Document: 382 U.S. 136 86 S.Ct. 279 15 L.Ed.2d 210 UNITED STATES, Petitioner,v.Frank ROMANO et al. No. 2. Argued Oct. 14, 1965. Decided Nov. 22, Louis F. Claiborne, Washington, D.C., for petitioner. W. Paul Flynn, New Haven, Conn., respondents. Mr. Justice WHITE delivered the opinion of Court. 1 Federal officers, armed with a search warrant, entered one buildings in an industrial complex Jewett City, Connecticut. There they found respondents standing few feet from operating still. Respondents1 were indicted on three counts: Count charged possession, custody and control illegal still violation 26 U.S.C. § 5601(a)(1);2 2, production distilled spirits 5601(a)(8);3 3, conspiracy to produce spirits. Both convicted all counts, both fined sentenced concurrent terms imprisonment each counts. 2 The Court Appeals affirmed convictions 3. 330 F.2d 566. It reversed Counts because trial court instructing jury read verbatim provisions 5601(b)(1)4 s 5601(b)(4),5 which provide part that presence defendant at site 'shall be deemed sufficient evidence authorize conviction, unless explains such satisfaction * *.' This instruction statutory inference it embodied held by violate Due Process Clause Fifth Amendment. We granted certiorari consider this constitutional issue. 380 941, 85 1020, 13 961. 3 agree as invalidity 5601(b)(1) reversal 1. is unnecessary, however, validity 5601(b)(4) since sentences count sentences, not here challenged, imposed United States v. Gainey, 63, 65, 754, 756, 658; Sinclair States, 263, 299, 49 268, 273, 73 L.Ed. 692. 4 If we reviewing only sufficiency support verdict 1, conviction would sustained. was, recognized, ample addition charge possession But here, standard reasonable doubt, was told defendants' conviction.' latter may have been given considerable weight jury; disbelieved or disregarded other these defendants alone. thus disputed must faced decided. 5 test applied kind involved criminal case dispute. In Tot 319 463, 63 1241, 87 1519, Court, relying line cases dating 1910,6 reaffirmed limits Fourteenth Amendments place 'upon power Congress state legislature make proof fact group facts existence ultimate guilt predicated.' Id., 467, S.Ct., 1245. Such legislative determination sustained if there 'no rational connection between proved presumed, arbitrary lack two common experience. (W)here so strained relation circumstances life know them competent create rule governing procedure courts.' 467—468, Judged standard, presumption issue constitutionally infirm. 6 Just last Term, 658, passed upon companion section Internal Revenue Code. constitutionality legislation depend 'rationality 'between presumed." U.S., 66, 757. Tested rule, provision 5601(b)(2) declaring under 5601(a)(4) carrying business distillery without giving required bond. Noting almost anyone secret could reasonably said aiding abetting had accorded its 'natural probative force,' presumption. 7 markedly different supra. has chosen relevant Code focus various phases aspects distilling separate crime. indictment charges 'possession, control' separate, distinct offense. Section 5601(a)(1) obviously much narrower coverage than sweeping prohibition business. 8 Bozza 160, 67 645, 91 818, squarely held, conceded, alone insufficient convict specific offense proscribed 5601(a)(1), absent some engaged conduct directly related crime control. That confined those who 'custody possession' acted 'other capacity calculated facilitate as, illustration, service caretaker, watchman, lookout, capacity.' 164, 648. requirement satisfied either showing participation operations helped carry finished product delivery vehicles. These facts, certainly mere still, 'petitioner ever exercised, aided exercise of, any over distillery.' Ibid. 9 Presence prove 'carrying on' present very probably connected enterprise. Whatever his job be, he least substantive proscribes total undertaking, many nothing do made quite clear conceded case. tells us likely played illicit scheme. about what defendant's function carries no legitimate, specialized functions rather supply, operational activities having possession. admissible charge; but too tenuous permit guilt—'the 1245, 1519. 10 presented courts based solely presence. All deal are familiar alone, unilluminated possession.7 Moreover, Government apparently concedes except surrounding adoption 1958 amendments Code, added presumptions relating operations, validly inferred site.8 11 According Government, were, among things, designed overrule viewed broadening include set-up enterprise.9 So broadened, argued, 'possessing', teachings acceptably 12 persuaded argument, primarily did change word defines Possession, remains prove. amendments, insofar simply permitted irrebuttable. allowable failed explain jury. Plainly, seems us, exonerated satisfactorily explained showed furtherance unmistakably shown delivery, example, sole duty, seem odd formulation hold explanation merely 'possessing' Government's position equate on.' convinced included Excise Tax Technical Changes Act intended work basic scheme Act, words brief 'to every meaningful form in, assistance to, operation elaborate pattern partially redundant general—designed close loopholes.' crimes defined think worked regard.10 On record before reject expansive reading amendments. 14 avoid chose so, changing definition crime, beyond doubt. approach fails standards traditionally legislation. course, punishable find indication power.11 presence, and, due deference judgment Congress, former latter. Affirmed. 16 BLACK concurs reasons stated dissent against affirmance 74, 761, 658. 17 DOUGLAS result 71, 760, 18 FORTAS result. Respondents others whose here. provides person 'has custody, control, apparatus set up registered, 5179(a) shall more $10,000, imprisoned years, 5601(a)(8) who, 'not being distiller authorized law spirits, produces distillation process mash, wort, wash, material provides: 'Whenever subsection (a)(1) where, time when, (or when tried jury).' (a)(8) produced material, Mobile, J. & K.C.R. Co. Turnipseed, 219 35, 31 136, 55 78; Bailey State Alabama, 219, 145, 191; Lindsley Natural Carbonic Gas Co., 220 61, 337, 369; McFarland American Sugar Rfg. 241 79, 36 498, 60 899; Manley Georgia, 215, 575; Western Atlantic R. Henderson, 639, 445, 884; Morrison People California, 291 82, 54 281, 78 664. E.g., Pugliese 343 837 (C.A.1st Cir., 1965); Barrett 322 292 (C.A.5th 1963), rev'd grounds, sub nom. 273 417 1960) (dictum); Vick 216 228 1954); De Vito, 68 (C.A.2d 1934); Graceffo 46 852 (C.A.3d 1931). Brief petitioner, p. 14. See also 33, 647, 818. Senate House Reports discussing 5601(b) identical language, borrowed analysis prepared Alcohol Tobacco Division Service (see Hearings Subcommittee Committee Ways Means Administrative Problems, Part I, 84th Cong., 1st Sess., 208): 'These paragraphs new. Their purpose rebuttable rectifying premises, practical impossibility proving actual drawn acts committed, cannot ruling Supreme (330 818). 'The prevention rectification alcoholic consequent defrauding tax, long rendered difficult failure obtain discovered not, discovery, doing act. 'In case, took sustain testimony 'must point within narrow margins statute defines.' new effect holding future violations.' S.Rep. 2090, 85th 2d pp. 188—189, U.S.Code Cong. Admin.News 1958, 4580; H.R.Rep. 481, 175. reference re-enactment offense, say, 'This paragraph restatement existing 186, Adm.News 4577; 173. advanced somewhat similar contention Tot. rejected, partly ground supported history. 472, 1247, Cf. Universal C.I.T. Credit Corp., 344 218, 227, 97 260.

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