Opinion ID: 672036
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Failure to Establish an Essential Element of 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1959

Text: 27 Pontillo, along with his co-defendants, was charged with conspiring to commit murder in order to maintain and increase his position in the Colombo Family. 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1959(a)(5). On appeal, Pontillo contends that because he was not a made member of the Colombo Family, his conviction under that statute should be reversed. 13 His argument is merely semantic and is entirely without merit. 28 The position-related motivation requirement is an important element that must be satisfied to uphold a conviction under Sec. 1959. See United States v. Locascio, 6 F.3d 924, 940-42 (2d Cir.1993) (convictions of Gotti and Locascio, Boss and Underboss of the Gambino Family, upheld despite Judge Glasser's occasional omission of language pointing out the motivation requirement of Sec. 1959 during his charge to the jury). This essential element of the statute must be given its plain meaning. See United States v. Concepcion, 983 F.2d 369, 380 (2d Cir.1992) (defendant must hold a position in a RICO enterprise and commit an underlying crime of violence with a motive of retaining or enhancing that position). On this appeal, Pontillo challenges the district court's reading of the statute, claiming that only a made member of a crime family can hold a position in an enterprise under the plain meaning of the statute. 29 Pontillo points to the language of 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1959(a) that provides in relevant part: Whoever, ... for the purpose of gaining entrance to or maintaining or increasing position in an enterprise engaged in racketeering activity, murders ... or conspires so to do, shall be punished.... Although the statute makes it illegal for individuals to commit violent crimes in order to gain entrance into a criminal enterprise, Pontillo was not indicted under that provision of the statute, nor did the jury charge include that portion of the statutory language. 14 30 Pontillo notes that the government's cooperating witnesses testified that he was an associate of the Colombo Family and not a made member. Therefore, he claims, that he was not a member of the Colombo Family nor did he hold any position in the Family. Agent Gabriel testified that an associate is an individual aspiring to become a member or who commits crimes under the protection of the family, but cannot become a member because of lack of Italian lineage. He also testified that individuals who have no interest in conducting criminal activity with the Family are also sometimes observed with organized crime members, but that noncriminal association with Family members is insufficient to make one an associate. 31 Pontillo contends that because he was merely an associate, he had no position in the Family and thus was not properly charged or convicted under 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1959. 15 As a non-member he claims he had no position within the enterprise to increase or maintain. 16 On the contrary, the testimony of Agent Gabriel and the superseding indictment itself make it clear that associates are considered to be members of the enterprise, even though they are not made members of the Family. Agent Gabriel's testimony reveals that associates play a significant role in organized crime operations. His testimony was confirmed by other evidence including the testimony of the cooperating witnesses who recounted significant criminal activity engaged in on behalf of the Family by associates, including Pontillo. Two of the cooperating witnesses, Ambrosino and Imbriale, were themselves associates, rather than made members. The first paragraph of the superseding indictment charges that The members and associates of the Colombo Organized Family of La Cosa Nostra (the Colombo Family) constituted an enterprise. Therefore, as an associate of the Colombo Family, Pontillo was a member of the enterprise charged by the government in its indictment. See Concepcion, 983 F.2d at 380. 32 The government presented evidence that Pontillo sought to improve his position within the enterprise: to move from associate to made member. Imbriale testified about conversations with Montano and Pontillo concerning the need to stay loyal to Carmine Sessa (i.e., the Persico faction) in order to advance in the Colombo Family. Imbriale told Montano and Pontillo that if they stuck by Carmine, they would be taken care of when the war ended. Similar discussions occurred regarding DeMatteo's motivation for participating in the war, and Brady's eagerness to be welcomed into Michael Sessa's crew. Additionally, the reason for engaging in the internal war was to elevate the respective factions to supremacy within the Colombo Family. There was substantial evidence before the jury to support its conclusion that Pontillo, even as an associate, was a member of the enterprise who was participating in the murder conspiracy to improve his position in that organization. 33