Opinion ID: 494133
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Civitello's Claims

Text: 32 Civitello claims that the charges against him were barred by the applicable five-year statute of limitations, 18 U.S.C. Sec. 3282 (1982), because many of his alleged criminal acts occurred more than five years prior to April 24, 1986, the date on which the superseding indictment was filed. These acts, for the most part, occurred less than five years prior to March 14, 1986, the date on which the initial indictment was filed. Civitello's argument evinces a misunderstanding of the well-established standards for evaluating statute of limitations claims involving superseding indictments. Once an indictment is brought, the statute of limitations is tolled as to the charges contained in that indictment. United States v. Grady, 544 F.2d 598, 601 (2d Cir.1976) (citations omitted). If brought during the valid pendency of the initial indictment, a superseding indictment containing substantially the same charges as the superseded indictment should have no effect on the initial tolling of the statute of limitations so long as the defendant is not significantly prejudiced by the delay. United States v. Panebianco, 543 F.2d 447, 454 (2d Cir.1976), cert. denied, 429 U.S. 1103, 97 S.Ct. 1128, 51 L.Ed.2d 553 (1977). 33 Here, the superseding indictment made only minor technical changes to the indictment. In addition, Civitello has alleged no prejudice arising from the filing of the superseding indictment, and we perceive no such prejudicial effect. We hold, therefore, that the charges against Civitello properly were measured as of the filing date of the initial indictment. 34 Civitello's remaining claims require little discussion. First, the testimony of Irene Civitello, appellant's ex-wife, did not violate the privilege against adverse spousal testimony because she did not testify about any confidential marital communications. See, e.g., Pereira v. United States, 347 U.S. 1, 6, 74 S.Ct. 358, 361, 98 L.Ed. 435 (1954); United States v. Estes, 793 F.2d 465, 467 (2d Cir.1986). Second, Civitello's motion for severance due to his lack of participation in the bank loan scheme properly was denied. The substantial evidence against him could be considered separately, and he failed to demonstrate any prejudice arising from the joinder of defendants in this case. See United States v. Garza, 664 F.2d 135, 142-43 (7th Cir.1981), cert. denied, 455 U.S. 993, 102 S.Ct. 1620, 71 L.Ed.2d 854 (1982); see also United States v. Toliver, 541 F.2d 958, 963 (2d Cir.1976). Finally, Civitello's claim that he was denied the effective assistance of counsel is predicated on his belief that counsel should have raised the aforementioned claims. Since we find those claims to be without merit, we similarly reject his claim of ineffective assistance.