Source: https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F2/860/769/465679/
Timestamp: 2019-10-23 02:42:39
Document Index: 350784691

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 1962', '§ 1961', '§ 1951', '§ 1951', '§ 1962', '§ 1951', '§ 1951', '§ 1962', '§ 1951', '§ 1951', '§ 1951', '§ 1962']

United States of America, Plaintiff-appellee, v. James Oliver Hocking, Defendant-appellant, 860 F.2d 769 (7th Cir. 1988) :: Justia
Justia › US Law › Case Law › Federal Courts › Courts of Appeals › Seventh Circuit › 1988 › United States of America, Plaintiff-appellee, v. James Oliver Hocking, Defendant-appellant
United States of America, Plaintiff-appellee, v. James Oliver Hocking, Defendant-appellant, 860 F.2d 769 (7th Cir. 1988)
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit - 860 F.2d 769 (7th Cir. 1988) Argued June 7, 1988. Decided Oct. 14, 1988. Rehearing and Rehearing En Banc Denied Dec. 6, 1988
James Hocking appeals from his convictions on one count of racketeering in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1962(c) (the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations statute, 18 U.S.C. §§ 1961-1968 (1978)) and one count of extortion in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1951 (the Hobbs Act, 18 U.S.C. §§ 1951-1955 (1986)).
In a three-count indictment handed down on July 30, 1987, Hocking was charged with racketeering under 18 U.S.C. § 1962(c), as evidenced by acts of extortion in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1951 and bribery in violation of Ill.Rev.Stat., Ch. 38, p 33-1(d) (Count 1), and two separate acts of extortion in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1951 (Counts 2 and 3). Before trial, the government moved to dismiss Count 2 and those portions of Count 1 that cited federal extortion as racketeering activities. The government's motion was granted by the district court and the Count 3 Sec. 1951 extortion charge (renumbered Count 2) and the Count 1 Sec. 1962(c) racketeering charge, with an alleged act of state law bribery as its basis, proceeded to trial on October 21, 1987.
Hocking also asserts that the district court erred when, in instructing the jury on the 18 U.S.C. § 1962(c) racketeering charge, it defined the Illinois Department of Transportation as an "enterprise" falling within the reach of Sec. 1962(c). Finally, appellant maintains that the district court erred when it denied his motion for a directed verdict of acquittal on the Sec. 1962(c) racketeering charge because the government failed to prove that he committed any acts of bribery as proscribed by Ill.Rev.Stat., Ch. 38, p 33-1(d).III
Hocking maintains that the failure of the two FBI agents who questioned him on April 8, 1986 to give him Miranda warnings renders the statement he signed on that date inadmissible. It is well established that " [t]he police are required to give [Miranda ] warnings only 'where there has been such a restriction on a person's freedom as to render him in custody.' " United States v. Bush, 820 F.2d 858, 861 (7th Cir. 1987) (quoting California v. Beheler, 463 U.S. 1121, 1124, 103 S. Ct. 3517, 3519, 77 L. Ed. 2d 1275 (1983) (quoting in turn Oregon v. Mathiason, 429 U.S. 492, 495, 97 S. Ct. 711, 714, 50 L. Ed. 2d 714 (1977))). " [P]olice officers are not required to administer Miranda warnings to everyone whom they question." Mathiason, 429 U.S. at 495, 97 S. Ct. at 714. "Miranda deals only with 'the admissibility of statements obtained from an individual who is subjected to custodial police interrogation.' " United States v. Lane, 811 F.2d 1166, 1170 (7th Cir. 1987) (quoting Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 439, 86 S. Ct. 1602, 1609, 16 L. Ed. 2d 694 (1966)). See also United States v. Jackson, 836 F.2d 324, 326 (7th Cir. 1987); United States v. Jones, 630 F.2d 613, 615 (8th Cir. 1980) ("The critical question [with regard to the necessity for the Miranda warnings] is whether the interrogation occurred in a custodial setting.").
