Opinion ID: 359689
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Hobbs Act Sufficiency of the Evidence.

Text: 66 The statutory definition of extortion is the obtaining of property from another, with his consent, induced by wrongful use of    fear, or under color of official right. 18 U.S.C. § 1951. The evidence must establish the payment was made under some form of compulsion. See United States v. Adcock, 558 F.2d 397, 403 (6th Cir. 1977). However, bribery and extortion need not be mutually exclusive. See United States v. Hathaway,534 F.2d 386, 393 (1st Cir.), Cert. denied, 429 U.S. 819, 97 S.Ct. 64, 50 L.Ed.2d 79 (1976). The existence of compulsion is determined by the mental state of the extorted party. United States v. Adcock, supra, 558 F.2d at 403. Rabbitt argues the Government failed to prove he compelled the victims to part with money either out of fear or under color of official right. 67
68 The Government alleges extortion by fear of economic injury. Fear of economic loss is sufficient to constitute extortion, See Callanan v. United States, 223 F.2d 171, 175-76 (8th Cir.), Cert. denied, 350 U.S. 862, 76 S.Ct. 102, 100 L.Ed. 764 (1955); Bianchi v. United States, 219 F.2d 182 (8th Cir.), Cert. denied, 349 U.S. 915, 75 S.Ct. 604, 99 L.Ed. 1249 (1955), even if the interest threatened is only an anticipated one. See United States v. Addonizio, 451 F.2d 49 (3d Cir. 1971), Cert. denied, 405 U.S. 936, 92 S.Ct. 949, 30 L.Ed.2d 812 (1972). 69 The record lacks any substantial evidence of fear as a basis for the Berger-Field payments to Rabbitt. 25 Neither did the firm believe that state contracts could not be acquired without Rabbitt's introduction. Indeed, evidence indicated Berger-Field had secured state contracts prior to its agreement with Rabbitt and acquired other state contracts during the years here in question without Rabbitt's assistance. The evidence further indicates Berger-Field was a willing collaborator who sought and paid for Rabbitt's good words to influential people, thus giving Berger-Field access on a friendly basis to state officials who awarded architectural contracts on merit. The principals of Berger-Field all expressed anger, not fear, at hearing of Rabbitt's ten percent demand. One associate described the demand as poor thanks after their consistent political contributions and support. Nevertheless, they decided to pay. 70
71 Extortion under color of official right incorporates common law extortion, the taking of money by a public official not due him or his office for the performance or nonperformance of an official function. The term includes the misuse of one's office to induce payments not due the person or his office. United States v. Hathaway, supra, 534 F.2d at 394. The official need not control the function in question if the extorted party possesses a reasonable belief in the official's powers. See United States v. Hathaway, supra, 534 F.2d 386; United States v. Mazzei, supra, 521 F.2d 639; United States v. Braasch, 505 F.2d 139 (7th Cir. 1974), Cert. denied,421 U.S. 910, 95 S.Ct. 1561, 1562, 43 L.Ed.2d 775 (1975). 26 72 In the present case, the Government does not contend that Rabbitt possessed actual power to award contracts for architectural services within his legislative powers or that Rabbitt so intimated. The Government argues that Rabbitt possessed the apparent power to award contracts and that Berger-Field believed in Rabbitt's power to secure contracts for the firm. The evidence, however, does not support that argument. All the principals of Berger-Field knew Rabbitt did not award contracts in his official capacity. Each architect knew the most Rabbitt could do was recommend them to state contractors as qualified architects and thereby gain them a friendly ear. Moreover, while Rabbitt's influence obviously helped these architects obtain state jobs, no testimony established that any state contracting officer awarded any contract to Berger-Field because of Rabbitt's influence or that Berger-Field believed Rabbitt's introduction was enough to secure the work. The Government failed to prove Berger-Field entertained a reasonable belief Rabbitt possessed effective control over the award of architectural contracts necessary to establish extortion under color of official right in violation of the Hobbs Act. 27 73 The evidence received on this count is distinguishable from that on the S.B. 110-Hobbs Act counts. Control over legislation such as S.B. 110 was at the heart of Rabbitt's responsibility in his position as a legislator and House Speaker. We hold Rabbitt's motion for judgment of acquittal on Hobbs Act count XI should have been granted. Accordingly, we reverse his conviction on this count. 74