# U ni te d S ta te s Co ur t of A pp ea ls

For the Eig hth Circu it

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No. 1 6- 29 85

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Uni te d S ta te s o f Am eri ca

ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll l Pla in ti

ff - App el le e

v.

Em m an ue l Ch ap la in

ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll l Defe nd

an t - Ap pe ll an t

__ __ __ __ __ __

App eal fro m

Uni te d S ta te s Di st ric t Co ur t
fo r th e Dis tri ct of Ne br as ka - Om ah a

__ __ __ __ __ __

Su bm it te d: May 12, 2 01 7
Fil ed : J ul y

21 , 20 17

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Befo re RI LEY, BEAM, and SHEPHERD, Circ ui t J ud ge s.

__ __ __ __ __ __

BEAM, Ci rcu it Ju dg e.

Em m an ue l Ch ap la in was co nv ic te d of se v e n co un ts of in te rfer in g wit h

co m m erce by m ean s of ro bb ery (Ho bb s Act ro bb ery) in vi ol at io n of 18 U.S.C. § 19 51

, th ree co un ts of b r a n d i s h in g a fir earm du rin g a cri m e of vi ol en ce in vi ol at io n of 18

U.S.C. § 9 2 4 ( c)(1 )(A) an d (C), an d on e co un t of be in g a fel on in po ss es si on of a

fir earm in vi ol at i o n of 18 U.S.C. §§ 92 2( g) an d 92 4( a)(2 ), an d se nt en ced to 85 2m on th s' im

pr is on m en t. He ap pe al s, ch al le ng in g th e su ffi ci en cy of th e ev id en ce an d

th e di st ric t co ur t's jury in st ru ct io n fo r Hob bs Act ro bb ery. Fo r th e reas on s di sc us se d 1

be lo w, we affi rm

.

I. BACKGRO UND

Ch ap la in an d Sh an e Sei zy s were in vo l v e d i n a sp ree of ro bb eri es in Om ah a

fro m Ju ne 19

, 20 14

, un ti l Ju ly 16

, 20 14

, whe n th ey were arre st ed

. Dur in g si x of th e

ei gh t vi ol en t ro bb eri es , bo th Ch ap la in an d Seiz y s were weari ng el ect ric -m on it or in g

an kl e br acel et s th at tra ck ed th ei r lo cat io n wit hi n 15 m et ers of each ro bb ery lo cat io n.

Fi fte en m et ers is th e ran ge of accu racy fo r th e GPS un it

. On Ju ne 19

, 20 14

, Tho m as

Jo ne s- Ro ss dr ov e Ch ap la in an d Sei zy s to a Ji ffy Lub e an d pa rk ed se ve ral bl o c k s

away. Ch ap la in an d Seiz y s en te red th e bu si ne ss wit h han dg un s and wor e ba nd an as

co ve rin g th ei r face s. One m an pu t a gu n to th e m an ag e r ' s f a c e a n d or de red hi m to

op en th e cas h reg is te r whi le th e ot he r ha d a gu n po in te d at a cu st om er. The m an ag er

ga v e th em $8 50

. The y de m an de d th at he op en th e sa fe, whi ch was em pt y

. The

cu st om er in th e bu si ne ss at th e ti m e of th e ro bb e r y d e s c r i b ed th e ro bb ers as two

Afri can -Am eri can m al es

. The an kl e br acel et s as si gn ed to Ch ap la in an d Se iz y s pl aced

th em wit hi n 15 m et ers of th e Ji ffy Lub e at th e t im e of th e ro bb ery. Ji ffy Lub e, a

na ti on wid e fran ch is e th at rece iv es it s pr od uc ts fro m Pen ns y lv an ia

, ha d to cl os e f o r

90 m in ut es du e to th e p ol ic e in ve st ig at io n.