The district court determined that the April 8, 1986 interview of Hocking by the two FBI agents did not constitute a "custodial interrogation" as contemplated by Miranda and its progeny. Although this determination tends to follow from various factual findings, the ultimate issue of whether there was a custodial interrogation is a mixed question of law and fact. United States v. Calisto, 838 F.2d 711, 717-18 (3d Cir. 1988). Therefore, this determination is independently reviewable by an appellate court. See Schuneman v. United States, 783 F.2d 694, 699 (7th Cir. 1986); United States ex rel. Tonaldi v. Elrod, 716 F.2d 431, 437 (7th Cir. 1983). But see United States v. Poole, 806 F.2d 853 (9th Cir. 1986) ("The determination whether a defendant was subjected to custodial interrogation is essentially factual, and is reviewable under the 'clearly erroneous' standard."), amending, United States v. Poole, 794 F.2d 462 (9th Cir. 1986).
Appellant was not under arrest at the time of the April 8, 1986 interview. Therefore, our inquiry is limited to determining whether at the time of that interrogation Hocking was subjected to a " 'restraint on [his] freedom of movement' of the degree associated with a formal arrest." Beheler, 463 U.S. at 1125, 103 S. Ct. at 3520 (quoting Mathiason, 429 U.S. at 495, 97 S. Ct. at 714) quoted in Bush, 820 F.2d at 861. See also Lane, 811 F.2d at 1170 ("Custodial interrogation is 'questioning initiated by law enforcement officers after a person has been taken into custody or otherwise deprived of his freedom of action in any significant way.' ") (quoting Miranda, 384 U.S. at 444, 86 S. Ct. at 1609); Berkemer, 468 U.S. at 440, 104 S. Ct. at 3150. In making that determination we must remain cognizant of the fact that the Miranda warnings are not triggered merely because an individual who is being questioned by law enforcement officers is a suspect or is the focus of a criminal investigation. Mathiason, 429 U.S. at 495, 97 S. Ct. at 714. See also Beckwith v. United States, 425 U.S. 341, 345-46, 96 S. Ct. 1612, 1615-16, 48 L. Ed. 2d 1 (1976). In addition, although it may be a significant factor in evaluating the voluntariness of a criminal defendant's confession or a statement, a finding by a reviewing court that the questioning of a suspect took place in a "coercive environment," in the absence of formal arrest or restraint on freedom, does not convert a noncustodial situation into a custodial interrogation. Mathiason, 429 U.S. at 495, 97 S. Ct. at 714.
"In determining whether the accused was subjected to custodial interrogation, a reviewing court should consider the totality of the circumstances. The accused's freedom to leave the scene and the purpose, place and length of interrogation are all relevant factors in making this determination." United States v. Helmel, 769 F.2d 1306, 1320 (8th Cir. 1985). See also United States v. Rorex, 737 F.2d 753, 755-56 (8th Cir. 1984).
Careful examination of the record reveals the following circumstances attendant to the April 8, 1986 interview of appellant by FBI agents Nash and Steele. The interview was conducted in Hocking's home. FBI agents Nash and Steele entered the house only after Hocking granted them permission to do so. Hocking voluntarily agreed to submit to questioning. See United States v. Schwartz, 787 F.2d 257, 265 (7th Cir. 1986). Nothing in the record indicates that any restraints were placed on Hocking's movement during the course of the questioning. See Bush, 820 F.2d at 862. Appellant was free to leave the house, or to ask the agents to leave. He did neither.
" [T]he ultimate issue of the voluntariness of a confession is a legal question requiring de novo review." United States v. Hawkins, 823 F.2d 1020,1023 (7th Cir. 1987). In making the "voluntariness" determination we must "examine the entire record and make an independent determination." Davis v. North Carolina, 384 U.S. 737, 741-42, 86 S. Ct. 1761, 1764, 16 L. Ed. 2d 895 (1966), quoted in Beckwith, 425 U.S. at 348, 96 S. Ct. at 1617 and United States v. Serlin, 707 F.2d 953, 958 (7th Cir. 1983). If we conclude that the preponderance of the evidence establishes that Hocking signed the April 8, 1986 statement voluntarily, his argument that it should have been excluded must be rejected. See Lego v. Twomey, 404 U.S. 477, 486, 92 S. Ct. 619, 625, 30 L. Ed. 2d 618 (1972), cited in Colorado v. Connelly, 479 U.S. 157, 107 S. Ct. 515, 522-23, 93 L. Ed. 2d 473 (1986).
