Court Opinion

ID: 9403332
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-06-20 21:00:51.246273+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:20:06.277102
License: Public Domain

NOT RECOMMENDED FOR PUBLICATION
                                File Name: 23a0288n.06

                                         Case No. 22-3887

                           UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                                FOR THE SIXTH CIRCUIT
                                                                                     FILED
                                                                               Jun 20, 2023
                                                   )
  UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,                                                DEBORAH S. HUNT, Clerk
                                                   )
         Plaintiff-Appellee,                       )
                                                   )        ON APPEAL FROM THE UNITED
 v.                                                )        STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR
                                                   )        THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF
  STEVEN ROSSER,                                   )        OHIO
         Defendant-Appellant.                      )
                                                   )                                  OPINION

Before: WHITE, THAPAR, and NALBANDIAN, Circuit Judges.

       NALBANDIAN, Circuit Judge. Steven Rosser, a police officer in Columbus, Ohio,

planned to set up a strip-club owner for cocaine possession. The scheme worked. Rosser and a

few other cops arrested the owner and searched his vehicle. But Rosser didn’t get away with it.

Other officers caught Rosser when they discovered inconsistencies in his police report. Along

with two other counts, a federal indictment charged Rosser with one count for conspiring to injure

the owner’s right to be free from unreasonable search and seizure without probable cause. And a

jury later found him guilty on that count. Now seeking to reverse his conviction, Rosser alleges

three trial errors. Finding no error, we affirm.

                                                   I.

       Steven Rosser was a police officer in the Columbus, Ohio Division of Police. Rosser, aka

“Officer Party,” was a regular patron at the DollHouse—a strip-club on the northeast side of

Columbus. (R. 131, Transcript II, 467 (explaining that others knew him as “Officer Party . . .
No. 22-3887, United States v. Rosser

[b]ecause he was the only cop at the party, at every party”); see PSR, 5 ¶ 16.) A couple times a

week, often after hours, Rosser made himself at home there—going behind the bar and helping

himself to a beer on the house, getting lap dances, and hanging out and doing cocaine in the back

office with his friend, manager Nick Jgenti. (R. 131, Transcript II, 271–74; 459–61, 466, 469;

569–70.)

       Things went awry when a management transition at the DollHouse left Jgenti at odds with

the co-owner of the strip club, Armen Stepanian. Jgenti wanted to stop Stepanian from “tak[ing]

away [the] DollHouse.” (R. 133, Transcript IV, 1028; see id. at 1029–30.) The master plan was

to “set [Stepanian] up and get [him] arrested with being caught with cocaine.” (Id. at 1029.) And

“Rosser was going to help.” (Id.)

       One night, Jgenti’s girlfriend, who was also in on the scheme, “cut up lines” of “coke on

the table” and “did coke” while she and Stepanian were in Jgenti’s office. (Id. at 1032.) But just

as she did so, someone “came knocking on the door in the office.” (Id.) And like clockwork,

“Rosser and a few other cops c[a]me walking in” to arrest Stepanian. (Id.) An unidentified person

told the officers to look under a food container, where they found two lines of cocaine. The officers

then arrested Stepanian and searched him and his vehicle. Everything went according to plan.

That is, up until police investigated Rosser’s arrest report, which “contain[ed] numerous

falsehoods and made no mention of any other witnesses to the events.” (PSR, 7–8 ¶ 25.)

       A federal grand jury in the Southern District of Ohio returned a three-count indictment

against Rosser and a co-defendant. Count two charged Rosser with violating 18 U.S.C. § 241 by

conspiring with Jgenti to deprive Stepanian of his Fourth Amendment right to be free from

unreasonable searches and seizures without probable cause. For support, the indictment also listed

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No. 22-3887, United States v. Rosser

a series of overt acts related to Stepanian’s arrest and the search of him and his vehicle. (R. 5,

Indictment, 6 ¶ 13(b)–(c).)

        At trial, the government called 24 witnesses, and Rosser declined to call any witnesses or

testify. Following the five-day trial, a jury convicted Rosser on count two. The district court

sentenced Rosser to 18 months in prison, one year of supervised release, and a $10,000 fine and a

$100 special assessment. Rosser timely appealed.

                                                    II.

        Rosser challenges his conviction, alleging three trial errors: (1) He was convicted of a

charge that was not listed in his indictment; (2) The jury instruction for the conspiracy charge

failed to require a finding of an overt act; and (3) The prosecutor made an improper, flagrant

statement in closing argument. Because Rosser did not specifically object to these issues below,

we review each for plain error. United States v. Kuehne, 547 F.3d 667, 682 (6th Cir. 2008)

(constructive amendment); United States v. Newsom, 452 F.3d 593, 605 (6th Cir. 2006) (jury

instruction); United States v. Acosta, 924 F.3d 288, 298–99 (6th Cir. 2019) (improper prosecutorial

statements). Under that test, we must find an “(1) error, (2) that is plain, and (3) that affects

substantial rights.” Johnson v. United States, 520 U.S. 461, 467 (1997) (cleaned up). And “if all

three conditions are met,” we may “notice a forfeited error, but only if (4) the error seriously affects

the fairness, integrity, or public reputation of judicial proceedings.” Id. (cleaned up).

