Court Opinion

ID: 71276
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-26 07:15:55+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:58:19.315382
License: Public Domain

[PUBLISH]

              IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

                    FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT

                             No. 94-8733

                D. C. Docket No. 1:93-00357-CR-1

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                  Plaintiff-Appellee,

                               versus

FREDRIC W. TOKARS, JAMES H. MASON,

                                               Defendants-Appellants.

          Appeals from the United States District Court
               for the Northern District of Georgia

                         (September 6, 1996)

Before DUBINA and BLACK, Circuit Judges, and MARCUS*,
District Judge.

DUBINA, Circuit Judge:

_______________________
*Honorable Stanley Marcus, U.S. District Judge for the
Southern District of Florida, sitting by designation.
     Appellants-defendants Fredric W. Tokars (“Tokars”) and James

H. Mason (“Mason”) (collectively, the “defendants”) appeal their

convictions for various violations of federal law.                   In addition,

Mason challenges his sentence.            For the reasons that follow, we

affirm.

                        I.    STATEMENT OF THE CASE

A.   Procedural Background

     On   August   25,       1993,   a   federal    grand   jury     returned    an

indictment    charging Tokars and Mason with various racketeering,

drug, and money laundering violations.                   The grand jury later

returned a superseding indictment charging Tokars with racketeering

conspiracy, 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) (Count I); racketeering, 18 U.S.C.

§ 1962(c) (Count II); violence in aid of racketeering, 18 U.S.C. §§

1959(a)(1) and 2 (Count III); murder-for-hire, 18 U.S.C. §§ 1958

and 2 (Count V); conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute
cocaine, 21 U.S.C. § 846 (Count VI); money laundering, 18 U.S.C. §§

1956(a)(1)(B)(i) and 2 (Counts VII, VIII, IX, X and XI); and

conspiracy to launder money, 18 U.S.C. § 1956(g) (Count XIII).

Mason   was   charged    in    Counts    I,   II,   IV   (violence    in   aid   of

racketeering, 18 U.S.C. §§ 1959(a)(3) and 2), VI, VII, VIII, IX, X,

XI, and XIII.

     The defendants entered not guilty pleas and moved to change

venue based on pre-trial publicity. The district court granted the

defendants’ change of venue motions, and the trial was moved to

Birmingham, Alabama.          After the government’s presentation of its

                                         2
case-in-chief, the court dismissed Count VII against Mason and

Counts VIII and IX against Tokars.              The jury returned guilty

verdicts against Tokars and Mason on all remaining counts.               Tokars

was sentenced to concurrent life sentences on Counts I, II, III,

and V.    As to Counts VI, X, XI, and XIII, Tokars was sentenced to

97 months' incarceration on each count to be served concurrently

with each other and concurrently with the life sentences, as well

as a $400 special assessment.         Mason was sentenced to 200 months'

incarceration on each count to be served concurrently, as well as

a $450 special assessment.           The defendants then perfected this

appeal.

B.   Factual Background

     This     case   involves   drugs,       money     laundering,     torture,

kidnaping, and murder-for-hire.            The case is best explained when

divided     into   two   sections:    the     narcotics    money     laundering

enterprise and the murder of Sara Tokars (“Sara”).

     1.     Narcotics money laundering enterprise

     At the trial, Jessie Ferguson (“Ferguson”) testified that he

and Julius Cline (“Cline”) were drug dealers in Detroit, Michigan.

In July of 1985, Ferguson moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where he met

Mason.    Cline also moved to Atlanta, and he and Ferguson invested

$75,000 in drug proceeds in the VIP Club.            Mason was the manager of

the club, and he was listed as an owner in order to obtain a liquor

license because Cline and Ferguson were “in trouble” with the

authorities in Detroit.      Ferguson testified that Cline’s principal
source of cocaine was “Andrew.” Cline transported the cocaine from

                                       3
Miami, Florida, to Atlanta. Andre Willis (“Willis”) testified that

he obtained cocaine from Cline until Cline was murdered on July 25,

1992.   Willis distributed the cocaine in Atlanta and Chattanooga,

Tennessee.    According to Willis, Cline also obtained cocaine from

Al Brown (“Brown”), who was part owner of the Diamonds and Pearls

nightclub in Detroit.      Willis testified that he and Cline received

and sold approximately twenty kilograms of cocaine per week.

According to Willis, Cline described his relationship with Mason as

follows: “[Mason] was just a front for the nightclubs because

[Ferguson] and himself had a criminal record, and they could not

get any liquor license in their name, so James Mason would be the

front for all the nightclubs.”             R62-2059.   According to Willis,

Cline owned several clubs, including the VIP, Traxx, the Parrot,

and Zazu’s, as well as the Park Place Beauty Salon.

      Marvin Baynard (“Baynard”) met with Tokars in late 1986 to

discuss providing a legal defense to drug runner Dexter Askew

("Askew").    Askew had been charged with possession of cocaine that

had been provided by Baynard. Baynard informed Tokars that he sold

one-fourth to      one-half a kilo of cocaine per week amounting to

between $5,000 and $10,000.         Tokars requested a $10,000 retainer

fee   and   said   he   would   help   Baynard    "legitimize"   himself   by

incorporating Baynard’s business.           Tokars incorporated a business

which Baynard used with Alex Yancey (“Yancey”), Baynard’s associate

in the cocaine business.        Baynard sold drugs from 1986 to 1989 and

obtained cocaine from Cline and Greg Johnson (“Johnson”) beginning
in 1987.     Baynard recalled that Tokars often discussed offshore

                                       4
banks and had a blue book that explained how to set up an offshore

bank for $15,000.    Baynard did not invest his drug money but

instead kept it as cash in his bedroom and, on Tokars’s advice,

kept the cocaine in another apartment under a different name.

Baynard testified that he introduced Johnson to Tokars so that

Tokars could launder some of Johnson’s drug money.

      Murray Silver (“Silver”) first met Tokars when Tokars was an

assistant district attorney. After leaving the district attorney’s

office, Tokars shared office space with Silver from approximately

July 1986 to October 1989.     Silver recalled a conversation with

Tokars about a booklet Tokars authored entitled Tax Havens and

Offshore Investment Opportunities.      The booklet details Tokars’s

plan for laundering drug money.       Tokars asked that Silver refer

some of his clients to Tokars.   Tokars said that he was not worried

about the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") because he intended to

leave no paper trail.     Tokars told Silver that he had used this

process to help a client who was going through a divorce hide

$150,000 from his wife and the IRS by depositing it in his bank in

the   Bahamas.   Silver   recalled    that   Tokars   lectured   to   law

enforcement officials on the topic of money laundering.               The

Director of the Georgia Police Academy testified that Tokars taught

courses in money laundering for the academy, as well as for the

Federal Law Enforcement Training Academy.

      In late December of 1988, Mason, Cline, and Ferguson accused

Michael Jones (“Jones”) of stealing money from Mason’s home. Jones

testified that he went to Mason’s house where Cline closed and

                                  5
locked the door.       Ferguson placed a 9-millimeter handgun on the

table    and   asked   Jones   whether       he   knew   where   the    money   was.

Ferguson then placed the handgun down Jones’s throat and threatened

to kill him. When Mason returned home, Jones recounted the meeting

to him.    About thirty days later, Mason asked Jones to meet him at

the Park Place Salon.          Mason then asked Jones to accompany him

home.     Ferguson arrived at Mason’s home and instructed Mason to

leave.    Mason left, and Ferguson proceeded to physically torture

Jones for two to three hours.                Ferguson then put Jones in the

bathroom, but Jones escaped.       Ferguson testified that he and Cline

would often keep large amounts of drug money at Mason’s home.

Mason told Ferguson that he thought that Jones had stolen the

money.     Mason hired a private investigator who observed Jones

attempting to purchase fur coats and a new car. Ferguson testified

that he instructed Mason to get Jones to the house.

