### F I LE D U. S . COURT OF AP PE ALS E LEVE NTH CI RCUI T A ugus t 24, 2005 T HOM AS K. KAHN C L E RK [ P UB L I S H] I N THE UN I TE D STATE S C OU RT OF APPE ALS F O R T H E E L E V E N T H C IR C U IT

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________________________ D. C . Do c k e tNo . 0 4 - 2 0 4 0 6 - C R - F AM U N I T E D S T A T E S O F A M E R I C A , P la in tif f - A p p e lle e , v ersu s M A R I O A N T O N I O A C O S T A , D e f e n d a n t- A p p e lla n t.

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_________________________ ( A u gu s t 24, 2005) B efo re B IR C H , B A R K E T T an d W IL S O N , C i rcu i tJu d g es. W IL S O N , C i rc ui tJudg e: M a r io A n to n io A c o s ta , w h o w a s c o n v ic te d b y a ju ry f o ra tte m p tin g to2

recei v e a v i d eo t ap e co n t ai n i n g ch i l d p o rn o g rap h y an d att em p t i n g t o p o ssess a vi de ot ape c ont a i ni ng c hi l d pornogr aphy , appe a l s the de ni a l of hi s m ot i on f

or j u d g m e n to f

a c q u i tt a l p u r s u a n tt o F e d e r a l R u l e o f C r i m i n a l P r o c e d u r e 2 9 . He c l a i m s tha tthe gove rnm e ntf a i l e d t o s a t i s f

y the j ur i s di c t i ona l r e qui r e m e nttha tthe vi de ot ape tr a ve l i n i nt e r s t a t e c om m e r c e , a nd tha tthe di s tr i c tc our tw a s the r e by obl i ga t e d t o gr a nthi s m ot i on. W e a f f i r m the di s tr i c tc our t ’ s rul i ng. I . B a c kgr ound I n A p r il 2 0 0 4 , A c o s ta lo g g e d - o n to a n I n te rn e t w e b s ite th a t ap p e a le d to peop l e i nt er es t ed i n you thful or un dera ge ho m osexual ac t i vi ty, and m ade i nq ui ri es abouthow he c oul d pur c ha s e pornogr aphi c vi de os . L i tt l e di d he know tha tthe w e b s ite w a s a c tu a lly p a r t o f a n u n d e r c o v e ro p e r a tio n d e s ig n e d to c a tc h c h ild p o rn o g r ap h y p u r c h a s e r s o v e rth e I n te rn e t. A U n ite d S ta te s P o s ta l I n s p e c to rin H arri sburg, P ennsyl vani a, usi ng the un derc ov ernam e “ S am ” obt ai ned an unde r c ove re - m a i l a ddr e s s t o r e c e i ve c om m uni c a t i ons f r om i ndi vi dua l s dur i ng the in v e s tig a tio n a n d b e g a n c o m m u n ic a tin g w ith A c o s ta . I n s om e of

the e - m a i l s , S a m , gr aphi c a l l y de s c r i bi ng the c hi l d pornogr aphy vi deot apes he had avai l abl e, t ol d A cost a thathe w ou l d charge hi m tw enty dol l ar s per t ape. A cost a then e-m ai l ed S am t el l i ng hi m thathe se nthi m a tw enty dol l ar m o n e y o r d e rf

o rth e v id e o tap e a n d a s k e d S a m to m a il th e v id e o tap e to h is h o m e inSection 2252A(a)(2) (B ) of Title 18 of theUnited States Code applies to “[a]ny person 1 who . . . knowing ly

rec eives or distributes a

ny material that contains child pornography that has be e n maile d, or

sh ipp e d o r t

ra nspo rt e d in

inters tateor

fo re ign c omm erc e , b y

any me ans , including by

computer. . . .”Section 2252A(a)(5) (B ) of Title 18 of theUnited States Code a pp lie s to“ [a]ny

pers on wh o . . . kn ow ingly

se llsor po sse sse s w iththeintent to s e ll a ny c hil d pornography

that has been mailed, or shipped or transporte d in interstate or f oreign commerc e by any means, includingby

