Source: http://pa.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.19691201_0040031.C03.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2017-04-30 03:02:59
Document Index: 172370712

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 5601', '§ 5601', '§ 5602', '§ 5681', '§ 5171', '§ 6107', '§ 5001', '§ 5692']

| United States v. Hunt
UNITED STATES OF AMERICAv.AUGUSTUS HUNT, APPELLANT
Augustus Hunt was tried on five counts of violations of Federal statutes arising out of the operation of a liquor distillery. The indictment charged: engaging in the business of a distiller without having registered and given bond, violations of 26 U.S.C. § 5601(a) (2) and (4), respectively; fermenting mash fit for distillation on premises other than an authorized distillery in violation of 26 U.S.C. § 5601(a) (7); engaging in such a business with intent to defraud the United States of tax in violation of 26 U.S.C. § 5602; and violating 26 U.S.C. § 5681(c) by working in a distillery on which a proper sign was not placed. Hunt was convicted on all counts and sentenced. He appeals from the judgment of sentence.
His timely assertion of the privilege thus presents the issue for determination, that is, whether the Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination provides a complete defense to charges arising out of operation of an illicit liquor distillery. Hunt relies on Marchetti v. United States, 390 U.S. 39, 88 S. Ct. 697, 19 L. Ed. 2d 889 (1968); Grosso v. United States, 390 U.S. 62, 88 S. Ct. 709, 19 L. Ed. 2d 906 (1968); Haynes v. United States, 390 U.S. 85, 88 S. Ct. 722, 19 L. Ed. 2d 923 (1968); and Leary v. United States, 395 U.S. 6, 89 S. Ct. 1532, 23 L. Ed. 2d 57 (1969), for analogous situations where the privilege did furnish such a defense. For the reasons which follow, we think that these cases are distinguishable.
In each of these cases, the Court indicated that the critical determination which gave rise to the shield of the privilege was that the party was faced with a "real and appreciable" hazard of self-incrimination. This is to be distinguished from situations where the hazard is "imaginery and insubstantial."*fn1 In Marchetti, Grosso, and Leary, the Court noted the comprehensive state and Federal statutory schemes proscribing the activities.*fn2 These statutes were directed at a "selective group inherently suspect of criminal activities," Albertson v. SACB, 382 U.S. 70, 79, 86 S. Ct. 194, 199, 15 L. Ed. 2d 165 (1965). This was distinguished from requirements imposed in an "essentially non-criminal and regulatory area of inquiry," Albertson, supra, at 79, 86 S. Ct. at 199. See Shapiro v. United States, 335 U.S. 1, 68 S. Ct. 1375, 92 L. Ed. 1787 (1948). Further, it considered that the Congressional purpose in each instance was two-fold. One purpose, at least presumed, United States v. Calamaro, 354 U.S. 351, 358, 77 S. Ct. 1138, 1 L. Ed. 2d 1394 (1957), was to generate revenue. The second purpose was to suppress the activities involved. Another determinant was the statutory provision requiring that the information obtained by Federal authorities be provided to state prosecutors. The concurrence of these elements was determined sufficient to create a "real and appreciable" risk of self-incrimination, assuming compliance with the statutes requiring disclosure.
The facts presented by this case furnish several bases for distinction. First, there is no comprehensive statutory framework absolutely prohibiting the activity of operating a liquor distillery. In New Jersey, where the crime was committed, operating a distillery is not per se unlawful. The state statute, N.J.S.A. 33:2-1, like the Federal statutes, 26 U.S.C. §§ 5171, 5179, requires only that distilleries be registered. The commissioner of alcoholic beverage control is authorized to issue regulations governing such activities. This is in contrast to gambling which is, with certain limited exceptions, an unlawful activity in almost every state, Marchetti, supra, and Grosso, supra. Possession of one of an enumerated type of firearm is unlawful, Haynes, supra. Possession of marihuana is generally a criminal offense, Leary, supra. Each of these cases was concerned with an unlawful activity. Here, we are considering a lawful activity which was done in an unlawful manner.
"It is clear * * * that the * * provisions * * * entitled 'Distilled Spirits' * * * were adopted with one purpose only, namely to secure the payment of the tax imposed by law upon distilled spirits."*fn3
This court at oral argument took notice, without objection, of the vast dimensions of the legitimate liquor distilling industry.*fn4 Even though this is an area with many criminal statutes,*fn5 we cannot say that the statutes are aimed at a selective group inherently suspect of criminal activity. The statutes apply to everyone engaged in this business. See, Ohio v. Helvering, 292 U.S. 360, 54 S. Ct. 725, 78 L. Ed. 1307 (1934); United States v. Richardson, 284 F. Supp. 419 (M.D.Ala.1968).
Appellant cites 26 U.S.C. § 6107 which requires that a list of taxpayers paying taxes under subtitles D and E be made available to any state prosecuting authority. Subtitle E, Ch. 51, 26 U.S.C. § 5001 et seq., § 5692, provides for taxation and regulation of distilled spirits. This is the same transfer of information element found present in Marchetti, Grosso, and Leary. Thus appellant asserts that compliance with the registration requirement would have subjected him to a substantial risk of self-incrimination.However, this argument overlooks the fact that distilling liquor is not an unlawful activity. It is the operation of an unregistered distillery that is unlawful. Had Hunt registered his distillery, it would have been a legitimate enterprise.
The basis of Hunt's contention is really that because both the state and Federal statutes required registration of liquor distilleries, compliance with the Federal registration requirement would have subjected him to a risk of prosecution for non-compliance with the state statute. This, he reasons, created an appreciable hazard of self-incrimination for Federal registration. We cannot agree. To follow his reasoning to its logical conclusion would mean that any time a state and the Federal Government had parallel statutes either requiring registration of or imposing taxes upon an otherwise lawful activity, an individual under indictment for a violation of one could claim the privilege (assuming a transfer of information) as a defense because he had not complied with the other. Such a rule would place a premium on two violations of the law, since ...