     Mason and Cline, together with Jim Killeen, Bill Fraser, and

William Kohler, formed Zebra, Inc., and Zebra Management, Inc., to

operate a club called Dominique’s.                Mason and Cline contributed

$20,000 to the operation but were later removed from Zebra’s due to

Cline’s reputation as a drug dealer.              Mason and Cline then opened

Traxx.    Ferguson testified that he invested $15,000 in Traxx and

that Cline invested $45,000.

     Mark McDougall (“McDougall”), who had taken cocaine from

Mason, testified that he and Zane Carroll (“Carroll”) discussed

with Tokars their proposed investment in the Parrot nightclub.
McDougall and Carroll would own 51% of the club.                       Billy Carter

                                         6
(“Carter”) would obtain the liquor license due to McDougall’s

felony conviction.        Tokars and Carter discussed in McDougall’s

presence that Cline was the silent partner and money man for Mason.

Tokars   incorporated     the   Parrot     Acquisition    Corporation.     The

shareholder and management agreement reflected Tokars as the club’s

attorney and Carter and Mason as subscribing to 40,000 and 60,000

shares of stock, respectively.             Ferguson testified that Cline

invested $40,000 to $60,000 in the Parrot.                When McDougall and

Carroll were not pleased with the investment return, McDougall

threatened Cline with a gun.

     Linda Campbell (“Campbell”), who was employed at the Park

Place Salon, was assaulted by Mason.          She employed an attorney and

filed suit against Mason, and her case was settled for $17,500, for

which Mason’s shares of stock in the Parrot were pledged as

collateral.    Campbell’s attorney testified that Tokars represented

Mason and that it was Tokars’s idea to pledge the Parrot stock.

Campbell employed new counsel who demanded that the stock be

assigned to Campbell because Mason had defaulted on payment.

Tokars   claimed   that    he   was   no   longer   the   secretary   of   the

corporation, so a suit was filed against all of the officers and

shareholders, including Tokars, Mason, Cline, Carter, and Brown.

     After Zebra, Inc., was evicted from Dominique’s for non-

payment of rent, Mason approached Douglas McKendrick (“McKendrick”)

claiming that he had an endorsement contract with Deion Sanders

(“Sanders”).    Sanders testified that he met Mason through Willie
Harris (“Harris”).      Sanders signed an agreement with Harris, who

                                       7
signed as President of Atlanta Entertainment Management, Inc.                  In

September    of    1990,    Tokars     incorporated      Atlanta   Entertainment

Management,       Inc.,    listing    Mason,    Cline,    and   Harris   as    its

directors.    Tokars helped finalize the deal with Sanders and the

management agreement with McKendrick.             Carl Tatum, an employee of

the club Deion’s, testified that he discussed with Mason the fact

that Cline was a cocaine dealer and that Mason knew Cline dealt

cocaine.

     In 1988, Harris began selling cocaine for Cline as a middle-

man brokering transactions with other customers.                     In one day,

Harris received between $250,000 and $500,000.               Harris would place

the cash, minus his percentage, in a safe at Cline’s apartment.

Harris once delivered cocaine to Mason at Cline’s request.                Harris

later heard from Mason that the cocaine was intended for a woman in

Mason’s residential complex.             In 1991, Harris was arrested on

cocaine charges.      Mason paid Tokars $5,000 to help Harris.            Tokars

filed affidavits at Harris’s bond hearing stating that neither

Mason nor Cline knew Harris to sell, distribute, possess, or

consume    illegal    drugs.         However,   this   was   after    Harris   had

delivered the cocaine to Mason and had conducted a substantial

cocaine business on behalf of Cline.            After obtaining bond, Harris

met with Tokars, who advised him that he would be found guilty and

receive a substantial sentence unless he could "set someone up."

Tokars suggested setting up Cline, but Harris refused. Harris

testified that Tokars then said that Harris was right that he could
not set up Cline “because if you do Julius [Cline], it will role

                                         8
[sic] down and get James [Mason] because everybody knows James

doesn’t have any money, and he gets his money from Julius.”            R62-

1912.

     Harris and Mason decided to open a new club, and Mason claimed

that he had secured $50,000 from Brown to open it.             John Vara

(“Vara”) testified that through his corporation, JDV, he sold the

leasehold rights to Diamonds and Pearls to Mason for $25,000.           The

closing was held at Tokars’s office in November of 1991.            Vara was

introduced to Brown by Mason, who said that Brown was part of

management.    Mason and Tokars used Atlanta House Clubs, Inc., as

the purchaser of the lease.

        In the spring of 1992, Tokars introduced Eddie Lawrence

(“Lawrence”)    to   Mason   at   Diamonds   and   Pearls.   Tokars    also

introduced Lawrence to Cline, Willis, and Harris.            Tokars told

Lawrence that Cline was a drug dealer and that Mason was a client

for whom he laundered drug money.        Lawrence testified that Tokars

and Mason said that $500,000 was used to renovate Diamonds and

Pearls.

        In 1992, Cline began receiving cocaine from Brown.           At the

time, Cline was renovating Traxx, which was to be renamed the

Phoenix.    Willis testified that Cline was angry with Mason due to

the loss of the Parrot.      Cline asked Willis to invest $150,000 in

the Phoenix.    Willis was to obtain the money from cocaine sales.

Cline told Willis that he “had a white friend that was an attorney

and judge that was advising him on how to invest his money in the
right way” and was helping him with the clubs.          R63-2080.

                                     9
          On August 5, 1992, a car carrying 115 kilograms of cocaine was

stopped in Amarillo, Texas.              The Drug Enforcement Agency ("DEA")

airlifted the car to Atlanta, and the driver agreed to cooperate.

Following an intermediary’s arrest, the cocaine was delivered to

Brown, who was then arrested.                A search of Brown’s car revealed a

business      card   identifying        Brown      and    Mason’s   association      with

Peachtree Entertainment, weekly reports of Diamonds and Pearls, two

digital beepers, and $49,700 in cash.                     DEA agents later executed

two   search     warrants        for   Brown’s     residence    and    found    a    money

counting machine, a bulletproof vest, digital beepers, and records.

Tokars represented Brown at an August 11, 1992, detention hearing.

Assistant United States Attorney Janis Gordon (“Gordon”) expressed

to    Tokars     that      the     government       was    interested     in    Brown’s

cooperation.         Gordon noted that since Tokars had incorporated

Diamonds and Pearls,1 she mentioned to him that he might have a

potential conflict in representing Brown.                   Gordon said that if the

government attempted to seize the nightclub, Tokars might be called

as a witness.

           Mason represented to the DEA and IRS agents that he was the

100% owner of        Diamonds and Pearls and that Brown only served as

the   “doorman”      and    handy      man   for    the    club.      Mason    was    then

subpoenaed to produce all records of the club. When Tokars learned

      1
          Tokars had incorporated Diamonds, Inc., and Diamonds and
Pearls, Inc., identifying Mason as the sole director. Tokars also
incorporated Peachtree Entertainment Group, Inc., with Mason and
Brown as directors.

                                             10
about the subpoena, he referred Mason to another attorney.        Tokars

later told AUSA Gordon that Brown had fired him.

       The records of Diamonds and Pearls and Atlanta House Clubs,

Inc., were also being sought in connection with separate civil

litigation.      James    McCreary    ("McCreary"),   an   attorney   for

Twilights, Inc., requested that Tokars provide Twilights with

information about Atlanta House Clubs, Inc., and its operation of

Diamonds and Pearls. Contrary to Mason’s assertions to the DEA and

the IRS, Tokars claimed that Atlanta House Clubs, Inc., did not

exist, was defunct, and had no assets.       Tokars said that although

the liquor license was obtained in the name Atlanta House Clubs,

Inc., the actual company was Diamonds, Inc., which Tokars claimed

was owned by Mason.      Twilights sued Atlanta House Clubs, Inc., and

Mason and Cline for failing to pay the additional $50,000 required

for the purchase of Zazu’s.          At the time of the default, Jeff

Ganek, Twilights’s attorney, advised his client to liquidate the

nightclub, but when he discovered a liquor license advertisement by

Atlanta House Clubs, Inc., for Diamonds and Pearls, he suggested

that the company attempt to collect the $50,000.

