FOURTH D I VI SI ON

DOYLE, P. J.

, COOM ER and M A R KLE, JJ.

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons i de r a tion m us t be

ph y sic a l ly r e ce iv ed i n our c le r k ’s offic e w ithin te n

da y s of the da te of de c is ion to be de e m ed tim e ly file d.

http://w w w .ga a ppe a l s .us /r ule s

June 14, 2019



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 9 A0 34 6 . CARR v . THE STATE.

C O O M E R , J u d ge.

Fo l l owi n g a ju ry t ri al

, Jeffrey Carr was co n vi ct ed on t h ree co u n t s o f vi o l at i n g

t h e Geo rg i a Rack et eer In fl u en c e d a n d Co rru p t Org an i zat i o n s Act (“ RICO”). 1 On

ap p eal

, Carr ch al l en g es th e s u ffi ci en cy o f t h e ev i d en ce t o co n v i ct h i m o n al l co u nt s

,

an d arg u es t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n i ts i n s tru ct i on t o t h e ju ry

. Carr fu rt h er co n ten d s t h at

t h e tri al co u rt erred i n th e ad m is s i o n o f cert ai n o pi n i o n an d ul t i m at e i s s ue t es t i m o ny

t h at was n o t bas ed o n a wi t n es s ’ fi rs t -h an d k n owl ed g e. Las t l y

, Carr a r g u es t h at h i s

t ri al co u n s el was in effect i v e. Fi n d i n g n o erro r, we affi rm

.

1 Carr was t ri ed an d co n v ict ed o n al l co u n t s al on g wi th hi s co -d efen d an t fat h er,

J o s ep h Carr. J o s ep h Carr’ s co n v i ct i on i s n o t a s u b ject o f t hi s ap p eal

.On ap p eal fro m a cri m i n al co n v i ct io n

, we v i ew t he ev i d en ce i n th e

l i gh t m o s t fav o rab l e t o t h e verd i ct

, wi t h t h e d efen d an t n o l o ng er

en jo y in g a p res u m

p t i o n o f i n no cen ce. W e n ei t h er wei gh t h e ev i d en ce

n o r ju dg e t h e cred ib i l i t y o f wi t n es ses

, b u t d et erm i n e o n ly w het h er, aft er

v i ewi n g t h e ev i d en ce i n t h e l i g h t m o s t fav o rab l e t o t h e p ro s ecu ti o n

, a

rat i o n al t ri er of fact co u l d h av e fo un d th e es sen t i al el em en ts of t h e cri m e

b ey o n d a reas o n ab l e d ou b t

.

Fa l a y v. S t a t e

, 3 20 Ga. Ap p

. 7 8 1

, 7 8 1 (7 4 0 SE2 d 7 3 8 ) (2 0 1 3 ) (ci t at io n s o m i t t ed ). So

v i ewed

, th e ev i d en ce es tab l i s hed t h at b et ween 2 0 0 9 an d 2 01 3 Carr t o o k or recei v ed

m o re t h an $3 ,0 4 6

, 9 3 4 fro m a 9 3 y ear o l d wi d o w. Th e wi d o w, w h o i s ch aract e r i z e d

as a v ery fru g al p ers o n

, h as an es t at e wo rt h an es t im at ed 2 0 to 2 5 m i l l io n d o l l ars

. At

t ri al

, t h e w i d o w t es t i fi ed t h at s he n ev er gav e Carr p erm i ss i o n t o tak e t h ree an d a h al f

m i l l io n do ll ars fro m her, d en ied ev er g i v i n g gi ft s o f t h o us an d s of d o l lars to an y o ne,

an d d en i ed ev er p u rch as i n g v eh i cl es fo r an y on e.

Fo l l o w i n g t h e wi d o w’ s tes t im o n y at tri al

, t h e ju ry heard t es t i m o n y fro m t h e

wi d ow’ s fo rm e r b u s i n es s m an ag er an d at t o rn ey -i n -fact u n d er a p rev io u s fi n an ci al

p o wer o f at t o rn ey

, Ch arl es Ol s en

. Ol s en t es ti fi ed t h at he an d th e wi d o w w o u l d m eet

week l y o r ev ery o t h er week s o t h at h e co u l d as si s t t h e wi d o w wi t h fi n an ci al an d l eg al

m at t ers

. Ol s e n s erv ed as th e wi d o w’ s at t o rn ey -i n -fact fro m 2 0 0 7 t o 2 0 1 0

. Ol s en s t at ed

t h at i n t h e t i m e t h at h e s erv ed as h er at t o rn ey -i n -fact an d bu s in es s m an ag er, o n l y o nce

2d i d t he wi d o w g i v e a gi ft wo rt h t h o u s a n d s o f d o l l ars

. Ol s en

, i n h i s cap aci t y as t h e

wi d ow’ s b u s i n es s m an ag er, l earn ed t h at cert ai n p ro p ert y b el on g i n g t o t h e wi d o w h ad

b een s ol d wi t h o u t h i s k n o wl ed g e o r i n v o l v em en t at Ca r r ’ s b eh es t fo r a p ri ce b el o w

real m ark et v al ue. Ol sen w as u l t i m at el y rem o ved as t h e w i d o w ’ s at t o rn ey -i n -fact aft er

Carr i n s i n u at ed h i m s el f i n t o t h e wi d o w’ s l i fe an d Ol s en ’ s rel at i o n sh i p wi t h t he wi d o w

d i m i n i s h ed

. D u ri n g t he fo u r y ears O l s en s erv ed as t h e w i d o w ’ s bu s in es s m an ag er an d

at t o rn ey -i n -fact

, h e rec e ive d a ppr oxim at el y $ 6 5 ,0 0 0 as co m p en s at i o n fo r h i s s erv i ces

.

Th e wi d o w’ s co n s erv at o r t es t i fi ed t h at h e w as ap p o i n t e d by t h e co u rt to

rep res en t t h e wi d ow i n 20 1 4

. H e b e c a m e t he wi do w’ s p ers o n al at t orn ey i n M arch

2 0 1 3

, an d was g i v en fi nan ci al p o wer o f at t o rn ey ab o u t a m on t h l at er. A t t h at t i m e, t h e

wi d ow’ s t ax es fro m 2 0 1 0 t o 20 1 3 h ad n o t been p ai d

, h er es t at e w as i n d i s array

, an d

t h e wi d o w was n ot aware o f t h e s eri o u s n e s s o f h er fi n an ci al co n di t i o n

. Th e

co n serv at o r, wh o s p eci al i zes i n fi d u ci ary l aw, t es ti fi ed th at Carr en g ag ed i n eg reg i ou s

t ran s act io n s w h il e ad m i ni s teri ng t h e wi d ow’ s es t at e. Sp eci fi cal l y

, t h e co n s erv at o r

t es t i fi ed th at t h ere was “ t ran sfer aft er t ran s fer aft er tran s fer aft er t ran s fer o f m o n ey ”

t o Carr’ s n am e fro m t h e wi d o w’ s acco u n ts

, an d n o t ed t h at su ch t ran s fers were

u n co m m on fo r s o m eo ne wi t h a fi n an ci al p o wer o f at to rn ey

. Th e co n s e r v a t o r f o u n d

t wo tran s act i o n s t o Carr’ s p ers o n al acco u n t s p art i cu l arl y s u s p i ci o u s an d p ro b l em at i c:

3o n e t ran s fer fo r aro un d $ 1 m i l li o n an d an o t h er t ran s fer fo r aro u n d $ 7 00 ,0 0 0 . Th o s e

t ran s fers rel at ed t o th e co n t ro v ers i al s al e o f p ro pert y th at h ad b el on g ed t o t h e wi d o w,

at wh i ch t h e w i d o w was no t p res en t fo r t h e s al e. T h e co n s erv at o r n o t ed t h e

i rreg ul ari t y i n h o w o ver t h e co u rs e o f o ne y ear, n earl y 1 0 0 ch eck s w ere wri t t en to

Carr i n fl at am o u nt s w i t h n o real a c c o u n t i n g as t o h o w an d wh y t hey were wri t t en

.

