Opinion ID: 718193
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Law of Aiding and Abetting

Text: 20 Under the terms of 18 U.S.C. § 2(a) (1994), [w]hoever commits an offense against the United States or aids, abets, counsels, commands, induces or procures its commission, is punishable as a principal. To be convicted of aiding and abetting, the defendant must have taken some conscious action that furthered the commission of the underlying crime. See United States v. Dickerson, 508 F.2d 1216, 1218 (2d Cir.1975). The government must therefore prove the underlying crime was committed by someone other than the defendant and that the defendant himself either acted or failed to act with the specific intent of advancing the commission of the underlying crime. See United States v. Labat, 905 F.2d 18, 23 (2d Cir.1990). 21 To show specific intent the prosecution must prove the defendant knew of the proposed crime--suspicion that it might occur is not enough--and had an interest in furthering it. See United States v. Wiley, 846 F.2d 150, 154 (2d Cir.1988). In sum, to prove the act and intent elements for aiding and abetting the commission of a crime, the evidence must demonstrate that the defendant joined and shared in the underlying criminal endeavor and that his efforts contributed to its success. See United States v. Zambrano, 776 F.2d 1091, 1097 (2d Cir.1985). 22 The crime underlying counts three and five in the present case is a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c): [w]hoever, during and in relation to any crime of violence ... uses or carries a firearm commits a crime. Robbery is a crime of violence under the statute. See § 924(c)(3). In Medina we addressed the specific question of whether a defendant's knowledge that a gun will be used in the underlying offense is alone sufficient to support a conviction for aiding and abetting a violation of § 924(c). We held that it is not. Medina, 32 F.3d at 46. Roberto Medina had recruited one Lopez to rob Medina's former employer, and Lopez enlisted the assistance of two other persons. In arguing that this evidence was sufficient to support an aiding and abetting charge against Medina, the government relied on proof that Medina in a discussion with Lopez referred to the robberies as stickups, offered to supply Lopez with a gun, and actually gave Lopez a revolver before the robbery. Id. at 45. 23 Because aiding and abetting requires a defendant's conscious assistance in the commission of the specific underlying crime, we held that none of the actions taken by Medina was sufficient. Id. There must be proof, we said, that the defendant's actions directly facilitated or encouraged either the use of or the carrying of a firearm. Hence, although Medina knew that a gun would be used in the robbery, there was no evidence he prompted or induced such use. Id. The gun he supplied was never used because Lopez, who was a confidential informant, actually gave the firearm to a government agent before the robbery was attempted. Id. at 43, 45. Even though Lopez' recruits carried guns during the robbery's commission, no evidence suggested that Medina promoted their use. Because the accomplices' use of those guns was a foregone conclusion and they were not told of Medina's offer to supply a gun, Medina could not be guilty of facilitating or encouraging their use. Id. at 46.