Opinion ID: 676345
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Florida Charges

Text: 11 Menichino argues that the instant prosecution violates the proscriptions of the double jeopardy clause, because of the earlier Florida prosecutions. He alleges that the actions which formed the basis for the three indictments were part of but one conspiracy. 12 Double jeopardy does not bar a second prosecution where each statutory provision requires proof of a fact that the other does not. Blockburger v. United States, 284 U.S. 299, 304 (1982). The Sixth Circuit applies the totality of the circumstances test to determine whether successive conspiracy indictments charge the same offense within the meaning of the Double Jeopardy clause. United States v. Benton, 852 F.2d 1456, 1463-65 (6th Cir.1988), cert. denied, 488 U.S. 993 (1988). The test is applied to answer the question of whether a single conspiracy or multiple conspiracies existed. Id. 13 Under the totality of the circumstances test, five factors are considered: (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 government sought to punish in each case; and (5) places where the events of the conspiracy took place. In re Grand Jury Proceedings, 797 F.2d 1377, 1380 (6th Cir.1986), cert denied, 479 U.S. 1031 (1987). Where several of these factors differ between the conspiracies, the conclusion follows that the alleged illegal conspiracies are separate and distinct offenses. Benton, supra, at 1462 (citing United States v. Sinito, 723 F.2d 1250, 1256-57 (6th Cir.1983)). 14 The district court in this case found a wide divergence of the factors among the conspiracies. The indictment in case number 90-216 contained six counts of allegations of conspiracy to commit bank, mail, and wire fraud, and substantive bank, wire, and mail fraud. Menichino and a John Hickman were accused of participating in a scheme to inflate the appraisal value of a yacht berthed in Florida so that a Georgia bank would grant a prospective purchaser of the yacht a loan exceeding the actual purchase price of the boat. The object of the conspiracy was to divide the excess sum between Menichino and the purchaser. These events occurred during November and December 1989. 15 The indictment in case number 90-350 charged four counts of conspiracy to commit bank fraud against a Florida bank; substantive bank fraud; and bribery of an officer of the bank. The crux of the indictment was that Menichino conspired with a loan officer of that bank to obtain a series of loans and a credit card for Menichino and his businesses. These events spanned the period of May 1988 through March 1989. One transaction did involve the Michigan bank, but most of the activities took place in Florida. 16 The Michigan indictment contains 46 counts, which revolve around a loan-kiting scheme by Menichino, Henry Perri, and Timothy Claus. These activities occurred from January 1986 through December 1988. Most of the activities occurred in Michigan, although some apparently occurred in Florida and Alaska. 17 The district judge found that the three indictments were markedly different. Each conspiracy involved a different victim bank and different times, places, co-conspirators, and nature and scope of activities. Although there were some overlaps, they were found to be minimal. As the district judge noted, Employing one type of deception over and over does not ipso facto make an 'overarching conspiracy' . He found that under the totality of the circumstances, the separate indictments concerned separate conspiracies and did not pose double jeopardy problems. 18 Our review of the record on appeal convinces us that the district judge ruled correctly on the question of double jeopardy. Certainly, we cannot say that his factual findings were clearly erroneous, and we decline to reverse on this basis.