of time," reflective of a "regular way" of conducting the enterprise's affairs. See H.J. Inc.,
Other courts have held far less elaborate instructions on "pattern"--instructions which also omitted specific reference to "continuity"--are sturdy enough to withstand plain error review. See, e.g., United States v. Muskovsky,
B. Proof of a Pattern.
Appellants' argument that the evidence was insufficient to prove a pattern of racketeering activity need not occupy us for long. As in Muskovsky and Grayson, the requisite continuity is manifest among the predicate acts on which the jury must have relied to convict under RICO. The evidence demonstrates beyond peradventure that the racketeering acts were not isolated events. The jury concluded, supportably, that each defendant used his official position to profit through Hobbs Act offenses. These activities continued over lengthy periods of time (no less than a year in any instance and for as long as six years in certain instances). The number of acts and the presence of numerous subschemes lend great weight in the balance. See Fleet Credit, at 446. As to relatedness, the similarities among the predicate acts were obvious and do not bear repeating. In fine, the collocation of so many common characteristics along so lengthy a temporal span belied appellants' denials that these actions were not a regular way of conducting their BPD business.
We have often acknowledged that, in a criminal trial, the factfinder "is free to choose among various reasonable constructions of the evidence." United States v. Thornley,
VII. THE HOBBS ACT
Appellants fire several rounds of grapeshot at their Hobbs Act convictions. All have to do with perceived deficiencies in the lower court's instructions. Only two salvos warrant discussion.
A. Inducement.
The Hobbs Act defines extortion as "the obtaining of property from another, with his consent, induced by wrongful use of actual or threatened force, violence, or fear, or under color of official right." 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1951(b)(2). The courts of appeals are divided on the precise interpretation of this language. Penologically, the dispute centers upon whether the Hobbs Act preserves the distinction between bribery and extortion. Linguistically, the dispute centers upon the effect of the disjunctive immediately preceding the words "under color of official right." Some courts have decided that, given grammar and syntax, the "under color" phrase modifies the verb "induced," thus requiring the prosecution to show that a defendant not only acted "under color of official right" but also that he induced payment by some form of Hobbs Act extortion. See United States v. Aguon,
In the past, we have successfully avoided this issue,11 see United States v. Jarabek,
Inducement can take many forms, some more subtle than others, and any inducement is sufficient.... The mere passive receipt of a gift is not extortion. The government is not required to prove that the defendant demanded or directly solicited the payment made or that he offered anything specific in return for it.
The instructions continued at length, describing ways in which the government might prove inducement. Inasmuch as the court's charge tracked the language used by those circuits which impose an inducement requirement, see, e.g., Aguon,
Defendants claim that the district court's instruction on specific intent was inappropriate. Near the beginning of the charge, the judge stated:
The term "knowingly" means that the act was done voluntarily and intentionally, not because of mistake or accident. The word "willfully" means that the act was committed voluntarily and purposely with the specific intent to do something the law forbids; that is to say, with bad purpose either to disobey or to disregard the law. These instructions will apply to these terms throughout the remainder of these instructions.
Thereafter, in enumerating the elements of Hobbs Act offenses, the court twice stated that the government had to prove that "defendant willfully and knowingly obtained property from the person."
