Document: 471 U.S. 130 105 S.Ct. 1811 85 L.Ed.2d 99 UNITED STATES, Petitioner,v.James Rual MILLER. No. 83-1750. Argued Jan. 16, 1985. Decided April 1, Syllabus A federal grand jury returned a multicount indictment charging respondent with mail fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1341. He was alleged to have defrauded his insurer connection burglary at place business both by consenting the advance and lying about value loss. The proof trial, however, concerned only latter allegation, he convicted. Respondent appealed on basis that trial had fatally varied from scheme indictment. Court Appeals agreed vacated conviction, holding under Fifth Amendment's guarantee conviction could not stand where corresponded fraudulent much narrower than, though included in, alleged. Held: Respondent's Amendment right violated. Pp. 135-145. (a) As long as crime elements thereof sustain are fully clearly set out indictment, is normally violated fact alleges more crimes or other means committing same crime. Convictions generally been sustained upon which they based corresponds an offense part unnecessary independent allegations proved may be treated useless averment ignored. 135-138. (b) has shown no deprivation substantial tried charges presented for ultimately Stirone v. United States, 361 212, 80 270, 4 252 distinguished. 138-140. (c) proposition narrowing constitutes "amendment" renders void, Ex parte Bain, 121 7 781, 30 L.Ed. 849, now explicitly rejected. 140-145. (d) variance complained here added nothing new constituted broadening, what removed case way essential P. 145. 715 F.2d 1360 (CA 9 1983), 728 1269 1984), reversed. Andrew L.Frey, Washington, D.C., petitioner. Jerrold M. Ladar, San Francisco, Cal., respondent. Justice MARSHALL delivered opinion Court. 1 issue whether guarantee1 when defendant certain but convicted supports significantly limited, included, scheme. 2 Northern District California Miller three counts After Government moved dismiss third count, before remaining two. asserting there fatal between "scheme artifice" defraud charged trial. Ninth Circuit judgment conviction. (1983), modified, (1984). We granted certiorari, 469 814, 78, 83 26 (1984), reverse. 3 * various acts business. allegedly loss.2 proof, focusing whether, prior burglary, actually possessed all property later claimed taken. This sufficient support finding Miller's claim grossly inflated any actual loss.3 5 strike knowledge it correctly argued even without allegation still made 1341.4 counsel opposed change, urging entire sent jury. found guilty, 6 Agreeing violated, It succinctly stated its rationale: "The well declined indict simply exaggeration amount . In quite possible would unwilling unable return solely loss concluded overall involving use caused knowing consent burglary." F.2d, 1362-1363. B 8 properly violations 1341, forth number ways violations. facts conformed one theories contained within gave clear notice defend against " 'well knew copper taken during purpose fraudulently obtaining $150,000 Aetna Insurance Company.' 1361-1362 (quoting indictment). Competent defense certainly should need defended against. Accordingly, can showing prejudicially surprised absence concerning complicity burglary; nor prejudiced fairness respondent's way. Cf. Kotteakos 328 750, 66 1239, 90 1557 (1946). See also Berger 295 83, 55 629, 631, 79 1314 (1935). States Ballard, 322 91, 64 882, 888, 88 1148 (1944) (Stone, C.J., dissenting). allow plead future bar subsequent prosecutions. Therefore, none these "notice" related concerns—which course among important concerns underlying requirement criminal indictment—would result Appeals. Russell 369 749, 763-764, 82 1038, 1046-1047, 240 (1962). did disagree, instead free than jury's 1270. reasoned willingness individual participation broad plan does establish indicted participating substantially narrower, if wholly plan. Relying guarantee, within, cited two decisions this emphasized accused passed Ibid. (citing (1960), 849 (1887)). Mastelotto, 717 1238, 1248-1250 (CA9 1983) (similarly relying Bain ). II 10 argues Appeals' conflicts Court's interpreting Grand Jury Clause. recognized charge numerous offenses commission several ways. See, e.g., Ford 273 593, 47 531, 71 793 (1927); Salinger 272 542, 173, 398 (1926). supra; Hall 168 632, 638-640, 237, 239-240, 42 607 (1898). Indeed, longstanding doctrines procedure premised notion each whose independently Turner 396 398, 420, 642, 654, 24 610 (1970) ("[W]hen returns guilty verdict conjunctive, stands evidence respect charged"); Crain 162 625, 634-636, 16 952, 954-956, 40 1097 (1896) (indictment count conjunctive proved); Dealy 152 539, 14 680, 681, 38 545 (1894) (prosecution's failure prosecute affect validity counts). 11 review cases allowing convictions face variances makes error clear. "a averment" "may ignored." U.S., 602, S.Ct., 534. Ford, example, conspiring import liquor laws treaty. [was] attacked because charge[d] conspiracy violate treaty, although treaty create[d] law States." Although upheld "that merely surplusage rejected." 12 treatment rests confined that, like those legal relevance proved. supra, similar instant case. containing counts, "[a]ll relat[ing] defraud, charg[ing] distinct executing scheme." Id., 546, 174. Miller, Salinger's comprehended relatively plans fleecing intended victims." 548, 175. Because plans, judge withdrew portions plans. then, just now, screen might 13 unanimously rejected argument ground Nothing which, view, "remained jury." "[T]he preferred modified charge," ibid., thus "not remotely infraction constitutional provision 'no person shall held answer capital otherwise infamous unless presentment jury.' 549, (1935); Goto Lane, 265 393, 44 525, 68 1070 (1924); supra 239-240.5 reached results such Ford. 239-240; 954-956. III 15 principally relied decision conclusion Stirone, very different proposition. "amended" broadening bases appeared unlike discussed Part II, case, involve narrowed indictment's adding offenses. said, "whether [Stirone] indictment." 