Opinion ID: 654260
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: freeman's convictions

Text: 84
85 Freeman's Rule 29 motion challenged the application of the Hobbs Act to him. The indictment charged that Freeman conspired with and aided and abetted Netters in extortion in violation of the Hobbs Act. 86 Freeman's arguments are virtually identical to Netters' contentions. Freeman asserts that (1) Netters was not a public official and did not act under color of official right within the meaning of the Hobbs Act; (2) the district court's jury instruction defining under color of official right was erroneous; and (3) the Hobbs Act did not give Netters fair notice that his conduct was prohibited. Our decisions as to the same arguments advanced by Netters control. 87 With respect to Freeman's contention that application of the Hobbs Act in this case runs counter to First Amendment jurisprudence, the Supreme Court decision in McCormick controls. The Court made it clear that campaign contributions made in return for an explicit promise or undertaking by an official to perform or not to perform an official act are vulnerable. McCormick, 500 U.S. at ----, 111 S.Ct. at 1816. In light of the evidence of a quid pro quo in this case, Freeman's argument fails.
88 Freeman argues that the district court erred in denying his motion to sever his trial from Netters' trial. We review a district court's decision as to whether to sever pursuant to Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 14 for an abuse of discretion. United States v. Cuozzo, 962 F.2d 945, 949 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 113 S.Ct. 475, 121 L.Ed.2d 381 (1992); United States v. Unruh, 855 F.2d 1363, 1374 (9th Cir.1987), cert. denied, 488 U.S. 974, 109 S.Ct. 513, 102 L.Ed.2d 548 (1988). 89 Freeman bears the burden of proving that the joint trial caused such clear, manifest, or undue prejudice that he was denied a fair trial. SeeCuozzo, 962 F.2d at 950. The court's prejudice inquiry focuses on 'whether the jury can reasonably be expected to compartmentalize the evidence as it relates to separate defendants in light of its volume and limited admissibility.'  Unruh, 855 F.2d at 1374 (quoting United States v. Ramirez, 710 F.2d 535, 546 (9th Cir.1983)). 90 A joint trial was particularly appropriate in this case because conspiracy was charged. SeeUnited States v. Hernandez, 952 F.2d 1110, 1114 (9th Cir.1991), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 113 S.Ct. 334, 121 L.Ed.2d 252 (1992). As Freeman was charged with both conspiracy and aiding and abetting, it was necessary for the jury to consider evidence of and understand the conduct for which Netters was charged. 91 Moreover, the jury could reasonably have been expected to compartmentalize the evidence as the individuals who were involved with and testified to the events in 1986, with which Freeman was concerned, were different from the individuals who were involved with and testified to the events of 1988. The Government took care to present the evidence and testimony in a manner that would highlight the distinction between the 1986 and 1988 activities. The fact that almost a full year elapsed between the end of the alleged 1986 Hobbs Act conspiracy in December 1986, and the beginning of Netters' activities concerning AB 4203 in January 1988, also facilitated the jury's ability to compartmentalize the evidence. 92 Most important, the district court repeatedly instructed the jury during the trial as to which testimony was admissible only against Netters, which testimony was admissible only against Freeman, and which testimony was admissible against both men. At the conclusion of the trial, the district court again instructed the jurors: 93 Even though more than one defendant is on trial, you have to consider the evidence as to each defendant separately. In deciding whether the Government has proven its case against a defendant beyond a reasonable doubt, you cannot consider evidence which was admitted only against someone else. 94 Jury instruction # 8. 95 A separate crime is charged in each count of the indictment. Each charge and the evidence having to do with that charge must be considered separately. Just because you find the defendants guilty or not guilty of one of the offenses charged should not affect your decision on any other count. 96 Jury instruction # 4. 97 [W]here, as here, the district court uses great diligence in instructing the jury to separate the evidence, severance is unnecessary because the prejudicial effects of the evidence of codefendants are 'neutralized.'  United States v. Patterson, 819 F.2d 1495, 1503 (9th Cir.1987); see alsoUnited States v. Conners, 825 F.2d 1384, 1391 (9th Cir.1987); United States v. Polizzi, 801 F.2d 1543, 1554 (9th Cir.1986); United States v. Douglass, 780 F.2d 1472, 1479 (9th Cir.1986). Thus, we conclude that the district court's denial of Freeman's motion to sever was not an abuse of discretion. 98