Th e co n s erv at o r t es t i fi ed t h at t hro u g h o u t h i s t i m e o f i n v o l vem en t wi t h t h e wi d o w’ s

es t at e, s h e n ev er d irect ed h i m t o g i v e g i ft s o f th ou s an d s o f d o ll ars t o no n -fam i l y

m em b ers

.

Th e i n v es t i g at o r i n ch arg e o f t h e cas e t es t i fi ed t h at h e f i r s t b ecam e aware o f

p o t e n t i al i rreg u l ari t i es wi t h t he wi d o w’ s b an k acco un t i n 2 0 1 1

. T h e in v es t i g a t o r

d i s co v ered t hat 4 7 ch eck s t o t al i n g $ 5 0 7

, 7 3 5 w ere d rawn o n an acco u nt t h at was

fu n d ed b y th e wi d o w. Th e i n v es t i g at or s t at ed t h at s ev eral of t h e ch eck s d rawn o n t h e

wi d ow’ s acco u n t w e r e m a d e p ay ab l e t o Carr fo r rei m b u rs em en t o f t h e wi d o w’ s

e xpe nse s ; how ev er, t h e i nv es t i g at o r n o t ed t h at Carr effect iv el y d o u b l e dippe d be c a use

p ay m en t s o f t h o s e sam e ex p en s es were p ai d d i rect l y o u t of t h e wi d o w ’s acco u n t

.

Th ere were a t o t al o f 9 6 t ran s ac t i o n s w h ere ch eck s were wri t t en pay ab l e t o Carr

wh erei n t h e m em o l i ne o f t h e ch eck s i nd i cat ed t h at t h e fu n d s were f o r s p eci fi c

p u rp os es t o b e p ai d b y Carr o n b eh al f o f t h e w i d o w, y et t h e in v es t i g at o r co u l d n ot

4fi nd t h e c o r res p o n d i n g t ran s act i o n s fro m Carr’ s acco u nt t o s h ow th e p ay m en t s h ad

act u al l y b een m ad e.

Th e i n v es t i g at o r fu rt h er t es t i fi ed t h at t h ro ug h un d ue i nfl u en ce, Carr g ai n ed t h e

t ru s t o f t h e wi d ow an d ul t i m at el y b ecam e t h e wi d o w’ s ‘ s at t o rn ey -i n -fact u n d er a

fi nan ci al p o wer of a t t o rn ey

. Hi s i nv es t i g at i on rev eal ed th at Carr u s ed h is i n fl u en ce

o v er t he w i d ow t o i s o l at e her fro m h er fri en d s an d an y o n e w h o wan t ed t o co n t act h er.

In o ne p art i cu lar i n s t an ce, aft er t h e wi d o w w as h o s p i t al ized t o t reat i n ju ri es fro m a

fal l

, Carr arran g ed fo r her t o recei v e reh ab il i tat i v e t reat m en t fi ft y t o si x t y m i l es away

fro m h er Co b b Co u n t y h o m e at a faci l i t y i n Gai n es v i l l e, Geo rg ia, fi v e m i l es fro m

Carr’ s res i d en ce. Th e ju ry h eard t es t i m o n y t h at al t ho u g h t h e wi d o w h ad ex p res s ed a

d es i re t o g o t o a reh ab i l it at i o n f a c i l i t y n ear h er h o m e, Carr h ad her m o v e t o an

as s i s ted l i v i n g faci l i t y n ear h i s h o m e. Lat er, u n d er q u es t i o n ab l e ci rcu m s t an ces

, t h e

w i d o w w a s m o ved t o t he res i d en ce o f Carr’ s m o t h er an d fat h er, w h o al s o l i v ed i n

Gai n es vi l l e, Geo rg i a. A cl os e fri en d o f t h e wi d o w t e s t i f i e d t h at fo r t h e t h ree y ears

l ead i ng u p t o t he tri al

, t h e wi d ow h ad “ ju s t s o rt o f d i s ap p eared ” an d t h at d es p i t e h er

b es t effo rt s

, sh e was un ab l e t o g et i n co n t act w i t h th e wi d o w. St art i n g i n 2 0 1 1

, t h ere

were ap p ro x i m at el y t h ree or fo u r i n q u iri es b y ad u l t pro t ect i v e serv i ces rel at ed to

5al l eg at i o n s o f p o t en t i al ab u s e o f t h e wi d ow. Ho wev er, n on e o f t h e referral s t o ad u l t

p ro t ect i v e s erv i ces res u l t ed i n an y o ffi ci al act i on

.

An ex p ert i n fo ren s i c acco u n t i n g an d frau d ex am i n at io n tes t i f i ed t h at aft er

co n du ct in g a rev i ew o f t h e v ari o u s acco u n ts b el o n g i ng t o th e wi d o w, Carr, an d h i s

fat h er, t h e ex p ert di s co v ered t h at o v er $3 m i l li o n l eft t he w id o w’ s acco u n t s an d was

d es i g n at ed fo r Carr, Carr’ s fat h er, an d o t h er Carr fam il y m em b ers

. Th e ex p ert n o t ed

t h at wh il e s o m e o f th e fu n ds d es i g n at ed fo r Carr h ad b een s p en t on “ fu n ” i t em s s u ch

as b as k et b al l t ick et s

, cl o t h i n g

, jewel ry

, an d o t h er m is cel l an eo u s sp en d i n g

, s h e co u ld

n o t d i s cern an y b en efi t th e wi d o w m ay h av e recei v ed fro m t he sp en d i n g

. Th e ex p ert

fu rt her t es t i fi ed t h at t h e w i d o w w a s s t i l l p ay in g her o wn ex pen s es t h ro u g h o u t t h e

rel ev an t p eri o d

.

Th e ex p ert wen t o n t o t es t i fy reg ard in g t h e p red i cat e act s 1 t h ro u g h 2 5 i n t h e

i n d i ct m en t an d co n fi rm ed t h em al l wi t h s o m e ex cep t i o ns

. An e xam p l e o f an ex cep t i o n

was i n rel at i o n t o pred i cat e act 8 wh ere t h e ex p ert c o u l d s e e t h at ap p ro x i m at el y

$ 6 3 ,0 0 0 i n cas h was wi t h d rawn fro m t h e w i do w’ s acco u n ts

, bu t co u ld n o t d efi n i t i v el y

s t at e wh et h er Carr or h i s fat h er h ad d ep o s i t ed t h e ch eck s o r recei v ed t h e ca s h

. T h e

ex p ert ex p l ai n ed t h at wh i le s h e co u l d co n fi rm fro m t he d o cu m en t s t h a t c ert ai n

t ran s act io n s occu rred

, s h e c o u l d n o t co n fi rm wh o act ual l y recei v ed t h e cas h

. Th e

6ex p ert al so t es t i fi ed t h at al th o u g h s h e i s n o t a h an d wri t in g ex p ert

, as p art o f h er

t rai n in g an d res p o n s i b i l i t y s h e l o o k s fo r t h i n g s t h at are “ o dd an d s u sp i ci o us ” an d i s

t rai n ed t o i d en t i fy d is crep an ci es i n si g n at u res an d h an d wri t i n g. Th e ex p ert st at ed t h at

d u ri n g h er i n ves t i gat i o n

, sh e n o t i ced s u b s t an t i al d i fferen ces i n t he s ig n at u res o n t h e

ch eck s s he rev i ewed

.

