Opinion ID: 170647
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Official Color of Right

Text: To prove extortion under color of official right, 18 U.S.C. § 1951(b)(2), the Government need only show that a public official has obtained a payment to which he was not entitled, knowing that the payment was made in return for official acts, Evans v. United States, 504 U.S. 255, 268, 112 S.Ct. 1881, 119 L.Ed.2d 57 (1992). Defendant contends that this quid pro quo element was not met because there was insufficient evidence that the award of the contract was conditioned on including Ms. Sais. However, the evidence was sufficient that a jury could reasonably believe that the only way that Mr. Vigil would award Mr. Everage the contract was if he agreed to hire Ms. Sais and pay her the compensation she demanded.