                                                    A.

        Rosser first argues that the district court committed plain error by constructively amending

count two of the indictment. He claims that he was convicted of a different crime (an illegal

seizure) from the charge in the indictment (an illegal search). But as we’ll explain, no error—let

alone a plain one—occurred because Rosser was charged with and convicted of the same crime.

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No. 22-3887, United States v. Rosser

          Rosser carries the burden of proving that a “constructive amendment” occurred. United

States v. Mayberry, 540 F.3d 506, 513 (6th Cir. 2008). “A constructive amendment results when

the terms of an indictment are in effect altered” at trial so that a “defendant may have been

convicted of an offense other than the one charged in the indictment.” United States v. Martinez,

430 F.3d 317, 338 (6th Cir. 2005) (quoting United States v. Smith, 320 F.3d 647, 656 (6th Cir.

2003)).     Rosser can meet his burden by “pointing to a combination of evidence and jury

instructions that effectively alter[ed] the terms of [his] indictment and modifie[d] the essential

elements of the charged offense to the extent that [he] may well have been convicted of a crime

other than the one set forth in [his] indictment.” United States v. Hynes, 467 F.3d 951, 962 (6th

Cir. 2006) (noting that constructive amendments are “per se prejudicial because they infringe upon

the Fifth Amendment’s grand jury guarantee” (cleaned up)). And if he can’t show that the district

court constructively amended his charge, no plain error occurred on this claim. See United States

v. Mize, 814 F.3d 401, 408–09 (6th Cir. 2016).

          Start with Rosser’s indictment. Rosser believes that his indictment didn’t put him on notice

that he and others conspired to injure Stepanian’s rights “to be free from unlawful seizure by setting

him up on a cocaine possession charge, leading to his false arrest.” (Appellant Br. at 28.) Not so.

A read of the indictment shows that he was on notice.

          Count two of the indictment charged that Rosser and his co-conspirators “did knowingly

and willfully conspire and agree together and with each other to injure, oppress, threaten, and

intimidate a person known to the grand jury (“A.S.”) [Armen Stepanian] in the free exercise and

enjoyment of . . . the right to be free from unreasonable search and seizure without probable cause,

in violation of the Fourth Amendment.” (R. 5, Indictment, 5 ¶ 12 (emphasis added)); see 18 U.S.C.

§ 241. This language clearly put Rosser on notice that he would be tried for conspiring to

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No. 22-3887, United States v. Rosser

unreasonably search and seize.      And as if count two’s language wasn’t clear enough, the

indictment’s overt act section also listed actions that contributed to an unreasonable seizure. The

indictment noted that after Rosser “located suspected cocaine residue,” he “arrested [Stepanian]

for possession of cocaine.” (R. 5, Indictment, 6 ¶ 13(b) (emphasis added); see also id. at 6 ¶ 13(c)

(noting overt acts “before and after [Stepanian] was arrested”).)

       In response, Rosser shifts focus to one sentence in the indictment’s list of overt acts. That

sentence states that he “and the other officers then searched [Stepanian] and his vehicle, without

a warrant or consent, in violation of his civil rights.” (Id. at 6 ¶ 13(b) (emphases added).) Rosser

argues that the phrase “in violation of his civil rights” only pertains to the illegal search, and no

similar phrase is used when the indictment refers to his illegal seizure. (Appellant Br. at 27–28.)

So he reasons that the language “clearly narrowed the focus of the Fourth Amendment violation”

from “unreasonable search and seizure” to “search” only. (Id.)

       The way Rosser reads the indictment impermissibly heightens the standard for the

sufficiency of an indictment. An indictment is sufficient if it charges the “elements of the offense”

and “fairly informs a defendant of the charge.” United States v. Howard, 947 F.3d 936, 942 (6th

Cir. 2020) (quoting Hamling v. United States, 418 U.S. 87, 117 (1974)). And it can do so by

including “a plain, concise, and definite written statement of the essential facts constituting the

offense charged.” Fed. R. Crim. P. 7(c)(1).

       Rosser’s indictment meets that standard.        Count two specified that the conspiracy

concerned both an unreasonable search and seizure. And the overt acts listed describe the events

surrounding Rosser’s illegal search and seizure of Stepanian. That information is enough to

“apprise [Rosser] with reasonable certainty, of the nature of the accusation against him.” Russell

v. United States, 369 U.S. 749, 765 (1962) (quotation marks omitted) (quoting United States v.