No matter what type of extortion is alleged, specific intent is part and parcel of a Hobbs Act conviction. See, e.g., Aguon,
Appellants also denigrate the instruction on "under color" extortion from another standpoint. The charge suggested, appellants say, that a conviction could be based on a defendant's knowledge that the victim was motivated by the public office held rather than by some misuse of that office. But, this hairsplitting incorrectly shifts the mens rea focus to fine--and wholly needless--distinctions concerning what a defendant might think that a payor might be thinking. In extortion, "[t]he emphasis is on the defendant's own motives rather than on his perception of a potential contributor's motive." Dozier,
In a last gasp, as if the third time were the charm, appellants press a final mens rea objection. On the topic of extortion by fear of economic harm, the district court charged that "the exploitation of the payor's reasonable fear constituted extortion whether or not the defendant was responsible for creating that fear and despite the absence of any direct threats." Appellants speculate that the remark could have allowed the jury to convict them without proof that they were aware of, or intended to take advantage of, the victim's fear. But, this bit of unmitigated conjecture improperly wrests the court's comment from its contextual moorings. See McKenna,
The disputed statement was made in a section of the instructions defining (and distinguishing) various types of Hobbs Act extortion. The court's emphasis was on the source of the fear which was being exploited, not on exploitation itself. Nothing in this preachment, or elsewhere in the charge, negated the need for the prosecution to prove intent to exploit. In addition, the court told the jurors that (1) a conviction would have to be based on exploitation of the payor's fear, and (2) a defendant must have "wrongfully used" that fear to induce the payor's consent. These instructions plainly implied that unintentional conduct would not suffice. See Scacchetti,
VIII. CROSS-EXAMINATION
Before the grand jury, the Blacke brothers admitted bribing Jon Straight, a Board member, by means of cash gifts and procurement of male prostitutes. The Blackes' testimony was obtained through grants of immunity covering myriad prosecutable offenses, including their not-so-straight arrangements with Straight. The trial judge allowed inquiry into the bribery, but not into the recruitment of prostitutes or George Blacke's sexual orientation. Appellants assert that the limits placed on cross-examination abridged their sixth amendment rights and comprised an abuse of the district court's power. In expounding the point, they say that the restrictions prevented the jury from learning the full sweep of the immunity conferred; that the unedited story was relevant to show that the Blackes were veteran bribe-givers rather than hapless victims of extortion; and that the defense's efforts to shatter the Blackes' credibility were hamstrung.
The right to cross-examine adverse witnesses is constitutionally guaranteed. Davis v. Alaska,
To show a constitutional violation, a defendant must demonstrate that he was "prohibited from engaging in otherwise appropriate cross-examination designed to show a prototypical form of bias on the part of the witness." Van Arsdall,
Many of the bars involved in this case catered primarily, or at least frequently, to homosexual persons. Some of the witnesses shared that persuasion. Both before and during trial, the court expressed a desire not to becloud the charges by trying the case "in a homosexual sense." After warning defense counsel away from the topic during opening statements, the judge consistently blocked questions aimed at bringing the matter of sexual orientation to the forefront.14 Given the marginal value of sexual preference testimony and its potential to distract the jury from the legitimate issues in the case, we think that the court's plan was a wise and proper exercise of its authority.
What is most important, the circumscription created no cognizable unfairness. The court never prohibited defendants from asking about the money given to Straight or the fact that he was bribed on several occasions. Straight's venality, the Blackes' corrupt intentions, and other material aspects of the relationship between the Blackes and the Board member were fully explored. Only the sex-related trimmings were placed off limits. In the court's words: "Male prostitution, homosexuality, personal sexual inclination, no. Inquiry about a relationship or established relationship with Jon Straight which allowed him to use Jon Straight to influence actions on the Board to benefit himself, yes." And in the end, the cross-examination of both George and Lawrence Blacke proved thorough, probing, and wide-ranging. They were questioned intensively and extensively about their understanding of the immunity orders. George Blacke was asked about much of the activity for which he was given immunity, including cocaine use. Lawrence was queried about payments for police details, alleged cocaine purchases, and schemes to bribe officials.
This cross-questioning was constitutionally sufficient. The Blackes' understanding of their immunity, the numerous crimes which were shielded, and the bribery itself were the essential factors shedding light on the witnesses' testimonial incentives and veracity. All were covered in excruciating detail. The jury heard more than enough to form a complete and accurate picture of the breadth of the immunity, the Blackes' potential motivations, and their likely prejudices. The defense was allowed to "fully establish[ ] the potential bias" of the witnesses. Barrett,
It is equally clear that the judge did not abuse his discretion. In the context of the picture which defense counsel were allowed to paint, the incremental probative value of presenting evidence anent George Blacke's sexual orientation was zero; the incremental value of the evidence as to male prostitutes was either slim or none. The evidence had a far greater potential to obscure than to enlighten. Bearing in mind the wide latitude afforded trial judges under Fed.R.Evid. 403, see, e.g., U.S. v. Zannino,
IX. THE PERSONNEL FILES
At trial, the district court permitted the prosecution to introduce "personnel orders" taken from BPD files. These documents contained historical information about defendants' placements within the department, e.g., promotions, status changes, reassignments. The personnel orders were part of regularly maintained personnel files. The files also held documents relating, inter alia, to commendations, suspensions, punishments, outside studies, and the like. Appellants claim that the court's refusal to let them introduce the unexpurgated files constituted prejudicial error. We examine their contention.