Carr was i nd i ct ed o n t h ree co u n t s o f v i o l a t i ng Geo rg i a’ s RICO Act

, an d

u l t i m at el y co n v ict ed o n al l co u n t s an d s en t en ced t o 4 0 y ears wi t h 10 t o s erv e in

co n fi n em en t

. Carr fi l ed a m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

, wh i ch th e t ri al co u rt den i ed fo l l o wi n g

a h eari n g . Th i s ap p eal fo l l o wed

.

1

. As a t h res h o l d m at t er, Carr co n t en d s t h at th e ev i d en ce ad du ced at t ri al was

i n s u ffi ci en t fo r a ju ry t o fi nd h i m g u i l t y b ey o n d a reas o n ab le d o ub t o f al l t h ree co u n t s

i n t h e i n d i ct m en t

. Mo re sp eci fi cal l y

, Carr arg u es t h at (1 ) t h e i n d i ct m en t d i d n ot

s u ffi ci en t l y al l eg e an d t h e St at e d i d n o t p ro v e an y act s i n v ol v i n g t h eft ; an d (2 ) t h ere

was n o ev i d en c e o f c o n ceal m en t t o su p p o rt t h e m o n ey lau n d eri n g p red icat es

. W e

d i s ag ree.

In co u n t s 1 t h ro u g h 3 o f th e i n di ct m en t

, t h e St at e ch arg ed Carr i n co n s i d erab l e

d et ai l w i t h c o ns p i ri n g t o acq u i re m o n ey an d p ro p ert y t h ro ug h a p at t ern o f

rack et eeri n g act i v i t y (OCGA § 1 6 -1 4 -4 (c)) wh i ch was carri ed o ut by h i s p art i ci p at i o n

7i n a n u nl awfu l en t erp ri s e (OCGA § 1 6-1 4 -4 (a)-(b )). OCGA § 1 6 -1 4 -4 (2 0 1 0 )

p ro v id es t h at :

(a) It i s u n l awfu l fo r an y pers o n

, t h ro u g h a p at t ern o f rack et eeri n g

act i v i t y o r p ro ceed s deri v ed t herefro m , t o acq u i re o r m ai n t ai n

, d i rect l y

o r i n d i rect l y , an y

i n t eres t i n o r co n t ro l o f an y en terp ri s e, real p ro p ert y

,

o r p ers o n al p ro p ert y o f an y n at u re, i n cl u d in g m o ney

.

(b ) It i s u n lawfu l fo r an y p ers o n em p l o y ed b y o r as s o ci a t e d w i t h an y

en t erp ri s e t o co n d u ct o r p art i ci p at e i n

, d i rect l y o r i n di rect l y

, s u ch

en t erp ri s e t hro ug h a p at tern o f rack et eeri n g act i v i t y

.

(c) It i s un l awfu l fo r an y p ers o n t o co n sp i re o r en d eav o r t o v i o l at e an y

o f t h e p ro v i s i o n s o f s u bs ect i o n (a) o r (b ) o f t h i s Co d e s ect i o n

.

“ A p ers o n p art i ci p at es i n a p at t er n o f rack et eeri n g act i v i ty wh en h e o r

s h e en g ag es i n at l eas t t wo act s o f rack et eeri n g act i vi t y i n fu rt h eran ce o f

o n e or m o re i n ci d en t s

, s ch em es

, o r t ran s act i o n s th a t h a v e t h e sam e o r

s i m i l ar i n t en t s

, res u lt s, acco m pl i ces

, v i ct im s, o r m et h o d s o f co m m i s s i o n

o r o t h erwi s e are i n t errel at ed b y d i s t i n g u is h i n g ch aract e r istic s a n d are n o t

i s ol at ed i n ci d en t s .”

Co t m a n v

. S t a te

, 3 4 2 Ga. Ap p

. 5 6 9

, 5 85 (2 ) (8 0 4 SE2 d 6 7 2 ) (2 0 1 7 ) (fo o t no t e an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). “ A co n v i ct i o n u n d er RICO i s a t wo -s t ep pro ces s : (1 ) p ro v i n g

t h at ap p el l an t has co m

m i t t ed t wo o r m o re o ffen s es o f t h e s ort s i n cl u d ed i n t h e RICO

8s t at u tes

, an d (2 ) p ro v i n g t hat t h e t wo o r m o re o ffen s es h av e b een co m m it t ed as a p art

o f an en t erp ri s e en g ag i n g i n a p at t ern o f rack et eeri n g act i v i t y

, as d efi ned in th e RICO

Act .” Ma r t i n v. S t a te , 1 8 9 Ga. Ap p . 4 8 3 , 4 95 (1 0) (3 76 SE2 d 8 8 8 ) (1 9 8 8 ).

Th e i n d i ct m en t ch arg ed Carr wi t h co m m i tt i ng t h i rt y -s ix p red i cat e act s : t wen t y

fi ve act s i n v o l vi n g th eft an d el ev en act s i nv o l v i n g m o n ey l au nd eri n g

. A s t o t h e act s

i n v o l v i n g t h eft

, OCGA § 1 6-8 -2 p ro v i des t h at “ [a] p ers o n c om m i t s t h e o ffen s e o f

t h eft b y t ak i n g w h en h e u n l awfu l l y t ak es o r, bei n g i n l a w f u l p o s ses s i o n t h ereo f,

u n l awfu l l y ap p ro pri at es an y p ro p ert y o f an o th er wi t h t h e i n ten t i o n o f dep ri v i n g h i m

o f t h e pro p ert y

, reg ard l es s o f t h e m an n er i n wh i ch t h e p ro p ert y i s t ak en o r

ap p ro p ri at ed .” Des p i t e Carr’ s arg u m en t t h at h e di d no t u n lawfu l ly o b tai n t h e wi d o w’ s

p ro p ert y b ecau s e t he m o n ey h e recei ved were g i ft s an d / o r rei m b u r s e m en t fo r h i s

s erv i ce as t h e wi d ow’ s at t o rn ey -i n -fact

, t h e wi d ow t es t i fi ed t h at s h e n ev er au t h o ri zed

Carr t o tak e $ 3 .5 m i l l io n fro m h er. Th e v i c t i m ’s co u rt ap p o i n t ed co n s erv at o r al s o

t es t i fi ed t h at Carr en g ag ed i n eg reg io u s t ran sact i on s wh ereb y m u l t ip l e ch eck s were

wri t ten t o Carr fro m t h e wi d o w’ s acco u n ts wi t h n o cl ear p u rp o s e o r b en efi t t o t h e

wi d ow. M o reo v er, a fo ren s i c a c c o u n ti n g ex pert t es t i fi ed t h at h er i n v es t i g at i o n

co n fi rm ed s ev eral p red i cat e act s o f t h eft co m m it t ed b y Carr.

9W e n o t e t h at a RICO co n v i ct i o n o n l y req ui res pro o f t hat t h e d efen d an t h as

co m m i t t ed t wo o r m ore o f

f e ns es o f t h e k i n d in cl ud ed in t h e RICO s tat u t es

, an d t h e

St at e i s u n d er n o o b li g at i o n t o p ro v e al l o f t h e p red icat e o ffen s es al l eg ed i n t h e

i n d i ct m en t

. S

ee B et h un e v. S t a t e

, 1 9 8 Ga. Ap p

. 4 9 0

, 4 91 (1 ) (4 0 2 SE2 d 27 6 ) (1 9 9 1 ).

Co n s eq u en t l y

, t h e ju ry co u l d h av e ad d u ced fro m t h e am p l e ev i d en ce pres en t ed at t ri al

at l eas t t wo i ns t an ces i n v ol vi n g t h eft as ch arg ed i n t h e i nd i ct m en t wh ere C arr u s ed

h i s p os i t i o n as at t o rn ey -i n -fact t o u n l awfu l l y ap p ro p ri at e m o n ey fro m t h e wi d o w fo r

h i s o wn p u rp o s e b ey o nd a reas o n ab l e d o ub t

.