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No. 22-3887, United States v. Rosser

Simmons, 96 U.S. 360, 362 (1877)). Further, even if the government needed to prove an overt act

to convict Rosser, which we reject below, “it is a ‘well-established rule . . . that the overt act

element of a conspiracy charge may be satisfied by an overt act that is not specified in the

indictment, at least so long as there is no prejudice to the defendant.’” United States v. Rios, 830

F.3d 403, 427 (6th Cir. 2016) (alteration in original) (quoting United States v. Salmonese, 352 F.3d

608, 619 (2d Cir. 2003)). In light of that rule, the one sentence Rosser points to doesn’t carry much

weight. After all, the government could have relied on an overt act not even alluded to in the

indictment. As a result, Rosser has not met his burden of proving a constructive amendment.

                                                   B.

       Rosser next argues that the district court committed plain error by instructing the jury on a

civil-rights conspiracy without listing the commission of an overt act as a required element.

Because no binding precedent requires an overt act under § 241, no plain error occurred.

       On its face, 18 U.S.C. § 241 requires that “two or more persons conspire to injure, oppress,

threaten, or intimidate any person . . . in the free exercise or enjoyment of any right or privilege

secured to him by the Constitution or laws of the United States.” 18 U.S.C. § 241. It mentions

nothing about an overt act. Cf. United States v. Shabani, 513 U.S. 10, 17 (1994) (holding that 21

U.S.C. § 846’s statutory language did not “require[] that an overt act be committed to further the

conspiracy” and remarking that the Supreme Court has “not inferred such a requirement from

congressional silence in other conspiracy statutes”).

       So at least on its face, it’s not clear that § 241 requires an overt act. See, e.g., United States

v. Conatser, 514 F.3d 508, 519 n.4 (6th Cir. 2008) (collecting cases from other circuits that

determine that § 241 does not have an overt-act requirement); United States v. Colvin, 353 F.3d

569, 576 (7th Cir. 2003) (holding that “Shabani compels a conclusion that an overt act is not

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No. 22-3887, United States v. Rosser

required under § 241” because the language “does not specify an overt-act requirement and the

Supreme Court has never inferred such a requirement when the statute did not specify one”).

Regardless, it’s enough on plain-error review to say that neither the Supreme Court nor this Court

has decided “whether conspiracy to violate the civil rights of another requires proof of an overt

act.” Conatser, 514 F.3d at 519 n.4. Thus, we find no error because the district court did not

“[d]eviat[e] from a legal rule.” United States v. Olano, 507 U.S. 725, 732–33 (1993); see also

United States v. Al-Maliki, 787 F.3d 784, 794 (6th Cir. 2015) (“A lack of binding case law that

answers the question presented will [] preclude our finding of plain error.”).

       In response, Rosser asserts that this Court’s opinion in United States v. Brown determined

that a § 241 conviction requires “an overt act [that] was committed in furtherance of the

conspiracy.” 49 F.3d 1162, 1165 (6th Cir. 1995). True, Brown laid out the elements of a § 241

conspiracy charge in passing. See id. (“To establish a conspiracy to interfere with civil rights, the

United States must prove that the defendant knowingly joined a conspiracy to injure, oppress,

threaten or intimidate a victim with the intent to deprive him of a civil right and that an overt act

was committed in furtherance of the conspiracy.”). But as this Court later explained, Brown’s

mention of that “overt act” requirement was dicta. Conatser, 514 F.3d at 519 n.4. Brown wasn’t

an overt-act case. In Brown, the issue was whether under § 241 and 42 U.S.C. § 1982 there is a

“right to ‘use’ property free from racial discrimination.” 49 F.3d at 1165–67 (holding that non-

owners of property who nevertheless have an interest in using or holding that property have a

viable property interest).   But Brown didn’t have the opportunity to analyze the overt-act

requirement. That issue wasn’t before the Court. So Brown does not govern whether a § 241

conspiracy charge requires an overt act.

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No. 22-3887, United States v. Rosser

                                                  C.

       Finally, Rosser challenges a statement that the United States made in its closing argument.

After discussing how a witness responded in an interview, the government stated, “I think Allie

Mills was giving it to you straight.” (R. 134, Transcript V, 1205.) On appeal, Rosser claims that

the statement constitutes flagrant misconduct and requires reversal. We review this statement for

plain error, and we can only reverse if the statement is so egregious “that the district court erred

by failing to rectify that [statement] sua sponte.” United States v. Simmonds, 62 F.4th 961, 964

(6th Cir. 2023); see Puckett v. United States, 556 U.S. 129, 134 (2009).

