Opinion ID: 580895
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Sentencing for Conspiracies with Separate Objectives

Text: 37 The Government indicted Tham under 18 U.S.C. § 371 for two separate conspiracies with two separate objectives--first, a conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States, and second, a conspiracy to defraud the United States. 5 The Government also indicted Tham for corruptly endeavoring to influence, obstruct, and impede the due administration of justice in the federal court for the Northern District of California by using Judge Aguilar's access to and influence with Judge Weigel to obtain an evidentiary hearing for Tham in his habeas corpus proceeding before Judge Weigel. This violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1503 was both the conspiratorial objective of and the substantive offense underlying the conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States. 6 38 Tham argues that the district court erred in convicting him for two separate conspiracies because the jury verdict did not specify whether the jury had found Tham guilty on one or both charges of conspiracy. We find no error. We agree with the Government that where a defendant is charged with one conspiracy to commit several separate offenses, he may be convicted on a separate count of conspiracy for each separate object offense. United States Sentencing Commission, Guidelines Manual, § 1B1.2(d) (Nov. 1990) (hereinafter U.S.S.G.). Furthermore where the jury's verdict fails to specify which of the charged offenses were the objects of the conspiracy, then the defendant may be convicted of those object offenses of which the court, were it sitting as a trier of fact, would convict the defendant. U.S.S.G. § 1B1.2(d), comment. (n.5). 39 Tham also argues that it was error for the district court to sentence him for the commission of two separate conspiracies when, in fact, he entered into but a single criminal conspiracy with a single conspiratorial objective. Looking to the Government's bill of particulars and the district court's jury instructions, we disagree. First, Tham was charged with conspiring to defraud the United States by three means: (a) obstructing an FBI investigation (Judge Aguilar warned the coconspirators of ongoing FBI visual surveillance and wiretaps); (b) impeding the lawful function of a federal district court (Judge Aguilar warned the coconspirators of the FBI investigation into their activities, intervened on Tham's behalf in probation matters, used his access to and influence with Judge Weigel to get Tham a habeas corpus evidentiary hearing before Judge Weigel, and on the basis of his knowledge of and friendship with Judge Weigel gave the coconspirators information and advice on how to handle the habeas corpus case before Judge Weigel); and (c) corruptly influencing Judge Aguilar (Judge Aguilar disclosed confidential information concerning the FBI investigation, used information acquired as a judge to thwart the FBI investigation, used his access to and influence with Judge Weigel to advise and assist Tham with his habeas corpus case, and lent the prestige of his office to advance Tham's private interests). 40 First, the bill of particulars contains numerous redundancies in its recitation of acts in furtherance of conspiracy and unlawful conspiratorial objectives. It appears that there was but one conspiracy to overturn Tham's embezzlement conviction by influencing Judge Aguilar, influencing Judge Weigel, and manipulating the prospects for success in Tham's habeas corpus action. 41 Second, under the law of this circuit, a defendant cannot be convicted under section 1503 for impeding the function of the FBI. Obstruction of justice requires acts to thwart some aspect of the Government's judicial function. An investigation conducted by the FBI, the IRS, or some other governmental agency, does not constitute a judicial proceeding. United States v. Fayer, 573 F.2d 741, 745 (2d Cir.), cert. denied, 439 U.S. 831, 99 S.Ct. 108, 58 L.Ed.2d 125 (1978); United States v. Ryan, 455 F.2d 728, 733 (9th Cir.1972). 42 However, a defendant may be convicted of conspiracy, or agreement to commit an offense, under section 371 whether or not he has actually committed that offense. The conspiracy may have an object offense that is a violation of either criminal or civil law. A conspiracy to defraud the United States need not involve pecuniary loss. Tuohey, 867 F.2d at 536-37. 43 Here, there was a conspiracy to corruptly endeavor to influence Judge Weigel with the ultimate objective of overturning Tham's 1980 embezzlement conviction. Subsequently there was a conspiracy to defraud the United States with the independent objective of thwarting the FBI investigation into the crime of endeavoring to obstruct justice. Under section 371, it is illegal to conspire to defraud the United States and any agency thereof, including the courts, officers of the court, the FBI, and the IRS. United States v. Rosengarten, 857 F.2d 76, 78-79 (2d Cir.1988), cert. denied, 488 U.S. 1011, 109 S.Ct. 799, 102 L.Ed.2d 790 (1989). 44 The object of the conspiracy need not implicate a separate statutory violation, so long as the conduct impairs a government function. Id. at 78. For example, it was a violation of section 371 for an SEC employee to divulge confidential information from which coconspirators could profit. The violation of confidentiality was an act of dishonesty that impaired the public confidence essential to the effective functioning of government. United States v. Peltz, 433 F.2d 48, 51-52 (2d Cir.1970), cert. denied, 401 U.S. 955, 91 S.Ct. 974, 28 L.Ed.2d 238 (1971). 45 Tham's sentence for commission of two separate conspiracies was not error. AFFIRMED.