As t o th e m o n ey l au n d eri n g p red i cat e act s

, OCGA § 7 -1 -9 1 5 (c) (2 ) p ro v i d es

t h at a p ers o n co m

m i ts t h e o ffen s e o f m o n ey l au n d eri n g wh en t h at p ers o n

k n o wi n g t h at t h e m o ney s i n v o l v ed i n a cu rren cy t ran s act i o n rep res e n t

t h e p ro ceed s o f so m e fo rm o f u n l awfu l act i v i ty

, co n d u ct s o r at t em p ts t o

c o n d u c t su ch a t ran s act i o n wh ich i n fact i n v o l ves t h e p ro ceed s o f

s p eci fi ed u nl awfu l act i v it y

. . . [an d ] [k ] n o wi n g t hat t h e t ran s act i o n i s

d e s i g n e d i n wh o l e o r i n p art t o co n ceal o r d i s g ui s e th e n at u re, th e

l o cat i o n

, t h e s o urce, t h e o wn ers h i p

, o r t h e co n t ro l o f th e p ro ceed s o f

s p eci fi ed u n l awfu l act i v i t y [.]

Th e ev i d en ce es t ab li s h ed t h at Carr, wh o was i n s o l v en t p ri o r t o m eet i n g t h e wi d o w,

h ad accu m

u lat ed o v er $ 1.7 m i l l i o n d o l l ars fr o m t h e w i d ow’ s acco u n t wi t h i n 1 4

m o nt h s

. As p rev i o u s ly n o ted

, t he St at e p res en t ed ev i d en ce th at Carr, u s i ng h i s s t at u s

10a s t h e wi d o w’ s ‘ s at t o rn ey -i n -fact u n d er h er fi n an ci al p o wer o f at t o rn e y t o w r i t e

ch eck s fro m t h e wi d o w’ s acco u n t s

, d i d co n v ert fu n d s fro m t h e w i d o w ’s acco u nt

wi t h o u t h er p erm i s si o n u nd er t h e fal s e p ret en s e t h at t he fu n d s were fo r t h e wi d o w’ s

ex p en s es o r were g i ft s fro m t h e wi d o w, an d co n v ert ed s ai d fu n d s fo r h i s p ers o n al u s e

t o p u rch as e, am o n g o t h er t hi n g s

, f i v e au t o m o b i l es

, p ro fes s i o n al b as k et b al l s eas o n

t i ck et s , jewel ry

, an d o t h er p ers o n al s p en d i ng

.

Vi ewed i n th e li g h t m o s t fav o rab l e t o t h e verd i ct

, we fi n d t h at th ere was am p l e

ev i d en ce p res en ted t o co n v i ct Carr of at l e a s t t wo p red i cat e act s o f t h eft o r m o n ey

l au n d eri n g

. Th e pred i cat e act s al l eg ed in t he i n d i ct m en t m et th e d efi ni t i o n o f a

“ p at t ern of rack et eeri n g a c t i v i t y” a s req u ired u n d er O CGA § 1 6 -1 4-3 (8 ) (2 0 1 0 ) o f

“ at l eas t t wo [i n ci d en t s ] o f rack et eeri n g act i v i t y

. . . t h at h av e t h e sam e o r s i m i l ar

i n t en t s

, res u l t s

, acco m

p li ces

, v i ct i m s

, or m et h o d s o f co m m i s s i o n o r o t h erwi s e are

i n te r r e la te d by distingui s hi n g ch aract eri st i cs an d are n o t i s o l at ed i n ci d en t s .” T h e St at e

es t ab l i s h ed a n u m

b er o f i ns t an ces o f rack et eeri n g act i v i t y t h at h ad th e sam e i n t en t s

an d res ul t s (acq u i s i ti o n o f m o n ey an d p ro p ert y ), t h e s am e v i ct i m (t he wi do w), an d t h e

s am e acco m

p l i ces (Carr, h is fat h er, an d an o t h er p ers o n ). Th e ev i d en ce fu rt h er

es t ab l i s h ed t h at th es e i n s t an ces were n ot is o l at ed

, b ut a co n t i n ui n g p at t ern o f cri m i n al

11act i vi t y

. S

ee Over to n v. S t a t e

, 2 9 5 Ga. Ap p

. 2 23

, 2 3 2 (1 ) (c) (6 7 1 SE2 d 50 7 ) (2 0 0 8 ).

Acco rd in g ly , we fi n d n o erro r.

2

. Carr nex t arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co u rt co m m i tt ed p l ai n erro r i n i ts i ns t ru ct i o n

t o t h e j u ry o n m o n ey l au n d eri n g

. 2 Carr co n ten d s t h a t b e cau s e t h e ju ry was n ot

p ro v id ed wi t h an in s tru ct i o n on t h e es s en t i al el em en t s o f th e i n d i ct ed ch arg e, Carr’ s

co n vi ct i o n s s h ou l d b e v acat ed . W e d i sag ree.

It i s w el l es t ab l i s h ed t h at “ [j] u ry ch arg es can n ot b e vi ewed i n i s o l at i on

. Rat h er,

i n d et erm i n i n g wh et h er t h ere was p l ai n erro r, j u ry ch arg es m us t b e read an d

co n si d ered as a wh ol e.” McCu l l o u gh v. S ta t e

, 3 3 0 G a. Ap p. 7 1 6

, 7 2 4 (2 ) (7 6 9 SE2 d

1 3 8 ) (2 0 15 ) (ci t at i o ns an d p u n ct u at i o n om i t t ed ). Pl ai n erro r i s d efi n ed as “ th at wh i ch

i s s o cl earl y erro n eo u s as to res u l t i n a l i kel i ho o d o f a grav e m is carri ag e o f ju s t i ce o r

wh i ch seri o u s l y affect s th e fai r n e s s

, i n teg ri ty o r p u bl ic rep u t at i o n o f a ju d i ci al

p ro ceed in g .” S t a t e v. Kel l y

, 29 0 G a

. 2 9

, 3 2 -3 3 (2 ) (a) (7 1 8 SE2 d 2 3 2 ) (2 0 1 1 )

(ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at i o n om i tt ed ). Geo rg i a co urt s h av e ad o p t ed t h e fo l l o wi n g fo u r

p ro n g t es t t o an al y ze p l ai n erro r:

2 “ [A] p p el l at e rev i ew fo r p l ai n erro r i s req u i red wh en ev er an ap p eal in g p art y

p ro p erl y as s ert s an erro r i n ju ry i n s t ru ct i o ns .” St a t e v. Kel l y

, 2 9 0 Ga. 2 9

, 32 (1 ) (7 1 8

SE2 d 2 3 2) (2 0 1 1). S

ee a l so OCGA § 1 7 -8 -5 8 (b ).

12Fi rs t

, th ere m u s t b e an e r r o r o r defect

— s o m e s o rt o f d ev i at io n fro m a

l eg al ru l e— t h at h a s no t b een i n t en ti o n al l y rel i n q ui s h ed o r ab an d o n ed

,

i .e., affi rm at i v el y w ai v ed

, b y t h e ap p el l an t

. Seco n d

, th e l eg al erro r m u s t

b e cl ear o r o b v i o u s

, rat h er t h an s u b ject t o reas o n ab l e d i sp u te. Th i rd

, th e

erro r m u s t h av e affect ed t h e ap p el l an t’ s s u b s t an t i al ri g h t s

, wh i ch i n th e

o rd i nary cas e m ean s h e m u s t d em o n s t rat e t hat it affect ed t h e o u t co m e o f

t h e [t ri al ] c o u r t p ro ceed i n g s

. Fo u rt h an d fi n al l y

, i f th e ab o v e t h ree

p ro n g s are s at i s fi ed

, t h e ap p el l at e co u rt h as t h e d i s cret i o n t o rem ed y th e

erro r— d i s cret io n wh i ch o u g h t to be ex erci s ed o n l y i f t h e erro r s eri o us l y

affect s t h e fai rn es s, i n t eg ri t y or p u b li c rep u t at i o n o f ju d i ci al

p ro ceed i n g s

.

