Opinion ID: 280033
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Pre-conspiracy Threats

Text: 123 The indictment charged that a conspiracy among the defendants to violate the Hobbs Act began 'in or about July, 1964.' Yet, William Riley, the victim of the alleged extortion, was permitted to testify over objection about threats made to him in 1962 and 1963 by defendants Amabile and Nick Palermo. These threats related to Riley's proposed building project in Northlake, Illinois and the subsequent payment of $30,000 to Amabile. Riley also testified about threats made by Amabile and Palermo in 1963 in regard to plumbing work at a Riley building project in Westmont, Illinois. Palermo on that occasion said he 'would bury Hubley,' Riley's construction superintendent, and Amabile said he 'would hammer the nails on the coffin.' Amabile made other threats to Riley at that time. Purportedly, this testimony was admitted for the purpose of showing the basis of Riley's fear of Amabile in January, 1965. There was ample testimony by Riley, however, of threats made by Amabile after the commencement date of the alleged conspiracy. 124 According to the majority, the testimony of these threats was 'relevant to show the reasonableness of Riley's fear when confronted with Amabile's demand to authorize the second draw. The District Court carefully instructed the jury that this testimony was limited to that purpose.' Although I agree that proof of the reasonableness of an extortion victim's fear by testimony of prior threats is generally permissible, the testimony of threats made by Palermo, who was not even charged as an unindicted coconspirator, was irrelevant for any purpose. Moreover, I am at a loss to find the 'careful instruction' referred to by the majority. Because the testimony of threats by Palermo was both irrelevent and inflammatory, the defendants were prejudiced by the district court's failure to instruct the jury to disregard that testimony. Cf. United States v. Critchley, 353 F.2d 358 (3rd Cir. 1965).