Jo ne s- Ro ss th en dr ov e Ch ap la in an d Sei zy s to Je ns en Tire & Aut o. The y

arri ve d a li tt le be fo re 6 p.m ., aft er th e st or e h a d c l o se d an d th e cas h ha d be en

de po si te d in to a sa fe. Ch ap la in an d Sei zy s en te red th e bu si ne ss wit h ba nd an as ov er

t h e i r f a c es , pu t a gu n to an em pl oyee's face

, an d as ke d ab ou t th e sa fe. W he n th e

em pl oyee st at ed th at he di d no t kn ow whe re th e sa fe was , Ch a p l a i n an d Sei zy s

The Hon or ab le Lau rie Sm it h Cam p, Ch ie f Ju dg e, Uni te d St at es Dis tri ct Co ur t 1

fo r th e Dis tri ct of Ne br as ka

.

-2

-c o n fro nt ed th e m an ag er. The m an ag er op en ed th e cas h reg is te rs , bu t th ey were

em pt y

. The y to ok th e m an ag er to hi s offi ce an d to ld hi m th at th ey wou ld sh oo t hi m

if he di d no t gi ve th em th e m on ey fro m th e sa fe. The m an ag er was un ab le to op en th e

sa fe. Bo th Ch ap la in 's a nd Sei zy s's an kl e b race le ts pl aced th em wit hi n 1 5 m et ers of

th e Je ns en Tire & Aut o at th e ti m e of th e at te m pt ed ro bb ery. Jo ne s- Ro ss ne xt dr ov e

Ch ap la in an d Sei zy s to an ot he r Ji ffy Lub e. The y en te red th e bu si ne ss wit h th ei r face s

co ve red

, on e by a ba nd an a an d th e ot he r by an "Ai rs of t" m as k, an d br an di sh ed a gu n.

The y pu t th e gu n to th e ba ck of an em pl oyee's he ad an d or de red th e em pl oyee to op en

th e cas h reg is te r. The y to ok $2 20 fro m th e reg is te r. The sa fe was em p t y

. The

bu si ne ss was cl os ed fo r th e res t of th e da y , a nd th e cu st om ers at th e bu si ne ss at th e

ti m e of th e ro bb ery were no t char ge d for th e se rv ic es th ey rece iv ed

. Ch ap la in 's an d

Sei zy s's an kl e br acel et s pl aced th em wit hi n 15 m et ers of th e Ji ffy Lub e at th e ti m e of

th e ro bb ery.

On J un e 2 3, 2 01 4, J on es -Ro ss ag ai n a ct ed as t he ge ta way dri ve r, dr iv in g h is

m ot he r's ve hi cl e, fo r Ch ap la in an d Sei zy s to co m m it th ree m or e ro bb eri es

. Lik e th e

pr ev io us th ree ro bb eri es , Ch ap la in an d Sei zy s ha d gu ns an d us ed ba nd an as an d m as ks

to co ve r th ei r face s. At 6 p.m

. Ch ap la in an d Sei zy s en te r e d a S u bwa y res ta ur an t

whe re twel ve cu st om ers were di ni ng , br an di sh ed th ei r gu ns , an d or de red ev eryone to

ge t on th e gr ou nd

. One of th em de m an de d th at an em pl oyee op en th e cas h reg is te r

an d sa fe w h i l e t h e ot he r ke pt hi s gu n po in te d at an ot he r em pl oyee. The y gr ab be d

be twee n $4 00 an d $5 00 at th is lo cat io n. The res ta ur an t was cl os ed fo r th e rem ai nd er

of th e ev en in g, lo si ng si x op erat in g ho ur s. The ro bb ery was cap tu red on su rv ei ll an ce

vi de o, an d bo th Ch ap la in 's an d Sei zy s's an kl e br acel et s pl aced th em wit hi n 15 m et ers

of th e Su bwa y

res ta ur an t at th e ti m e o f th e ro bb ery.

Jo ne s- Ro ss th en dr ov e Ch ap la in an d Sei zy s to an O'Rei ll y Aut o Part s st or e. As

Ch ap la in an d Sei zy s en te red th e st or e wit h th ei r gu ns dr awn , a cu st om er was ex it in g

th e st or e. A cu st om er in si de th e st or e st at ed th at on e ro bb er wor e a bl ue "NAVY"

ho od ie an d a bl ue ba nd an a. Ch ap la in an d Sei zy s to ok be twee n $1 00 an d $1 50 fro m

-3

-th e cas h reg is te r. Bec au se th e sa fe was on a ti m e rel eas e, it co u l d n o t be op en ed

.