Id

. at 3 3 (2 ) (a) (ci t at i o n s

, p u n ct u at i o n

, an d em p h as i s o m i t t ed ). Acco rd i n g l y

,

“ p l ai n -erro r an al y s i s

. . . req u i res t h e ap p el l an t t o m ak e an affi rm at i ve s h o wi n g t h at

t h e erro r pro bab l y d i d affect t h e o u t co m e b el o w.” S h a w v. St a t e

, 29 2 G a. 8 7 1, 8 7 3 (2 )

(7 4 2 SE2 d 7 0 7 ) (2 0 1 3 ) (ci tat io n s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

In t h e i n s t an t cas e, th e i n d i ct m en t ch arg ed t h at Carr co m m i t t ed t h e p r e d i cat e

act o f m o n ey l au n d eri n g i n v i o lat i o n OCGA § 7 -1 -9 1 5 (c) (2 ). Th e St at e w as req u i red

t o p ro v e t h at Carr (1 ) k n ew t h e m o n ey i n vo l v ed in t h e cu rren cy t ran s act i o n were t h e

p ro ceed s fro m u n l awfu l act i v i t y ; (2 ) co n d u ct ed o r at t em p t ed t o co n d u ct a t ran s act i o n

13t h at i n v ol v ed th e p ro ceed s o f s p eci fi ed u n l awfu l act iv it y ; 3 (3 ) u sed th e fu n d s o r

p ro ceed s fro m t he s p eci fi ed u n l awfu l act i v i t y ; an d (4 ) k n ew t h at th e t ran s act i o n was

d es i g n ed i n wh o le o r i n p art t o co n ceal o r d is g u i s e th e nat u re, t h e l ocat i o n

, t h e s o u rce,

t h e o wn ers h i p, o r t h e co nt ro l o f t h e p ro ceed s o f t h e s p eci fi ed u n l awfu l act i v i t y

. See

OCGA § 7 -1 -9 1 5 (c) (2 ). Ho wev er, i n i t s in st ru ct i o n t o th e ju ry

, t h e t ri al co u rt

erro neo u s l y

g av e t h e fo l l o wi n g ch arg e wi t h n o o bject i o n :

A pers o n co m

m i t s cu rren cy t ran s act i o n frau d o r m o n ey l au n d eri n g wh en

t h at p ers o n

, k n o wi n g t h at t h e m o ni es i n v ol v ed i n t h e cu rren cy

t ran s act i o n rep res en t t he p ro ceed s o f s om e fo r m o f u n l awfu l act i v i t y

,

co n d u ct s o r at t em

p t s t o co n d u ct s u ch a t ran s act i o n wh i ch i n fact

i n v o l v e s t h e p ro ceed s o f s p eci fi ed u n l awfu l act i v i t y wi t h th e i n t en t t o

p r o mo t e t h e ca r ryi ng o n o f s p eci f i ed u nl a wf

u l a ct i vi t y

. (em ph as i s

s u p p l i ed ).

In it s o rd er d en y i n g Carr’ s m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

, t h e t ri al co u rt fo un d t h at wh i l e

t h e fi rs t t wo p ro n g s o f Kel l y were m et

— t h at i s

, t h e ch arg e g i v en w as erro neo u s an d

o b v i o u s l y s o

— Carr fai l ed t o s h o w t h at t h e g iv i ng o f t he i n co rrect m o ney l au n d eri n g

3 Th e s p eci fi c u n l awfu l act i v i t y i ncl u d ed th e p u rch as e o f fi ve a u t o m o b i l es

, jewel ry

, car i n s uran ce, p ro fes si o n al b a s k e t b al l seas o n t i ck et s

, h om e rem o d el i n g,

v ari o u s wi t h d rawal s an d d ep o si t s , an d o th er m i s cel l an eo u s s p en d i n g

.

14ch arg e ch a n g e d t h e o u t co m e o f t h e t ri al o r t h at t h e erro r s eri ou s l y affect ed t h e

fai rn es s, i n t eg ri ty , o r p u b li c rep u t at i o n o f t h e p ro ceed i n g s . W e ag ree.

W h ere t h e i nd i ct m en t ch arg es a d efen d an t co m m i t t ed an o ffen s e by o ne

m et h o d

, it i s rev ers i b l e erro r fo r t h e co u rt t o i n s t ru ct t h e ju ry t h at th e

o ffen s e co u l d be co m

m i tt ed b y ot h er s t at u to ry m et h o ds wi t h n o l i m i t i n g

i n s t ru ct i o n. Th e d efect i s cu red

, h o w ev er, wh ere

. . . t h e co u rt p ro v i d es

t h e ju ry w i t h t he i n di ct m en t an d i n st ru ct s ju ro rs t h at t h e b u rd en o f p ro o f

res t s u p o n t he St at e t o p ro v e ev ery m at eri al al leg at i o n o f th e i n d i ct m en t

an d ev ery es sen ti al el em en t o f t h e cri m e ch arg ed b ey o n d a r e a s o n ab l e

d o u b t

.

S h a r pe v. S t a t e

, 2 9 1 Ga. 1 4 8

, 1 5 1 (4 ) (7 2 8 SE2 d 2 1 7 ) (2 0 12 ) (ci t at i o n o m i t t ed ).

Rev iewi n g t he ju ry i n s t ru ct i o n s as a wh ol e, th e reco rd cl earl y d em o n s t rat es t h at t h e

t ri al co urt read th e i n d ict m en t t o t h e ju ry an d t h e j u ry h a d a c o p y o f t h e i n d i ct m en t

wi t h t h em in t he ju ry ro o m d u ri n g d el i berat io n s

. T h e t ri al co u rt p ro p erl y i n s t ru ct ed

t h e ju ry o n t he s t at e’ s b u rd en t o p ro v e ev ery es s en ti al el em en t o f t h e cri m es ch arg ed

b ey o n d a reas o n ab l e d o u b t

, an d i n s t ru ct ed th e ju ry th at i t wo u l d b e au t h o ri zed t o fi n d

Carr g u i l t y i f i t b el i ev ed b ey o n d a reas o n ab l e do u b t t h at he co m m i t t ed t h e cri m es as

s e t f o r t h i n t h e i n d ict m en t

. Th e t ri al co u rt fu rt h er d efi n ed t h e cri m es al l eg ed i n t h e

i n d i ct m en t

, i n s t ru ct ed th e ju ry o n t h e es s en t i al el em en t s o f t h e cri m es al l eg ed i n t h e

i n d i ct m en t

, an d rem i n d ed t h e ju ry t h at t he b u rd en o f p ro o f d oes n o t s h i f t t o t h e

15d efen d an t

. Un der t h es e ci rcu m s t an ces

, Carr can no t d e m o n s t rat e p l ai n erro r. See

Fa u lks v. S t a t e

, 2 9 6 Ga. 38

, 3 9 (2 ) (7 6 4 SE2 d 8 46 ) (2 0 14 ) (n o rev ers i b l e erro r wh ere

co u rt ch arg ed ju ry o n o th er fo rm s o f ag g rav at ed as s au l t whe n indic t m en t o n l y ch arg ed

ag g rav at ed as s au l t wi t h d ead l y weap o n ).

