United States v. Robert S. Falcone, Sandra S. Falcone
960 F.2d 988
11th Cir.
1992
Check Treatment
PER CURIAM:

We took this case en banc 1 to reconsider our holding in United States v. Hope, 861 F.2d 1574 (11th Cir.1988). In Hope, wе held that in order for the government to establish that a defendant conspired to commit an “offense against the United States” in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371 (1988), 2 the prosecution must allege and prove that the defendant conspired to injure thе United States or one of its agencies. In the case at hand, the Government charged, and proved, that the defendants conspired to commit the fоllowing offenses against the United States: the violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1014, 3 1344(a)(2), 4 and 2113 5 (1988). Following Hope’s holding, the panel reversed the defendants’ convictions. United States v. Falcone, 934 F.2d 1528 (11th Cir.), vacated, reh’g en banc granted, 939 F.2d 1455 (11th Cir.1991). The panel, however, did so reluctantly. The panel felt the conspiracy convictions should be upheld — that Hope had been wrongly decided — and suggested ‍‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌​‍that the case be reheard en banc. See Falcone, 934 F.2d 1528, 1548 (11th Cir.) (Tjoflat, C.J., special *990 ly concurring, joined by Powell, Assoc. Justice, and Kravitch, J.).

We agree with the panel’s appraisal of Hope and, fоr the reasons set forth in Chief Judge Tjoflat’s special concurrence, overrule Hope’s holding. 6 See id. at 1548-51. Specifically, we hold that in establishing a conspiracy “to commit any offense against the United States,” the government need not allegе or prove that the United States or an agency thereof was an intended victim of the conspiracy.

Accordingly, the appellants’ convictions under section 371 are ‍‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌​‍reinstated and the judgment of the district court is affirmed.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Notes

1

. See United States v. Falcone, 939 F.2d 1455 (11th Cir.1991).

2

. 18 U.S.C. § 371 states, in pertinent part:

If two оr more persons conspire either to commit any offense against the United States, or to defraud the United States, or any agency thereof in any mаnner or for any purpose, and one or more of such persons do any act to effect the object of the conspiracy, each shall be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.
3

. 18 U.S.C. § 1014 states, in pertinent part:

Whoever knowingly makes any false statement or report ... for the purpose of influencing in any way the action of ... any bank the deposits of which are insured by thе Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ... upon any application, advance, discount, purchase, purchase agreement, rеpurchase agreement, commitment, or loan, or any change or еxtension of any of the same, by renewal, deferment of action or othеrwise, or the acceptance, release, or substitution of security therefor, shall be fined not more than $5000 or imprisoned not more than two years, or both.
4

. The version of 18 U.S.C. § 1344 that was in effect when the appellants were indictеd states, in pertinent part:

fa) Whoever knowingly executes, or attempts ‍‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌​‍tо execute, a scheme or artifice—
(1) to defraud a federally chartered or insured financial institution; or
(2) to obtain any of the moneys, funds, credits, assets, securities or other property owned by or under the custody or contrоl of a federally chartered or insured financial institution by means of false or fraudulent pretenses, representations, or promises, shall be fined not more than $10,000, or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.

In 1989, Congress amended section 1344, in the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989 (FIRREA), Pub.L. No. 101-73, Title IX, § 961(k), 103 Stat. 183, 500..

5

.18 U.S.C. § 2113 states, in pertinent part:

Whoever enters or attempts to enter any bank ... with intent to commit in such bank ... any felony ‍‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌​‍affecting such bank ... and in violation of any statute of the United Stаtes, or any larceny—
Shall be fined not more than $5,000 or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both.
Whoever takes and carries away, with intent to steal or purloin, any property or motley ... of value exceeding $100 belonging to, or in the care, custody, control, management, or possession of any bank ... shall be fined not more than $5,000 or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both.
6

. We do not, however, disturb the panel’s disposition of appellant’s challenges to his convictions under 18 U.S.C. §§ 2, 1344(a)(2) (1988) (counts V, VI, VII, VIII, & IX of the indictment); 18 U.S.C. ‍‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌​‍§§ 2, 2113(b) (1988) (counts X & XI of the indictment); аnd 18 U.S.C. §§ 2, 1344(a)(2), 2113(a) (1988) (counts XII & XIII of the indictment). See Falcone, 934 F.2d 1528, 1534-35, 1548 (11th Cir.), vacated, reh’g en banc granted, 939 F.2d 1455 (11th Cir.1991). With respect to those convictions, the panel’s opinion and judgment, which were vacated when we voted the case en banc, are reinstated.