In ve nt or y fo r O'Rei ll y Aut o Part s co m es fro m di st rib ut io n cen te rs in Io wa, Mi ss ou ri,

an d Mi nn es ot a. It rece iv es da il y sh ip m en ts fro m Io wa. The st or e was cl os ed fo r a

sh or t pe rio d of ti m e du rin g th e po li ce in ve st ig at io n bu t reo pe ne d th at ev en in g fo r an

ho ur

. Aga in

, an kl e br acel et s as si gn ed to Ch ap la in an d Sei zy s pl aced th em wit hi n 15

m et ers of t he st or e at th e ti m e o f th e ro bb ery.

Fro m O'Rei ll y Aut o Part s, Jo ne s- Ro ss dr ov e Ch ap la in an d Sei zy s to a Kum &

Go ga s an d co nv en ie nc e st or e. Ch ap la in an d Sei zy s en te red th e st or e wit h gu ns

dr awn an d th ei r face s co nc eal ed wit h ba nd an as

. One ro bb er fo rced th e cl erk to op en

th e cas h reg is te rs whi le th e o th er s to od by the fro nt do or

. The y to ok $8 00 fro m th e

reg is te rs an d dem an de d th at th e em pl oyees op en th e sa fe, b ut ne it he r em pl oyee ha d

th e co m bi na ti on

. The co nv en ie nc e st or e was cl os ed fo r ne arl y two ho ur s du rin g th e

po li ce in ve st ig at io n. A cu st om er who was pu rch as in g ga s at th e ti m e of th e ro bb ery

sa w two men w i t h b a n da na s ov er th ei r face s en te r th e Kum & Go wit h gu ns

. The

cu st om er le ft th e st or e an d no ti ced Jo ne s- Ro ss 's ve hi cl e pa rk ed ne arb y

. He rep or te d

th e ve hi cl e's li cen se pl at e nu m be r to th e po li ce. Jo ne s- Ro ss 's ve hi cl e st al le d sh or tl y

aft er Ch ap la in an d Sei zy s ret ur ne d fro m th e Kum & Go. All th ree m en fle d fro m th e

ve hi cl e. The an kl e br acel et s pl aced Ch ap la in an d Sei zy s wit hi n 15 m et ers of th e Kum

& Go at t he ti m e o f th e ro bb ery an d wi th in 15 m et ers of t he ab an do ne d v eh ic le

.

Om ah a po li c e w e r e c al le d to th e sc en e of th e ab an do ne d ve hi cl e. It ha d a

fic ti ti ou s li cen se pl at e ta pe d ov er th e fro nt li cen se pl at e. The fic ti ti ou s pl at e was th e

sa m e as th e li cen se pl ace nu m be r cal le d in aft er th e Kum & Go ro bb ery. Po li ce fo un d

$3 1, co in s, du ct ta pe , a bl ack ba nd an a, bl ack cl ot h gl ov es , a bl ue swe at sh irt

, a bl ack

face m as k, an d a bo x of la te x or vi nyl gl ov es

. DNA was ex tra ct ed f r o m t h e bl ack

ba nd an a an d a na lyzed at th e Neb ras ka Sta te Pat ro l cri m e la bo rat or y . C ha pl ai n was

th e m ai n con tri bu to r of DNA to th e ba nd an a. The bl ue swe at sh irt in th e car ha d th e

wor d "NAVY" on it

, whi ch m at ch ed th e de sc rip ti on gi ve n by th e cu st om er at O'Rei ll y

-4

-Aut o Part s an d m at ch ed th e swe at sh irt se en in th e Su bwa y an d Kum & Go ro bb eri es

.

Jo ne s- Ro ss 's g irl fri en d i de nt ifi ed th e swe at sh irt as b el on gi ng to Sei zy s.

