Opinion ID: 75848
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Good-Faith Reliance Instruction

Text: 37 The defendant argues that the district court erred when it failed to instruct the jury on the defense of good-faith reliance upon the advice of counsel as it related to the money laundering count. The evidence at trial established that Miles went to the office on attorney Don Nelson to discuss purchasing a piece of property. Miles had a briefcase full of cash. Co-conspirator Jimmy Davis went to Nelson's office and took the cash to a bank and converted it into cashier's checks. Nelson then deposited the checks into his escrow account and drew out a single cashier's check in the amount of $60,000. Nelson testified that he briefly represented Miles in 1985, 1987, and 1988. 38 We review the district court's failure to provide additional jury instructions for abuse of discretion. United States v. Morales, 978 F.2d 650, 652 (11th Cir.1992). As long as there is some foundation in the evidence and legal support, the jury should be instructed on a theory of the defense. United States v. Orr, 825 F.2d 1537, 1542 (11th Cir.1987). We will reverse a trial judge's refusal of a requested instruction only if the rejected instruction was substantively correct, the actual charge to the jury did not substantially cover the proposed instruction, and the failure to give it substantially impaired the defendant's ability to present an effective defense. Id. 39 To be entitled to a good-faith reliance instruction, a defendant must show that he fully disclosed all material facts to his attorney and that he relied in good faith on his attorney's advice. United States v. Condon, 132 F.3d 653, 656 (11th Cir.1998). The district court should not give this instruction if it lacks evidentiary support or is based on mere suspicion or speculation. Id. (quoting United States v. Lindo, 18 F.3d 353, 356 (6th Cir.1994)). The record shows that the defendant did not seek Nelson's advice and Nelson did not give any advice. Furthermore, Nelson acted as Miles' co-conspirator in the transaction — not as the defendant's attorney. Therefore, the defendant was not entitled to a good-faith reliance instruction, and the district court did not abuse its discretion in failing to instruct the jury on this defense. 12