       Tokars told McCreary that he thought Atlanta House Clubs,

Inc., had no assets but that he had just discovered some assets.

Tokars informed McCreary that Cline had used Atlanta House Clubs,

Inc., to operate another club, the Phoenix.      Tokars suggested that

if Twilights would dismiss Mason from the lawsuit, Tokars and Mason

would help Twilights obtain a judgment against Atlanta House Clubs,
Inc.   Tokars told McCreary that following Cline’s murder, members

                                     11
of his family were operating the Phoenix.                 As a result, Tokars

suggested that Twilights might be able to satisfy its claim through

Cline’s estate. Tokars told McCreary that Cline’s murder was drug-

related.     Tokars represented that Zazu’s was Cline’s venture and

that Cline had been very upset with McCreary’s clients, even to the

point of wanting to murder one of them.

       2.    The Murder of Sara Tokars

       During a political fundraiser reception, Tokars stated that

his wife Sara had recently been in his office working on his

accounts    receivable.         Sarah   Suttler   (“Suttler”),      the    Tokars’

neighbor, testified that Sara often discussed divorcing Tokars but

was afraid she would not get custody of their two sons.                        In the

fall of 1992, Suttler said Sara was elated and said “I can divorce

Fred now because I have the goods on him, and he’ll not get my boys

. . . I have found papers of income tax evasion.”                        R69-3671.

According to Suttler, Sara gave the information to a private

detective and she felt protected by this.

       In   1991,    Lawrence      employed   Yancey   in    the    construction

business.     Lawrence knew Yancey to be a cocaine dealer.                     Yancey

asked Lawrence for $20,000, but Lawrence, who did not have $20,000,

gave Yancey only $10,000 to purchase cocaine.               Lawrence said that

they could re-sell the cocaine and make the remainder of the

$20,000. Lawrence advanced the money, but the plan failed. Yancey

then   decided      to   produce   counterfeit    money     in   order    to    repay

Lawrence.     The United States Secret Service ("Secret Service")
began investigating their activities.             Lawrence testified that he

                                        12
and Yancey would pass counterfeit money by going to nightclubs,

buying drugs, and then reselling the drugs for legitimate money.

Yancey and Lawrence eventually became aware of the Secret Service

investigation.

     Yancey introduced Lawrence to Tokars.           Yancey and Lawrence

informed    Tokars   of   their   counterfeiting    activities.    Tokars

suggested that he could take the counterfeit money and distribute

it in the Bahamas, but the two declined.           Lawrence hired Tokars,

but Yancey fled and was arrested in December of 1993.          The Secret

Service confronted Lawrence, but he denied his involvement in the

scheme.     Lawrence, accompanied by Tokars, agreed to go to the

Secret Service office where Lawrence took a polygraph test. Tokars

was told that Lawrence tested deceptive when asked about his

involvement in passing counterfeit money.      Lawrence testified that

he and Tokars then began conducting a money laundering business.

The two used Lawrence’s construction business as a front and also

incorporated several other businesses that were used to launder

money.     Lawrence solicited drug dealers by going to nightclubs.

Tokars advanced approximately $70,000 to Lawrence for operating

expenses.     Tokars discussed with Lawrence how he used offshore

banks to launder money.

     In late July or early August of 1992, Tokars asked Lawrence if

he would kill somebody. In mid-September, Tokars asked Lawrence to

kill his wife Sara because she wanted to divorce him and take

everything.    In another discussion, Tokars told Lawrence that Sara
wanted the house and his money.      Lawrence advised Tokars, “Let her

                                     13
have it,” saying that “he could always get that back.”                  R65-2700.

According to Lawrence, Tokars stated “that he worked too hard, he

went to school at night, and she never did anything.                All she ever

did was spend his money, and that he wasn’t going to give it to

her.   He would kill her first.”          Id.    During a later discussion,

Lawrence asked about Tokars’s children.                 Lawrence recalled that

Tokars said, “They will be alright.             They will get over it.        They

are young.       They will get over it.”            R65-2700-01.         Lawrence

testified that Tokars “just wanted it done” and said that “she was

putting pressure on him and he wanted to kill her.                 That was what

he wanted to do, he wanted her dead.”             R65-2701.

       Tokars first indicated that the murder should occur in his

office because he could cover it up due to his influence in

Atlanta.    Lawrence would not agree.       Tokars then decided it should

happen in their home so it would look like a burglary.                     Tokars

offered    to   pay   Lawrence   $25,000   plus     a    portion   of   the   life

insurance proceeds.       In August of 1989, Tokars had increased the

life insurance proceeds on Sara from $250,000 to $1,750,000.

Tokars continued to pressure Lawrence to kill Sara, going so far as

to threaten to destroy Lawrence’s business if he would not comply.

Lawrence testified that Tokars said that he did not care who did

it.    Lawrence contacted Curtis Rower (“Rower”) and offered him

$5,000 to commit the murder.          Rower agreed.           On the Monday or

Tuesday prior to Thanksgiving of 1992, Tokars informed Lawrence

that Sara would be going to Florida and that he wanted her killed

                                     14
when she came back.     Tokars was scheduled to be in Alabama meeting

with a prisoner at that time, so he would have an alibi.

     Sara’s father testified that Sara and the two children drove

to Florida and arrived on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving and that

Tokars flew into Tampa the same day.            Tokars returned home on

Saturday    and   requested   that   Lawrence   meet   him   the   next   day.

Lawrence met Tokars at his law office, and Tokars informed Lawrence

that Sara had already left Florida and would arrive in Atlanta

around 8:00 or 9:00 p.m.       Tokars checked into a Montgomery hotel

and called his answering service to leave the number where he could

be reached in case of an emergency.       That same day, there were many

phone calls involving telephones associated with Tokars, Lawrence,

Sara’s father, and the Montgomery hotel.

     The record demonstrates that Lawrence picked up Rower around

7:00 p.m.    Rower was equipped with a sawed-off shotgun.           Lawrence

left Rower at the Tokars residence and instructed him to kill a

white female about age forty.          Lawrence drove to a neighboring

subdivision to wait.      About two hours later, Lawrence saw Sara’s

white 4-Runner vehicle driving off the road.             Rower got out of

Sara's vehicle and ran toward Lawrence. They then drove to Atlanta

because Rower wanted to buy some drugs.

     Rower testified that when Sara arrived home, he made her get

back into her vehicle and leave to take him to Atlanta.                   Rower

claims that they pulled over, that Lawrence approached, and that

Lawrence grabbed the gun, which went off.

                                     15
     Stipulated testimony indicated that Sara died from a gunshot

wound to the head delivered from a distance of approximately one

foot or less.    Sara's two small children were in the vehicle at the

time of the murder.

     Wilbert Humphries ("Humphries"), a money launderer, was in

custody in Montgomery, Alabama, in November of 1992.                He was

surprised to receive a visit from Tokars on the Sunday after

Thanksgiving.     At the jail, Tokars asked Humphries to sign some

papers.   Humphries attempted to talk with Tokars about the case,

but Tokars “talked to me very brief like he was in a hurry or

something.” R66-3035. This meeting lasted only about ten minutes.

     On the Monday following the murder, a cousin of Sara’s, Mary

Rose Taylor (“Taylor”), contacted Sara’s sister, Christine Ambrusko

(“Ambrusko”), asking her to find the papers of Tokars that Taylor

had asked Sara to copy.    Taylor went to Ambrusko’s house, found the

documents, copied them, and delivered them to the police.             These

records reflected off-shore bank accounts in the Bahamas and a

Class B licensed bank issued by Montserrat.            Ambrusko testified

that Sara requested that she keep the documents in a safe place and

give them to the police if anything happened to Sara.         According to

Ambrusko, Sara wanted to divorce Tokars but was concerned that he

would take the children.        Ambrusko also said that Sara was “very

scared and intimidated.”        R68-3556.

     According    to   Sara’s    sister,    Gretchen   Ambrusko   Schaeffer

(“Schaeffer”), after the murder Tokars appeared “very anxious, and
he was making loud noises, kind of moaning and saying,              Id.