Ad d it i o n a l l y, w e are n o t p ers uad ed b y Carr’ s arg u m en t th at b ecau s e t h e ju ry

d i d n o t s p eci fy wh i ch pred i cat e act s i t fo u nd Carr g u i l t y o f, t h ere i s no way t o k n o w

wh at p red i cat e act s t h e ju ry d i d fi n d

, an d as s u ch , Carr m ay h av e b een fo u n d g ui l t y

o f a cri m e fo r wh i ch h e was n o t i n d i ct ed

.

Ev i d en ce o f t w o p red i cat e act s wi l l s u s t ai n t h e RICO co n v i ct io n [; ]

wh ere t h e ev i d en ce au t h o ri zed t h e ju ry t o fi nd t h at defen d an t co m m i t ted

at l eas t t w o p red i cat e act s

, we n eed n ot co n s i d er t h e rem ai n i n g p red i cat e

act s ch arg ed

. T h i s is t ru e ev en wh ere cert ai n p red i cat e o ffen ses were

i m p ro p erl y ch a r g e d in t h e i n d i ct m en t ; if t wo rem ai n i n g p red i cat e

o ffen s es were p ro v en b ey o n d a reas o n ab l e d o u b t

, t h e p r o o f w as

s u ffi ci en t t o s u p p o rt a RICO co n v i ct i o n.

Do r s ey v. S t a t e

, 2 7 9 Ga. 53 4

, 5 4 0 (2 ) (a) (6 1 5 SE2 d 51 2 ) (2 00 5 ) (ci t at i o n s an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). Th u s, ev en wi t h th e rem o v al o f t h e m o n ey l au nd eri n g p red i cat e

act

, Carr’ s RICO co n v i ct i o n s are o v erwh el m i n gl y su p po rt ed b y t h e ev id en ce t h at h e

co m m i t t ed p red i cat e act s i n v o l vi n g t h eft

. S ee M o s l ey v. S t a t e

, 25 3 Ga. Ap p

. 7 1 0

, 7 1 2

(1 ) 5 6 0 S E 2 d 3 0 5 ( 2 0 0 2 ) (“ RICO co n v i ct i o n req u i res p ro o f th at a d efen d an t h as

16co m

m i t t ed t wo o r m o re o ffen s es o f t h e k i n d i n cl u ded i n t h e RICO s t at u t e; i t d o es n ot

req u i re t h e St at e t o pro ve al l o f t h e al l eg ed p red i cat e offen s es .”). S ee a l s o Th o mp so n

v. St a t e

, 2 1 1 Ga. Ap p

. 8 8 7

, 88 8 -8 9 0 (1 ) (b ) (4 4 0 SE2 d 6 7 0 ) (1 9 9 4 ) (u n n eces s ary fo r

ap p el l at e co u rt t o ad d res s p o s s i b l e defect s i n cert ai n al l eg ed p red i cat e act s wh ere

rem o v al of t h o s e act s l eav es n u m e r o u s o t h er p red i cat e act s wh i ch p ro p erl y s u p p o rt

RICO co n v i ct i o n ).

3

. Carr n ex t arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co urt erred in ad m i t t i n g n o n -ex p ert o p i n i o n

t es t i m o n y reg ard i n g t h e g en ui n en es s o f h an d wri ti n g

. W e di s ag ree wi t h Carr’ s

ch aract eri zat i o n o f t he s ub ject t es t im o n y

an d fi n d n o erro r.

“ Th e ad m is s i o n or ex cl u s i o n o f l ay o p in i o n ev i d en ce i s co m m i t t ed t o th e s o u n d

d i s cret i o n of t h e t ri al co u rt

, an d ap pel l at e co urt s wi l l no t i n t erfere wi t h s u ch a ru l i n g

ab s en t an ab u s e o f d i s cret i o n .” Da g n e v. Sch r o ed er

, 3 3 6 Ga. A p p

. 36

, 3 8 (2 ) (7 8 3

SE2 d 4 26 ) (2 0 1 6 ) (ci t at i o n o m i t t ed ). O C G A § 2 4 -7 -7 0 1 (a) p ro vi d es t hat “ [i ] i f t h e

wi t n es s i s n o t t es t ify i n g as an ex p ert

, t h e wi t n es s ’ s t es t i m o n y i n t h e fo rm o f op i n i on s

o r i nferen ces sh al l b e l i m it ed t o t h o s e o p in i on s o r i n feren ces wh i ch are (1 ) [r] at i o n al l y

b as ed on t h e p ercep t i o n o f t h e wi t n es s ; (2 ) [h ] el p fu l t o a cl ear un d ers t an d i ng o f t h e

wi t n es s ’ s t es ti m on y o r t h e det erm i n at i o n o f a fact i n i s s u e; an d (3 ) [n ] o t bas ed o n

s ci en t i fi c, t ech n i cal

, o r o t h er s p eci al i zed k n owl ed g e[.]

17At t ri al

, t h e St at e t en dered a wi t n es s wh o was q u al i fi ed wi t h o u t ob jec t i o n as

an ex pert i n fo ren s i c acco u n t in g an d frau d ex am in at io n . Th e ex p ert t es t i fi ed t h at as

p art o f h er t rai n in g an d r e s p o n s i b i l i ty

, sh e lo o k s fo r “ t h i n g s t hat are o d d an d

s u s p i ci o u s

, i n cl ud i n g d i s crep an c i e s in t h e s i gn at u res an d h an dwri ti n g ” wh en

rev i ewi n g d o cu m en t s. In p art i cu l ar t o t he m at eri al s rev i ewed i n t h i s cas e, t h e ex p ert

t es t i fi ed th at wh i l e s h e i s n o t a h an d wri t i n g ex p ert an d co u l d n o t co n fi rm wh o s e

s i gn at u re was o n t h e s u s pi ci o u s d ep o s i t s s h e rev iewed

, s he co u l d i d en t i fy d i fferen ces

i n t h e s i g n at ures s h e s aw. Co n trary t o Carr’ s arg u m en t

, t h e ex p ert d i d n o t t es t i fy as

t o t h e g en u i n en es s o f t h e han d wri t i n g o n t he d o cu m en t s sh e rev i ewed

, wh i ch wo u ld

h av e b een o u t s i d e t h e p u rv i ew o f her ex p ert i s e, b u t rat h er, h er tes t im on y was

rat i o nal l y b as ed o n h er p ercep ti o n of t h e m at eri al s s h e rev iewed

. Th e ex p ert d i d n ot

t es t i fy as t o wh et h er t h e s i g n at u r e s o n t he ch eck s b el o n ged t o t h e wi d o w, Carr, o r

s o m e o th er p ers o n

. Th e ex p ert m erel y t es t ifi ed t h at t h e s i gn at u res on t h e ch eck s s h e

rev i ewed were s u b s t an t i al l y d i fferen t an d w en t o n to d es cri b e t h e d i f f eren ces s h e

n o t i ced i n h er rev iew o f t he m at eri al s

.

Becau s e t h e reco rd refl ect s t h a t t h e ex p ert h ad t h e o p p o rt u n i t y t o fo rm a

reas on ed o p i n io n as t o th e d i s crep an ci es in t h e s i g nat u res s h e s aw o n v ari ou s ch eck s

18w h i l e rev i ewi n g th e fi n an ci al reco rd s i n t hi s cas e, t h e t ri al co u rt di d no t ab u s e i t s

d i s cret i o n b y

ru l i n g t hat s u ch t es t i m o n y was ad m i s s i b l e.