On Ju ly 8, 20 14

, th e Neb ras ka St at e Dep art m en t of Co rrec ti on s rece iv ed no ti ce

th at Ch ap la in ha d rem ov ed hi s an kl e br acel et

. He was pl aced on ab sc on d st at us , an d

a warra nt was i ss ue d fo r hi s arres t. On Ju ly 16

, 20 14

, th ree m en en te red Gam eSt op

carr y in g a y el lo w an d bl ack ba g an d weari ng ho od ie s wit h th e ho od s pu ll ed ov er th ei r

he ad s, ba nd an as co ve rin g th ei r face s, an d gl ov es

. The m en or de red th e cl erk to op en

th e reg is te rs an d sa fe

. S h e o p e n ed th e reg is te rs , bu t th e sa fe was on a te n- m in ut e

de la y

. The m en he ld a cu st om er at gu np oi nt an d to ld hi m to em pt y hi s po ck et s. The

m en es cap ed wit h ap pr ox im at el y $1 ,40 0 to $1 ,50 0, an d as th ey were le av in g th e st or e,

th e la st r o b b e r t o o k Xbo x One ga m e cas es fro m th e di sp la y wall

. The st or e

su rv ei ll an ce cam era cap tu red th e ro bb ery. The st or e was cl os ed fo r th e rem ai nd er of

th e ev en in g, l os in g t hr ee h ou rs of b us in es s.

Less th an 30 m in ut es la te r, two m en weari n g ba nd an as en te red a Ken tu ck y

Fri ed Ch ic ke n (KFC) res ta ur an t a n d d em an de d m on ey

. Em pl oyees em

pt ie d th e

reg is te rs

. The two m en to ok th e m on ey , ran be twee n two ho us es , an d m et at a whi te

Fo rd Mu st an g pa rk ed on th e st reet

. A wit ne ss sa w th ree m en at th e tru nk of a whi te

Mu st an g ch an gi ng cl ot he s. KFC lo st th ree ho ur s of bu si ne ss as a res ul t of th e

ro bb ery. In ve nt or y fo r th e res ta ur an t is sh ip pe d fro m Kan sa s Ci ty to Om ah a twi ce a

week

. Offi cers arri ve d at th e K F C s h o r t ly t he reaf te r an d se arch ed th e area

. Po li ce

fo un d th ree bl ack m al es m at ch in g th e de sc rip ti on of th e su sp ect s walk in g to ge th er.

Ch ap la in ran as th e po li ce car ap pr oa ch ed

. Dil an g Dat an d S e iz y s were ta ke n in to

cu st od y

. Dat ha d ov er $2 00 an d th e ke y to th e whi te Mu st an g in hi s po ck et

. Sei zy s

ha d ap pr ox im at el y $2 40 in hi s po ck et

. Ch ap la in was la te r ap pr eh e n d e d

. Offi cers

to ok Ch ap la in

, Sei zy s, an d Dat to a KFC pa rk in g lo t. The Gam eSt op cl erk id en ti fie d

Ch ap la in by hi s vo ic e an d sk in to ne

. A KFC cu st om er al so id en ti fie d Ch ap la in by hi s

vo ic e. Po li ce in ve nt or ie d th e whi te Mu st an g an d fo un d th e fo ll owi ng : a fic ti ti ou s

rear li cen se pl at e, m

ul ti pl e Xbo x One ga m e di sp la y cas es , a red ba nd an a, a bl ack an d

-5

-whi te ba nd an a, Sei zy s's lea rn er's pe rm it , nylon or l at ex gl ov es , a nylon ho ls te r, an d

a y el lo w an d bl ack ba g m at ch in g th e de sc rip ti on of th e ba g u s e d i n t h e Gam eSt op

ro bb ery. Ch ap la in 's fin ge rp rin ts were on th e Xbo x One ga m e di sp la y cas es , an d th e

ba g c on ta in ed $1 50

.

