Opinion ID: 2994047
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: introduction

Text: On August 15, 2013, David McLean was charged in a superseding indictment with three counts of bribery in programs receiving federal funds, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 666(a)(1)(B) and (2). Count One charged McLean with accepting $1,000 in U.S. currency and a release for $8,000 past due rent in connection with the awarding of a Margate occupational license. Count Two alleged that “on or about November 2, 2012,” McLean, being an agent of Margate, to wit, a City Commissioner of Margate, Florida, did knowingly and corruptly solicit, demand, accept and agree to accept anything of value from a person, that is, approximately $3,000 in United States currency, intending to be influenced and rewarded in connection with a transaction and series of transactions of 5 Case: 14-10061 Date Filed: 09/24/2015 Page: 6 of 43 Margate involving $5,000 or more, that is, a $25,000 MCRA construction grant. All in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 666(a)(l)(B) and 2. In Count Three, the Government alleged that “on or about January 30, 2013,” McLean, being an agent of Margate, to wit, a City Commissioner of Margate, Florida, did knowingly and corruptly solicit, demand, accept and agree to accept anything of value from a person, that is, approximately $2,000 in United States currency, intending to be influenced and rewarded in connection with a transaction and series of transactions of Margate involving $5,000 or more, that is, a $25,000 MCRA construction grant. All in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 666(a)(l)(B) and 2. Following a jury trial, McLean was acquitted on Count One and convicted on Counts Two and Three. At the conclusion of the trial, McLean renewed his Motion for Judgment of Acquittal and filed a Motion for New Trial. Twenty-one days later, beyond the fourteen-day deadline, the government responded. McLean moved to strike the government’s untimely response and sought an Order granting McLean’s motion by default. The District Court, on December 5, 2013, denied the Motions to Strike and for a New Trial, but granted McLean’s Renewed Motion for Judgment of Acquittal. The District Court concluded that while the government introduced 6 Case: 14-10061 Date Filed: 09/24/2015 Page: 7 of 43 adequate evidence that the Margate Community Redevelopment Agency (“MCRA”) received benefits from a federal program, the government failed to establish that those benefits were received within the timeframe established in the superseding indictment.