computer, or

that was produc ed usingmaterials that have be en mailed,

3 M i a m i , F l or i da . I n r e s pons e , S a m t ol d A c os t a tha the s e ntthe vi de ot ape by ov erni gh tm ai l , and thathe shou l d exp ec ti tthe fol l ow i ng day. H ow ever , i nst ea d of m ai l i ng the vi deot ape overni gh t , S am se nti tby re gi st er ed m ai l t o a po st al i n s p e c t o r( Fe rn a n d e z ) i n M i a mi . A f t e rr e c e i v i n g th e v i d e o t ap e f r o m Sa m, F e rn a n d e z p a c k a g e d it in a n e x p r e s s m a il p a c k a g e to s im u la te its c o n d itio n a s if it w er e a n actual package m ai l ed fr om P ennsyl vani a. F ernand ez , dres se d as aU ni t ed S t at es m ai l l ett erca rr i er , pers on al l y del i vere d the package t o A cost a, w ho si gn ed fo r th e p ack ag e. F ern an d ez th en l eftA co st a’ s h o m e an d l at er retu rn ed t o arrest h i m. T h e g r a n dju ry r e tu rn e d a tw o - c o u n t in d ic tm e n t c h a r g in g A c o s ta w ith a tt e m pt i ng t o r e c e i ve m a t e r i a l c ont a i ni ng c hi l d pornogr aphy “ tha tha d be e n m a i l e d, s hi ppe d ortr a ns por t e d i n i nt e r s t a t e c om m e r c e by a ny m e a ns , ” i n vi ol a t i on of 18 U . S . C . §§ 2252A ( a ) ( 2) ( B ) a nd ( b) ( 1) , a nd a tt e m pt i ng t o pos s e s s a vi de ot ape cont ai ni ng i m ages of chi l d p orno graphy, as defi ned i n 1 8 U . S . C . § 2 25 6(8)(A ),

“ tha tha d be e n m a i l e d, s hi ppe d ortr a ns por t e d i n i nt e r s t a t e c om m e r c e , by a ny m e a ns , ” i n vi ol a t i on of

18 U . S . C . §§ 2252A ( a ) ( 5) ( B ) a nd ( b) ( 2) . A f t e rthe 1or shipped or tra nsported in interstate or

fore ign c ommerceby

any means, includingby

computer . . . .” 4 go vernm entre st ed, A cost a unsucces sf ul l y s ou gh ta j ud gm entof ac qu i tt al un der R ul e 29. II . S t andard of R evi ew W e r e v ie w th e d is tr ic t c o u r t’s d e n ia l o f a m o tio n f

o rju d g m e n t o f

a c q u itta l de nov o, vi e w i ng the f

a c t s a nd dr a w i ng a l l i nf e r e nc e s i n the l i ghtm os tf a vor abl e t o the g o v e rn m e n t. U

ni te d State s v . D e s c e nt , 2 9 2 F. 3 d 7 0 3 , 7 0 6 ( 1 1 th Ci r . 2 0 0 2 ) . To a f f i r m the de ni a l of

a R ul e 29 m ot i on, w e l ook t o the e vi de nc e t o de t e r m i ne w h e th e rit w a s s u f

f ic ie n t to e s tab lis h th e d e f e n d a n t’s g u ilt b e y o n d a r e a s o n ab le d o u b t. Id . W here , as here , defe nd antas se rt s thatthe go vernm entfa i l ed t o p rove a j ur i s di c t i ona l r e qui r e m e ntof a s t a tut e , w e vi e w tha ta s a c ha l l e nge t o the s u f f ic ie n c y o f

th e e v id e n c e . U

ni ted Stat es v. Key , 76 F . 3d 35 0, 35 3 (11 th C i r. 1 9 9 6 ) . I I I . D i s c us s i on A cost a c l ai m s thatthe j uri sdi ct i on al el em entof the st atut es w as no tm et because a n u nd er cover post al i nspect or, ra ther than an actual m ai l l ett erca rr i er , del i vere d the vi deot ape t o h i s hom e. A cc ordi ng t o A cost a, “ ac tual m ai l i ng , ” by a n

“ ac tual m ai l m an” or a del i veryatan “ ac tual po stoffi ce ” m ustt ake pl ac e t o sat i sf y5