"In contrast to the presumption of coercion that attends statements given during custodial interrogation in the absence of Miranda warnings, statements made during a noncustodial interrogation are not viewed with suspicion." Serlin, 707 F.2d at 958. Nevertheless, the Supreme Court has recognized that "noncustodial interrogation might possibly in some situations, by virtue of some special circumstances, be characterized as one where 'the behavior of ... law enforcement officials was such as to overbear [an interrogee's] will to resist and bring about confessions not freely self-determined.' " Beckwith, 425 U.S. at 347-48, 96 S. Ct. at 1617 (quoting Rogers v. Richmond, 365 U.S. 534, 544, 81 S. Ct. 735, 741, 5 L. Ed. 2d 760 (1961)).
Thus, it is clear that the test for a voluntary confession is "whether the defendant's will was overborne at the time he confessed." Lynumn v. State of Illinois, 372 U.S. 528, 534, 83 S. Ct. 917, 920, 9 L. Ed. 2d 922 (1963). Our court has previously stated that " [c]oercive police activity is 'a necessary predicate to the finding that a confession is not "voluntary" within the meaning of the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.' " Lane, 811 F.2d at 1171 (quoting Connelly, 479 U.S. at 167, 107 S. Ct. at 522). See also Lego, 404 U.S. at 485, 92 S. Ct. at 624 ("The use of coerced confessions, whether true or false, is forbidden because the method used to extract them offends constitutional principles.").
The two FBI agents appear to have acted reasonably and fairly in conducting their interrogation of appellant. We are unconvinced that under the circumstances faced by Hocking during the April 8, 1986 interrogation, a person of his age, maturity, intelligence and physical condition could not have resisted the agents' attempt to obtain a signature on the statement. The fact that the statement itself, which Hocking acknowledged he read, albeit he claimed not to have read it carefully, stipulates that the declaration it sets forth was made "without any threats or promises" provides further support for the inference that appellant was not subjected to the type of debilitating coercion that is necessary to render a confession or statement involuntary. We find no reason to characterize the manner in which the agents conducted the interrogation as anything more than vigorous, persistent questioning, conduct which our Court has previously held not to vitiate an otherwise valid confession. See United States v. Lehman, 468 F.2d 93, 100-01 (7th Cir.), cert. denied, 409 U.S. 967, 93 S. Ct. 273, 34 L. Ed. 2d 232 (1972).
Proof of a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1951 requires evidence to establish that the defendant's actions had an effect on interstate commerce. 18 U.S.C. § 1951(a) states:
Our precedent establishes that the effect on interstate commerce necessary to support a Hobbs Act conviction is "slight" and that a violation of the statute may be made out "where there is no actual effect proved but there is a realistic probability of an effect." United States v. Anderson, 809 F.2d 1281, 1286 (7th Cir. 1987), cited in United States v. Frasch, 818 F.2d 631, 634 (7th Cir. 1987). See also United States v. Glynn, 627 F.2d 39, 41 (7th Cir. 1980) (" [A]n effect on interstate commerce will be shown even if the actual impact on commerce is de minimis."); United States v. Boulahanis, 677 F.2d 586, 589-90 (7th Cir.), cert. denied, 459 U.S. 1016, 103 S. Ct. 375, 74 L. Ed. 2d 509 (1982).
The government's case against Hocking on Count 2, the Sec. 1951 (Hobbs Act) extortion charge, was based on the "depletion of assets" theory of an effect on interstate commerce. Our court has embraced the depletion of assets theory and has stated that "commerce 'is affected when an enterprise which ... customarily purchases items in interstate commerce, has its assets depleted through extortion, thereby curtailing the victim's potential as a purchaser of such goods.' " Boulahanis, 677 F.2d at 590 (quoting United States v. Elders, 569 F.2d 1020, 1025 (7th Cir. 1978)). See also United States v. Blakey, 607 F.2d 779, 783-84 (7th Cir. 1979).
