Opinion ID: 775727
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Johnny Lee Evans

Text: 116 Johnny Lee Evans was convicted under 18 U.S.C. § 371 of conspiracy to violate the Mann Act. He also was convicted under 18 U.S.C. §§ 1956(a)(1)(B)(i) and 2 of money laundering, and under 18 U.S.C. § 1956(h) of conspiracy to launder money. 117 Following his conviction, the District Court sentenced Johnny Lee Evans to 17 years and 7 months in prison (211 months). Based on a total offense level of 30 and a criminal history category of III, the imprisonment range under the Sentencing Guidelines was 121 to 151 months. From the high end of the range, the Court departed upward by 60 months. 118 Johnny Lee Evans raises a number of arguments on appeal. Of these arguments, several also were made by Derry Evans or Terrance Roberts, including that: (1) various of the jurors' actions were misconduct and merit a mistrial; and (2) the District Court gave conflicting jury instructions on the mental element for money laundering, resulting in the omission of the element of knowledge that the money being transferred constituted the proceeds of an illegal activity. For the reasons discussed previously, these arguments are without merit. 119 Like Derry, Johnny Lee argues that the District Court erred in determining that the evidence was sufficient to support his conviction for conspiracy to transport an individual in interstate commerce to engage in prostitution. Specifically, he contends that the evidence was insufficient to establish an agreement among the defendants. However, when the evidence is viewed in the light most favorable to the government, see Jackson, 443 U.S. at 319, the trial revealed sufficient evidence of an agreement to violate the law. For example, Brenda Schaper, one of LeVorn's prostitutes, testified that she and Shelly Kruse and Sherry Berndt, two of Johnny Lee's prostitutes, participated in two-girl calls, and that LeVorn and Johnny Lee shared the proceeds. Tonya May, one of LeVorn's prostitutes, testified that Johnny Lee encouraged her to start working as a prostitute for LeVorn, which she did. Ms. May also testified that she referred calls to Johnny Lee's prostitutes and received calls referred from his prostitutes, with Johnny Lee and LeVorn splitting the proceeds. Rosita Francis, one of Monroe's prostitutes, testified that Johnny Lee transported her from Minneapolis to Houston to work as a prostitute. Finally, Deanna Kirkman, one of Terrance Roberts's prostitutes, testified that Johnny Lee participated in the meeting about Julia Wilson's statement. This evidence suffices to uphold Johnny Lee's conviction of conspiracy to violate the Mann Act. 120 Like Derry and Monroe, Johnny Lee also contends that the District Court erred in determining that the evidence was sufficient to support his convictions for money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Citing United States v. Shoff, 151 F.3d 889 (8th Cir. 1998), and United States v. Herron, 97 F.3d 234, 236 (8th Cir. 1996), cert. denied, 519 U.S. 1133 (1997), Johnny Lee argues that the evidence was insufficient to establish that he concealed the ownership, source, or control of the money. Shoff, 151 F.3d at 891 (A money laundering violation requires proof of concealment, not the absence of full disclosure.); Herron, 97 F.3d at 237 (noting that using wire transfers is insufficient to establish concealment and explaining that government cannot turn money laundering statute into money spending statute). Johnny Lee's argument fails for the same reasons that Monroe's argument fails: Tonya May testified that she was present for a conversation among Monroe, LeVorn, Clem, and Johnny Lee regarding funding the down payment on Alice Evans's house. Monroe then sent Julia Wilson to collect money from LeVorn and Johnny Lee, and, with Stacy Ballantyne, to purchase cashier's checks. They purchased four checks totaling $7000 and sent them to Alice Evans. The checks were used for the down payment on Alice's house. Although money laundering is not simply money spending, the jury reasonably could have determined that the defendants used Julia Wilson to send the money to conceal the true owners and had her send multiple cashier's checks in small amounts to avoid detection. This evidence is sufficient to establish concealment. This evidence also suffices to establish conspiracy to launder money. 121 Like Derry and Monroe, Johnny Lee argues that the District Court erred in admitting evidence of his violent behavior as direct evidence of the conspiracy. Specifically, Johnny Lee contests the admission of evidence concerning numerous violent acts, including repeated beatings of Cheryl Buchheit and Sherry Berndt and fights between Johnny Lee and Shelly Kruse. He argues that this evidence is of domestic violence, not of violations of the Mann Act. For the reasons discussed above, these violent acts are relevant and probative of Mann Act violations because they describe actions taken to control and discipline prostitutes (regardless of whether Johnny Lee also had intimate relationships with his prostitutes). The Court did not abuse its discretion. 122 Johnny Lee next argues, like Derry, that the District Court erred in enhancing his base offense by four levels for being a leader or organizer. U.S. Sentencing Guidelines Manual § 3B1.1(a) (1998). We review for clear error. United States v. Ayers, 138 F.3d 360, 364 (8th Cir.), cert. denied, 525 U.S. 895 (1998). All five defendants were part of a criminal activity involving interstate transportation for prostitution. With regard to whether Johnny Lee was a leader, the fact that the prostitutes involved were victims and not participants does not lessen the depth of his involvement or the authority that he exercised. The evidence indicates his participation in the meeting concerning Julia Wilson's statement to the police. Tonya May testified that he recruited her to work for LeVorn. He provided money, along with LeVorn and Monroe, to fund his mother's purchase of a house. Moreover, Cheryl Buchheit testified that Johnny Lee hired a driver to take her on prostitution calls, thereby satisfying the requirement that he be the organizer, leader, manager, or supervisor of one or more other participants. U.S. Sentencing Guidelines Manual § 3B1.1, cmt. n.2 (1998). The District Court did not commit clear error in finding that he was a leader. 123 Johnny Lee also argues that the District Court erred in enhancing his base offense level for use of force or coercion pursuant to the Sentencing Guidelines. Section 2G1.1(b)(1), which relates to promoting prostitution or prohibited sexual conduct, provides: If the offense involved the use of physical force, or coercion by threats or drugs in any manner, increase by 4 levels. The trial testimony reveals that Johnny Lee beat Sherry Berndt with a towel and a shoe, including beating her on the face and head. Cheryl Buchheit testified that Johnny Lee split the back of her head open and kicked her in the ribs. On another occasion, she had to be taken to the hospital because of damage to her ribs from one of Johnny Lee's beatings. Johnny Lee contends, again, that this conduct should not be considered because it was part of his domestic relationships. He is mistaken. Whether or not the violence was part of personal relationships between Johnny Lee and his prostitutes, it was also a part of the illegal conduct, and the District Court did not clearly err in considering it at sentencing. 124 Finally, like Terrance Roberts, Monroe Evans, and Clem Evans, Johnny Lee Evans argues that the District Court abused its discretion by granting the government's motion for an upward departure by 60 months based on U.S. Sentencing Guidelines Manual §§ 5K2.2 (significant physical injury) and 5K2.8 (extreme conduct). He again argues that the physical abuse that occurred took place in the context of a long-standing personal relationship. This is hardly an excuse. The evidence discussed previously regarding the violent beating of and injuries suffered by Sherry Berndt and Cheryl Buchheit is sufficient to find significant physical injury and extreme conduct. We conclude that the District Court did not abuse its discretion in departing upward.