The court initially rejected defendants' proffer as non-pertinent character evidence. See Fed.R.Evid. 404(a)(1). Defendants argue that the ruling took too myopic a view; they claim that the excluded documents were relevant to allow a balanced portrayal of their overall relationship, good and bad, to the enterprise. The inquiry presented in a RICO trial, however, focuses not on the contours of the relationship between defendants and enterprise (contours largely undisputed here), but on the relationship of the predicate acts to each other and to the enterprise. See Yellow Bus Lines, Inc. v. Local Union 639,
Next, appellants claim that a misleading impression was created by presenting the personnel orders and not the remainder of the files. This claim hinges on Fed.R.Evid. 106, a stricture which protects litigants from the twin pitfalls of creative excerpting and manipulative timing.15 "The rule is based on two considerations. The first is the misleading impression created by taking matters out of context. The second is the inadequacy of repair work when delayed to a point later in the trial." Fed.R.Evid. 106, reporter's notes; see also Beech Aircraft Corp. v. Rainey,
It is perfectly clear that the threshold question under Rule 106 is always one of defining the entirety: that is, if Rule 106 applies, what is it that must be complete? Because the doctrine of completeness embodied in Rule 106 neither mandates nor delineates a particular strata of entirety, but instead looks to "fairness" to determine which things should be "considered contemporaneously with" each other, we believe that a practical, commonsense approach must be taken in answering the definitional question. The result, essentially, becomes a line-drawing exercise, to be conducted case by case. Inasmuch as each document, or set of documents, tends to be sui generis, a mechanical taxonomy seems unworkable.
Typically, it is easy to frame the dimensions of the entirety. The usual problem concerns an excerpt from a single document which neglects some revealing context of the whole. See, e.g., United States v. Poschwatta,
In the case at bar, all of the personnel orders were admitted without editing. All were independently admissible as records "kept in the course of a regularly conducted business activity" and as part of the BPD's "regular practice." Fed.R.Evid. 803(6). Without exception, the orders are simple and unambiguous statements of historical fact. They were introduced in order to place the defendants together with their partners within the district where the victims operated their businesses during the period when the charged crimes occurred. As such, they also corroborated the testimony of witnesses who said they made certain payments to certain defendants at certain times.
The documents which defendants claim they were entitled to introduce were, to the contrary, a hodgepodge of anecdotal items. The files held a wide array of miscellany not inherently related to any litigated issue. Appellants do not indicate how, if at all, the diaspora of information contained in the files bore on the merits of the case, contradicted the timing and placement manifested by the admitted documents, or was necessary to explain the orders. Moreover, the lower court never prohibited the defense from offering specific documents on particular points. Seen in this light, it is hard to fault the rejection of defendants' grab-bag approach to the admissibility of documentary evidence. The court's decision to admit only the personnel orders, and not unexpurgated files, was not an abuse of its broad discretion.16
X. JURY MISCONDUCT
Three days after the jury verdicts were returned, a juror (Payne) contacted Nave's attorney complaining that the jury had been predisposed to find the defendants guilty. Counsel notified the judge, who met with the attorneys of record and thereafter interviewed Payne in the lawyers' presence. At that time, the juror not only reiterated his concerns about predisposition but stated that, during the trial, a questionable magazine article had circulated in the jury room.17 Following further discussions with counsel, the judge interviewed the remaining jurors and alternates. Upon completion of that process, defendants moved for a new trial by reason of jury misconduct. The district court, in a meticulously detailed opinion, denied the motions, United States v. Boylan,
Appellants attack the court's ruling on several fronts, contending inter alia that the inquiry was inadequate; that the judge applied the wrong legal standard in evaluating taint; and that he impermissibly considered the jurors' subjective mental processes. We begin by assessing the nature and extent of the inquiry. Finding, as we do, that the court's methodology was sound, we then proceed to the merits of the disputed ruling.