Both of Hocking's challenges to his Sec. 1951 conviction center on the claim that because his alleged actions did not have a sufficient impact on interstate commerce to trigger the jurisdiction of the district court under Sec. 1951, the district court should have granted his motion for a directed verdict of acquittal. His arguments to that effect are couched as challenges to the sufficiency and correctness of the Hobbs Act instruction given to the jury by the district court, identified in the record as Government Instruction 32A.2 Our Circuit's test for evaluating the propriety of a challenged jury instruction is well-established. If the instruction treats the issue fairly and adequately, it is not to be disturbed on appeal. United States v. Perlaza, 818 F.2d 1354, 1358 (7th Cir.), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 108 S. Ct. 176, 98 L. Ed. 2d 130 (1987). See also United States v. Patrick, 542 F.2d 381, 389 (7th Cir. 1976), cert. denied, 430 U.S. 931, 97 S. Ct. 1551, 51 L. Ed. 2d 775 (1977). Thus, our task here is to ascertain whether the two aspects of the jury instruction which Hocking finds objectionable accurately reflect the controlling law.
Appellant's argument ignores one critical point. "The Hobbs Act proscribes not only the acts of obstructing commerce through extortion but also proscribes 'attempts ... so to do.' In short, a section 1951 violation is complete when one attempts to induce a victim engaged in interstate commerce to part with property." United States v. Rindone, 631 F.2d 491, 493 (7th Cir. 1980). See also Glynn, 627 F.2d at 42. Based on this rationale, our Court has expressly rejected the argument advanced by appellant, i.e., that because the money used in the extortionate transaction was supplied by the FBI, no depletion of the payor firm's assets was possible and consequently, no nexus with interstate commerce is made out. Rindone, 631 F.2d at 492-93. See also United States v. Brooklier, 685 F.2d 1208, 1216-17 (9th Cir. 1982), cert. denied, 459 U.S. 1206, 103 S. Ct. 1194, 75 L. Ed. 2d 439 (1983). As noted above, in Rindone we held that the Sec. 1951 (attempted extortion) offense is complete at the time the attempt to extract payment is made, even before any money changes hands. This broad interpretation of the Sec. 1951 offense, and our express holding in Rindone that the use of FBI money in lieu of the money belonging to the firm subjected to an extortion attempt does not preclude a finding of a sufficient effect on interstate commerce, moots appellant's first interstate commerce nexus claim.
The Supreme Court has interpreted the Hobbs Act to reach the "limits of the Commerce Clause." Anderson, 809 F.2d at 1281 (citing Stirone v. United States, 361 U.S. 212, 80 S. Ct. 270, 4 L. Ed. 2d 252 (1960)). As noted above, the effect on interstate commerce necessary to establish a Hobbs Act violation has been variously described as "slight" or "de minimis." Anderson, 809 F.2d at 1281; Glynn, 627 F.2d at 41. Further, under the depletion of assets theory, the government need prove only a realistic probability of an effect on interstate commerce. Anderson, 809 F.2d at 1286; Glynn, 627 F.2d at 41. The fact that a business-firm victim of extortion or attempted extortion purchases supplies that are manufactured or otherwise originate from out of state, even if purchased through a wholesaler or another intermediary, is sufficient proof of a nexus to interstate commerce to trigger a jury finding of a Hobbs Act violation under the depletion of assets theory. See United States v. Hedman, 630 F.2d 1184, 1193 (7th Cir. 1980), cert. denied, 450 U.S. 965, 101 S. Ct. 1481, 67 L. Ed. 2d 614 (1981); Boulahanis, 677 F.2d at 589-90. In light of our precedent and the sweeping language of Sec. 1951(a) alluded to earlier, we have no difficulty in concluding that paragraph 4 of the challenged instruction constitutes an adequate and fair statement of the law it addresses pertaining to the government's obligation to prove an interstate commerce nexus in a Hobbs Act prosecution.