4

. Carr co n t en d s t h e t ri al co u rt co m m i t t ed rev ers i b le e r

r or by a dm itting ul t i m at e

i s su e t es t i m o n y t h at was not ba se d o n the wi t n es s ’ s fi rs t h an d k n o wl ed g e. Sp eci fi cal l y

,

Carr arg u es t h at t h e ad m is s i o n o v er o b ject i o n of t h e St at e’ s ex p ert ’ s o p i n i o n

t es t i m o ny t h at Carr h ad co n v ert ed cert ai n ch eck s fo r h i s p ers o n al u s e wi t h o u t b en efi t

t o t he v i ct i m

was n o t b as ed o n an y

fi rs t h an d k n o w l ed g e. W e d i s ag ree.

Gen eral ly

, “ wi tn es s es are n o t au t ho ri zed to ex p res s t h ei r o p i n io n s reg ard i n g an

u l t i m at e i s s u e i n a cas e, b ecau s e t o d o s o wo u l d i nv ad e th e fact fi nd i n g p ro vi nce o f t h e

ju ry .” W a l t o n v. S t a t e

, 2 91 G a. Ap p

. 7 3 6 7 3 9 (2 ) (6 6 2 SE2 d 8 20 ) (2 00 8 ) (fo o t n o t e

o m it t ed ). “ Ho wev er, ex pert op i n i o n tes t im on y o n ev en th e u l t i m a t e i s s u e i s

ad m i s s i b l e wh ere t h e co n cl u s i o n o f t h e ex p ert i s o n e b ey o nd t h e k en o f t h e av erag e

l ay m an .” Id

. at 7 3 9-7 40 (2 ) (ci t at i o n o m i t ted ). In t h e i n s t an t cas e, t h e St at e’ s fo ren s i c

acco u n t in g an d frau d ex p ert t es t i fi ed t h at aft er co n d u ct i n g an an al y s i s o f t h e fi n an ci al

reco rd s an d i n v es t i g a t i n g v ari o u s t ran s act i o n s

, s h e fo un d tran s act i on s wh ere Carr

co n vert ed t h e w i d o w’ s fu n d s t o h i s p ers o n al u s e, a n d f r o m t h o s e t ran s act i o n s

, t h e

ex p ert co u l d n o t d i s cern an y fi n an ci al b en efi t t o t h e wi d o w. Th e ex p ert ’ s t es t i m o ny

d i d n o t reach t h e q u es t io n as t o wh et h er Carr v i o lat ed t he RICO Act as al leg ed i n t h e

19i n d i ct m en t

. Th e ex p ert ’ s t es t i m o n y w as an as s es s m en t o f fact s an d n o t a l eg al

co n cl u s i o n o r a co n cl u s i o n co n s t i t u t i n g a m i xt u re o f l aw an d fact , an d p ro v i d ed t h e

ju ry wi t h an ex p l an at i on o f t h e ex p ert ’ s fi nd i n g s aft er co n d u c t i n g an i n ves t i g at i o n.

S ee Fo r t ner v. To wn o

f Reg i s ter

, 2 8 9 Ga. Ap p

. 5 4 3

, 5 4 6 (1 ) (6 5 7 SE2 d 6 2 0 ) (2 0 0 8 )

(ex p ert t es t i m o n y ad m i s s i bl e wh ere t es t i m o ny d i d n o t o pi n e as t o th e u l t im at e i s s u e

fo r t h e ju ry

b u t i n s t ead co n cern ed t he s eq u en ce o f ev en t s l ead i n g u p t o t he ev en t ).

5

. Las t l y

, Carr co n t en ds t h at h i s co n v i ct i o n s ho u ld b e rev ers ed b ecau s e h e

recei v ed i n effect i v e as s i st an ce o f co un s el at t ri al

. Carr arg ues t h at hi s tri al co u n sel ’ s

fai l u re t o fi l e a g en eral d em u r r e r an d o b

ject to t h e erro n eo u s j u ry i ns t ru ct i o n o n

m o ney l au n d eri n g was so h arm fu l t o h i s ab i l i t y t o r e cei v e a fai r t ri al as t o req u i re

rev ers al of h i s co n vi ct i o n . W e d i s ag ree.

To p rev ai l o n a cl ai m o f i n effect i ve as si s t an ce, [Carr] m u s t p ro v e b o t h

t h at t h e p erfo rm an ce o f h i s lawy er was d efi ci e n t a n d t h at h e w as

p reju d i ced b y t h i s d efi ci en t p erfo rm an ce. To s h ow t hat t h e p erfo rm an ce

o f h i s l awy er was d efi ci en t

, [Carr] m u s t p ro v e t h at [h e] p erfo rm ed [h i s ]

d u t i es at tri al i n an ob

j ec t i v el y u n reas o nab l e way

, co n s i d eri n g al l th e

ci rcu m s t an ces

, an d i n t h e l i g h t o f prev ai l i n g p ro fes s i on al no rm s

. An d t o

s h o w t h a t h e w as p reju d i ced b y t h e p erfo rm an ce o f h i s l awy er, [Carr]

m u s t p ro v e a reas o n ab l e p ro b ab i li t y t h at

, b ut fo r co u n s el ’ s

u n p ro fes s io n al erro rs

, t h e res u l t o f t h e p ro ceed i n g w o u l d h av e b een

d i fferen t

. A reas o n ab l e p ro b ab i l i t y i s a p ro b ab i l i t y su ffi c i en t t o

20u n d erm in e co nfi den ce i n t he o u tco m e. Th i s b u rd en

, t h ou g h n o t

i m p o s s i b l e t o carry , i s a h eav y o n e.

Ar n ol d v. S ta t e

, 2 9 2 G a. 2 6 8

, 2 6 9 -2 7 0 (2 ) (7 3 7 SE2 d 9 8 ) (2 0 1 3 ) (c i t at i o n s an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). “ An i n s uffi ci en t show ing on e ithe r pr ong r e l i ev es t he rev i ewi n g

co u rt of t h e n eed t o ad d res s t h e o t h er p ro n g .” Ma u r er v. S t a t e

, 32 0 Ga. Ap p

. 5 8 5

, 5 9 1

(6 ) (7 40 SE2 d 3 18 ) (2 0 1 3 ) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

a. Carr arg u es t h at t h e i n d i ct m en t fai led t o ad eq u at el y al l eg e t h eft as a p red i cat e

act an d th u s

, t ri al co un s el ’ s fai l u re t o fi l e a g en eral dem u rrer was d e f

i c i en t

. M o re

s p eci fi cal l y

, Carr ch al l en g es t h e p red i cat es i n v o l v i n g th eft o n t h e b as is t h at wi t h o ut

a s p e ci fi c referen ce t o a s t at u t e fo r t h eft

, s t an d i n g al o n e t h e act s al l eg ed i n t h e

i n d i ct m en t can n ot co n st i t ut e a RICO p red i cat e. W e d i s ag ree.

“ A g en eral d em

u rrer ch al l en g es t h e v ery v al id i t y o f t h e i n d i ct m en t an d m ay b e

rai s ed an y t i m e p ri o r to ju d g m en t ; th e s p eci al d em u rrer o b ject s m erel y to i t s fo rm o r

s e e k s m o r e i n fo rm at i o n an d m u s t b e rai s ed b efo re p lead i ng t o t h e in d i ct m en t

. ”

Ch a p ma n v. S ta te

, 31 8 Ga. Ap p

. 5 1 4

, 5 1 6 (1 ) (a) (7 3 3 SE2 d 8 4 8 ) ( 2 0 1 2) (fo o t n o t e

an d p u n cu t at i o n o m i t t ed ).

