Opinion ID: 760199
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Wells' Motion For Acquittal As To Counts 1, 4 and 5

Text: 36 Wells has challenged his convictions on Counts 1, 4 and 5. Additionally, he has challenged Count 1 because of a failure by the district court to instruct the jury as to the elements of 18 U.S.C. § 876. That statute addresses the use of the mails to send threatening communications. Id. Either knowledge or intent is required, depending upon the substance of the communication mailed. Id. Since Wells did not object to this failure at trial, he must show that the failure was plain error. See Fed.R.Crim.P. 52(b). 37 Wells' argument is not persuasive. The United States Supreme Court has held that correction of an error not objected to below is appropriate where there is a plain error affecting substantial rights. See United States v. Olano, 507 U.S. 725, 732, 113 S.Ct. 1770, 123 L.Ed.2d 508 (1993). Even when that factor is satisfied, a reviewing court retains discretion to correct the error, which it should not exercise unless the error seriously compromises the fairness, integrity, or public reputation of judicial proceedings. Id. We also recognize these principles. See, e.g., United States v. Wilkinson, 137 F.3d 214, 224 (4th Cir.1998), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 119 S.Ct. 172, 142 L.Ed.2d 140 (1998). Where there is overwhelming evidence to convict the defendant, however, a failure to instruct does not compromise the fairness, integrity, or public reputation of judicial proceedings. See id. at 224. As demonstrated below, there is overwhelming evidence to convict Wells on all of the counts. Therefore, we decline to notice any error in the jury instructions in Count 1.
38 Wells has challenged his convictions on Counts 1, 4 and 5 as not being supported by the evidence. Counts 1, 4 and 5 alleged a conspiracy to violate and actual violations of 26 U.S.C. § 7212, which prohibits individuals from corruptly endeavoring to intimidate and impede IRS officers and employees. In addition, as stated above, Count 1 alleged that Wells conspired to mail threatening communications. 39 Wells has argued that he did not act corruptly. We have interpreted the term corruptly to mean acting with the intent to secure an unlawful benefit for oneself. See United States v. Wilson, 118 F.3d 228, 230 (4th Cir.1997); United States v. Bostian, 59 F.3d 474, 479 (4th Cir.1995). Other circuits interpreting § 7212 have also interpreted the statute that way. See, e.g., United States v. Winchell, 129 F.3d 1093, 1099 (10th Cir.1997). 40 Wells argued that the letters sent to the officers were so outrageous that they could not reasonably be taken as attempting to secure a financial benefit--i.e., forgiveness of the tax lien. He has claimed that there was no threat of violence, at least no threat rising to the level that the courts have considered a threat. In fact, he had contended that the agents were not afraid when they received the letters and only became afraid much later, when they discovered that the Freemen organization was involved. Wells has cited cases addressing § 876 in support of that proposition. See, e.g., United States v. Prochaska, 222 F.2d 1 (7th Cir.1955), cert. denied, 350 U.S. 836, 76 S.Ct. 73, 100 L.Ed. 746(1955) (holding that there was a threat under § 876 where the defendant demanded $10,000 and told the victim at that time you only have one chance). 41 Nevertheless, the evidence is sufficient to support a conviction. When the defendant challenges a conviction for insufficiency of evidence, the reviewing court will draw all reasonable inferences in the light most favorable to the government to determine whether the evidence is sufficient to support the conviction. United States v. Dorlouis, 107 F.3d 248, 256 (4th Cir.1997), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 117 S.Ct. 2525, 138 L.Ed.2d 1025 (1997). The government must show that there is substantial evidence to support the verdict. Id. 42 Viewed in the light most favorable to the government, there is substantial evidence to support the verdict. First, the evidence shows that Wells sent a document to IRS officer Smith entitled Non-Statutory Abatement, which Smith was told to return within 30 days or face default judgment and civil or criminal penalties. He then sent both Smith and Officer Varnell letters entitled Claim And Release Of Levy & Lien. Then, he sent them true bills, to which they were required by Wells to respond, or they would be liable for a $100 million judgment. 43 While it is true that these letters are very outrageous, a reasonable juror could have determined to convict Wells. In United States v. Winchell, 129 F.3d 1093 (10th Cir.1997), the defendant was convicted of a § 7212 violation because of conduct very similar to Wells'. Winchell sent letters to government officials which stated that they would be liable to him for an implausible amount. Id. at 1099. He made the same argument before the Tenth Circuit that Wells makes here, and the Tenth Circuit rejected it. Id. It found that a reasonable juror could have concluded that he violated the statute, even if the letters sent were not likely to be taken seriously. Id. (citation omitted). 44 Moreover, Wells' argument that there were no threats of violence--serious violence--are not persuasive. Wells argues that because neither agent believed that he or she was in danger when the letter was received, § 876 is not satisfied. However, the agents testified that they thought that they would be arrested, which they thought would involve some violence. Moreover, proof of actual intimidation is not required. See United States v. Rosnow, 977 F.2d 399, 410 (8th Cir.1992) (en banc), cert. denied, 507 U.S. 990, 113 S.Ct. 1596, 123 L.Ed.2d 159 (1993). Furthermore, the agents testified that Wells' letters actually impeded their work to the extent that the letters took them away from their work. Thus, the convictions should be upheld. 45 Finally, the conspiracy conviction should also stand. Wells has contended that the conspiracy alleged in Count 1 had two objectives, and that the evidence was insufficient to satisfy one of the objectives, namely the mailing of threatening communications as defined and proscribed under § 876. Therefore, Wells has claimed that the entire conviction should be reversed. However, the Supreme Court recently held just the opposite when faced with that question. In Griffin v. United States, 502 U.S. 46, 60, 112 S.Ct. 466, 116 L.Ed.2d 371 (1991), the defendant was charged with a conspiracy to achieve several unlawful objectives. The evidence appeared to establish one of the bases of conviction but not the other. See 502 U.S. at 48, 112 S.Ct. 466. The Court held that the conviction on the conspiracy remains valid so long as a conspiracy to commit any one of the objectives was established. See 502 U.S. at 60, 112 S.Ct. 466. Thus, Wells' argument in the instant case has been rejected by the Supreme Court and the conviction should stand. 46