Opinion ID: 425171
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Weisz

Text: 163 Like Ciuzio, Weisz' defense was based on his claim that he lacked the intent necessary to be convicted of the crimes with which he was charged. Weisz, however, contended that he was unaware of the corrupt nature of the Arabs' proposal and that he was paid $50,000 simply for arranging the introduction of Kelly to Amoroso and Weinberg. 156 Once again, our review of the record discloses evidence from which a juror could conclude that Weisz knew that the Arabs' proposal involved the payment of a bribe to Kelly and that Weisz intentionally participated in the scheme to achieve that end. 164 Weisz admitted that he learned of the Arabs' proposal from Rosenberg in October 1979, and it is undisputed that Rosenberg was aware that the proposal involved the payment of bribes to congressmen. 157 Ciuzio told Amoroso and Weinberg that Weisz had given him the figures and that he and Weisz had decided that Kelly should get $100,000. 158 Weisz also admitted that he discussed the transaction with Ciuzio subsequent to Ciuzio's December 19 meeting, and it is undeniable that Ciuzio was made aware of the corrupt nature of the Arabs' proposal at that meeting. 159 It would be entirely reasonable for a juror to infer from these facts that Weisz learned through his conversations with Ciuzio and Rosenberg that the Arabs' proposal involved the payment of a bribe to Kelly. 165 Likewise, Weisz, in statements recorded by the FBI, revealed that he was aware that the transaction involved the payment of a bribe to Kelly. When asked by Weinberg how the $225,000 balance should be split, Weisz replied, Its fifty, fifty, fifty, seventy-five; Weisz also told Weinberg to give Kelly's share to Ciuzio, who would take care of Kelly. 160 The next day, Weisz was surprised, but unconcerned, when he learned that Amoroso intended to deliver Kelly's $75,000 personally. 161 These statements, coupled with Ciuzio's assertion that Weisz was aware that Kelly's split was $100,000, clearly indicate that Weisz knew that the Arabs' proposal involved the payment of a substantial bribe to Kelly and that Kelly had already received $25,000 of that bribe during his January 8 meeting with Amoroso. 162 166 Finally, in his statement to the FBI on February 2, Weisz indicated that 167 he knew full well that he was instrumental in bringing people together to be corrupted. 163 168 From this evidence, a juror could conclude that Weisz was aware that Kelly would receive a bribe from Amoroso during the meeting which Weisz helped to arrange. The evidence of Weisz' participation is clearly proof beyond a reasonable doubt. Accordingly, the district court properly denied Weisz' motion for judgment of acquittal and submitted the question of his guilt to the jury.