     On Christmas Eve, Tokars failed to go on a family outing to

Busch Gardens.    As time passed without contact from Tokars, Dr.

Ambrusko became worried.    He went to look for Tokars and found him

unconscious in his hotel room.      The police found a suicide note.

Tokars survived this suicide attempt.
                             II.   ISSUES

The defendants raise the following issues on appeal:

1.   Whether the district court erred in denying the defendants’
     challenges to the government’s use of peremptory strikes.

2.   Whether the district court erred in admitting the statement
     Rower made at his bond hearing.

                                   18
3.    Whether the district court      erred   in    admitting     hearsay
      statements made by Sara.

4.    Whether Tokars was prejudiced by misrepresentations regarding
      the polygraph exam and the failure to produce the exam.

5.    Whether Tokars had the opportunity to cross-examine Lawrence.

6.    Whether the district court erred in denying Tokars’s motion to
      suppress evidence seized from Tokars’s residence.

7.    Whether the district court abused its discretion in its
      admission of various items of evidence.

8.    Whether the jury charge on Count V was proper.

9.    Whether sufficient   evidence   supports     Mason   and   Tokars’s
      convictions.

10.   Whether the district court erred in denying Mason’s motion for
      a new trial.

11.   Whether the district court properly permitted the jury to find
      that Tokars committed racketeering act nine.

12.   Whether the district court abused its discretion in moving the
      trial to Birmingham, Alabama.

13.   Whether the district court      erred   in   granting      only   one
      continuance of the trial.

14.   Whether the district court abused its discretion in denying
      Mason’s motion for severance from Tokars.

15.   Whether cross-examination of Ambrusko was properly limited.

16.   Whether the prosecutor engaged in misconduct.

17.   Whether the district court properly refused Tokars’s theory-
      of-the-case charges.

18.   Whether the district court violated Tokars’s due process
      rights by prohibiting comments by the attorneys on dismissed
      charges.

19.   Whether the references to violence and fear             and   other
      prejudicial evidence denied Tokars a fair trial.

20.   Whether Mason was properly sentenced.
21.   Whether this court’s limitation of Tokars’s brief denied him
      the effective assistance of counsel or due process on appeal.

                                 19
                          III.   STANDARDS OF REVIEW

     A district court’s findings regarding whether a peremptory

strike was exercised for a discriminatory reason largely involves

credibility determinations and is therefore entitled to great

deference.     See Batson v. Kentucky, 476 U.S. 79, 98 n.21, 106 S.

Ct. 1712, 1724 n.21, 90 L. Ed. 2d 69 (1986).           Thus, we review a

district court’s finding in this respect only for clear error. See

Hernandez v. New York, 500 U.S. 352, 364-65, 111 S. Ct. 1859, 1868-

69, 114 L. Ed. 2d 395 (1991) (plurality);         id. at 372, 111 S. Ct.

at 1873 (O’Connor, J., concurring) (agreeing with the plurality

that district court’s finding should be reviewed for clear error);

United States v. Alston, 895 F.2d 1362, 1366 (11th Cir. 1990).

     This court reviews a district court's evidentiary rulings for

abuse of discretion.       United States v. Walker, 59 F.3d 1196, 1198

(11th Cir.), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 116 S.Ct. 547, 133 L. Ed.

2d 450 (1995).

     We review findings of fact on a motion to suppress evidence

for clear error; the district court's application of the law to

those facts is subject to de novo review.         United States v. Diaz-
Lizaraza, 981 F.2d 1216, 1220 (11th Cir. 1993).

     A challenge to a jury instruction presents a question of law

subject to de novo review.          United States v. Chandler, 996 F.2d

1073, 1085 (11th Cir. 1993), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 114 S.Ct.

2724, 129 L. Ed. 2d 848 (1994).             We review a district court’s

refusal   to   give   a    requested   jury   instruction   for   abuse   of

discretion. United States v. Maduno, 40 F.3d 1212, 1215 (11th Cir.

                                       20
1994), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 116 S. Ct. 123, 133 L. Ed. 2d 72

(1995).

     Whether there was sufficient evidence to support a conviction

is a question of law subject to de novo review.          United States v.

Keller, 916 F.2d 628, 632 (11th Cir. 1990), cert. denied, 499 U.S.

978, 111 S.Ct. 1628, 113 L. Ed. 2d 724 (1991).                We view the

evidence in the light most favorable to the government with all

reasonable    inferences      and   credibility   choices    made    in     the

government's favor.     Id.

     A trial court’s denial of a motion for new trial is reviewed

for an abuse of discretion.         United States v. Martinez , 763 F.2d

1297, 1312 (11th Cir. 1985).

     The granting of a motion for a change of venue is reviewed for

abuse of discretion.       United States v. Williams, 523 F.2d 1203,

1208 (5th Cir. 1975).2

     A denial of a motion for a continuance is reviewed for an

abuse of discretion and specific, substantial prejudice.              United

States v. Bergouignan, 764 F.2d 1503, 1508 (11th Cir. 1985), cert.

denied, 484 U.S. 1044, 108 S. Ct. 778, 98 L. Ed. 2d 864 (1988).

     Denial   of   a   severance    motion   is   reviewed   for    abuse    of

discretion.    United States v. Harper, 680 F.2d 731, 733 (11th
Cir.), cert. denied, 459 U.S. 916, 103 S. Ct. 229, 74 L. Ed. 2d 182

(1982).

    2
          In Bonner v. City of Prichard, 661 F.2d 1206, 1209 (11th
Cir. 1981) (en banc), this court adopted as binding precedent all
decisions of the former Fifth Circuit handed down prior to October
1, 1981.

                                      21
     Whether the trial court erred in limiting cross-examination is

reviewed for a clear abuse of discretion.                     United States v.
Lankford, 955 F.2d 1545, 1548 (11th Cir. 1992).                    However, the

district   court’s    discretion       in    limiting   the   scope    of   cross-

examination is subject to the requirements of the Sixth Amendment’s

guarantee of the right of confrontation.            Id.

     This court usually may only reverse a conviction based on a

prosecutor's remarks if those remarks are improper and prejudicial

to the defendant's substantive rights. United States v. Cannon, 41

F.3d 1462, 1469 (11th Cir.), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 116 S. Ct.

86, 133 L. Ed. 2d 44 (1995).

     The question whether a particular sentencing guideline applies

to a given set of facts is a question of law reviewed                   de novo.

United States v. Shriver, 967 F.2d 572, 574 (11th Cir. 1992).                This

court reviews a trial court's determination of the quantity of

drugs   used   to   establish   a     base    offense   level    for   sentencing

purposes under the clearly erroneous standard.                  United States v.

Taffe, 36 F.3d 1047, 1050 (11th Cir. 1994).
                                IV.    ANALYSIS

     Initially we note that many of the issues in this case are

subject to review for an abuse of discretion.                 Our review of the

record persuades us that the district court did not abuse its

discretion in moving the trial to Birmingham, Alabama; in granting

only one continuance of the trial; and in denying Mason’s motion

for severance from Tokars.            Moreover, we conclude that Tokars's

arguments regarding issues nineteen and twenty-one are meritless.

                                        22
Accordingly, we summarily affirm the district court’s disposition

of these issues.3   The remaining issues meriting discussion are

addressed infra.

A.   J.E.B. v. Alabama ex rel T.B.

     The   defendants   argue   that   the   government   purposefully

discriminated on the basis of gender in violation of J.E.B. v.

