Opinion ID: 433837
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Degree of Control Required by Sec. 848

Text: 22 Ray asserts that jury instruction 10 understated the degree of control which Ray must have had over a continuing criminal enterprise to support a conviction under 21 U.S.C. Sec. 848. Specifically, he objects that the instruction failed to state that he must have acted in concert with five or more confederates at the same time and that he must be found able to have controlled their actions. 4 23 The statute requires that the defendant act in concert with five or more other persons with respect to whom [defendant] occupies a position of organizer, a supervisory position, or any other position of management. 21 U.S.C. Sec. 848(b)(2)(A). 24 The contention that Sec. 848 requires proof that the organizer of a continuing criminal enterprise acted in concert with five or more persons at the same time was rejected by this court in United States v. Smith, 690 F.2d 748 (9th Cir.1982), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 103 S.Ct. 1435, 75 L.Ed.2d 793 (1983). We have not previously ruled on Ray's contention that the quoted provision requires proof that the organizer had the ability to control the actions of his subordinates. However, United States v. Valenzuela, 596 F.2d 1361 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 444 U.S. 865, 100 S.Ct. 136, 62 L.Ed.2d 88 (1979), points the way to resolution of this issue. In Valenzuela, this court upheld the organizer, a supervisory position, or any other position of management language against a vagueness attack by noting that those words enjoy a wide currency in the business community and are commonly understood by members of the general public. 596 F.2d at 1367. In accord with Valenzuela, these words should be given their ordinary meaning. The Second Circuit has reached the same conclusion on this point. United States v. Mannino, 635 F.2d 110, 117 (1980). Since the continuing criminal enterprises subject to Sec. 848 often take place in more than one appellate circuit, as did Ray's enterprise, we are especially reluctant to create an unnecessary intercircuit conflict by disagreeing with the Second Circuit. 25 The ordinary meaning of the word organizer does not carry with it the implication that the organizer is necessarily able to control those whom he or she organizes. Ray's conduct was sufficient to hold him an organizer within the meaning of Sec. 848.