Seng Xiong was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of interstate transportation in furtherance of a gambling scheme. He appeals the district court’s denial of a new trial on account of what he believes were improper statements made by the prosecutor. We agree with the district court that the statements were not improper and did not prejudice him at trial and, therefore, affirm its judgment.
I. BACKGROUND
Xiong was charged with (i) conspiracy to commit wire fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 371 and 1343 1 and (ii) interstate transportation in furtherance of a gambling scheme in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 2 and 1952. On the first count, the indictment alleged that Xiong and four other co-conspirators induced and sought to induce *674 victims to participate in a rigged Blackjack card game scheme by promising them that they “could not lose.” On the second count, the indictment alleged that the defendants traveled to Wisconsin in furtherance of the .gambling scheme. All of Xiong’s co-defendants pled guilty to both charges. Xiong went to trial.
Xiong’s counsel remarked in his opening statement: “... you won’t hear me talk about the great Government conspiracy, because I am not that kind of lawyer.” At trial, he did not accuse the government outright of conspiring against Xiong but argued that the government officials working on the investigation were inept and that the other witnesses were not credible. In his closing argument, he continued this strategy, arguing, for example, that Xiong’s co-conspirator Edward Clark, who was hoping to be released from prison in return for his testimony, had “scammed” the government and that the “[g]overnment [was] on [his] side.”
The prosecutor, in his rebuttal argument, highlighted the inconsistency between defense counsel’s opening and closing statements. Defense counsel objected to the prosecutor’s statements, arguing that he did not make a government conspiracy argument. The district court allowed the prosecutor to continue.
The prosecutor then commented on the substance of the defense’s argument:
What [counsel] is telling you, ladies and gentlemen, is that you should never convict somebody in this type of conspiracy. Because how can you trust a co-conspirator? They’re in the game. You should never be able to trust them. How can you trust what the victim says? They’re in the game.... No matter what witnesses we call in, you can’t trust them, ladies and gentlemen. This man gets to walk free.
Defense counsel objected again for the same reason. This time the court reminded the jury members that their recollection of the evidence controlled.
After the prosecutor concluded his rebuttal, the court further discussed defense counsel’s objections outside of the jury’s presence. Defense counsel moved for a new trial at this point, arguing that the prosecutor had disparaged his character in front of the jury and, therefore, prejudiced Xiong. The district court denied his request, noting that the prosecutor’s argument “might have, been a little hyperbolic, but ... certainly was not ... beyond the bounds of reasonable response.” The court also indicated that it would give the jury an instruction not to treat the lawyers’ closing arguments as evidence. 2 In addition, the court offered defense counsel the opportunity to submit another instruction. Defense counsel declined the court’s invitation to submit another instruction and asked instead for an opportunity to rebut. His request was denied.
As promised, the court instructed the jury that the lawyers’ closing arguments were not to be treated as evidence. After little deliberation, the jury convicted Xiong of both charges. This appeal followed.
II. ANALYSIS
The issue presented to us on appeal is whether the district court erred in denying Xiong a new trial on account of the prosecutor’s statements. We review for abuse of discretion the district court’s decision not to grant a mistrial based on prosecutorial misconduct.
United States v. Andreas,
In prosecutorial misconduct challenges such as this one (where the defendant has not alleged that one or more of his specific constitutional rights have been violated), we ask first whether the prosecutor’s statements were improper.
United States v. Cotnam,
Xiong argues that the prosecutor’s statements disparaged defense counsel’s character by implying that he lied to the jury. We agree with Xiong that disparaging remarks directed at defense counsel are reprehensible. Such remarks can prejudice the defendant by directing the jury’s attention away from the legal issues in or by inducing the jury to give greater weight to the government’s view of the case.
See Pierson v. O’Leary,
Reading the statements in context, however, we conclude that the prosecutor did not disparage defense counsel’s character. In his closing argument, defense counsel argued that the government suffered from tunnel vision and put on perjured testimony. The prosecutor responded by stating that counsel resorted to a government conspiracy argument despite the earlier promise. This response went to the credibility of the defense not defense counsel. A comment of this sort is not improper because it does not “suggest that the attorney's] ability to argue [an inconsistent defense] is evidence ... against the defendant[].”
United States v. Sblendorio,
The prosecutor’s subsequent remarks, including “What [counsel] is telling you is that you should never be able to convict somebody in this type of conspiracy, because you can never have enough evidence ... ”, attempted to show that the defense’s argument was overbroad. These remarks were likewise directed at the defendant’s case not defense counsel. Moreover, it was proper for the prosecutor to comment on the lameness of the defendant’s case.
See United States v. Turk,
Even if we held that the prosecutor’s statements were improper, we could not say that Xiong was prejudiced by the remarks. To determine whether the defendant was prejudiced, this court exam
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ines several factors, including: (i) whether the district court sufficiently instructed the jury to disregard such statements; (ii) whether the defense could counter the prosecutor’s statement through rebuttal; and (iii) most importantly, whether the weight of the evidence was against the defendant.
See Rodriguez v. Peters,
The district court properly addressed Xiong’s objections. Although the district court did not respond to Xiong’s first objection, in response to his second objection (which was tendered just a few sentences further into the prosecutor’s argument), the court reminded the jury members that their recollection of the evidence controlled. It also, in its instructions to the jury, told the jury that arguments of counsel were not evidence. And, although it denied Xiong’s counsel’s request for rebuttal, it offered him the opportunity to submit an additional jury instruction to the court to redress any possible prejudicial effect, an opportunity Xiong declined.
More importantly, the government presented overwhelming evidence of Xiong’s guilt at trial. To sustain Xiong’s 18 U.S.C. §§ 371 and 1343 conspiracy to defraud conviction, the government had to show that he (a) knowingly agreed to participate in the scheme to defraud and (b) engaged in the overt act of inducing victims to play in the rigged card game.
See United States v. Gee,
The government likewise presented overwhelming evidence of Xiong’s guilt with respect to the interstate transportation charge. To support an interstate transportation conviction, the government must prove: (a) interstate travel; (b) intent to promote unlawful activity, (here, a gambling enterprise); and (c) performance or attempted performance of an unlawful act.
United States v. Stott,
In denying Xiong’s request for a new trial, the district court noted that the evidence was so overwhelming that it was unlikely that the prosecutor’s remarks affected the verdict. In this case we not only give substantial weight to its determination,
United States v. Canino,
III. CONCLUSION
For these reasons, we Affirm the district court’s denial of a new trial on account of the prosecutor’s statements.
Notes
. The indictment does not cite 18 U.S.C. § 1343 but it is clear from its language that a § 1343 violation is alleged.
. The court’s instruction mirrors Instruction 1.06 of the Pattern Criminal Federal Jury Instruction for the Seventh Circuit.
. 18 U.S.C. § 371, the conspiracy statute, states that "[i]f two or more persons conspire either to commit an offense against the United States ... and one or more of such persons do any act to effect the object of the conspiracy, each shall be fined ... or imprisoned ... or both.” 18 U.S.C. § 1343 provides that "[w]hoever, having devised or intending to devise any scheme ... to defraud ... shall be fined under this title or imprisoned ... or both.”
. 18 U.S.C. § 1952 states that "[w]hoever travels in interstate or foreign commerce or uses the mail or any facility in interstate or foreign commerce, with intent to ... promote, manage, establish, carry on, or facilitate the promotion, management, establishment, or carrying on, of any unlawful activity, and thereafter performs or attempts to perform [that unlawful activity] shall be fined under this title; imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both.... As used in this section ... 'unlawful activity' means (1) any business enterprise involving gambling.”