Opinion ID: 2979235
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Sinito Totality-of-the-Circumstances Test

Text: The Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution states that no person shall “be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb.” U.S. Const. amend. V. This clause “protects against a second prosecution for the same offense after conviction or acquittal, and against multiple punishments for the same offense.” Palazzolo v. Gorcyca, 244 F.3d 512, 516 (6th Cir. 2001); see also United States v. Dixon, 509 U.S. 688, 696 (1993) (“This protection applies both to successive punishments and to successive prosecutions for the same criminal offense.”). Normally, courts apply the “same-elements” or Blockburger test—which “inquires whether each offense contains an element not contained in the other”—to determine whether two offenses are identical for double-jeopardy purposes. Dixon, 509 U.S. at 696. However, we have recognized that doublejeopardy claims regarding conspiracy charges should be treated differently. See United States v. Sinito, 723 F.2d 1250, 1256 (6th Cir. 1983). Because conspiracy cases often involve “a host of coconspirators and a multiplicity of overt acts,” there is a risk that “[a]n overzealous prosecutor . . . could choose certain overt acts in one indictment and a different set of overt acts in a second indictment, thereby carving up one conspiracy into two or even more artificial offenses.” Id. Applying the same-elements test in such a situation would undermine the Double Jeopardy Clause, “since each set of overt acts would require different evidence.” Id. Thus, we apply a totality-of-thecircumstances test to double-jeopardy claims in the conspiracy context. Id. In applying this test, we must consider at least five factors: 1) time; 2) persons acting as co-conspirators; 3) the statutory offenses charged in the indictments; 4) the overt acts charged by the government or any other description of the offenses charged which indicates the nature and scope of the activity which the - 10 - No. 08-4296 United States v. Goff government sought to punish in each case; and 5) places where the events alleged as part of the conspiracy took place. Id. “Where several of these factors differ between the conspiracies, the conclusion follows that the alleged illegal conspiracies are separate and distinct offenses.” Id.