Opinion ID: 2815767
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Application to Federal RICO Conspiracy

Text: ¶18 We next apply our interpretation of relating to controlled substances in Wis. Stat. § 961.41(3g)(c) to Guarnero's prior conviction for a RICO conspiracy. Guarnero was convicted of 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d), which causes conspiring to violate subsections (a), (b), and (c) to be unlawful. 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d). Each subsection, (a) through (c), involves racketeering activity11 and serves to link RICO conspiracy with racketeering activities that could involve controlled substances.12 ¶19 The definition of racketeering activity lists many qualifying offenses, including dealing in a controlled substance or listed chemical (as defined in section 102 of the Controlled Substances Act) and the felonious manufacture, In supplemental briefing, Guarnero contended that the scrivener's error was the inclusion of a reference to § 841(b)(1)(C), regardless of the chapter number. Guarnero argues that he pled guilty and was convicted of Count Two of the federal indictment that included 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d), a RICO conspiracy charge, and that the reference to 18 U.S.C. § 841(b)(1)(C) was in error. However, neither the State's reference at oral argument nor Guarnero's discussion in supplemental briefing affects our approach to the issues presented by the parties to this review. 11 Subsections of 18 U.S.C. § 1962 involve a pattern of racketeering activity: (a) deriving income from racketeering activity; (b) acquiring interest in an enterprise through racketeering activity; or (c) participating in an enterprise through racketeering activity. 12 Count Two of Guarnero's RICO indictment clarifies that Guarnero's conspiracy charge was based on Guarnero conspiring to violate 18 U.S.C. 1962(c). 10 No. 2013AP1753-CR & 2013AP1754-CR importation, receiving, concealment, buying, selling, or otherwise dealing in a controlled substance or listed chemical (as defined in section 102 of the Controlled Substances Act), punishable under any law of the United States. 18 U.S.C. § 1961(1)(A) & (D). RICO conspiracy can be related to controlled substances for the purposes of Wis. Stat. § 961.41(3g)(c) because RICO conspiracy in 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) is connected to controlled substances through the racketeering activity definition, § 1961(1)(A) and (D). ¶20 However, we determine which racketeering activity supports Guarnero's RICO conspiracy conviction, because only some of the multiple definitions of racketeering activity in 18 U.S.C. § 1961(1) are linked to controlled substances. Such a determination is necessary to ascertain whether the unlawful conduct underlying his prior conviction is related to controlled substances. For example, were we not to consider the unlawful conduct that gave rise to the RICO conviction, a defendant convicted of RICO conspiracy based on sports bribery could have his or her penalty erroneously enhanced under Wis. Stat. § 961.41(3g)(c) because sports bribery fits within the definition of racketeering activity, but is not related to controlled substances. See 18 U.S.C. § 1961(1)(B). ¶21 When the statute underlying a prior conviction presents alternative methods of violating the statute, it is appropriate to consult a limited class of documents to determine what statutory alternative formed the basis for the defendant's prior conviction. See Descamps v. United States, __ U.S. __, 11 No. 2013AP1753-CR & 2013AP1754-CR 133 S. Ct. 2276, 2285 (2013). In this case, we can glean the necessary information from Guarnero's RICO conspiracy plea, which incorporates Count Two of his RICO indictment. ¶22 Guarnero's RICO conspiracy plea shows that he was convicted of RICO conspiracy based on racketeering activity involving controlled substances. To explain further, Guarnero's plea agreement contained his admission that as a member of the Latin Kings he engaged in acts that included the extortion and distribution of controlled substances because Count Two of the indictment is attached to his plea agreement. Count Two provides that, as a member of the Latin Kings, he engaged in the distribution of controlled substances. These documents confirm that the method of racketeering activity that underlies the RICO conspiracy of which Guarnero was convicted related to controlled substances. Because Guarnero's RICO conspiracy conviction was related to controlled substances within the meaning of Wis. Stat. § 961.41(3g)(c), the penalty for Guarnero's cocaine possession conviction was properly enhanced.13 13 In a recent Supreme Court opinion, Mellouli v. Lynch, __ U.S. __, 135 S. Ct. 1980 (2015), the Court discussed whether conviction of a state crime is a deportable offense. Id. at 1982-83. Mellouli focused on whether the controlled substance that resulted in a state conviction was a controlled substance included in one of five federal schedules. Id. at 1984. It has no application here, as it does not focus on determining which of several statutory alternatives formed the basis for the defendant's prior conviction. 12 No. 2013AP1753-CR & 2013AP1754-CR