99 Freeman asserts that the district court's admission of evidence of money paid to him for his assistance in securing a loan guarantee for Gulf Shrimp from Superior Valley Small Business Development Corporation violated Federal Rules of Evidence 403 and 404(b). 100 The Government maintains that the evidence was properly admitted as  'direct evidence,' used to flesh out the circumstances surrounding the crime with which the defendant [was] charged, thereby allowing the jury to make sense of the testimony in its proper context. United States v. Ramirez-Jiminez, 967 F.2d 1321, 1327 (9th Cir.1992). According to the Government, the evidence in question was inextricably intertwined with Freeman's discussions with undercover FBI Agent Brennan concerning the fictitious corporation's need for special interest legislation, and it showed how the relationship between Freeman and Brennan developed. 101 Freeman concedes that the evidence of his meeting Brennan and developing a relationship with him concerning Gulf Shrimp was arguably intertwined with the crimes charged. However, he asserts that the specific references to the $2,000 in payments easily could have been excised without preventing the Government from putting the testimony in context. Although the district court may have been able to excise the reference, the district court did not abuse its discretion in declining to excise it. 102 In addition, the Government contends that it offered this evidence to refute Freeman's contentions that he lacked the requisite intent to commit the Hobbs Act charges against him. Rule 404(b) permits the introduction of evidence for purposes such as proving a person's 'motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, or absence of mistake or accident.'  Ramirez-Jiminez, 967 F.2d at 1325. Freeman's acceptance of the payments tended to prove that he knew the purpose of the payments and, thus, possessed the requisite intent. SeeUnited States v. Price, 617 F.2d 455, 459 (7th Cir.1979); see alsoUnited States v. Mundi, 892 F.2d 817, 820 (9th Cir.1989), cert. denied, 498 U.S. 1119, 111 S.Ct. 1072, 112 L.Ed.2d 1178 (1991). 103 Freeman objects to the Government's argument on the ground that the Government offered this evidence before he testified as to innocent explanations for his behavior. Freeman concedes, however, that his intent was a material issue at trial. Thus, this evidence of intent was appropriately introduced in the Government's case in chief.
104 Freeman argues that the district court should have instructed the jury on the defense of entrapment because there was sufficient evidence to support an entrapment instruction and to refute any claim that he was predisposed to commit a Hobbs Act violation. Although an entrapment instruction was requested as an initial matter, the request was voluntarily withdrawn. Consequently, we review for plain error. SeeUnited States v. Guthrie, 931 F.2d 564, 567 (9th Cir.1991); Ward, 914 F.2d at 1344. The reversal of a criminal conviction on the basis of plain error is an exceptional remedy, which the court should invoke 'only when it appears necessary to prevent a miscarriage of justice or to preserve the integrity and reputation of the judicial process.'  Ward, 914 F.2d at 1344 (quoting United States v. Bustillo, 789 F.2d 1364, 1367 (9th Cir.1986)). 105 In order to establish entrapment a defendant must show: (1) that he was induced to commit the crime by a government agent; and (2) that he was not otherwise predisposed to commit the crime. United States v. Busby, 780 F.2d 804, 806 (9th Cir.1986). The district court must instruct on entrapment only if the defendant presents some evidence of both elements of the defense. Id. 106 We will assume, for purposes of argument, that Freeman produced sufficient evidence to satisfy the first element of the entrapment defense as Brennan, who posed as the owner of Gulf Shrimp, was an FBI agent at the time of the alleged inducement. To determine, however, whether Freeman satisfied the second element, we must consider: 107 the character or reputation of the defendant, including any prior criminal record; whether the suggestion of the criminal activity was initially made by the Government; whether the defendant was engaged in the criminal activity for profit; whether the defendant evidenced reluctance to commit the offense, overcome only by repeated Government inducement or persuasion; and the nature of the inducement or persuasion supplied by the Government. 