Ch ap la in

, al on g wit h S e i z ys, Dat, an d Jo ne s- Ro ss , were in di ct ed by a gr an d
jury si tt in g in Neb ras ka

. Ch ap la in was ch arg ed wit h ei gh t co un ts of in te rfer in g wit h

co m m erce by m ean s of ro bb ery, fo ur co un ts of br an di sh in g a fir earm du rin g a cri m e

of vi ol en ce, an d o ne co un t o f be in g a fel on in po ss es si on of a fir earm . Seiz y s, Dat

,

an d Jo ne s- Ro ss al l ent ered gu il ty pl eas pu rs ua nt to pl ea agre em en ts

. Ch ap la in pl ed

no t gu il ty an d wen t to tri al on Mar ch 14

, 20 16

. At th e co nc lu si on of th e go ve rn m en t's

ev id en ce, Ch ap la in m ov ed fo r acq ui tt al

. The co ur t de ni ed th e m ot io n, an d t h e jury

co nv ic te d C h a p la in of se ve n Hob bs Act ro bb eri es , th ree co un ts of br an di sh in g a

fir earm , an d on e co un t of fel on in po ss es si on of a fir ear m. Th e jury acq ui tt ed

Ch ap la in of Hob bs Act ro bb ery fo r th e Je ns en Tire & Aut o in ci de nt an d th us , was

in st ru ct ed it ne ed no t ad dr es s th e br an di sh in g ch arg e r e l a t e d to th at ro bb ery.

Ch ap la in was se nt en ced to 16 8 m on th s' im pr is on m en t fo r each of hi s Hob bs Act

ro bb eri es to ru n c o n c u r r e n tl y an d 12 0 m on th s' im pr is on m en t fo r hi s fel on in

po ss es si on of a fir e a r m c on vi ct io n to ru n co nc ur ren tl y , al on g wit h co ns ecu ti ve

se nt en ces of 7 y ears , 25 y ears , an d 25 y ears fo r each of th e br an di sh in g ch arg es , fo r

a to ta l of 85 2 m on th s' im

pr is on m en t. Ch ap la in ap pe al s, ch al le ng in g th e su ffi ci en cy

of th e ev id en ce an d t he jury in st ru ct io n fo r th e Hob bs Act ro bb eri es

.

II

. DISCUSS IO N

A. Suff

ic ie ncy of t he Ev id ence

Ch ap la in arg ue s th at th e ev id en ce pr es en te d at tri al was in su ffi ci en t to su pp or t

hi s co nv ic ti on s b ey on d a reas on ab le do ub t. Ou r st an da rd of rev ie w f or a ch al le ng e

to th e su ffi ci en cy of th e ev id en ce an d a de ni al of a m ot io n fo r a jud gm en t of acq ui tt al

-6

-is th e sa m e, de no vo

. Uni te d St at es v. Ade jum o, 77 2 F.3d 51 3, 52 2 (8 th Ci r. 20 14 ).

W e vi ew th e ev id en ce "i n a li gh t m os t fav or ab le to th e ve rd i c t a n d a c cep t[] al l

reas on ab le in fere nc es su pp or ti ng th e v erd ic t." Uni te d S ta te s v. Bel l, 76 1 F.3 d 9 00

, 90 6 (8 th Ci r. 20 14 ) (q uo ti ng Uni te d St at e s v

. C o l to n, 74 2 F.3 d 34 5, 34 8 (8 th Ci r.

20 14 ) (p er cu ria m )). "[W] e rev ers e 'on ly if no reas on ab le jury co ul d ha ve fo un d th e

de fen da nt gu il ty be y on d a reas on ab le do ub t.'" Uni te d St at e s v

. M or al es , 44 5 F.3 d

10 81

, 10 84 (8 th Ci r. 20 06 ) (q uo ti ng Uni te d St at es v. Howar d, 41 3 F.3 d 86 1, 86 4 (8 th

Ci r. 20 05 )).

1. Ho bbs Act Rob beri es

A pe rs on co m

m it s a Hob bs Act ro bb ery if he "i n an y way or de gr ee ob st ru ct s,

de la y s, or a f

f ect s co m m erce or th e m ov em en t of an y art ic le or co m m od it y in

co m m e r c e, by ro bb ery or ex to rti on or at te m pt s or co ns pi res so to do ." 18 U.S.C.

§ 19 51 (a). GPS t rack in g th ro ug h Ch ap la in 's an kl e br acel et , e y e wit ne ss te st im on y , ph y si ca l ev id en ce, an d vi de o su rv ei ll an ce pr ov id e ov erwh el m in g ev id en ce to

es ta bl is h Ch ap la in 's in v o lv em en t in each ro bb ery, an d Ch ap la in do es no t ex pl ic it ly

co nt es t th is ev id en ce. Ch ap la in arg ue s on ly th at th e go ve rn m en t fai le d to sh ow th at

th e ro bb eri es affe ct ed in te rs ta te co m m erce . W e d is ag ree.

