Opinion ID: 612630
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Racketeering Conspiracy

Text: Benedict’s remaining sufficiency challenge targets the government’s proof of racketeering conspiracy. He concedes the existence of a “Gambino enterprise,” but argues that the government failed to prove that he conspired to participate in the enterprise’s affairs. See 18 U.S.C. § 1962(c), (d). Specifically, Benedict argues he was “merely present” and did not know “the rules” about how the organization worked. The jury had ample evidence from which to conclude to the contrary. Primarily, as recounted above, Benedict directly participated in two separate (but related) racketeering activities. See 18 U.S.C. § 1961(1)(B). Moreover, on at least one occasion, Benedict teamed up with Outerie in a fight over “a wiseguy issue.” Benedict also hired Joe Watts, a Gambino associate known as a “big earner” who “do[es] murders” for the organization, for a “credit consultant” job that appeared to have little to do with actual credit consulting. The parties dispute Benedict’s intentions in hiring Watts, but the simple fact that Benedict hired Watts (and was able to ally himself with Watts when it appears others were also interested in doing so) shows the depth of his involvement with the Gambino organization.