Opinion ID: 790836
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Application of Interstate Commerce Requirement

Text: 46 Mr. Soy maintains that the Government failed to establish an interstate commerce nexus with respect to all of the bombings charged as overt acts, and, therefore, the conviction on the conspiracy count (Count 1) must be vacated. According to Mr. Soy, the only interstate commerce nexus that the Government proved with respect to any of the charged overt acts was the receipt of natural gas, which, as set forth in Jones, is insufficient to satisfy the jurisdictional requirement. 10 47 The Government counters that, with the exception of the fourth overt act (the bombing at the Antkowicz residence), each of the overt acts involved damage to real property that was used in interstate commerce as defined in Jones and that those connections satisfy the interstate commerce requirement. We conclude that, as a matter of law, the buildings that were the targets of the other pipe bombs were used in interstate commerce for the purposes of § 844(i). Therefore, Jones does not require us to disturb Mr. Soy's conviction on Count 1. 48
49 One of the overt acts charged in furtherance of the conspiracy was the bombing of Edo's Lounge on December 30, 1991. Mr. Soy maintains that 50 [t]here was no evidence that the building was damaged in the first instance and even if there were this is not enough. The government has to show that the building was used in commerce. Describing the persons as patrons does not indicate the manner of their patronage. One doesn't know if they were members of a private club, if alcohol was served at the club, if so, if it was obtained through ... interstate commerce channels, if an alcohol license was obtained by the owner or any of a number of other things that the Government may have proven to show an interstate nexus. 51 Petitioner's Br. (No. 04-1218) at 24. 52 We believe that Mr. Soy's evidentiary and legal arguments are meritless. First, with respect to Mr. Soy's contention that the explosion did not damage Edo's Lounge, the record reflects that there was damage to the building, specifically the roof. See Tr.V at 1090. Furthermore, in light of our determination that the per se rule of Russell extends to restaurants and bars, we also must reject Mr. Soy's alternative claim that the Government failed to meet its burden of proof that the building housing Edo's Lounge was used in interstate commerce.
53 The same analysis applies with respect to the bombing of Salvino's Restaurant— another one of the overt acts alleged in the conspiracy. Again, the record establishes that there was damage to the building housing Salvino's. See Tr.V at 1150. Furthermore, the interstate commerce connection is met by virtue of the fact that Salvino's is a restaurant. 54
55 The interstate commerce nexus also is met with respect to the last two bombings—the bombings of two different apartment complexes. The record establishes that both of these buildings suffered damage as a result of the explosions. See Tr.V at 1182 (discussing damage to building at 6151 Harrison); id. at 1198-99 (discussing damage to building at 1608 169th Street). Again, the record clearly reflects that the buildings at issue were used as multi-family apartment houses that fall squarely within Russell 's per se rule. 56 Because the record establishes that each of the target buildings was damaged and each of the target buildings, as a matter of law, was used in interstate commerce for purposes of § 844(i), there is no basis on which to disturb Mr. Soy's conviction on Count 1 of the indictment. 11