Alabama ex rel T.B., 511 U.S. 127, 114 S. Ct. 1419, 128 L. Ed. 2d

89 (1994), by exercising its peremptory challenges to remove men

from the venire. The government exercised its first ten strikes to

remove men, and after an objection by Tokars, the government struck

three men and three women.   After the jury was struck, the district

court heard the defense challenge.     When confronted by the defense

allegation that the government was impermissibly striking, the

government argued that there was a smaller number of women in the

venire and that the defense engaged in its own practice of striking

women.4    The government then conceded:

     [W]e did not strike men just to strike men, nor did we
     strike women just to strike women . . . In fact, the
     defendants could have wiped out the entire sex of women
     with their strikes and still had five to go, and as a
     matter of principle, I think every sex should be
     represented in a trial of this nature as should every
     race be represented, and so we undertook a course of
     action anticipating the defendants would do what they

     3     See Eleventh Cir. Rule 36-1.

     4
          Although not relevant to our analysis, we find it
interesting that Tokars’s counsel intimated his own discriminatory
views during the challenge conference: “[M]y reading of the
Government’s strikes was that it was almost all straight males, and
then at the end out of the last four, I think they struck three
females, one black female and two      regular females.”    R56-531
(emphasis added).

                                  23
     did, which was strike almost in the exact opposite
     proportion of women to men, because if you look at the
     balance, the greater proportion of their strikes were
     women.

R56-532-33.     The government also argued that men had not been

declared   to   be   a   cognizable   group   for   purposes    of    a   Batson

challenge.

     Regarding the challenge the district court stated:

     I don’t think men do constitute a cognizable group for
     Batson. There is a case in the Supreme Court presently
     regarding whether women constitute a cognizable group.
     The holding of the circuit[s] so far, the Fifth Circuit
     has held that women do not constitute a cognizable group.
     So have the Fourth and [the] Seventh. The Ninth Circuit
     has gone the other way. I do not know of any circuit
     decision that has held that men are a cognizable group .
     . . I do not think the challenge is valid.       However,
     given the degree of novelty of the issue, Mr. Parker, do
     you and Ms. Monahan want to place on the record what your
     reasons were for striking the men that you struck?

R56-534-35.     The government proceeded to state gender-neutral

reasons for each of its strikes.         The district court overruled the

defendants’ objections, and the case proceeded to trial with a jury

composed of eight men and four women.

     After the jury returned its verdict in this case, the Supreme

Court   decided      J.E.B.,   thereby     extending   Batson    to       gender.

Consequently, Mason moved for a new trial.              The district court

conducted a hearing on the motion and determined that J.E.B. should
not be applied retroactively because it was not forecast by prior

decisions to the same degree as was Batson.            The district court’s

conclusion regarding the retroactivity of J.E.B. was incorrect in

light of the Supreme Court’s decision in Griffith v. Kentucky, 479

U.S. 314, 328, 107 S. Ct. 708, 716, 93 L. Ed. 2d 649 (1987), which

                                      24
mandates that “a new rule for the conduct of criminal prosecutions

is to be applied retroactively to all cases, state or federal,

pending on direct review or not yet final, with no exception for

cases in which the new rule constitutes a 500 U.S. 352, 358-59, 111 S. Ct. 1859, 1865-

66, 114 L. Ed. 2d 395 (1991) (plurality opinion).        First, the party

challenging the peremptory strike must establish a prima facie case

that   the   prosecutor   exercised   the   peremptory   strikes   for   a

discriminatory reason.     See id.    Second, if the prima facie case

                                     25
has been established, the burden shifts to the proponent of the

peremptory challenge to articulate a gender-neutral explanation for

the strike.   See id.    The Supreme Court clarified that in order to

satisfy step two, “a 115 S. Ct. 1769, 1771, 131 L. Ed. 2d

834 (1995) (per curiam).      Third, the trial court must ascertain

whether the opponent of the strike has carried his or her burden of

proving intentional discrimination.        Hernandez, 500 U.S. at 359,

111 S. Ct. at 1866.     The district court’s findings on the issue of

discriminatory intent are entitled to great deference and are

reviewed for clear error.     Id., 500 U.S. at 364-65, 111 S. Ct. at

1868-69.

     This case presents a situation of mixed motives.              It is

apparent   from   the   government’s    statements   following   Tokars’s

challenge that gender was indeed a factor that was considered in

exercising its strikes. Tokars and Mason argue that this statement

constitutes a blatant admission of discriminatory intent that

negates the relevance of any other non-discriminatory reasons

offered.   As such, Tokars and Mason contend that the government’s

actions violated J.E.B. This circuit, however, has recently joined
three other circuits in adopting dual motivation analysis for

purposes of Batson.     See Wallace v. Morrison , 87 F.3d 1271 (11th

Cir. 1996) (applying dual motivation where prosecutor stated that

race was a factor considered in the exercise of peremptory strike);

United States v. Darden, 70 F.3d 1507, 1530-32 (8th Cir. 1995)

                                   26
(applying dual motivation where prosecutor struck on basis of

youth, inexperience, and alleged young black female tendency “to

testify on behalf and be more sympathetic toward individuals who

are involved in narcotics”), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 116 S. Ct.

1449, 134 L. Ed. 2d 569, and cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 116 S. Ct.

2567, ___ L. Ed. 2d ___ (1996); Jones v. Plaster, 57 F.3d 417, 421-

22 (4th Cir. 1995) (applying dual motivation but remanding to

district court for clarification of findings regarding whether the

strike was exercised for a discriminatory purpose and whether it

would have been exercised in the absence of the discriminatory

purpose); Howard v. Senkowski, 986 F.2d 24, 27-31 (2d Cir. 1993)

(applying dual motivation to prosecutor’s pre-Batson statements).

     Dual motivation analysis grants the proponent of a strike the

opportunity to raise an affirmative defense after the opponent of

the strike has established a prima facie case of discrimination.

Wallace, 87 F.3d at 1274-75; Howard, 986 F.2d at 30.      In order to

prove this affirmative defense, the proponent of the strike bears

the burden of proving by a preponderance of the evidence that the

strike would have been exercised even in the absence of the

discriminatory motivation.   Wallace, 87 F.3d at 1275.5
     After a careful review of the record, we conclude that the

district court’s findings that the government offered gender-

     5
          In Howard , the Second Circuit held that the dual
motivation analysis used by the Supreme Court in the constitutional
context should apply to Batson challenges. See, e.g., Village of
Arlington Heights v. Metropolitan Hous. Dev. Corp., 429 U.S. 252,
270-71 n.21, 97 S. Ct. 555, 566 n. 21, 50 L. Ed. 2d 450 (1977); Mt.
Healthy City Sch. Dist. Bd. of Educ. v. Doyle, 429 U.S. 274, 287,
97 S. Ct. 568, 576, 50 L. Ed. 2d 471 (1977).

                                27
neutral reasons for the strikes is not clearly erroneous.        The

district court conducted a hearing during which it reviewed each of

the government’s reasons for striking the jurors and found them to

be gender-neutral. In making a finding of no pretext, the district

court in effect made the appropriate findings necessary for dual

motivation analysis.     Applying dual motivation, we conclude that

the government would have exercised the strikes in the absence of

any discriminatory motivation.6

        Finally, we note that resort to dual motivation analysis will

rarely be necessary.     By now, no competent prosecutor or defense

attorney is unaware of the fact that strikes on the basis of race

or gender are prohibited.     The procedural posture of this case is

unusual in that the law at the time of trial was unclear as to

whether Batson would be extended to gender.    Unlike the respondent

in J.E.B., the government in this case expressed that it was not

striking men on the basis of stereotyping.     Furthermore, both the

    6
          We acknowledge that in Purkett, the Supreme Court stated
that “the ultimate burden of persuasion regarding racial motivation
rests with, and never shifts from, the opponent of the strike.”
Purkett, ___ U.S. at ___, 115 S. Ct. at 1771. However, we do not
perceive this language to prohibit the application of dual
motivation analysis. In Purkett, the Court faced the question
whether the proponent of the strike should be required to present
a plausible or persuasive reason for striking a juror in order for
the reason to be considered race-neutral. Id. The Court found
that such a requirement stopped the analysis too early and, in
effect, relieved the burden of persuasion regarding discriminatory
motivation from the opponent of the strike.      Id.  As such, the
Court found that the proponent of the strike may offer an
implausible reason as long as it is not race-based on its face.
Id. Whereas the opponent of the strike in Purkett sought to avoid
its burden of persuasion in the face of an implausible explanation,
the dual motivation analysis provides an affirmative defense to the
proponent of the strike but does not take away the ultimate burden
of persuasion from the opponent of the strike.

