Opinion ID: 435305
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: issues

Text: 5 Pierce alleges on appeal (1) that the indictment was multiplicious in that counts I and II charged a single offense in two separate counts, (2) that he was prejudiced by the misjoinder of count III, (3) that the court erred in allowing into evidence testimony and applications of credit union members whose loans were allegedly approved but were not funded, and (4) that the court erred in refusing to allow cross-examination of Ora P. Williams, an accountant and loan officer of the credit union, with respect to the approval of other loan applications containing no statement of liabilities. Pierce requests that his conviction be reversed and that he be granted a new trial. Multiplicity of the Indictment 6 We agree with Pierce's contention that the indictment was multiplicious. In reaching that conclusion we follow the reasoning of United States v. Sue 3 and United States v. Sahley. 4 Those cases hold that the making of a number of false statements to a lending institution in a single document constitutes only one criminal violation under 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1014. 5 The statute in this instance speaks of 'statement' and 'report' in a manner which will not support a fracturing of the offense according to the number of false allegations in a single financial statement. 6 As in Sue, the remedy to which Pierce is entitled depends on whether he has sustained any prejudice as a result of the multiplicious indictment. 7 Yet, Pierce identifies no specific prejudice that he has suffered as a result of the multiplicious indictment. Only counts I and II were sent to the jury--no other counts could have been tainted by the multiplicity. We hold that the multiplicious indictment did not threaten to generate an adverse psychological effect on the jury. 8 Hence, reversal of the judgment is not an appropriate remedy. 9 The Government concedes that, assuming that the counts are multiplicious, under Sahley Pierce should have been sentenced under either count I or count II. Pierce, however, has received two consecutive 18-month sentences for a single offense. We hold that it was error to impose separate sentences under both count I and count II. 10 7 Misjoinder or Prejudicial Joinder of Count III 8 Pierce alleges that the inclusion of count III constituted misjoinder under Rule 8(a) 11 as well as prejudicial joinder under Rule 14 12 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure. Count III, Pierce argues, raised an entirely separate issue involving a completely different transaction. 9 It is by no means apparent that the inclusion of count III constituted misjoinder under Rule 8(a). All three counts arose out of Pierce's loan activity over a period of less than 3 months with the credit union of which he was president. The joinder of count III with counts I and II in the indictment was permissible because the counts are similar in character. Joinder is favored for reasons of judicial economy. 13 The danger of prejudicial joinder, however, is greater with respect to charges that are similar in character than with other types of counts properly joined under Rule 8(a). 14 10 The counts were tried together, over Pierce's timely protest. Having determined that the counts were properly joined under Rule 8(a), our inquiry now becomes whether the record in this case indicates a sufficient possibility of prejudice by reason of the joinder of count III for trial as to require reversal. 11 Several forms of prejudice have been recognized. In Drew v. United States, 15 the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit recognized some circumstances in which a defendant may be prejudiced by joinder: 12 (1) he may become embarrassed or confounded in presenting separate defenses; (2) the jury may use the evidence of one of the crimes charged to infer a criminal disposition on the part of the defendant from which is found his guilt of the other crime or crimes charged; or (3) the jury may cumulate the evidence of the various crimes charged and find guilt when, if considered separately, it would not so find. A less tangible, but perhaps equally persuasive, element of prejudice may reside in a latent feeling of hostility engendered by the charging of several crimes as distinct from only one. Thus, in any given case the court must weigh prejudice to the defendant caused by the joinder against the obviously important considerations of economy and expedition in judicial administration. 13 Pierce has not established that he was embarrassed or confounded in presenting separate defenses. He presents no argument on that issue. A verdict was directed in Pierce's favor on count III. The trial judge properly instructed the jury to use the evidence introduced under count III only for a permissible limited purpose. Additionally, counts I and II were proved by sufficient independent evidence. Thus, none of the circumstances delineated in Drew, in which a defendant may be prejudiced, has been established. 16 14 While 2 1/2 months elapsed between the alleged commission of the offenses in count III and the remaining counts, this, in itself is insufficient to show prejudice. 17 15 In a separate trial on the misapplication charge, the prior loan to Pierce would be admissible to show a motive in that Pierce was not able to borrow those funds himself. Thus, the counts are similar in that much of the evidence and many of the witnesses are the same with respect to all three of the counts. Separate trials would not have resulted in segregation of the evidence as to each offense. 18 16 On the basis of the record before us, we conclude that the joinder of count III did not have an effect to prejudice Pierce. Hence, Pierce is not entitled to a new trial on the basis of the alleged misjoinder. Approved Unfunded Loans 17 Pierce argues that the court below committed reversible error by allowing into evidence testimony and loan applications of credit union members whose loans had allegedly been approved but not funded. The joinder of count III, Pierce alleges, opened the door for the Government to introduce evidence on the allegedly irrelevant issue of depletion of credit union funds, leaving the jury with the impression that Pierce was guilty of some wrongdoing. Pierce contends that such evidence is irrelevant and is highly prejudicial. We disagree. 18 The evidence was admitted for the limited purpose of proving Pierce's intent to violate federal credit union regulations. Pierce had already borrowed to the available limits under his own name and the prosecution contended that he misapplied credit union funds (count III) in applying for and obtaining additional money under his wife's name. By borrowing under his wife's name, Pierce would be able to circumvent the individual limits and obtain monies that presumably would have been available to other approved borrowers. 19 The trial judge properly instructed the jury that it could consider this evidence only to prove Pierce's intent to misapply credit union funds. A jury is presumed to follow jury instructions. 19 Because the court entered a judgment of acquittal on count III, we must presume that the jury did not consider this evidence in reaching its verdict of guilty on counts I and II. We hold that the district court did not abuse its discretion in allowing into evidence testimony and applications with respect to approved, but unfunded, applications. 20 Approval of Other Applications With No Statement of Liabilities 21 Finally, Pierce contends that the court committed reversible error in refusing to allow cross-examination of Ora P. Williams concerning her approval of prior loan applications containing no statement of liabilities. Pierce argues that Ms. Williams did not consider liabilities with respect to applications for payroll deductible loans and, knowing this, Pierce had no intent to defraud in misstating his liabilities. Thus, Pierce alleges relevancy to intent and for impeachment purposes. 20 22 The approval of other loan applications containing no statement of liabilities, however, does not establish that Pierce lacked the requisite intent. First, the statement of no liabilities in those applications may well have been accurate. Pierce offered no proof to the contrary and, even if false statements were made on those applications, the wrongdoing of other applicants will not exculpate Pierce. 23 Second, in arguing that a failure to influence establishes a lack of intent, Pierce misunderstands the term for the purpose of influencing under section 1014. The question of intent is not whether the banks actually relied or were influenced by the false statements, but rather, if the statement was capable of influencing. 21 The extent of indebtedness is precisely the type of information that can be expected to influence a lender in determining whether to extend credit. The false information given the credit union by Pierce in the June 7 loan application was clearly capable of influencing action on Pierce's application. 24 Finally, if Pierce were convinced that his false statements would not be considered, he might just as likely be expected to tell the truth. Failure to consider liabilities does not make it more or less probable that Pierce lacked the requisite intent. Pierce has not established the relevancy of the testimony. Hence, Pierce has failed to establish that the trial judge abused his discretion in refusing to allow the cross-examination of Ms. Williams to proceed with respect to the approval of prior applications containing no statement of liabilities.