Opinion ID: 503414
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Evidence of Other Schemes

Text: 66 Although the government moved to dismiss count I of the indictment at the end of its case, see supra at 351, the district judge did not instruct the jury to ignore the evidence introduced by the government in connection with that count. Appellants did not request such an instruction, but argue to us that the failure of the court to so instruct the jury sua sponte was reversible error. We review this claim under the plain-error standard, which applies with special force to these facts. Appellants' failure to object below served their tactical objectives. When the government moved to dismiss count I on the condition that the evidence introduced on that count be submitted to the jury as probative of the rest of its case, appellants weighed the relative value of a dismissal of count I versus the effect of the evidence. Appellants chose the dismissal, but now seek to exclude the evidence as well. 67 As noted supra at 354, the government was obliged to prove that the association-in-fact had a continuity of structure and personnel in order to establish the existence of an enterprise. The evidence relating to the STARS, PRISM, and FIRM schemes (charged in count I) was probative of continuity; it tended to establish that many of the same players associated in a similar manner and for similar purposes. In particular, Perholtz was the leader and Jackson was the insider in the STARS, PRISM, and FIRM schemes as well as the ATAP and earlier SBA schemes. As the evidence tended to prove the continuity of the association-in-fact, no cautionary instruction was necessary. Cf. United States v. Celaya-Garcia, 583 F.2d 210, 212 (5th Cir.1978) (evidence of transaction involving defendant occurring two months after transaction charged in indictment properly admitted without cautionary instruction because it demonstrated continuing plan of conspiracy), cert. denied, 440 U.S. 926, 99 S.Ct. 1259, 59 L.Ed.2d 481 (1979). Certainly, the failure to give a cautionary instruction was not plain error. 68 Therefore, we do not reach the government's claim that the evidence was admissible under Federal Rule of Evidence 404(b) as showing common scheme, pattern, plan, or intent. Brief for the United States at 57. 69