"Co m m erce " i s d efi ne d a s

co m m erce wit hi n th e Dis tr i c t of Co lu m bi a, or an y Terri to ry or Po ss es si on of th e Uni te d St at es ; al l c o m m erce be twee n an y po in t in a St at e, Terri t o r y, P o ss es si on , o r th e Dis tri ct of Co lu m bi a an d an y po in t

ou ts id e th ereo f; al l co m

m en ce be twee n po in ts wit hi n th e sa m e St at e th ro ug h an y pl ace ou ts id e su ch St a t e ; a n d al l ot he r co m m erce ov er whi ch th e Uni te d S ta te s h as juri sd ic ti on

.

Id

. § 19 51 (b )(3 ). Co m

m erce ha s bee n def

in ed ve ry br oa dl y in cas el aw. The st at ut e

"i n no way ex cl ud e[s ] pr os ecu ti on s fo r

. . . lo cal ro bb eri es , so lo ng as th ey sa ti sf y th e

req ui rem en t t h a t c o mm erce or th e m ov em en t of an y art ic le or co m m od it y in

-7

-co m

m erce is ob st ru ct ed

, de la y ed

, or affe ct ed ." Uni te d St at es v. Farm er, 73 F.3 d 83 6,

84 3 (8 th Ci r. 19 96 ). "When a bu si ne ss th at se ll s go od s m an uf act ur ed ou ts id e th e st at e

is ro bb ed

, in t e r s t a t e co m m erce is us ua ll y su ffi ci en tl y affe ct ed fo r" Hob bs Act

ro bb ery. Uni te d St at es v. Qu i g le y , 53 F.3 d 90 9, 91 0 (8 th Ci r. 19 95 ). W he re a

bu si ne ss is fo rced to cl os e fo r a pe rio d of ti m e, a co ur t is es pe ci al ly li ke ly to fin d th at

th e ro bb ery affe ct ed in te rs ta te co m m erce

. Uni te d St at es v. Man n, 70 1 F.3 d 27 4, 29 5
(8 th Ci r. 20 12 ). In Uni te d St at es v. Dav is

, 30 F.3 d 61 3 (5 th Ci r. 19 94 ), th e co ur t he ld

th at th e ev id en ce was su ffi ci en t to su pp or t a fin di ng of Hob bs Act ro bb ery whe re th e

"ro bb eri es cau se d th e in te rru pt io n of co m m erce in al l fo ur ga s st at io ns de al in g in ou tof -s ta te go od s, re su lt in g fr om th ei r te m po rary clo su re." Id . at 61 5. The co m m erce

el em en t is al so sa ti sf

ie d "wh en a ro bb ery de pl et es th e as se ts of a bu si ne ss en ga ge d

in in te rs ta te co m

m erce ." Uni te d St at es v. Hou se , 82 5 F.3 d 38 1, 38 6 (8 th Ci r. 20 16 ),

cert

. de ni ed

, 13 7 S. Ct

. 11 24 (2 01 7)

. Eve n th e ro bb ery or at te m pt ed ro bb ery of a dr ug

de al er of dr ug s or dr ug pr oc eed s sa ti sf ie s t h e co m

m erce el em en t of Hob bs Act

ro bb ery. Tay lo r v. Un it ed Sta te s, 1 36 S. Ct. 2 07 4, 2 07 7- 78 (20 16 ).

