Opinion ID: 318706
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: requisites of aiding and abetting

Text: 3 In order to convict a defendant of aiding and abetting the commission of a crime, it is first essential that the Government demonstrate that the substantive crime has been committed. United States v. Tornabene, 222 F.2d 875, 878 (3d Cir. 1955). We shall assume that the Government presented sufficient evidence to warrant conviction of Cades under the statute defining the principal offense, 18 U.S.C. 656 (1970). 2 4 To convict Bloom of aiding and abetting, the Government must further show that he facilitated Cades' violation of 656 and that Bloom intended to facilitate that violation. See United States v. Docherty, 46, F.2d 989, 992-993 (2d Cir. 1972). 5 In order to aid and abet another to commit a crime it is necessary that a defendant 'in some sort associate himself with the venture, that he participate in it as in something that he wishes to bring about, that he seek by his actions to make it succeed.' L. Hand, J., in United States v. Peoni, 100 F.2d 401, 402. 6 Nye & Nissen v. United States, 336 U.S. 613, 619, 69 S.Ct. 766, 93 L.Ed. 919 (1949); accord, United States v. Barber, 429 F.2d 1394, 1397 (3d Cir. 1970). 7 Bloom's check-kiting actions clearly facilitated Cades' misapplication of bank funds through approval of worthless Scooper-Dooper checks. Bloom contends, however, that he did not intend to aid Cades' violation of 656. Were 656 violated by a bank officer's misapplication of bank funds, without more, it would be considerably easier for us to dispose of Bloom's contention. However, Section 656 also requires that the bank officer intend to defraud the bank. 3 Bloom argues that there is no evidence showing that he was aware of Cades' intent to defraud City Bank, much less that Bloom intended to aid Cades' commission of a crime. Certainly, Bloom intended to defraud City Bank by his own actions. That intent might, assuming other elements of the crime are proven, suffice to convict Bloom of a substantive crime such as 'mail fraud.' 4 The Government has chosen instead to charge him with aiding and abetting Cades' violation of 656 and consequently must prove Bloom's desire not to defraud City Bank but to help Cades do so. 8