       To begin, we look at whether an error occurred. When reviewing whether statements

constitute prosecutorial misconduct, we first determine whether the statements were “improper.”

United States v. Francis, 170 F.3d 546, 549 (6th Cir. 1999). A statement is improper when “a

prosecutor supports the credibility of a witness by indicating a personal belief in the witness’s

credibility thereby placing the prestige of the office of the United States Attorney behind that

witness.” Id. at 550.

       The statement here was improper because “blunt comments” of personal belief constitute

improper vouching. Id. Indeed, this Court has long held that personal belief arguments are

improper and “unequivocally condemned,” “even when . . . based solely on the testimony

advanced at trial.” United States v. Bess, 593 F.2d 749, 756 (6th Cir. 1979). So the statement, “I

think Allie Mills was giving it to you straight,” does not pass muster. See Francis, 170 F.3d at

550 (noting that improper vouching can include statements like, “I think [] [the witness] was

candid” and “I think he is honest” (quoting United States v. Kerr, 981 F.2d 1050, 1053 (9th Cir.

1992))).

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No. 22-3887, United States v. Rosser

         We next look at whether the error is plain. “An improper statement of personal belief . . .

is not per se reversible error.” United States v. Henry, 545 F.3d 367, 380 (6th Cir. 2008). So we

must determine whether the improper statement was flagrant so as to require the district court to

intervene sua sponte. See Simmonds, 62 F.4th at 964. And this is where Rosser’s argument falls

apart.

         Four factors determine whether an improper statement is flagrant: “(1) whether the conduct

and remarks of the prosecutor tended to mislead the jury or prejudice the defendant; (2) whether

the conduct or remarks were isolated or extensive; (3) whether the remarks were deliberately or

accidentally made; and (4) whether the evidence against the defendant was strong.” United States

v. Lawrence, 735 F.3d 385, 431–32 (6th Cir. 2013) (quoting United States v. Carson, 560 F.3d

566, 574 (6th Cir. 2009)). And to warrant reversal, the prosecutor’s statements “must have

rendered the trial fundamentally unfair,” id., thereby necessitating district-court intervention,

Simmonds, 62 F.4th at 964.

         First off, the prosecutor’s single statement did not tend to mislead the jury or prejudice the

defendant. A court’s jury instruction to disregard attorney statements as evidence can “neutralize

[a] prosecutor’s slight impropriety.” United States v. Martinez, 981 F.2d 867, 871 (6th Cir. 1992);

see also United States v. Sivils, 960 F.2d 587, 594 (6th Cir. 1992) (“Where jurors are so instructed,

courts presume that the jurors understood and followed the directions given.”). And here, the

district court instructed the jury, “The lawyers’ statements and arguments are not evidence. Their

questions and objections are not evidence.” (R. 134, Transcript V, 1308.) As a result, “[a]ny

possible prejudice that [Rosser] might have suffered was ameliorated by the trial court’s instruction

to the jury.” Martinez, 981 F.2d at 871.

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No. 22-3887, United States v. Rosser

       Next, even if the prosecutor deliberately made the statement, even Rosser recognizes that

“the remark was only made once, so it was isolated.” (Appellant Br. at 42); see United States v.

Forrest, 402 F.3d 678, 686 (6th Cir. 2005) (“They were not accidental, but neither were they

extensive.”). And we agree. One short sentence made in a closing argument during a trial that

occupied five days was isolated.

       Lastly, the evidence against Rosser on the conspiracy charge was strong. See Lawrence,

735 F.3d at 432. The government presented a variety of evidence revealing Rosser’s ongoing

relationship and drug use with Jgenti, the friction caused by the management transition at the

DollHouse, Jgenti’s plan to frame Stepanian with cocaine use, (R. 133, Transcript IV, 1028–30),

Stepanian’s perspective, and the repeated contacts between Jgenti, Rosser, and another officer just

before and following the arrest. And “Rosser’s version of events was contradicted by each witness

that was present on the night of [] Stepanian’s arrest.” (PSR, 6 ¶ 21.) In light of the evidence

offered against Rosser, he cannot show that the prosecutor’s isolated remark affected the jury’s

guilty verdict. See United States v. Modena, 302 F.3d 626, 635–36 (6th Cir. 2002). Flagrancy “is

a pretty high standard.” Francis, 170 F.3d at 552. And Rosser fails to meet it. There was no

flagrant statement for the district court to “recognize and rectify.” Simmonds, 62 F.4th at 967. So

there is no plain error here. See Henry, 545 F.3d at 380 (“And because the error was not flagrant

even under de novo review, the vouching statement is clearly not ground for reversal under the

plain-error standard applicable here.”).

                                                 III.

       For these reasons, we AFFIRM.

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