                                  28
prosecutor       and    defense    counsel      could    have    raised    a     J.E.B.
challenge. Moreover, the jury itself ultimately consisted of eight

men and four women.            While the ultimate composition of the jury

does not nullify the possibility of gender discrimination, it is a

significant factor in the highly deferential review we afford the

district court’s conclusions.             See United States v. Jiminez, 983

F.2d 1020, 1023-24 (11th Cir.), cert. denied, 510 U.S. 925, 114 S.

Ct. 330, 126 L. Ed. 2d 276 (1993).

B.    Rower’s Bond Hearing Statements

      Tokars argues that the district court erred in admitting the

out-of-court testimony offered by Rower during his Cobb County bond

hearing under Federal Rule of Evidence 804(b)(3).7                          At least

portions    of    the    Rower    bond   hearing     testimony     were,    in    fact,

relevant statements made by Rower against his penal interest within

the   meaning     of    Rule   804(b)(3).         Moreover,     because    Rower    was

unavailable      to     testify   at     trial,    and   because    his    statement

regarding Lawrence's offer of $5,000 to commit murder and his

      7
          Federal Rule of Evidence 804(b)(3) provides:

           The following [is] not excluded by the hearsay rule
      if the declarant is unavailable as a witness:

      A statement which was at the time of its making so far
      contrary to the declarant’s pecuniary or proprietary
      interest, or so far tended to subject the declarant to
      civil or criminal liability, or to render invalid a claim
      by the declarant against another, that a reasonable
      person in the declarant’s position would not have made
      the statement unless believing it to be true.           A
      statement tending to expose the declarant to criminal
      liability and offered to exculpate the accused is not
      admissible unless corroborating circumstances clearly
      indicate the trustworthiness of the statement.

                                           29
statements admitting the kidnapping were made against his penal

interest and were corroborated by other evidence in the case, we

conclude that the statements were properly admitted.

     If   there   was   any   error   in   the   admission   of   the   Rower

testimony, however, such error was harmless. None of the testimony

directly inculpated Tokars.      The testimony was only relevant as to

Tokars's involvement in the kidnapping insofar as it demonstrated

that Sara Tokars was, in fact, kidnapped.           However, the testimony

of Lawrence and Detective McEntyre, considered independent of

Rower's testimony, was more than sufficient to prove the fact that

Sara Tokars was kidnapped.       Furthermore, the evidence crucial to

Tokars's guilt regarding the murder-for-hire scheme was that which

related to his dealings with Lawrence, not that which related to

Lawrence's   dealings    with   Rower,     the   main   subject   of   Rower's

testimony.    Finally, although Rower's testimony may have been

corroborative, in part, of Lawrence's testimony, Tokars impeached

Lawrence on cross-examination, and Rower's testimony contradicted

Lawrence's in some respects. Thus, any corroboration of Lawrence's

testimony by Rower had a minimal effect on the jury's perception of

Lawrence's credibility.8

     8
          Tokars also argues that the district court erred in not
allowing him to introduce the entire statement under Federal Rule
of Evidence 106 (rule of completeness) and 806 (impeachment of
declarant). However, after the district court refused, Tokars’s
counsel asked instead to introduce only certain portions of the
statement, which the court allowed. After reviewing the record, we
are persuaded that the district court did not abuse its discretion
in limiting the introduction of the remainder of the statement.
Moreover, assuming arguendo that the district court erred, any
error was harmless.

                                      30
C.   Hearsay Statements of Sara

     The government introduced through several witnesses statements

made by Sara regarding her state of mind and the course of conduct

with respect to certain documents.     The government offered each of

the contested statements under one of two theories:           “(1) to

demonstrate the state of mind of Sara Tokars, over the course of an

approximately three-year period, as to her intent to divorce Tokars

and to show how the evolution of her state of mind over that period

provided a motive for Tokars to scheme to murder her; and (2) to

demonstrate a course of conduct, most often that of various persons

relating to copies of certain documents found by Sara Tokars that

were incriminating as to Tokars and that eventually were turned

over to both state and federal law enforcement officials after the

death of Ms. Tokars.”    Government’s Br. at 69.       The government

argues that, with respect to the first theory, the statements fall
                                             9
within Federal Rule of Evidence 803(3),          and, pursuant to the

     9
          Federal Rule of Evidence 803(3) states as follows:

     The following [is] not excluded by the hearsay rule, even
     though the declarant is available as a witness:

     A statement of the declarant’s then existing state of
     mind, emotion, sensation, or physical condition (such as
     intent, plan, motive, design, mental feeling, pain, and
     bodily health), but not including a statement of memory
     or belief to prove the fact remembered or believed unless
     it relates to the execution, revocation, identification,
     or terms of declarant’s will.

                                  31
second theory, the statements are not “hearsay” as defined in

Federal Rule of Evidence 801(c).10
     Regarding the first theory, we conclude that, at least when

relevant to the motive to kill, evidence of the victim’s state of

mind is admissible under Federal Rule of Evidence 803(3).                  See

United States v. DiNome, 954 F.2d 839, 846 (2d Cir.) (statements

about     victims’   existing    and    ongoing     suspicions      concerning

defendant’s exportation business relevant to show motive to kill),

cert. denied , 506 U. S. 830, 113 S. Ct. 94, 121 L. Ed. 2d 56

(1992); United States v. Donley, 878 F.2d 735, 738 (3d Cir. 1989)

(statements showing that victim intended to move out of military

apartment and separate from defendant), cert. denied, 494 U.S.

1058, 110 S. Ct. 1528, 108 L. Ed. 2d 767 (1990).               Tokars claims

that a homicide victim’s state of mind is not sufficiently relevant

to admit out-of-court statements of fear unless the defense is

self-defense,    suicide,   or   accidental       death,   citing    for   this

proposition United States v. Kaplan, 510 F.2d 606 (2d Cir. 1974).

However, Kaplan involved possession with intent to distribute and

distribution of heroin, not homicide, and the declarant’s state of

mind was not an issue.      Tokars knew of the change in Sara’s state

of mind when he asked Lawrence to kill her.                The fact that she

wanted to divorce him and take all of his money is what apparently

     10
          Federal Rule of Evidence 801(c) provides: “ 885 F.2d 1529, 1536 (11th Cir. 1989) (en banc),
polygraph evidence may be admitted to impeach or corroborate
testimony of a witness at trial within the court’s discretion, so
long as the opposing party has adequate notice of the evidence and
an opportunity to secure its own polygraph. During his opening
statement, Tokars claimed that his relationship with Lawrence was
that of a businessman investing in a rising entrepreneur. Tokars
acknowledged the existence of the polygraph test and in fact
consented to the test. The polygraph was not introduced to prove

                                            33
Brady12 or Giglio13 material in the results of the polygraph, which

was administered to Lawrence to enable him to enter the Witness

Protection   Program.      Counsel   for   Tokars   then   asked   for    the

questions that were asked of Lawrence, and the government disclosed

these two questions:    “Do you have any specific plans to locate or

harm another witness in the program? Do you have any specific plans

to intimidate or threaten another witness in the program?”               R64-

2561.     In its brief, the government concedes that one could

reasonably infer from its disclosure of only two questions that in

fact only two questions were asked. On cross-examination, Lawrence

indicated that he was asked six or seven questions and in response

to questions gave the impression that he was polygraphed regarding

the truthfulness of his testimony about Tokars.            Tokars charged

that Lawrence was lying about the number of questions but then

discovered that there were in fact more than two questions.              The

district court ordered the government to produce the entire list of

questions.    The court concluded that it had no opinion as to

whether   Lawrence   had   intentionally    lied;   however,   the   court

expressed concern over the matter of giving the jury the impression

that Lawrence had been polygraphed regarding his testimony about

that Lawrence told the Secret Service the truth, but to prove that
Lawrence had been deceptive and that Tokars was so informed. Thus,
we see no error in the admission of the polygraph exam. However,
even assuming that the admission was erroneous, any error was
harmless.
    12
          Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83, 83 S. Ct. 1194, 10 L. Ed.
2d 215 (1963).
    13
          Giglio v. United States, 405 U.S. 150, 92 S. Ct. 763, 31
L. Ed. 2d 104 (1972).

