Opinion ID: 506643
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Motion to Transfer Place of Prosecution and Trial

Text: 9 Meyers moved the district court, under Rules 18 and 21 of the Fed.R.Crim.P., to transfer the prosecution and trial against him to the appropriate United States District Court for the State of Florida on the grounds that (1) there was nothing to indicate his involvement in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine to Montana, and (2) his only overt acts, if any, occurred in Florida. 10 We review a ruling on a motion for change of venue for an abuse of discretion. United States v. Birges, 723 F.2d 666, 674 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 466 U.S. 943, 104 S.Ct. 1926, 80 L.Ed.2d 472 (1984). 11 Rule 18 provides, in part, that the prosecution shall be had in a district in which the offense was committed. Fed.R.Crim.P. 18. So long as overt acts in furtherance of the conspiracy occurred within the State of Montana, venue was proper in that district. As we have consistently explained, venue is appropriate in any district where an overt act committed in the course of the conspiracy occurred. United States v. Schoor, 597 F.2d 1303, 1308 (9th Cir.1979); see also, United States v. Prueitt, 540 F.2d 995, 1006 (9th Cir.1976), cert. denied, 429 U.S. 1063, 97 S.Ct. 790, 50 L.Ed.2d 780 (1977); United States v. Barnard, 490 F.2d 907, 910 (9th Cir.1973), cert. denied, 416 U.S. 959, 94 S.Ct. 1976, 40 L.Ed.2d 310 (1974). It is not necessary that Meyers himself have entered or otherwise committed an overt act within the district, as long as one of his co-conspirators did. See United States v. Williams, 536 F.2d 810, 812 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 429 U.S. 839, 97 S.Ct. 110, 50 L.Ed.2d 106 (1976) (venue for conspiracy was proper in district in which appellant's co-conspirator committed overt act); cf., United States v. Parrish, 736 F.2d 152, 158 (5th Cir.1984) (venue of drug prosecution in Louisiana was proper, even as to defendant who was not shown to have ever been in Louisiana in furtherance of conspiracy). Thus, where at least two of Meyers' co-conspirators, Terry Toepper and Rusty Ward, committed numerous overt acts in Montana, venue was proper in that district.