It i s wel l es t ab l i sh ed t h at t h e t es t fo r d et erm i n in g wh et h er an i n d i ct m en t

i s s u ffi ci en t to wi t h st an d a g en eral dem u rrer i s w h e t h e r i t co n tai n s th e

el em en t s o f t h e o ffen s e i n t en d ed t o b e ch arg ed

, an d s uffi ci en t ly ap p ri ses

21t h e d efen d an t o f wh at h e m u s t b e p rep ared t o m eet

, an d i n cas e an y o t h er

p ro ceed i n g s are t ak en ag ai n s t h i m fo r a s i m i l ar o f f e n s e, wh et h er th e

reco rd s h o ws wi th accu racy t o wh at ex t en t h e m ay p l ead a fo rm e r

acq u i t t al or co n vi ct i o n

. Th u s

, i f th e accu s ed can ad m i t al l t h e i n d i ct m en t

ch arg es an d s ti l l b e i nn o cen t o f hav i n g co m m i t te d an y o ffen s e, th e

i n d i ct m en t i s d efect i ve.

Id

. (fo o t n o t e an d p u n ct uat i o n o m i t t ed ). “ W h i l e rack et eer i n g a c t i v i t y m u s t h av e a

cri m e as i t s o b

ject i v e, OCGA § 1 6 -1 4 -3 (9 ) (A) [(2 0 1 2 )] i n cl u d es wi t h i n t h e

d e f i n it i o n o f rack et eeri ng act i v i t y t o co m m i t

, t o at t em

p t t o co m

m i t

, o r t o s o l i ci t

,

co erce, or i n t i m i d at e an o t h er p ers on t o co m m i t a n y c ri m e wh ich i s ch arg eab l e by

i n d i ct m en t

. ” Do r

s ey , 2 7 9 Ga. at 5 4 1 (2 ) (c).

In i t s o rd er d en y i n g Carr’ s m ot i o n fo r n ew t ri al

, t h e t ri al co u rt n o t e d t h a t t h e

2 2 -p ag e i n d i ct m en t co n t ai n ed “ an ex t rem el y det ai l ed s ch em e” wh i ch in cl u d ed “ t h e

p art i es ,[Carr]

, an d an o v erv i ew o f t h e St at e’ s al l eg at i o n s an d fact s o f t h e cas e as wel l

as t h e o v ert act s an d p red i cat e act s o f [Carr] .” Th e t ri al co urt co n c l u d e d t h at t h e

i n d i ct m en t

, wh en read as a wh o le, cl earl y s et fo rt h act s i n v o l v i ng t h eft a s

co n tem p l at ed wi t h i n t h e d efi n i t i o n o f rack et eeri ng act i v i t y b y OCGA § 1 6 -1 4 -3 (9 )

(B) (2 0 1 2) (“ ‘ Rack et eeri n g act i v i t y ’ s h al l al s o m ean an y act o r t hreat i n v o lv i n g

. . .

t h eft [.] ”) Th e i n d ict m en t ch arg ed Carr wi t h “ act s i nv o l v i n g t h ef t ” a s part o f an

22o v erarch i n g s ch em e t o u nl awfu l l y acq ui re m o n ey an d p ro p ert y

. Th e tran s a c t i o n s

wh i ch t h e St at e al l eg es are cri m i n al rack et eeri n g ch arg es ar e s p e c i f i c m o n ey

t ran s act io n s i n v o lv in g s p eci fi c p ers o n s

, p l aces

, am o un t s , i t em s , an d d at es s u ch t h at

Carr was s u ffi ci en tl y ap p ri sed o f t h e p art i cu lar ch arg e s a g a i n s t h i m

. S ee S t a t e v.

Pi t t m a n

, 3 0 2 Ga. Ap p

. 5 3 1

, 5 33 (6 9 0 SE2 d 6 6 1) (2 01 0 ) (“ D u e p ro ces s i s s at i s fi ed

wh ere an i n d i ct m en t pu t s a d efen d an t o n n o ti ce of t h e c r i m e s w i t h wh i ch h e i s

ch arg ed an d ag a i n s t w h ich h e m u s t d efen d.” (ci t at io n o m i t t ed )). Acco rd in g l y

, Carr

h as n o t d em o n s t rat ed h e was p reju d i ced b y hi s t r i a l c o u ns el ’ s fai l ure t o act

. See

Co l ema n v. S t a t e

, 3 1 8 Ga. Ap p

. 4 7 8

, 4 82 (2 ) (7 3 5 SE2 d 7 8 8 ) (2 0 1 2 ) (“ a d efen d an t

wh o was n o t m i s l ed to h i s preju di ce b y an y i m p erfect io n i n t h e i n d i ct m en t ( o r

accu s at i on o r ci t at i o n) can no t o b t ai n rev ers al o f h i s co n v i ct i o n o n th at g ro u n d.”

(fo o t no t e o m i t t ed )).

M o reo v er, n o t wi t h s t an d i n g Carr’ s t ri al co u n s el ’ s t es t i m o n y at t h e m o t i o n fo r

n ew t ri al h eari n g t h at al t h o ug h h e rem em b ered rev iewi n g th e p red i cat e act s al l eg ed

i n t h e in d i ct m en t al o n g wi t h t h e d i s co v ery

, h e co u l d n o t rem em b er w h et h er h e

co n si d ered fi li n g a gen eral dem u rrer o r t he reas o n s wh y h e d id n o t d o s o ; n ot h i n g in

t h e reco rd s u g g es t s t hat , h ad h e fi l ed a g en eral d em urrer, t h e t ri al co u rt wo u l d h av e

g ran t ed i t. S

ee Br a d f o r d v. St a t e

, 3 2 7 Ga. A p p

. 62 1

, 6 2 7 (2 ) (7 6 0 SE2 d 6 3 0 ) (2 0 1 4 )

23(wh ere i n d i ct m en t was s uffi ci en t t o su rv i v e a g en eral d em u rrer, t ri al co un s el ’ s fai l u re

t o fi l e a g en eral d em

u rrer co u ld n o t b e d eem ed d efi ci en t p erfo rm an ce). Th erefo re t h e

i n d i ct m e nt w a s su ffi ci en t t o s at i s fy d u e p ro ces s an d wi t h s t an d a gen eral d em urrer, an d

Carr’ s t ri al co u n s el was n o t c o n s t i t u t i on al l y i neffect i v e fo r fai l i n g t o ch al l en g e i t

.

S mi th v. S t a t e , 3 0 3 Ga. 6 4 3

, 6 4 7 -6 4 8 (II) (B) (8 1 4 SE2 d 4 1 1 ) (2 0 1 8 ).

b

. Carr n ex t arg u es t h at t ri al co u n s el was i n effect i v e fo r fai l i n g t o o b ject t o t h e

erro neo u s ju ry i ns t ru ct io n o n m o n ey l au n d eri n g

. H o wev e r

, a s d i s cu s s ed m o re fu l l y

i n D i v i s i o n 2 o f t h is o p i n i o n

, Carr can n o t dem o n s t rat e wi t h reas o n ab l e p ro b ab i l i t y

t h at b u t fo r t ri al co u n s el ’ s fai l u re t o o b ject

, t h e o u tco m e o f t he cas e w o u ld h av e b een

d i fferen t. S

ee Da u g h t r

y v. S t a t e

, 2 9 6 Ga. 8 4 9

, 8 59 -8 6 1 (2 ) (f)-(h ) (7 7 0 SE2 d 8 6 2 )

(2 0 1 5). “ W h ere an ap p el l an t fai l s t o m eet [h i s] b u rd en i n es t ab l i s h in g o n e p ro n g

. . .

, we n eed n o t rev i ew t h e o t h er, as a fai l ure t o m eet ei th er of th e p ro n g s i s fat al t o an

i n effect i v en es s cl ai m .” Lea n os v. S t a t e

, 3 0 3 Ga. 6 6 6

, 6 6 9 (2 ) (8 1 4 SE2 d 3 3 2 ) (2 0 1 8 )

(ci t at i o n o m i tt ed ).

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Do yl e, P. J., a n d

Ma r kl e, J., co ncu r

.

24