                                     34
Tokars.     The district court resolved the issue by allowing the

government,   over   objection,   to    read   a   statement   to   the   jury

confirming that Lawrence was given a polygraph exam before entering

the Witness Protection Program, but which stated that he was never

asked any questions regarding whether his testimony at trial was or

would be truthful.14     We are persuaded that the district court

corrected any possible error by allowing the government to inform

the jury that Lawrence was not questioned during the polygraph

examination about his testimony regarding Tokars.15

E.   Opportunity to Cross-Examine Lawrence

     Tokars claims that he was "deprived of a thorough cross-

examination of Lawrence due to the quashing of his subpoenas."

Tokars' Br. at 23-25.    The State of Georgia provided Lawrence with

discovery, which included Tokars’s statements, witness statements,

and various records.    Tokars sought pre-trial production of these

documents pursuant to a Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 17(c)

subpoena.     The district court found that the State of Georgia

     14
            The government stated to the jury:

     On October 27, 1993, in connection with Mr. Lawrence’s
     entry into the Bureau of Prisons Witness Protection
     Program, he was given a polygraph examination. He was
     never asked, nor did he ever answer any questions as to
     whether his testimony in any trial was or would be
     truthful.    He was asked whether, in answering the
     questions by the polygrapher, would he answer the
     questions truthfully.

R71-4196.
     15
          We note that during closing argument, Tokars’s counsel
argued that Lawrence lied about the questions he was asked in the
polygraph examination.

                                   35
provided Tokars with all discovery materials that were provided to

counsel for Lawrence and quashed the subpoena.   The district court

gave additional reasons for its decision to quash the subpoena, but

did so in a sealed order because the discussion revealed Tokars’s

theory of defense.   After reviewing the district court’s sealed

order and the record pertaining to this issue, we conclude that the

district court’s factual findings were not clearly erroneous and

that the district court did not abuse its discretion.   See United

States v. Silverman, 745 F.2d 1386, 1397 (11th Cir. 1984).

F.   Evidentiary Issues

     1.   Silver’s testimony

     Tokars claims that the district court erred in allowing Murray

Silver to testify about Tokars’s request that Silver solicit drug

dealers for money laundering services and in admitting articles

about money laundering authored by Tokars as extrinsic act evidence

admissible under Federal Rule of Evidence 404(b).   In denying the

defense motion in limine , the district court stated that the

articles would be relevant to show specific intent. After Silver’s

direct examination, the district court gave a limiting instruction

at the request of defense counsel.

     Extrinsic act evidence is admissible if the evidence is

relevant to an issue other than the defendant’s character and if

the probative value of the evidence is not substantially outweighed

by its potential to prejudice the defendant.   See United States v.
Costa, 947 F.2d 919, 925 (11th Cir. 1991), cert. denied, 504 U.S.

946, 112 S. Ct. 2289, 119 L. Ed. 2d 213, and cert. denied, 506 U.S.

                                36
929, 113 S. Ct. 360, 121 L. Ed. 2d 272 (1992).                           In addition, the

district court must provide a limiting instruction, as was the case

here.        See id.    Although Tokars claims that he never denied “know

how,” he never entered into any written stipulation removing intent

as an issue for the jury.             See id. (“Because the defendants did not

affirmatively          take   the    issue    of     intent    out    of   contention    by

stipulating that they possessed the requisite intent, the district

court    did     not    abuse   its    discretion       in    admitting      evidence    of

unindicted extrinsic bad acts.”).                     Based on our review of the

record, we conclude that the district court did not abuse its

discretion because the evidence regarding money laundering was

relevant to the issue of intent and its probative value was not

substantially outweighed by the risk of undue prejudice to the

defendant.

     2.        Tax evasion

     Tokars argues that the district court erred in admitting

extrinsic evidence of his alleged tax evasion. Based on our review

of the record, however, we conclude that the district court did not

abuse    its     discretion     in    this     matter.        In     addition,   assuming

arguendo       that    the    district       court    erred,       any   error   would   be

harmless.

        3.     Murder scene photograph

        Tokars contends that the crime scene photograph of Sara’s

murder should not have been admitted because its probative value

was outweighed by its prejudicial effect in violation of Federal

Rule of Evidence 403. We have reviewed the photograph and conclude

                                              37
that the photograph of the murder victim was extremely relevant to

the crimes charged.      Thus, this claim is meritless.

      4.     Homicides other than Sara

      The defendants argue that evidence of the murders of Dante

Snowden (“Snowden”) and Ronnie Smith should not have been admitted.

The   district   court   provided      a    limiting   instruction   that   the

evidence was admitted for the limited purpose of explaining the

Detroit Police's determination that Ferguson was a suspect in

Snowden’s murder.        These murders were relevant to explain why

Ferguson and Cline left Detroit.            Tokars and Mason also object to

the admission of the murders of Cline and Brown’s brother Darryl

Hill.      The evidence concerning these murders was relevant to

present a complete account of the story of the enterprise.                  See

United States v. Fortenberry, 971 F.2d 717, 721 (11th Cir. 1992),

cert. denied, 506 U.S. 1068, 113 S. Ct. 1020, 122 L. Ed. 2d 166

(1993).     Moreover, the testimony did not substantially prejudice

the defendants.      Accordingly, we conclude that the district court

did not abuse its discretion.

      5.     Testimony of Agents Twibell and Davis

      Tokars objects to the admission of testimony by agents Twibell

and Davis regarding out-of-court statements made by Billy Carter

and Greg Johnson.     The government argues that Carter and Johnson’s

statements    were   admissible   as       co-conspirator   statements   under

Federal Rule of Evidence 801(d)(2)(E).            Tokars argues that there

was no existing conspiracy at the time of the statements.                   Co-

conspirator statements are admissible so long as the conspiracy

                                       38
existed, the declarant and the defendant were involved in the

conspiracy, and the statement was made in the furtherance of the

conspiracy. United States v. Van Hemelryck, 945 F.2d 1493, 1497-98
(11th   Cir.   1991).    We   review    the   district   court’s   factual

determinations that the conspiracy existed and that the statement

was made in furtherance of that conspiracy under the clearly

erroneous standard.     See United States v. Allison, 908 F.2d 1531,

1533-34 (11th Cir. 1990), cert. denied, 500 U.S. 904, 111 S. Ct.

1681, 114 L. Ed. 2d 77 (1991).    Based on our review of the record,

we see no error in the admission of this evidence.        Moreover, even

assuming that the district court erred, any error was harmless.

     6.    Birth certificates

     Tokars argues that the district court re-opened the record in

order to allow the government to admit birth certificates to

establish the birth dates of Lawrence and Rower.            However, the

government argues that the district court sustained a defense

hearsay objection to admitting the birth dates through a witness

and that the government requested a one-day continuance to obtain

the birth certificates.       Based on our review of the record,

Tokars’s argument is meritless.

     7.    Cobb County police records

     Tokars argues that the admission through a Cobb County police

officer of the contents of a sealed envelope — police reports,

handwritten notes, and a business card — was error.         Our review of

the record leads us to conclude that the district court committed

                                   39
no error.      In addition, if any error was committed, such error was

harmless.16
G.        Jury Charge to Count V

          Tokars claims that the district court’s jury charge regarding

Count V, the murder-for-hire count, was modified by the court

without notice, and thus created a variance from the evidence

presented at trial. Tokars contends that the parties and the court

agreed to a jury instruction that would require the jury to make a

unanimous finding as to each of two phone calls made in furtherance

of the murder-for-hire scheme.         During the charge conference, the

government consented to Tokars's requested instruction, but the

court, refusing to get involved in a discussion of the evidence

with the jury, concerned itself with clarifying the interstate

element of the offense.            As previously mentioned, we review a

district court’s refusal to give a requested charge for abuse of

discretion.       Maduno, 40 F.3d at 1215.    Based on our review of the

record, we see no abuse of discretion concerning this issue.