213, 271 (emphasis added). union official, unlawfully interfering interstate commerce Hobbs Act. 1951. More specifically, engaged extortion obstructed shipments sand outside Pennsylvania into State, used construction steel mill. At prosecution's required interference went beyond shipments. prosecutor attempted prove mill's eventual export surrounding States. exports, element unanimous unconstitutionally "broadened." 17 make own cannot away court amendment. Here, we know nonexistent mill interfered with. Yet court's admission If so, never him. error." 218-219, 273-274. contrasted Stirone's 217, 273. refused invalidate proof. declared sort variance, "the addition exports [in was] neither trivial, useless, innocuous. While sense variation pleading [had ] destroyed defendant's Deprivation basic far too serious then dismissed harmless (citations omitted). Accord, 770-771, 1050-1051 (following 19 "substantial contrast His complaint failed convicted, necessary. IV 20 offer some (1887), unconstitutional deletion necessary offense. deletion, constitute compromise 21 bank cashier who including false statements report Comptroller Currency. filed reports, "did believe said statement extent mode manner above forth; [he] form intent deceive Currency agent appointed examine affairs [banking] association. ." 4, 783. relevant statute file 'any entry book, report, .' 3, 782 Rev.Stat. 5209). Thus terms statute, intending Currency." An reports 22 Under cases, Salinger, presence But Bain's demurrer sustaining demurrer, motion amended striking words 'the and.' 5, writ habeas corpus not, consistent Amendment, assume broader one.6 23 best understood propositions. Most generally, parts invalidates whole speculate meant independently, original text. proposition, considered jury; "amendments" alter nature charged. evaluating aspects separately, propositions differently years since Bain. broadly Bain: 25 "If lies province change suit notions ought been, probably their attention called suggested changes, great importance common attaches jury, prerequisite prisoner's crime, Constitution says answer,' frittered until almost destroyed." 10, 786. aspect reaffirmed cases. Norris, 281 619, 622, 50 424, 425, 74 1076 (1930) rule "nothing concurrence bill found"). most reaffirmation, course, Stirone. III, supra. extensively permit him," 273, therefore "after broadened through amendment except itself." 215-216, 272-273. 770, 1050 "settled courts resubmission matter form").7 27 gives see formed must rest second, specific, void. 28 discussion second survive defendants sought rely point, limited distinguished withdrawn ignored indictments. 534 (distinguishing ); 175 (same). Modern accepted will it. To drop it, survived. avoid further confusion, reject 29 Rejecting hardly radical step, given largely Moreover, rejecting proposition's continued validity, do limit general impermissibility additions repeatedly reaffirmed. text accompanying n. 7, That our today understanding apparent examination state law, seen Chief Stone, ago: "An so altered 781. alteration 175, action, effect, add anything submitting matters charge. 424-425. States,supra, 548-9, 174-5, offenses, ways, withdrawal consideration method forbidden 402-3, 527-8; Were practice withdrawing while others verdict, 90-91, 888-889 (dissenting). V 31 light foregoing, proper disposition broadening. disagree No shown. accordingly 32 ordered. 33 POWELL took Clause reads: "No capital, Jury." paragraphs indictment: '1. Beginning July 2, 1981 continuing October 26, 1981, City County State California, JAMES RUAL MILLER, herein, being President Francisco Scrap Metal, Inc., devise intend artifice obtain money pretenses representations Company making insurance due Metal. '2. time were made, them false. scheme, devised devised, implemented substance follows: '3. increase policy coverage $50,000 effect week period ending 15, 1981. '4. occurred Metal evening 14, '5. lost 210,170 pounds wire, worth $123,500 trucks burglary. '6. committed proceeds. '7. 1360, (1983). Each reference counts. separate reflected uses mails. facts, stipulated parties, following: respondent, James owner Metals, company regularly purchased scrap stripped, baled, resold On morning reported burglarized previous 201,000 wire stolen. 20, adjuster missing L.K. Comstock, Kingston Electric. Electric indeed sold quantity Metals Battery Salvage Company. another company. fact, Comstock purchased. received $100,000. check mail. 1361. Title 1341 reads "Whoever, having pretenses, representations, promises, sell, dispose of, loan, exchange, alter, give away, distribute, supply, furnish procure unlawful counterfeit spurious coin, obligation, security, article, represented intimated attempting do, places post office authorized depository matter, thing whatever Postal Service, takes receives therefrom thing, knowingly causes according direction thereon, directed whom addressed, fined $1,000 imprisoned five years, both." 134-135 prejudice ability himself sufficiency prosecutions, prejudice. (1946) (finding extreme technically conspiracies). 631. analysis issue: learned presided action permitting stricken surplusage, material injury done prisoner made. goes argue language. say not. party especially language instrument. seem court, better instructed mind regard requires deceive, reasonable attach deceived, yet impossible improbable looked mainly officer requisition directly How jurors satisfied Comptroller, convinced anybody else? And how out, jury?" 9-10, 785-786. Fabrizio, 385 263, 275, 87 457, 464, 351 (1966) (Stewart, J. dissenting) "[w]e ago 'it changes. "); 888-889, (under "when jury"). Smith 360 9, 991, 996, 1041 (1959) intervention safeguard oppressive arbitrary proceedings"); Jenkins McKeithen, 395 411, 430, 89 1843, 1853, 404 (1969) (plurality opinion) "grand designed interpose body citizens prosecuting attorney court").

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