the j ur i s di c t i ona l r e qui r e m e nt s of 18 U . S . C . §§ 2252A ( a ) ( 2) ( B ) a nd 2 2 5 2 A ( a ) ( 5 ) ( B ) . T o con si der A cost a’ s c on t ent i on , w e e xam i ne the l angu age of the st atut ory pr ovi s i on a ti s s ue . “ T he s t a r t i ng poi nti n c ons trui ng a s t a tut e i s the l a ngua ge of the st atut e i t se l f. ” R a n da ll v . L o fts G a r de n , 478 U . S . 647, 656, 106 S . C t . 3143, 3149 (1 9 8 6 ). T h e “ card i n al can n o n ” o f st atu t o ry i n t erp ret at i o n i s “ th atco u rt s m u st p r e s u m e th a t a le g is la tu r e s a y s in a s ta tu te w h a t it m e a n s a n d m e a n s in a s ta tu te w hati tsa ys there . ” C o n n e c tic u t N a t’ l B a n k v . G e rm a in , 503 U . S . 249, 253–54, 11 2 S . C t . 11 46 , 11 49 (199 2). M oreover, w e c on strue s t atut es so that“ no cl ause , se nt ence , or w ord shal l be superf l uo us, vo i d, or i nsi gn i fi ca nt . ” U ni ted Stat es v. B al l i ng er , 39 5 F . 3d 12 18 , 12 36 (11th C i r. 20 05 ). T he s t a tut e s tha tA c os t a f a c e d una m bi guous l y s t a t e tha tc hi l d pornogr aphy ne e d onl y be s hi ppe d, tr a ns por t e d, orm a i l e d i n i nt e r s t a t e orf or e i gn c om m e r c e by a n y m e a n s , to s a tis f

y th e ju r is d ic tio n a l r e q u ir e m e n t. See 18 U . S . C . §§ 2 2 5 2 A ( a ) ( 2 ) ( b ) , 2 2 5 2 A ( a ) ( 5 ) ( B ) . T h e r e f o r e , a ll th a t th e g o v e rn m e n t n e e d e d to pr ove be y ond a r e a s onabl e doubtt o e s c ape A c os t a ’ s R ul e 29 m ot i on w a s tha tthe vi deot ape w as m ai l ed, or shi pp ed or tra nspo rt ed i n i nt er st at e or f orei gn com m er ce

“ by a ny m e a ns . ” Id .; s e e a ls o U n ite d S ta te s v . M

a x w e ll , 386 F . 3d 1042, 1051 ( 1 1 th C ir . 2 0 0 4 ) ( e m p h a s is a d d e d ) . C e r ta in ly , w ith o u t e v id e n c e th a t th e c h ild6

p o rn o g r ap h y tr a v e le d in in te r s ta te c o m m e r c e , th e g o v e rn m e n t is u n ab le to s u s ta in its b u r d e n o f

p r o o f a t tr ia l. B u t th e g o v e rn m e n t’s b u r d e n is n o t a s h e a v y a s A c o s ta s ugge s t s – w e do notr e a d the s t a tut e t o r e qui r e tha tthe gove rnm e ntm us tpr ove thatdel i veryt ake pl ac e by a n “ ac tual m ai l m an” or thatthere i s pi ck-up atan “actu al p o st o ff

ice.” T h e p h ra se “b y a n y m ea n s” o b v io u sly e v id en ce s C o n g re ss ’s i nt ent i on t o i ncl ud e a l t ernat i ve avenues of tra nspo rt at i on , l i ke a pri vat e c ou ri er s e r v ic e , F e d e r a l E x p r e s s , U n ite d P a r c e l S e r v ic e o rth e ire q u iv a le n t, a s lo n g a s c h ild p o rn o g r ap h y is s h ip p e d , tr a n s p o r te d o rm a ile d th r o u g h th e c h a n n e ls o f in te r s ta te c o m m e r c e . O th e rc ir c u its ap p e a rto s u p p o r t th is in te rp r e ta tio n . W e n o te th a t th e F o u r th a n d S ix th C ir c u its h a v e a d d r e s s e d th e m e a n in g o f s im ila rla n g u a g e in o th e rc h ild pornogr aphy s t a tut e s . I n U ni ted Stat es v. D ornh of

er , 85 9 F . 2d 11 95 (4th C i r. 19 88 ), the defendantw as conv i ct ed for r ec ei vi ng chi l d p orno graphy “ thathas bee n tra nspo rt ed or shi pp ed i n i nt er st at e or f orei gn com m er ce or m ai l ed. ” Id . a t 1 1 9 7 . T he defendantordered a c hi l d p orno graphy cat al og fr om an un derc ov erpo st al in s p e c to r . Id . T he c a t a l og w a s m a i l e d t o a pos t a l i ns pe c t ori n N e w J e r s e y , w ho the n m a i l e d the c a t a l og t o a nothe rpos t a l i ns pe c t ori n W a s hi ngt on, D . C . , w ho ga ve the c a t a l og t o the “ r e gul a rl e tt e rc a rr i e ra s s i gne d t o D ornhof e r ’ s r out e , w ho del i vere d [the po rnog raph y] t o D ornh ofer ’ s a dd re ss . ” Id . D ornhof e robt a i ne d the7