Hocking contends that the district court erred when it instructed the jury that the Illinois Department of Transportation is an "enterprise" under Sec. 1962(c) of the RICO statute. Our Court has expressly held that "governmental or public entities fit within the definition of 'enterprise' for purposes of RICO." United States v. Kovic, 684 F.2d 512, 516 (7th Cir.), cert. denied, 459 U.S. 972, 103 S. Ct. 304, 74 L. Ed. 2d 284 (1982) (citing United States v. Lee Stoller Enterprises, Inc., 652 F.2d 1313, 1318-19 (7th Cir.), cert. denied, 454 U.S. 1082, 102 S. Ct. 636, 70 L. Ed. 2d 615 (1981)). In light of our clear precedent, appellant's claim that the district court erred in instructing the jury that the IDOT is an "enterprise" within the reach of Sec. 1962(c) is rejected.
Ill.Rev.Stat., Ch. 38, p 33-1(d) (1986). Appellant misstates the proof necessary to establish a violation of p 33-1(d). " 'Bribery' in Illinois, is the tendering of money to a public employee to influence the performance of an act related to the public employee's official function." People v. Powell, 48 Ill.App.3d 723, 727, 6 Ill.Dec. 409, 412, 362 N.E.2d 1329, 1332 (1977), rev'd on other grounds, 72 Ill. 2d 50, 18 Ill.Dec. 318, 377 N.E.2d 803 (1978), cert. denied, 440 U.S. 907, 99 S. Ct. 1214, 59 L. Ed. 2d 455 (1979). "In order to commit the offense of bribery, the statute does not require that the act to be influenced ever be performed." People v. Dougherty, 160 Ill.App.3d 870, 874, 112 Ill.Dec. 337, 340, 513 N.E.2d 946, 949 (1987).
When reviewing a sufficiency of the evidence claim it is not our role "to weigh the evidence or to determine the credibility of witnesses. The verdict of a jury must be sustained if there is substantial evidence, taking the view that is most favorable to the government, to support it." Glasser v. United States, 315 U.S. 60, 80, 62 S. Ct. 457, 469, 86 L. Ed. 680 (1942), quoted in United States v. Kord, 836 F.2d 368, 371 (7th Cir. 1988). "Only when the record contains no evidence, regardless of how it is weighed, from which the jury could find guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, may an appellate court overturn the verdict." Brandom v. United States, 431 F.2d 1391,1400 (7th Cir. 1970), cert. denied, 400 U.S. 1022, 91 S. Ct. 586, 27 L. Ed. 2d 634 (1971) quoted in United States v. Whaley, 830 F.2d 1469, 1473 (7th Cir. 1987), and United States v. Moore, 764 F.2d 476, 478 (7th Cir. 1985). Applying these standards to appellant's sufficiency of the evidence claim with regard to the state bribery allegation underlying his conviction on Count 1, we find that claim to be without merit. The district court did not err when it denied appellant's motion for a directed verdict of acquittal on Count 1.
Based on the foregoing analysis, we find no reason to conclude that the district court erred in entering judgment of conviction against James Oliver Hocking for violations of 18 U.S.C. § 1951 and 18 U.S.C. § 1962(c). Accordingly, the judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED.
The three police officers encircled Lynumn in her apartment, confronted her with the twice-convicted felon who had set her up, and threatened her with the prospect of losing state financial aid for her children and the removal of the children from her custody if she did not cooperate. Based on these circumstances, and the petitioner's professed belief that the recommendation of the arresting officers regarding the assumption by the state of custody over her children and the loss of state financial aid would be accepted by the authorities, the Supreme Court concluded that the petitioner's will was overborne at the time she confessed. See Lynumn, 372 U.S. at 534, 83 S. Ct. at 920.
Lynumn does not establish a bright-line rule that any confession that results from, or follows, threats or admonitions of impending prosecution, imprisonment or forfeiture of property by an interrogating police official is automatically rendered involuntary. Rather, in Lynumn the Supreme Court applied the test articulated above, i.e., whether the defendant's free will was overcome at the time she confessed, and concluded that in light of the conduct of the police and the circumstances surrounding the confession, the petitioner's confession was not "the product of a rational intellect and a free will." 372 U.S. at 534, 83 S. Ct. at 920 (quoting Blackburn v. Alabama, 361 U.S. 199, 208, 80 S. Ct. 274, 280, 4 L. Ed. 2d 242 (1960)).