Opinion ID: 346934
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Ambiguity of Verdict

Text: 78 Venezia contends that the verdict against him was ambiguous since it did not specify whether he was convicted of a misdemeanor or a felony, both of which were charged in the conspiracy count on which he was convicted. We agree with the Government that the jury's general verdict of guilty is a finding that Venezia was guilty as charged guilty of conspiracy to commit both misdemeanor and felony violations. See Phillips v. United States, 264 F. 657, 659 (5 Cir. 1920), cert. denied, 253 U.S. 491, 40 S.Ct. 584, 64 L.Ed. 1028 (1920). Moreover, Venezia objected to the use of special verdicts and thereby waived any objection to use of the general verdict. See United States v. Jones, 425 F.2d 1048, 1057 (9 Cir. 1970). In any case, we fail to find any prejudice to Venezia since his sentence did not exceed the maximum allowable for a misdemeanor.