c a ta lo g f r o m h is m a ilb o x . T h e F o u r th C ir c u it c o n c lu d e d th a t “[ a ]ll th a t 1 8 U .S .C . § 22 52 (a )( 2) re qu i re s i s thata per son k no w i ng l y r ec ei ve chi l d p orno graphy thathas been tra nspo rt ed or shi pp ed i n i nt er st at e or f orei gn com m er ce or m ai l ed. ” Id . at 11 97 (i nt ernal qu ot at i on s om i tt ed). F urther, the D ornh of erc our the l d tha tthe po rnog raph y i n thatca se w as “ m ai l ed w i thi n the m ea ni ng of the st atut e. ” Id . at 1197- 98. L ik e in D ornh of

er , the de f

e nda nti n U

n i ted S ta tes v. Mo o re , 916 F . 2d 1131 (6th C i r. 19 90 ), w as conv i ct ed for r ec ei vi ng chi l d p orno graphy thathad b ee n tr a n s p o r te d , s h ip p e d , o rm a ile d in in te r s ta te c o m m e r c e in v io la tio n o f 1 8 U .S .C . § 2252( a ) ( 2) . I n tha tc a s e , the de f e nda ntor de r e d a c hi l d pornogr aphy vi de ot ape f r o m a n u n d e r c o v e rp o s ta l in s p e c to r . Id . at11 35 . T he po st al i nspect or packaged the t ape i n an exp re ss m ai l envel op e, addres se d i tt o M oo re , af fi xed the prop er p o s t a g e , d r o v e t o Mo o r e ’ s h o m e t o wn , a n d h a n d d e l i v e r e d th e e n v e l o p e t o th e t o wn p o s tm a s te r , w h o th e n p la c e d a n o te in M o o r e ’s p o s t o f f ic e b o x te llin g h im th a t a la r g e p a c k a g e h a d a rr iv e d f o rh im . Id . M oo re pi cked up the envel op e a nd w as a rr e s te d . Id . T he S i xth C i r c ui tnot e d tha tthe s t a tut e a ti s s ue “ e nc om pa s s e s not on l y r ec ei ptof chi l d p orno graphy throu gh the m ai l , bu tal so re ce i ptof such m a t e r i a l ‘ tha tha s be e n tr a ns por t e d ors hi ppe d i n i nt e r s t a t e orf or e i gn c om m e r c e by any m ea ns. ’ ” Id . a t1 1 3 8 . Th e Si x th Ci r c u i ta l s o n o t e d th a td e l i v e ry v i a U PS,8

ra ther than v i a the U ni t ed S t at es m ai l , w ou l d st i l l “ have const i tut ed as sure a v io la tio n ” o f

th e s ta tu te a t is s u e . Id . W e c on cl ud e thatthe evi dence pres ent ed i n thi s c as e i s s uffi ci entt o sat i sf y the j ur i s di c t i ona l r e qui r e m e nt s of 18 U . S . C . § 2252A ( a ) ( 2) ( b) a nd § 2252A ( a ) ( 5) ( B ) . S a m us e d the U ni t e d S t a t e s P os t a l S e r vi c e t o m a i l the vi de ot ape f r o m P e n n s y lv a n ia to a p o s ta l in s p e c to rin F lo r id a , b e f o r e it w a s d e liv e r e d to A c o s ta . T h e v id e o tap e , th e r e f o r e , tr a v e le d th r o u g h th e c h a n n e ls o f in te r s ta te c o m m e r c e . T h a t a lo n e w o u ld b e s u f f ic ie n t to s a tis f

y th e ju r is d ic tio n a l r e q u ir e m e n t, e ve n though the vi de ot ape w a s notde l i ve r e d by the m a i l m a n orpi c ke d up by A cost a a tthe po stoffi ce . T he fa ctthata post al i nspect or, ra ther than a m ai l l ett er ca rr i er , l at erdel i vere d the vi deot ape t o A cost a i s i m m at er i al . T o rea d the broad l angu age of the st atut es t o requi re “ ac tual m ai l i ng , ” del i veryby an “ ac tual m a i l m a n, ” orde l i ve ry a ta n “ a c tua l pos tof f i c e ” w oul d l i m i tthe s t a tut e s i n a m an n er n o ti n t en d ed b y C o n g ress. I V . C onc l us i on W e the r e f

or e c onc l ude tha tthe e vi de nc e w a s s uf f i c i e ntt o e s t abl i s h be y ond a r e a s o n ab le d o u b t th a t A c o s ta a tte m p te d to p o s s e s s , a n d a tte m p te d to r e c e iv e , a vi de ot ape c ont a i ni ng c hi l d pornogr aphy tha tha d be e n s hi ppe d, tr a ns por t e d or m ai l ed i n i nt er st at e c om m er ce . A FFI R M ED .