A. Nature of the Inquiry.
When a colorable claim of jury misconduct surfaces, the district court has broad discretion to determine the type of investigation which must be mounted. Hunnewell,
We abjure imposition of a rigid set of rules for the conduct of inquiries into the presence or extent of extrinsic influences. For one thing, the kaleidoscopic variety of possible problems counsels in favor of flexibility. For another thing, jurors should not be subjected to undue impositions. Thus, the scope of such an inquiry "should be limited to only what is absolutely necessary to determine the facts with precision." United States v. Ianniello,
In this case, the mechanics of the probe are described in detail in the district court's rescript, see Boylan,
The decision not to conduct a more rigidly structured evidentiary hearing was well within the district court's discretion. Apart from the jury, there were no other witnesses to be examined. It is highly improbable that significantly different or more detailed information would have been elicited if the jurors testified under oath or were subjected to cross-examination. We think there was likely too little to be gained to insist, as a matter of law, that the court in such a situation convene a fullblown evidentiary hearing. And as a matter of discretion, we are loath to tinker with the presider's on-the-spot judgment.
In sum, the probe conducted here met, and surpassed, the benchmarks suggested by our earlier cases. See, e.g., Hunnewell,
B. Results of the Inquiry.
Defendants' remaining assignments of error challenge in one way or another the validity of the district court's conclusion that the claimed "jury misconduct" did not warrant a new trial. The challenge is essentially trichotomous.
1. Rule 606(b). Appellants' initial sally suggests that the lower court flouted Fed.R.Evid. 606(b).18 The rule amalgamates the common law prohibition against using juror testimony to impeach a verdict, Tanner v. United States,
Here, we think the court hewed close enough to the line. While a juror may from time to time have misconstrued the questioning and based his or her answers on an arguably subjective aspect of deliberations, the record leaves no doubt but that the judge was sensitive to the problem and in the main screened out such responses. Moreover, the court's prophylactic instructions alerted each juror, both before and during the inquiry, that the deliberative process itself was not a matter for discussion.19 While the question is not free from all doubt--it will rarely be in this murky area--we have examined both the interview transcripts and the district court's rescript and cross-compared the two; in the course of that exercise, we do not find any cogent reason to believe that the judge recklessly invaded forbidden territory or improperly relied on the jurors' insights as to their subjective mental processes during deliberations in contravention of Rule 606(b).
2. Presumptive Prejudice. Defendants next assail the lower court's refusal to employ a Remmer-type presumption of prejudice. See Remmer I,
The Supreme Court was not so sanguine. It concluded that a post-verdict inquiry "with all interested parties permitted to participate" was an appropriate vehicle for gauging the incident's impact, but vacated the judgment and remanded "to determine whether the incident complained of was harmful to the [defendant]."
According to Remmer II, the "presumption" of prejudice fashioned by the Remmer I Court stemmed from "the paucity of information relating to the entire situation" and the "kind of facts alleged." Id.
The second precondition relates to "the kind of facts alleged." Id. at 380,
The[ ] cases demonstrate that due process does not require a new trial every time a juror has been placed in a potentially compromising situation ...; it is virtually impossible to shield jurors from every contact or influence that might theoretically affect their vote. Due process means a jury capable and willing to decide the case solely on the evidence before it, and a trial judge ever watchful to prevent prejudicial occurrences and to determine the effect of such occurrences when they happen. Such determinations may properly be made at a hearing like that ordered in Remmer....
