Opinion ID: 541981
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Intimidation of and Retaliation Against a Witness

Text: 11 The defendants challenge the sufficiency of the evidence to support their convictions for witness intimidation in violation of 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1512(b) 3 and retaliation against a witness in violation of 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1513(a). 4 To prove witness intimidation, the government must show (1) the defendants knowingly used intimidation, physical force, or threats against Tetter (2) with the intent to influence and prevent Sumner from testifying in an official proceeding and to cause Sumner to withhold testimony in an official proceeding. See 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1512(b)(1)-(b)(2)(A). Similarly, to prove that the defendants retaliated against a witness, the government must show that (1) the defendants caused bodily harm to Tetter (2) with the intent to retaliate against Sumner for attending and giving testimony in an official proceeding or for giving information to law enforcement officers relating to the commission of federal offenses. See 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1513(a). 12 The defendants do not contend that the government failed to show that they used physical force against Tetter, in violation of section 1512(b), or that they caused Tetter to suffer bodily harm, in violation of section 1513(a). Instead, the defendants' challenge focuses on the second or intent element of these crimes. They argue that the evidence adduced at trial was insufficient to prove that they intended to influence or prevent Sumner from testifying against Fort and other El Rukns. The defendants also argue that there was insufficient evidence to show that they intended to retaliate against Sumner for testifying in a grand jury proceeding or for giving information to law enforcement officers. Specifically, the defendants contend the government failed to demonstrate the necessary intent because the government did not show that they knew who Sumner was, that Tetter was Sumner's mother, or that Sumner was an informant for purposes of section 1512(b) or a federal witness for purposes of section 1513(a). We disagree. 13 Although it is difficult to find direct evidence in the record of the defendants' intent to intimidate and retaliate against Sumner, direct evidence of intent is usually unavailable. See United States v. Moya-Gomez, 860 F.2d 706, 759 (7th Cir.1988). In general, it is necessary to prove intent through circumstantial evidence, id.; United States v. Maggitt, 784 F.2d 590, 593 (5th Cir.1986), and a jury may thus rely on evidence of this nature to find that a defendant had the requisite intent to commit the crime charged. United States v. Guzzino, 810 F.2d 687, 696 (7th Cir.), cert. denied, 481 U.S. 1030, 107 S.Ct. 1957, 95 L.Ed.2d 529 (1987); United States v. Cogwell, 486 F.2d 823, 828 (7th Cir.1973), cert. denied, 416 U.S. 959, 94 S.Ct. 1975, 40 L.Ed.2d 310 (1974). Circumstantial evidence, moreover, is no less probative than direct evidence. United States v. DeCorte, 851 F.2d 948, 954 (7th Cir.1988); United States v. Marquardt, 786 F.2d 771, 780 (7th Cir.1986). 14 In reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence in cases where the government's proof has been largely circumstantial, we have said: [W]hile it is important that we not permit a verdict based solely on the piling of inference upon inference, it is also imperative that we not rend the fabric of evidence and examine each shred in isolation.... Moya-Gomez, 860 F.2d at 759 (quoting United States v. Redwine, 715 F.2d 315, 319 (7th Cir.1983) (citations omitted)). Practically speaking, a reviewing court must  'use its experience with people and events [in determining] that the evidence correctly points to guilt [to guard] against the possibility'  of mistakenly affirming a guilty verdict based only on an  'innocent or ambiguous inference.'  Guzzino, 810 F.2d at 697 (quoting Redwine, 715 F.2d at 319). 15 In determining whether the evidence proves guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, juries as well must use experience and may rely on ordinary common sense. Id. at 697. Common sense, while not a substitute for evidence, should be used to evaluate what it is reasonable to infer from circumstantial evidence. Troop, 890 F.2d at 1397; United States v. Grier, 866 F.2d 908, 923 (7th Cir.1989); Guzzino, 810 F.2d at 697. 16 Applying these principles to the present case, we are satisfied that a jury could reasonably conclude that the defendants intended to intimidate and retaliate against Sumner in violation of sections 1512(b) and 1513(a) by shooting at and wounding Tetter. As we have mentioned, the evidence presented at trial showed that Sumner had been a former officer of the El Rukn organization. His cooperation received wide publicity because of his high rank in the organization. In 1986, he was a government witness in two El Rukn trials. Sumner also provided information to a federal grand jury in Chicago that led to an indictment of Fort and other high-ranking El Rukns. From the time that Fort and these high-ranking El Rukns were indicted in October 1986 to their trial in October 1987, defense attorneys were fully informed through discovery materials of Sumner's testimony and cooperation in proceedings against the El Rukn organization. The prosecution planned to call Sumner as a witness in this trial. At the time Tetter was shot, Fort's federal trial had been going on for about five days. 5 17 There was also evidence that during 1985 and 1986 Fort, who was not then in Chicago, had daily telephone contact with the El Rukn leadership there. The leadership reported to and received orders from Fort via telephone during this period. High-ranking members of the El Rukns met at the organization's headquarters for conference calls with Fort. Other El Rukn members also attended special meetings at headquarters. 18 Additionally, the record shows that the housing project where Tetter lived was in El Rukn territory and that the defendants had been seen in the neighborhood on prior occasions. DeJean and Clark, next-door neighbors of Tetter's, knew the defendants were El Rukn members, and Clark even knew their El Rukn ranks. 19 Finally, the evidence adduced at trial regarding the circumstances of the shooting also supports the jury's verdict that the defendants were guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of witness intimidation and retaliation against a witness. The shots were aimed at Tetter's legs, rather than at more vulnerable parts of her body. After the shots were fired, she was not chased or otherwise assaulted and no money was taken from the purse she dropped, although the purse contained more than $200. No other motive for the assault has been suggested. 20 After reviewing the evidence in a light most favorable to the government, we conclude that a jury rationally could have determined that the defendants' intent in shooting Tetter was to intimidate and retaliate against Sumner in violation of sections 1512(b) and 1513(a). Contrary to the defendants' assertion, this is not a situation where the jury verdict is based only on the piling of inference upon inference, Moya-Gomez, 860 F.2d at 759. 6 Although the government presented no direct evidence that the defendants knew who Sumner was, Sumner's relationship to Tetter, or Sumner's role as an informant and federal witness, the evidence showed that all this information was widely known. Furthermore, there was evidence that the El Rukn organization was aware of Sumner's identity and roles as well as specific testimony linking the defendants to the organization. Based on this and other circumstantial evidence, such as the nature of the defendants' attack on Tetter, a reasonable jury clearly could have found, and did find, that the defendants had the requisite intent to commit the crimes of witness intimidation and retaliation against a witness. We therefore conclude that the defendants' challenges to their convictions under sections 1512(b) and 1513(a) are without merit.