Opinion ID: 743011
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Jury Instructions on Conscious Avoidance

Text: 73 Jacobs argues that the district court's decision to instruct the jury on conscious avoidance was not based on a proper factual predicate. The district court instructed the jury that, if it found that Jacobs was aware that there was a high probability that a scheme to defraud existed and that Jacobs had consciously avoided confirming that fact, it could find Jacobs guilty, unless it also found that he actually believed that he and his associates were acting in a lawful manner. Jacobs argues that there was no evidence pointing to a conclusion that he consciously avoided learning the truth about the DEP. Rather he claims that the evidence indicated that he attempted to learn all he could about the DEP and that the true masterminds of the DEP conspired to keep the truth from him. 74 We review the record to determine if the evidence presented permitted a rational juror to conclude beyond a reasonable doubt  'that the defendant was aware of a high probability of a fact in dispute and consciously avoided confirming that fact.'  United States v. Hopkins, 53 F.3d 533, 542 (2d Cir.1995), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 116 S.Ct. 773, 133 L.Ed.2d 725 (1996) (quoting U.S. v. Rodriguez, 983 F.2d 455, 458 (2d Cir.1993)). A charge on the defendant's conscious avoidance is proper when the element of knowledge is in dispute, and when the evidence permits a rational juror to conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant was aware of the high probability of a fact in dispute and avoided confirming that fact. Id. Even when the government attempts to prove actual knowledge, an instruction on conscious avoidance can still be appropriate. Id. 75 Much of the evidence, contrary to Jacobs' assertions, tends to indicate actual knowledge. Thus when Jacobs chose to plead ignorance, he created the need for a jury instruction on conscious avoidance. The jury heard evidence that Jacobs had participated in conversations with other DEP leaders in which they discussed whether it was unfair to use the certified drafts to purchase homes and cars from individual owners (as opposed to banks), how to purchase gold with the drafts and how to get the profits out of the country. Evidence also showed that Jacobs was aware of other indications of the illegality of the DEP. For instance, Jacobs was aware that the 15% of face value paid for the drafts was split among the salespeople and leaders, none going to any Mexican financial entity. Jacobs obtained false identification, structured his transactions to avoid a record of his involvement and concerned himself with a means to remove money from the country without alerting federal officials. Jacobs also knew that participants at DEP seminars were required to sign a form swearing under penalty of perjury that they were not federal agents. Finally, the sheer implausibility of paying off one's debts by paying 15% of the amount owed makes it at least somewhat apparent that the scheme was illegal. Thus, the district court was correct to instruct the jury on the theory of conscious avoidance.