Notes
Smith,
The case before us has none of the hallmarks necessary to animate such a presumption.20 The Remmer Court "recognized the seriousness not only of the attempted bribe, which it characterized as 'presumptively prejudicial,' but also of the undisclosed investigation which was 'bound to impress the juror....' " Smith,
By the same token, the jurors' midtrial buzznacking also lacked the strong degree of probability needed to animate a Remmer-type presumption. See, e.g., Irvin v. Dowd,
3. Assessment of the Facts. Appellants also asseverate that the judge unreasonably and unsupportably denied them a new trial based on contamination of the jury. In approaching this issue, we adopt the Second Circuit's description of the beacon by which courts must steer: the criterion for a "post-verdict determination of extra-record prejudice must be an objective one, measured by reference to its probable effect on 'a hypothetical average juror.' " United States v. Calbas,
In this instance, we find the district court's conclusions to be unimpugnable. Indeed, even if a Remmer-type presumption had come into play, it would be overcome by the cogency of the findings,
There is no necessity, drawing nigh the end of so protracted an opinion, to wax longiloquent. The jurors' assertions of continued impartiality, favorably appraised by the court, comprise testimonials that are not "inherently suspect," for a juror is "well qualified to say whether he has an unbiased mind in a certain matter." Smith,
In short, the evidence adduced through the juror interviews indicated no actual bias. The trial judge's findings confirmed this conclusion. His record-rooted evaluation of the situation merits considerable weight. See Hunnewell,
XI. CONCLUSION
We need go no further. Our trek through the long and sordid record indicates that these seven defendants were fairly tried and justly convicted. In the end, an impartial jury, confronted with a mass of powerful evidence, concluded that the badge had been tarnished. No reversible error appearing, the defendants' convictions are
Affirmed.
NOTE: OPINION CONTAINS TABLE OR OTHER DATA THAT IS NOT VIEWABLE
The charged sub-conspiracies were as follows:
Count Series Defendants Charged 3 A Connolly, Sheehan 12 B Boylan, Carey, Kilroe, McCormick, Nave 21 C Kilroe and "persons unknown" 27 F Kilroe, Nave, Sheehan 34 I Boylan, Connolly, Nave, Sheehan 58 J Nave, Sheehan
Except for count 58, all of the sub-conspiracies implicated the Hobbs Act and were characterized by the government as predicate acts for RICO purposes. Count 58 was brought under 18 U.S.C. Sec. 371 and was, therefore, not chargeable as a predicate offense under 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1961. Nevertheless, the underlying scheme--defrauding the United States of tax revenue--was so charged.
We have refrained from reliance on evidence anent Series J (the UL scheme) for purposes of evaluating evidentiary sufficiency in respect to the RICO conspiracy. We believe that conduct to be cut from a somewhat different cloth and discuss the matter in more detail infra Part V
Appellants requested the court to instruct that "[i]f you find any conspiracy charged did not exist then you must return a not guilty verdict as to that conspiracy even though you may find some other conspiracy, whether charged or not" (emphasis supplied)
These rules provide in pertinent part:
Two or more defendants may be charged in the same indictment or information if they are alleged to have participated in the same act or transaction or in the same series of acts or transactions constituting an offense or offenses. Such defendants may be charged in one or more counts together or separately and all of the defendants need not be charged in each count.
Fed.R.Crim.P. 8(b).
If it appears that a defendant or the government is prejudiced by a joinder of offenses or of defendants in an indictment or information or by such joinder for trial together, the court may order an election or separate trials of counts, grant a severance of defendants or provide whatever other relief justice requires.
Fed.R.Crim.P. 14.
