Opinion ID: 444179
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Prosecutor's Comments During Closing Argument

Text: 40 Finally, defendant contends that comments made by the government during closing argument to the effect that defendant sought to gouge I.F.I.C. and obtain money that he didn't deserve were improper and require reversal. Defendant also contends that the government improperly inferred that the witnesses testifying under a grant of immunity were entitled to a greater degree of credibility than others, and that the government improperly referred to certain jury instructions as the defendant's jury instructions. Last, defendant contends that the government improperly sought to rebut defendant's assertion that I.F.I.C. did not receive the false statements by arguing that staple holes in a letter to I.F.I.C. showed that the false statement was attached as an enclosure. 41 In closing argument, the prosecutor may make any comments supported by the evidence or in reply to any argument raised by his opponent. United States v. Jackson, 542 F.2d 403, 410 (7th Cir.1976). Moreover, the closing argument must be viewed as a whole to determine whether any improper statements were unfairly prejudicial. United States v. Duff, 551 F.2d 187, 189 (7th Cir.1977); United States v. Jackson, 542 F.2d at 410. In order to constitute reversible error, these statements must be calculated to unfairly prejudice the defendant or suffice to alter the outcome of the trial. Berger v. United States, 295 U.S. 78, 85, 55 S.Ct. 629, 632, 79 L.Ed. 1314 (1935); United States v. Winograd, 656 F.2d 279, 284 (7th Cir.1981), cert. denied sub nom., Siegal v. United States, 455 U.S. 989, 102 S.Ct. 1612, 71 L.Ed.2d 848 (1982); United States v. Spain, 536 F.2d 170, 174 (7th Cir.), cert. denied, 429 U.S. 833, 97 S.Ct. 96, 50 L.Ed.2d 97 (1976). Using these guidelines, we find no reversible error in the government's closing argument. 42 We do not find that the prosecutor's statements that defendant sought to gouge I.F.I.C. were calculated to improperly influence the jury's decision. The statements did not inaccurately describe the essence of defendant's actions and the closing argument as a whole was not inflammatory. Further, the jury was properly instructed as to the elements of the offenses charged, and was also instructed as to several defenses to the charges proferred by defendant. Moreover, the jury had substantial evidence upon which to base its verdict. Therefore, these statements did not constitute reversible error. 43 Defendant objected at trial to each of the last three allegedly improper comments, and each objection was sustained. The trial judge properly instructed the jury to disregard any evidence to which the court sustained an objection, and to disregard any comments of counsel which were not supported by the evidence. We do not find that, in light of the entire trial, the comments altered the jury's verdict or were calculated to unfairly prejudice the defendant. Therefore, these statements were not so unfairly prejudicial as to constitute reversible error. 44 For the reasons given herein, the judgments of conviction are affirmed.