Opinion ID: 76722
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Pipkins's Transfer of False Identification Documents

Text: 87 Pipkins also challenges his conviction for unlawful transfer of false identification documents to JF33, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1028(a)(2), (b)(1)(A)(ii), and (c)(3)(A). He argues that the evidence at trial was insufficient to prove that he committed this offense. Because Pipkins failed to move for judgment of acquittal on this count at trial, we will reverse on sufficiency of the evidence grounds only if the record reveals that there has been a manifest miscarriage of justice. See United States v. Adams, 91 F.3d 114, 116 (11th Cir.1996). 88 To support a conviction under § 1028(a)(2), the Government had to prove that Pipkins knowingly transfer[ed] an identification document or a false identification document knowing that such document was stolen or produced without lawful authority. 18 U.S.C. § 1028(a)(2). Section 1028(d)(4) defines the term false identification document as a document of a type intended or commonly accepted for the purposes of identification of individuals that ... appears to be issued by or under the authority of the United States Government, a State, [or] a political subdivision of a State.... 18 U.S.C. § 1028(d)(4)(B). Also, the transfer had to be in or affecting interstate commerce. 18 U.S.C. § 1028(c)(3)(A). 89 Pipkins complains that the record is devoid of evidence to sustain his conviction on this count because the evidence did not show that the false identification JF33 received was of a kind described in § 1028(b)(1)(A), which was the basis of his conviction. That subsection defines false identification documents to include a birth certificate, a driver's license, or a personal identification card. He argues that because the evidence did not show the exact type of identification JF33 received, he cannot be guilty of violating § 1028. 13 Pipkins also contends that the Government failed to prove that the false identification transfer affected interstate commerce. 90 The record negates Pipkins's first challenge. There was evidence that Pipkins knew that JF33 was 15 years old when he began prostituting her. Pipkins planned to take her to Columbus, Georgia to work in a strip club, so he took her to a local flea market to get a false identification card made so that she could enter and dance at the men's club. In addition, Pipkins provided his other underage prostitutes with false birth certificates and false Social Security cards; for example, Pipkins took JF5 and another juvenile prostitute to a flea market to make false Social Security cards. Considering the evidence in the light most favorable to the Government, it was reasonable for the jury to infer that Pipkins transferred to JF33 a false identification document of the kind described in § 1028(b)(1)(A). 91 We also reject Pipkins's interstate commerce argument. Pipkins took JF33 to get false identification to be able to dance and prostitute in strip clubs in Columbus, Georgia. JF33 did indeed travel with Pipkins to Columbus, where she worked for him at two clubs and turned over all of her earnings to him. This trip to Columbus satisfies the interstate commerce requirement of § 1028. See United States v. Villarreal, 253 F.3d 831, 834-35 (5th Cir.2001) (stating that the interstate commerce connection was satisfied if false identification documents might have traveled in or affected interstate or foreign commerce, and holding defendant's attempt to sell false identification documents satisfied the commerce prong.) 92 Because the evidence was sufficient to convict Pipkins under 18 U.S.C. § 1028, and the transfer affected interstate commerce, we affirm Pipkins's conviction for transfer of false identification documents.