Opinion ID: 360504
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Count II Interstate Transportation.

Text: 39 All of the defendants were charged in Count Two of the indictment with aiding and abetting the interstate transportation of stolen gasoline in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2314. Eight of the appellants were convicted on this count and challenge their convictions on various grounds. 5 The first paragraph of § 2314 makes it a federal offense to transport in interstate commerce stolen property with a value of $5,000 or more. This jurisdictional minimum has frequently been held to be an essential element of the offense. See, e. g. United States v. Nall, 437 F.2d 1177 (5th Cir. 1971). 40 After a careful review of the record, we find that there was a failure of proof as to this essential element, and for this reason, we reverse all convictions on Count Two. Even viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the government, and making all reasonable inferences that would support the verdict, the evidence of actual state line crossings sufficient to satisfy the $5,000 limitation was at best speculative. Without reaching the confusing and conflicting computational battle fought by the parties, we find that since the government's proof was so speculative as to the quantity of gasoline carried by the various delivery trucks on the interstate trips used to calculate the jurisdictional minimum, the convictions on Count Two must fail. 41 The government's case on this count was founded on the tenuous assumption that each truck was filled to capacity on every interstate trip used to calculate the jurisdictional limit. Without such assumption, the evidence of state line crossings actually observed falls short of the jurisdictional limit. The only basis of the assumption was the testimony of FBI agents that the trucks appeared to be straining under a heavy load as they were observed leaving the tap site. This is simply not enough to make the essential inference that the trucks were filled to their capacity. 6 42 This very speculative assumption, necessary to bring the government's most favorable computations within the jurisdictional minimum, is too tenuous to support the convictions on Count Two. Although we are quite sure that the $5,000 limitation was not designed to protect those who transport property of a lesser value but rather to avoid overtaxing the federal judicial system, its effect is to leave the punishment of such persons to the states and to make the limitation an essential part of the federal crime. 7 43