108 Id. at 807. None of the factors is controlling; however, the defendant's reluctance to engage in criminal activity is the most important. Id. 109 Freeman argues that there is ample evidence that he was not predisposed to violate the Hobbs Act. He asserts that the FBI agent initiated contact with him, offered him a job as a lobbyist despite the fact that he had no prior lobbying experience, and raised the subject of making contributions to Assemblyperson Moore. Freeman also points out that the Government drafted the special interest legislation. 110 We agree with the Government that Freeman's predisposition was evidenced as early as February, 1982, before the Government even conceived of a sting bill, when he told Marvin Levin that he could, as a Assembly staff member, obtain certain special interest legislation in return for payments to legislators. Freeman made similar statements in March of 1982. These statements show that Freeman was predisposed to violate the Hobbs Act prior to late 1985, when the Government initiated its undercover investigation. Moreover, there was a significant amount of evidence that Freeman demonstrated no reluctance to engage in criminal activity. Freeman has not demonstrated that the district court's failure sua sponte to give the jury an entrapment instruction was plain error.
111 Freeman was named in two counts of the indictment, which charged him with conspiracy to affect commerce by extortion under color of official right in violation of 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1951 and extortion under color of official right; aiding and abetting in violation of 18 U.S.C. Secs. 1951 and 2. He argues that the charges are duplicitous; therefore, convicting and punishing him separately for each charge unconstitutionally punished him twice for the same conduct. 112 Despite the fact that Freeman failed to raise this issue before the district court, he has not waived it. See Launius v. United States, 575 F.2d 770, 772 (9th Cir.1978). As a result of his failure, however, we will employ a plain error standard of review. SeeDischner, 974 F.2d at 1514; United States v. Hernandez, 876 F.2d 774, 777 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 493 U.S. 863, 110 S.Ct. 179, 107 L.Ed.2d 135 (1989). 113 Freeman concedes that the offense of conspiracy requires proof of a fact--an agreement--which the offense of aiding and abetting does not. In addition, he acknowledges that courts have traditionally upheld convictions for conspiracy in violation of 18 U.S.C. Sec. 371 and aiding and abetting in violation of 18 U.S.C. Sec. 2 based upon the same conduct. Nevertheless, Freeman contends that the traditional distinction between these offenses does not hold true in the context of the Hobbs Act because both offenses violate the same statute. 114 It is well settled that conspiracy to violate the Hobbs Act and a substantive violation of the Hobbs Act based on the same conduct are two separate offenses and may be punished by consecutive sentences. Callanan v. United States, 364 U.S. 587, 597, 81 S.Ct. 321, 327, 5 L.Ed.2d 312 (1961) (defendant convicted of conspiring to obstruct commerce by extorting money and the substantive offense of obstructing commerce by extortion, both in violation of the Hobbs Act); United States v. Phillips, 577 F.2d 495, 501 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 439 U.S. 831, 99 S.Ct. 107, 58 L.Ed.2d 125 (1978) (based on the same acts, defendant charged with conspiracy and attempted extortion, both in violation of the Hobbs Act); Carbo v. United States, 314 F.2d 718, 733 & n. 17 (9th Cir.1963), cert. denied, 377 U.S. 953, 84 S.Ct. 1625, 12 L.Ed.2d 498 (1964) (The conspiracy and substantive offenses under Sec. 1951 do not merge.). Moreover, it is clear that a defendant may be convicted and separately punished for aiding and abetting and conspiring to commit the same substantive offense. SeePereira v. United States, 347 U.S. 1, 11-12, 74 S.Ct. 358, 364, 98 L.Ed. 435 (1954); United States v. Huber, 772 F.2d 585, 591-92 (9th Cir.1985). Freeman's argument fails.