There was evidence that Boylan participated in the scheme to the extent of endorsing one check. Moreover, there was arguably an indirect connection in that UL paid for Sheehan's meals at Cafe Budapest, which was a "client" of Connolly's. In context, these trimtrams prove little of consequence
Because the predicate crimes involved in the sundry bar/restaurant/nightclubs sub-conspiracies could warrantably be found to fit within the scope of the omnibus RICO conspiracy, and because the district court instructed the jury adequately on the multiple conspiracy rule, see supra Part III(B), we need only consider prejudice stemming from the UL variance
The Appendix details the specific charges. To recapitulate briefly, we mention here only that Nave was paid money on numerous occasions by McGowan; Sheehan received many improper payments from Chaletzky; and both of them accepted gratuities from Tasse and the Blackes
Indeed, one of defendants' principal arguments is that the prejudice which they perceive was heightened because 28 of the first 29 trial witnesses dealt only with the UL affair. Although we think the lament is baseless, the circumstances illustrate the sort of tight compartmentalization which the district judge demanded throughout the trial
In H.J. Inc. v. Northwestern Bell Telephone Co., --- U.S. ----,
Although both Muskovsky and Grayson antedated H.J. Inc., there is not the slightest reason to believe that a shadow has been cast over them. The issue resolved in H.J. Inc., whether multiple schemes must be proved to show the requisite pattern of racketeering activity, is distinct from the broader question of what the evidence must ultimately demonstrate as to relatedness and continuity. Placed in perspective, H.J. Inc. in no way beclouds Muskovsky, Grayson, or the jury instructions disputed here
In United States v. Bucci,
We briefly mention two related sniper shots. First, appellants' complaint that the district court "confused the issue" by other statements in the charge exhibits greater imagination than logic. Although instructing separately on fear of economic loss (a practice consistent with Bucci,
Appellants' argument that the court failed properly to instruct on conspiracy to commit extortion fails for much the same reasons. Although the instructions anent this specific crime did not explicitly elucidate the mens rea element, that portion of the charge was prefaced with the statement that the court's "earlier instruction as to conspiracy applies." Inasmuch as that earlier instruction dealt adequately with specific intent, no more was exigible
To cite one resounding example, the district court, struck a question propounded by Sheehan's attorney which assumed, and referred to, a witness' "homosexual preference for young men." The court declared at sidebar:
Well, let's get this out of the way right here and now and hear me and hear me good. What does homosexual preference have to do with credibility? ... I will tell you now and I will tell you once.... I will take action against you if you bring up this witness' homosexual preference before this jury again. The reason I say that is obvious. Everybody in this room knows that mentioning homosexuality, accusing someone of homosexuality has such a proclivity, such a tendency to debase and humiliate a witness.... It has nothing to do with testimonial honesty. It has nothing whatsoever to do with it. So you will not and neither will any other ... counsel in this case refer to this witness' sexual preference.... In my judgment [the question] was offered for purpose of humiliating and degrading the witness.... It's not worth a hill of beans, compared to the probative value it offers. It has absolutely no value in this case....
The text reads:
When a writing or recorded statement or part thereof is introduced by a party, an adverse party may require the introduction at that time of any other part or any other writing or recorded statement which ought in fairness to be considered contemporaneously with it.
Fed.R.Evid. 106.
Whether Rule 106 furnishes an independent ground for admissibility is an open question in this circuit. Courts elsewhere are divided. Compare United States v. Woolbright,
Occupying part of page 18 of Boston magazine's August 1988 issue entitled "All in the Family," the report offered thumbnail profiles of attorneys whom the "wise guys call" for legal representation. McCormick's trial counsel, Cardinale, was among those mentioned. The article stated in part:
Anthony M. Cardinale, 37, of Boston: Specializes in defending extortion and racketeering cases. Every troubled mobster in town kisses Cardinale's ring sooner or later. "Every made guy we pick up has Cardinale's name in his wallet," a federal law-enforcement source says. When Cardinale wasn't representing Gennaro Angiulo, he was helping "Fat" Tony Salerno fight his 29-count indictment in New York City. Now he's handling Vinnie "The Pinhead" Ferrara's appeal against the U.S. government.
The rule states in pertinent part:
Upon an inquiry into the validity of a verdict ..., a juror may not testify as to any matter or statement occurring during the course of the jury's deliberations or to the effect of anything upon that or any other juror's mind or emotions as influencing the juror to assent to or to dissent from the verdict or ... concerning the juror's mental processes ..., except that a juror may testify on the question whether extraneous prejudicial information was improperly brought to the jury's attention or whether any outside influence was improperly brought to bear upon any juror.
Fed.R.Evid. 606(b).
In one of several such admonitions, the district court inveighed:
I won't ask you about what happened during your deliberations. I am not going to ask you what was going on in your mind. Those were all secret. You don't have to explain your verdict to anybody.... But I do want to ask you about some other things that may have happened before you went to the jury room.
Because we conclude that the prerequisites for a Remmer presumption are not met in the case at bar, we need not chart with precision the reach of the Remmer rule in the albedo of Smith and Rushen. See Angiulo, at 1185 (leaving question open)
To be sure, we recognize that a juror may be reluctant to impeach the verdict or "to admit that he himself acted improperly." Smith,
Interestingly, only seven out of the jurors confirmed that any comments had been made about the case. See Boylan,