Opinion ID: 2735596
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Facial Validity of Indictment

Text: “An indictment is sufficient if it sets forth the elements of the offense charged, puts the defendant on fair notice of the charges against which he must defend, and enables the defendant to assert a double jeopardy defense.” United States v. Redcorn, 528 F.3d 727, 733 (10th Cir. 2008) (quotations omitted). “It is generally sufficient that an indictment set forth the offense in the words of the statute itself, as long as those words of themselves fully, directly, and expressly, without any uncertainty or ambiguity, set forth all the elements necessary to constitute the [offense] intended to be punished.” Hamling v. United States, 418 U.S. 87, 117 (1974) (quotation omitted). “Therefore, where the indictment quotes the language of a statute and includes the date, place, and nature of illegal activity, it need not go further and allege in detail the factual proof that will be relied upon to support the charges.” Redcorn, 528 F.3d at 733 (quotations omitted). “An indictment need only meet minimal constitutional standards[;] . . . we determine the sufficiency of an indictment by practical rather than technical considerations.” United States v. Dashney, 117 F.3d 1197, 1205 (10th Cir. 1997). Powell’s argument regarding the facial validity of the indictment is based on the following assertions: (1) the indictment specifically stated each of the forged checks was “of” a federally insured bank; (2) for purposes of § 513(a), a forged check can only be “of” the payor or payee, not a drawee or depository -6- bank; and (3) the government’s evidence at trial demonstrated a federally insured bank was neither a payor nor payee 1 on any of the forged checks. Given all this, 1 The record reveals Powell’s assertion in this regard is correct. At pages three, twenty, and twenty-one of its answer brief, the United States asserts two checks are at issue in Count 8 and one of those checks is a teller’s check with UMB Bank as the payor. That assertion is incorrect. The record establishes the teller’s check does not make up any part of the criminal act alleged in Count 8. The indictment makes clear on its face that only Counts 10 and 17 are supported by more than one check. Counts 10 and 17 state Powell violated § 513(a) by possessing or uttering “forged checks of an organization.” Each of the other nine counts, specifically including Count 8, indicate Powell violated § 513(a) by possessing or uttering “a forged check of an organization.” The forged check at issue in Count 8 is a check from SureWest (as payor) to Mega Hertz, Inc. (as payee), drawn on Bank of America. The SureWest check was altered so it appeared to be made out to Erica Renta (an unwitting accomplice in Powell’s scheme) on behalf of, or in the care of, Mega Hertz, Inc. Renta testified she deposited the SureWest check into an account in her name at UMB Bank; withdrew the proceeds of the check in multiple large cash withdrawals; and turned the cash over to another Powell accomplice. She further testified the teller’s check represented the balance left in the account after the large cash withdrawals: [Prosecutor]: Okay. Let’s take a look at Government’s Exhibit 100. It is a teller’s check with a date of November 4th of 2008, made out to you, Erica Renta, for $266.09. Tell us about that? [Renta]: This is when I closed the account. It was the remaining balance left. [Prosecutor]: And if we look over to the second page, it says UMB, general ledger, debit, and does this confirm that on or about November the 4th of 2008, that you drew the last amount of money and closed the account? [Renta]: Yes. [Prosecutor]: At whose direction did you do that? [Renta]: Romeo [(Powell’s accomplice)] (continued...) -7- Powell asserts the indictment fails to allege a valid crime and fails to give him fair notice of the nature of the charges against him. See Appellant Opening Br. at 11 (“The § 513(a) counts failed to charge a cognizable crime. The counts made a claim that was refuted by the government’s own evidence.”). The problem with Powell’s arguments is that this court’s precedents make clear “a challenge to the indictment is not a vehicle for testing the government’s evidence. Rather, an indictment should be tested solely on the basis of the allegations made on its face, and such allegations are to be taken as true.” Redcorn, 528 F.3d at 733 (quotations and alteration omitted). Each of the § 513(c) counts is sufficient on its face. The indictment alleges that on particular dates, Powell possessed or uttered forged checks of a federally insured bank operating in interstate commerce with the intent to deceive federally insured banks, merchants, and individuals. Taking these allegations as true, the conduct alleged violates § 513(a). Whether the checks at issue were actually of a federally insured bank “is a matter of the evidence, not the indictment, and if [they] were not, then the issue is moot.” Id. at 734. That is to say, as Redcorn makes clear, the government’s ultimate inability to prove its case in the way set 1 (...continued) Thus, Renta’s testimony confirms the only forged check at issue in Count 8 is the SureWest check and that the UMB Bank teller’s check was neither stolen from the mail nor forged. Thus, the government is simply incorrect in asserting the UMB Bank teller’s check underlies the forgery charge in Count 8. -8- out in the indictment is a question of sufficiency of the evidence or constructive amendment, not of the facial validity of the indictment. Id. at 733-34. In the end, there is simply no doubt the indictment at issue in this case (1) identified all the relevant checks with sufficient specificity so Powell could mount a future double jeopardy defense, should he need to do so; and (2) gave him fair notice of the charges he was expected to defend, i.e., the forged checks were “of” a federally insured bank operating in interstate commerce. Powell’s challenge to the facial validity of the indictment is without merit.