Source: https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F2/838/281/281531/
Timestamp: 2019-10-14 22:41:54
Document Index: 689491974

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 1341', '§ 2314', '§ 1341', '§ 3579', '§ 1341', '§ 2314']

United States of America, Appellee, v. Charles Green Lanier, Appellant, 838 F.2d 281 (8th Cir. 1988) :: Justia
Justia › US Law › Case Law › Federal Courts › Courts of Appeals › Eighth Circuit › 1988 › United States of America, Appellee, v. Charles Green Lanier, Appellant
United States of America, Appellee, v. Charles Green Lanier, Appellant, 838 F.2d 281 (8th Cir. 1988)
US Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit - 838 F.2d 281 (8th Cir. 1988) Submitted Aug. 27, 1987. Decided Feb. 1, 1988
Charles Lanier appeals from a judgment of conviction entered by the District Court1 upon a jury verdict finding him guilty of mail fraud, fraud involving interstate commerce, and aiding and abetting in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1341, 2314, and 2.* For reversal, appellant contends that the District Court erred in (1) refusing to exclude statements taken from him by a postal inspector and (2) denying his motion for judgment of acquittal or for a new trial. We affirm.
Appellant was indicted on April 11, 1986 on three counts of violating 18 U.S.C. §§ 2314 and 2 (fraud in interstate commerce; aiding and abetting), and eight counts of violating 18 U.S.C. §§ 1341 and 2 (mail fraud; aiding and abetting). Appellant and two co-defendants were tried together.
The District Court dismissed three of the counts prior to submission to the jury. The jury returned a verdict of guilty on seven of the eight counts submitted. The District Court denied appellant's post-trial motion for acquittal based on insufficiency of the evidence and for a new trial on the ground that the verdict was against the weight of the evidence. Lanier received concurrent two-year prison sentences, was placed on five years probation (to commence upon termination of the prison sentences), and was ordered to make restitution to the victims, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3579, in the amount of $125,000 (Lanier is separately and jointly liable with his co-defendants at trial for this money, which is an amount equal to the advance fees paid by the victims). This timely appeal followed.
When reviewing the District Court's decision denying appellant's motion for judgment of acquittal, we must examine the evidence in the light most favorable to the government and give the government the benefit of all reasonable inferences that may be drawn logically from the evidence. United States v. Freitag, 768 F.2d 240, 242 (8th Cir. 1985). We note in that regard that the essential elements of a crime may be proven by circumstantial as well as direct evidence. United States v. Hudson, 717 F.2d 1211, 1213 (8th Cir. 1983). Willfulness, intent, and guilty knowledge may also be proven by circumstantial evidence and frequently cannot be proven in any other way. Id.
To establish a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1341, the government must produce sufficient evidence for a jury to find that the defendant devised a scheme to defraud, that the defendant had specific intent, and that the mails were used for the purpose of executing the scheme. United States v. Sedovic, 679 F.2d 1233, 1237-38 (8th Cir. 1982).
To establish a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2314, the government must prove that the accused devised a scheme or artifice to defraud or obtain money by false pretenses or representations and caused or induced an intended victim to travel in interstate commerce with the intent to defraud that person of money or property having a value of $5,000 or more. United States v. Edwards, 516 F.2d 913, 913 (8th Cir. 1975).
The elements of aiding and abetting are (1) that the defendant associated himself with the unlawful venture; (2) that he participated in it as something he wished to bring about; and (3) that he sought by his actions to make it succeed. United States v. Sopczak, 742 F.2d 1119, 1121-22 (8th Cir. 1984). By traveling to Ohio and California, explaining the mechanics of the loan scheme to the victims, reassuring them about the refundability of their deposits, and sending loan applications and advance fees through the mail, Lanier associated himself with, participated in, and sought to further the loan scheme.
When a motion for a new trial is made on the ground that the verdict is contrary to the weight of the evidence, the district court must weigh the evidence and evaluate the credibility of the witnesses, and will set aside the verdict only if the evidence weighs heavily enough against the verdict that a miscarriage of justice may have occurred. United States v. Rodriguez, 812 F.2d 414, 417 (8th Cir. 1987). The district court's decision will not be overturned absent a clear and manifest abuse of discretion. Id.
The mere focus of an investigation on an individual, without more, is insufficient to trigger a need for the warnings. United States v. Jones, 630 F.2d 613, 615 (8th Cir. 1980). Rather, a reviewing court should consider the totality of the circumstances in determining whether the accused was subject to custodial interrogation. United States v. Helmel, 769 F.2d 1306, 1320 (8th Cir. 1985). Relevant factors to consider in making the determination include the accused's freedom to leave the scene, and the purpose, place, and length of the interrogation. Id.
Under Fed.R.Evid. 404(b), evidence of other wrongs is not admissible to prove the defendant's bad character, but may be admissible for other purposes, such as proof of intent, knowledge, or plan. See United States v. Pierce, 792 F.2d 740, 743 (8th Cir. 1986).2
Evidence of other wrongs is admissible if (1) an issue is raised on which evidence of other crimes may be received; (2) the evidence is relevant to that issue; (3) the evidence is clear and convincing; and (4) the probative worth outweighs any prejudicial impact. United States v. Young, 618 F.2d 1281, 1289 (8th Cir.), cert. denied, 449 U.S. 844, 101 S. Ct. 126, 66 L. Ed. 2d 52 (1980). The trial court is vested with broad discretion in deciding whether to admit wrongful act evidence, and its decision to admit such evidence will be overturned only when the challenged evidence has no bearing on any issue involved. Id.
We believe that all of the standards for admission of Lanier's statements to Hasse under Rule 404(b) have been met and that the District Court did not abuse its discretion. At trial, Lanier raised the defense of lack of knowledge or intent to do wrong. Lanier's statements to Hasse during the interview are relevant to the issues of knowledge and plan because they reveal Lanier's version of his relationship with McLane, as well as his relationship with Havard. Further, Lanier's other acts with regard to Havard are similar in kind to those crimes with which he was charged, and took place during the time period in which the indictment alleged that Lanier and the other defendants carried out the scheme. See United States v. Gustafson, 728 F.2d 1078, 1083 (8th Cir.) (evidence of wrongdoing "similar in kind and reasonably close in time to the charge at trial" was clear and convincing), cert. denied, 469 U.S. 979, 105 S. Ct. 380, 83 L. Ed. 2d 315 (1984).