Opinion ID: 453009
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Appellants Philip Weinstein, Solomon Richman, and Robert

Text: Falvo 79 Our review of the record in this case reveals ample evidence upon which a rational trier of fact could conclude that the appellants Philip Weinstein, Solomon Richman, and Robert Falvo agreed to participate and participated in a conspiracy in violation of RICO. Sufficient evidence therefore exists as to each of these.V. ERRORS IN THE INDICTMENT A. Material Amendments to the Indictment 80
81 Count II of the indictment charged mail fraud. Of the appellants in this case, only Philip Weinstein was named in that count. However, the trial court charged the jury on Count II not only against Philip Weinstein, but also against Robert Falvo, Stanley Kowitt, Solomon Richman, and Wilhelmina Weinstein. We vacate the judgments of conviction on Count II as to the appellants Wilhelmina Weinstein, Robert Falvo, Stanley Kowitt and Solomon Richman. 82
83 The appellant Wilhelmina Weinstein argues that the jury's improper consideration of her guilt as to the Count II mail fraud charge resulted in a misconstruction of the indictment, effecting a material amendment to the indictment requiring reversal of her conviction on all remaining counts in this case. She relies upon Stirone v. United States, 361 U.S. 212, 80 S.Ct. 270, 4 L.Ed.2d 252 (1960), as authority for this result. 14 In light of our disposition of Wilhelmina Weinstein's conviction, we are not required to reach this issue. In the interest of clarity on remand, however, we address it briefly. 84 It is well established that the erroneous amendment of one count does not destroy other counts of the indictment nor invalidate the judgment of conviction thereon ... in the absence of a showing of prejudice. C. Wright, Federal Practice and Procedure: Crim.2d Sec. 127 n. 16 and accompanying text (citing Chow Bing Kew v. United States, 248 F.2d 466 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 355 U.S. 889, 78 S.Ct. 259, 2 L.Ed.2d 188 (1957); Carney v. United States, 163 F.2d 784 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 332 U.S. 824, 68 S.Ct. 165, 92 L.Ed. 400 (1947)). Thus, while it is clear that the conviction of appellant Wilhelmina Weinstein on the improperly amended Count II must be vacated, see e.g. United States v. Fischetti, 450 F.2d 34 (5th Cir.1971), cert. denied, 405 U.S. 1016, 92 S.Ct. 1290, 31 L.Ed.2d 478 (1972); C. Wright, supra, section 127 n. 1 (and accompanying text), there is no basis in law for the proposition that this improper amendment on Count II affected the validity of the remaining convictions under other counts of the indictment. 15 VI. MISJOINDER AND SEVERANCE A. Philip Weinstein 85 The appellant Philip Weinstein argues that failure to grant a severance of his prosecution from the trial of his codefendants violated his sixth amendment right to cross-examine a substantial government witness as to credibility and veracity on the required elements of the charged offense. He urges reversal on this ground, relying on United States v. Lindstrom, 698 F.2d 1154, 1163-64 (11th Cir.1983); and United States v. Callahan, 551 F.2d 733, 737 (1977), aff'd after remand, 579 F.2d 398 (6th Cir.1978). 86 The witness appellant Weinstein wanted to cross-examine was David Pollard. Early in the trial the court excluded testimony adduced by the government from Pollard that Robert Falvo and Frank Dante, an associate of Robert Falvo, were attempting to extort a share of the profits derived from the pharmaceutical diversion enterprise from the other participants in that scheme. The gravamen of Philip Weinstein's contention is that he should have been allowed to cross-examine Pollard (a) to impeach his testimony, and (b) to dispel any impression that Weinstein voluntarily aided extortion attempts. He argues that, by denying his motion to sever or for a mistrial on this issue made during the cross-examination of Pollard, the district court denied him the opportunity to cross-examine Pollard on these points and thus worked a deprivation of sixth amendment right. 87 The government answers Philip Weinstein's claim on this issue by noting that his proffered ground for severance at trial was that he sought further examination of Pollard to show that Pollard was himself part of the alleged extortion attempt instigated by Frank Dante and Robert Falvo. This testimony would have gone to Pollard's credibility. Robert Falvo's attorney pointed out to the trial court that the court's prohibition of evidence on extortion prevented this line of inquiry. Under these circumstances the district court observed that it could perceive no obvious prejudice to Weinstein from the limitation of cross-examination on Pollard's testimony as to extortion. Philip Weinstein's trial counsel specifically denied that it was the defense theory Weinstein was a victim of Falvo. Thus, the government urges that the district court's limitation of testimony as to extortion was a reasonable measure against prejudice. That limitation did not bar Weinstein from putting on his defense, but simply disallowed him from showing to the jury that Pollard was himself a part of the scheme he (Pollard) depicted and thus a less credible witness. 88 To overturn a district court's denial of severance under Fed.R.Crim.P. 14, the defendant must demonstrate clear and compelling prejudice. United States v. Sans, 731 F.2d 1521, 1533 (11th Cir.1984); Hewes, 729 F.2d at 1319; United States v. Cannington, 729 F.2d 702, 710 (11th Cir.1984). We hold that no such clear and compelling prejudice has been shown. 16 B. Solomon Richman 89 The appellant Solomon Richman argues he was misjoined in violation of Fed.R.Crim.P. 8(b) and that the trial court's denial of his motion to sever was prejudicial and is a ground for reversal of his conviction. 90 Rule 8(b) provides for the joinder of two or more defendants in the same indictment if it is alleged that they participated in the same criminal transaction upon which the prosecution is brought. It is Richman's position that, because it is not alleged he participated in the activities of Opus Christi or the Church of God, the indictment failed to show the substantial identity of facts or participants necessary for proper joinder under Rule 8(b). Richman relies upon United States v. Sutherland, 656 F.2d 1181 (5th Cir.1981), cert. denied, 455 U.S. 949, 102 S.Ct. 1451, 71 L.Ed.2d 663 (1982); and United States v. Bledsoe, 674 F.2d 647 (8th Cir.), cert. denied, 459 U.S. 1040, 103 S.Ct. 456, 74 L.Ed.2d 608 (1982). The government argues that, taken as a whole, the indictment charged the appellants with a single enterprise operated for the purpose of obtaining pharmaceutical products through false pretenses. The common thread linking Richman to this attempt was his alleged participation in the scheme to obtain preferential pharmaceutical prices by fraud. These allegations are mirrored in the RICO conspiracy indictments. The government relies upon United States v. Hewes, 729 F.2d 1302 (11th Cir.1984), and United States v. Phillips, 688 F.2d 52 (8th Cir.1982). 17 91 As we view this issue, it merely restates the appellant Richman's underlying and repeated contention that there existed no evidence linking him to a conspiracy to defraud pharmaceutical manufacturers. Because we hold the evidence sufficient to sustain a conspiracy indictment and conviction against appellant Richman, there is necessarily a sufficient common link to demonstrate the existence of a common scheme or plan. As such, Rule 8(b) is satisfied. See United States v. Kopituk, 690 F.2d 1289, 1313-14 (11th Cir.1982), cert. denied, 461 U.S. 928, 103 S.Ct. 2089, 77 L.Ed.2d 300 (1983).