Opinion ID: 2827703
Heading Depth: 5
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Factually inaccurate

Text: Sperrazza next argues the indictment is factually inaccurate. The indictment introduces the list of 108 transactions Sperrazza conducted in 2007 and 2008 by alleging he “negotiate[d] the checks set for[th] below in increments less than $10,000.” The parties agree that statement is inaccurate because the evidence shows 32 of the 108 transactions involved deposits of cash, not checks. For example, the indictment asserts Sperrazza conducted two transactions on March 15, 2007, one in the amount of $9,000.00 and a second in the amount of $7,289.65. The indictment states both transactions involved the cashing of checks, but the evidence presented at trial shows Sperrazza deposited $9,000.00 of cash into his account and then cashed checks totaling $7,289.65. Because we have concluded it is “just and practicable” to apply the new version of Rule 12 to this claim, we review it only for plain error. Under that standard, we may reverse the defendant’s conviction only if we determine the 6 We note that even if counts four and five are multiplicitous, “any possible error was obviously harmless because the arguably multiplicitous counts resulted in concurrent sentences.” Pacchioli, 718 F.3d at 1308. Although we can merge multiplicitous counts into a single count, doing so here would affect neither the sentence nor the amount subject to the order of forfeiture. See United States v. Langford, 946 F.2d 798, 805 (11th Cir. 1991). 23 Case: 14-11972 Date Filed: 08/17/2015 Page: 24 of 48 district court committed “(1) … an error (2) that is plain (3) that affects the defendant’s substantial rights and (4) that seriously affects the fairness, integrity, or public reputation of judicial proceedings.” United States v. Madden, 733 F.3d 1314, 1321 (11th Cir. 2013). Although the Government concedes it erred in drafting the indictment, it argues the error is not plain and did not affect Sperrazza’s substantial rights. We agree the factual inaccuracy in the indictment did not affect the defendant’s substantial rights. Despite the error, the indictment notified Sperrazza of the precise transactions the Government alleged were structured. The cash deposits were erroneously referred to as checks, but they were not outside the scope of the offense charged because a defendant may be convicted of violating § 5324(a)(3) for structuring that involves either cashing checks or depositing cash. See United States v. Vazquez, 53 F.3d 1216, 1219 (11th Cir. 1995) (affirming a conviction for structuring cash deposits). Moreover, the Government’s trial exhibits clearly showed which transactions were actually deposits of cash, and a Government witness accurately described the exhibits to the jury. Sperrazza himself also testified about some of the cash deposits, which indicates the factual inaccuracy in the indictment did not affect his ability to prepare a defense. See United States v. Hill, 643 F.3d 807, 860 (11th Cir. 2011) (“A variance between indictment and proof is fatal only when it affects the ‘substantial rights’ of the defendant by 24 Case: 14-11972 Date Filed: 08/17/2015 Page: 25 of 48 insufficiently notifying him of the charges against him so that he may prepare a proper defense” (quotation marks omitted)); see also United States v. Pena, 684 F.3d 1137, 1147-48 (11th Cir. 2012) (“Practical, rather than technical, considerations govern the validity of an indictment. Minor deficiencies that do not prejudice the defendant will not prompt this court to reverse a conviction.” (quotation marks omitted)).