Here, ev ery bu si ne ss in vo lv ed in Ch ap la in 's ro bb ery sp ree was fo rced to cl os e

te m po rari ly. The fir st Ji ffy Lub e was cl os ed fo r 90 m in ut es , th e se co n d Ji ffy Lub e

was cl os ed fo r th e rem ai nd er of th e da y , Su bwa y was cl os ed fo r th e rem ai nd er of th e

da y an d lo st si x ho ur s of b u s i n e s s , O ' R ei ll y Aut o Part s was fo rced to cl os e fo r a

pe rio d of ti m e, Kum & Go was cl os ed fo r ne arl y two ho ur s, Gam eSt op was cl os ed fo r

th e rem ai nd er of th e ev en in g an d lo st th ree h o u rs of bu si ne ss , a nd KFC was fo rced

to cl os e th ree ho ur s earl y

. Mo reo ve r , e a ch bu si ne ss so ld ou t-o f-s ta te go od s. Ji ffy

Lub e is a fran ch is e th at rece iv es pr od uc ts fro m wareh ou se s in Pen ns y lv an ia

. Su bwa y

is a ch ai n res ta ur an t th at be lo ng s to a la rg er in te rs ta te ch ai n of st or es

. O'Rei ll y Aut o

Part s rece iv es in ve nt or y fro m Io wa, Mi ss ou ri, an d Mi nn es ot a. Kum & Go ha s st or es

in bo th Neb ras ka an d Io wa. Gam eSt op is a na ti on al ch ai n th at rece iv es pr od uc ts fro m

acro ss th e co un try. KFC is pa rt of a na ti on al ch ai n of res ta ur an t s t h a t r ecei ve s it s

fo od fro m Kan sa s. Thu s, th ere is su ffi ci en t ev id en ce to de m on st rat e th at Ch ap la in 's

-8

-act io ns ob st ru ct ed

, de la y ed

, or affe ct ed co m m e r c e in so m e way or to so m e de gr ee

su ch th at Ch ap la in 's c on vi ct io ns un de r th e Hob bs Act wer e ap pr op ria te

.

2. Fire ar m s Cha rg es

Ch ap la in was co nv ic te d of th ree co un ts of br an di sh in g a fir earm du rin g a cri m e

of vi ol en ce in vi ol at io n of 18 U.S.C. § 92 4( c)(1 )(A) an d (C). He st at es th at th ere was

in su ffi ci en t evi de nc e to su pp or t th es e co nv ic ti on s bu t fail s to ex pl ai n th is arg um en t

in hi s br ie f on ap pe al

. "Be cau se th e br ie f do es no t su pp or t th is as se rti on wi t h a n y

arg um en t, th is co ur t de em s th e is su e ab an do ne d." Uni te d St at es v. Ald rid ge , 56 1 F.3 d

75 9, 7 65 (8t h C ir. 2 00 9)

.

B. Ju ry Ins truc tio ns

Ch ap la in al so arg ue s th at th e di st ric t co ur t erre d by fai li ng to pu t th e wor d

"i nt ers ta te " be fo re th e wor d "co m m erce " in it s jury in st ru ct io ns fo r th e Hob bs Act

ch arg es

. W e r ev ie w th e di st ric t co ur t's jury in st ru ct io ns fo r an ab us e of di sc ret io n.

Uni te d St at es v. Lall ey , 25 7 F.3 d 75 1, 75 5 (8 th Ci r. 20 01 ). Here, ag ai n, Ch ap la in ha s

a b a nd on ed th is is su e. Alt ho ug h Ch ap la in m en ti on s th e di st ric t co ur t's al le ge d ju r y

in st ru ct io n erro r in hi s St at em en t of Is su es in hi s br ie f, he ne ve r act ua ll y arg ue s th is

po in t. Fed eral Ru le of App el la te Pro ced ur e 28 (a)( 8) (A) req ui res t h a t th e arg um en t

in th e br ie f se t fo rth th e "ap pe ll an t' s c o n t e n t i o n s an d th e reas on s fo r th em ." If "t he

br ie f do es no t su pp or t [th e pa rty's] as se rti on wit h an y arg um en t, th is co ur t de em s th e

is su e ab an do ne d." Ald rid ge , 56 1 F .3d at 7 65

.

-9

-II I. CONCLUSI ON

The jud gm en t o f th e d is tri ct co ur t i s af fir m ed

. 2

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

The co ur t di d n o t co ns id er Ch ap la in 's two pr o se do cu m en ts si nc e he was 2

rep res en te d by co un se l. Uni te d St at es v. J o ne s, 69 8 F.3 d 10 48

, 10 51 -5 2 (8 th Ci r. 20 12 ).

-1 0-