H.        Sufficiency of the Evidence

          Tokars and Mason argue that there was insufficient evidence to

support their convictions and that the district court should thus

have granted their motions for acquittal.            Whether there was

sufficient evidence to support a conviction is a question of law

subject to de novo review by this court.        Keller, 916 F.2d at 632.

     16
          We conclude that Tokars’s argument regarding the district
court’s denial of his motion to suppress evidence seized from his
residence is meritless in light of his voluntary consent to the
search.

                                       40
This court views the evidence in the light most favorable to the

government, with all reasonable inferences and credibility choices

made in the government's favor.          Id.      Our review of the record

persuades us that there was sufficient evidence to support the

convictions of Tokars and Mason.         Thus, we will address only some

of the defendants’ contentions.

     Count   I    charged   a   racketeering      conspiracy   involving   a

narcotics money laundering enterprise. Mason and Tokars claim that

the evidence did not prove that there was one RICO enterprise or

conspiracy, arguing that at best, the record shows the existence of

two conspiracies — one involving Cline and the other involving

Brown. Tokars’s involvement consisted of his role in laundering

cocaine money and engaging in acts of violence. Mason participated

in the enterprise by laundering cocaine proceeds, distributing

cocaine, and aiding and abetting violence.           “Whether the evidence

supports finding a single conspiracy is a question of fact for the

jury.”   United States v. Valera, 845 F.2d 923, 928 (11th Cir.

1988), cert. denied, 490 U.S. 1046, 109 S. Ct. 1953, 104 L. Ed. 2d

422 (1989) (citation omitted).      Our review of the record persuades

us that a reasonable jury could conclude that one RICO conspiracy

or enterprise existed.

     Count   VI   charged   Tokars,      Mason,    Ferguson,   Hudson,   and

unindicted co-conspirators with a conspiracy to possess with intent

to distribute cocaine in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and

846. Tokars argues that the government’s contention that his money

laundering connected him to the drug conspiracy is erroneous.

                                    41
Money launderers, however, play an integral and important role in

a drug enterprise.   See   United States v. Perez, 922 F.2d 782, 785-

86 (11th Cir.), cert. denied, 501 U.S. 1223, 111 S. Ct. 2840, 115
L. Ed. 2d 1009 (1991).17        Our thorough review of the record

persuades us that there was sufficient evidence of Tokars's and

Mason’s involvement in the cocaine conspiracy to support their

convictions.

     Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1956(a)(1)(B)(i), it is “illegal to

knowingly enter into a financial transaction involving the proceeds

of a 22 F.3d 1075, 1079 (11th

Cir. 1994).    Mason was convicted of four substantive violations of

§§ 1956(a)(1)(B)(i) and 2 as charged in Counts VIII, IX, X, and XI.

Tokars was convicted of Counts X and XI.     There was more than ample

testimony to prove that Mason knew that the money invested in the

nightclubs was drug proceeds.    Thus, there was sufficient evidence

regarding Counts VIII, IX, and X.      Likewise, we conclude there was

sufficient evidence of Tokars’s knowledge of and involvement in the

money laundering activities. Count XI involved Brown’s purchase of

a Lexus for his partner, Mason.18 Tokars’s culpability was premised

     17
          In addition, by testifying, Tokars bolstered the
government’s case because the jury was entitled to disbelieve his
testimony. See United States v. Brown, 53 F.3d 312, 314 (11th Cir.
1995), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 116 S.Ct. 909, 133 L. Ed. 2d 841
(1996).
     18
          Mason contends that a prejudicial variance occurred
because the indictment indicated that the transaction transpired in
December of 1991 but testimony at trial indicated purchases before

                                  42
on a Pinkerton19 theory.       Mason’s culpability was premised on his

aiding and abetting Brown in the laundering of cocaine proceeds.

We are persuaded that the evidence is sufficient to sustain the

money laundering convictions.

      Count XIII charged the defendants with conspiracy to launder

money in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1956(g).             Mason argues that there

was no money laundering conspiracy.               He also claims that even

assuming     that   there   was    a     conspiracy,    there   were    multiple

conspiracies, or if there was only one conspiracy, that he was not

a member.      Tokars claims that the evidence must show that the

conspiracy commenced after October 28, 1992, in order to avoid an

ex post facto problem and that the pled overt acts are insufficient

to prove a conspiracy.      Our review of the record persuades us that

there was sufficient evidence to support these convictions.

      Tokars argues that the superseding indictment changed the

charged offenses of murder in Count III to those of kidnaping, but

that, despite this redaction, the government focused on the offense

of   murder,    disregarding      that    the   offense   to    be   proved   was

kidnaping.     Further, Tokars contends that the government failed to

prove that Tokars had any involvement in kidnaping Sara.                 Despite

Tokars’s     protestations,       Sara’s      kidnaping   was    a     reasonably

foreseeable consequence of placing a contract “hit” on Sara’s life.

Tokars and Lawrence were co-conspirators in a cocaine conspiracy;

and after December.   However, Mason fails to explain how this
prejudices him. Accordingly, we see no error.
     19
          Pinkerton v. United States, 328 U.S. 640, 66 S. Ct. 1180,
90 L. Ed. 1489 (1946).

                                         43
therefore, it was reasonably foreseeable that originally unintended

acts of violence might occur.         See    United States v. Broadwell, 870

F.2d 594, 603-04 (11th Cir.) (kidnaping reasonably foreseeable in

a drug conspiracy), cert. denied, 493 U.S. 840, 110 S. Ct. 125, 107

L. Ed. 2d 85 (1989);       United States v. Alvarez, 755 F.2d 830, 847-

49 & n.21 (11th Cir.) (murder reasonably foreseeable in a drug

conspiracy), cert. denied, 474 U.S. 905, 106 S. Ct. 274, 88 L. Ed.

2d 235 (1985), and cert. denied, 482 U.S. 908, 107 S. Ct. 2489, 96

L. Ed. 2d 380 (1987).          Based on our review of the record, we

conclude    that   there    was     sufficient     evidence   to   support    the

conviction on this count.20

I.   Jury Finding on Racketeering Act Nine

     Tokars claims that the district court erred by allowing the

jury to find that he committed Racketeering Act Nine (Count XI),

under the vicarious co-conspirator liability theory of Pinkerton.

Tokars     essentially     argues    that    one    must   actually   and     not

derivatively possess the requisite specific intent to commit an

underlying predicate act in a RICO prosecution in order for that

predicate act to qualify as an “act of racketeering” for purposes

of 18 U.S.C. § 1961(5).       However, we need not reach the merits of

this argument.      Any error would be harmless, because the jury

specifically found that Tokars committed three other racketeering

acts that constituted a pattern of racketeering activity.                   Thus,

     20
           Mason also argues that the court erred in denying his
motion for a new trial based on insufficiency of the evidence.
However, based upon the above discussion, Mason’s argument is
meritless.

                                        44
the two racketeering acts necessary to support the RICO conviction

still remained.         See 18 U.S.C. § 1961(5).

J.    Limitation of Cross-Examination of Ambrusko

      During the cross-examination of Ambrusko, Tokars attempted to

show Ambrusko’s bias on her part by questioning her about evidence

of her bad relationship with Tokars.                 The district court granted

the government’s motion in limine precluding Tokars from examining

Ambrusko regarding certain evidence.               The government contends that

the district court did not err in excluding the evidence because it

was impermissible bad character evidence which did not impeach the

credibility of the witness. Because Ambrusko’s bias against Tokars

was sufficiently established,21 we hold that the district court did

not   abuse      its    discretion       in    limiting   the   scope   of    cross-

examination.           In   addition,     assuming    that   the   district    court

erroneously excluded such evidence, any error was harmless.

K.    Prosecutorial Misconduct

      Mason alleges that the court erred in denying his motions for

a mistrial based on prosecutorial misconduct.                      During opening

statements the government suggested that the phrase “wolves in

sheep’s clothing,” R57-621-22, would play a role in the case

because    the    jury      would   be    called   upon   to    determine    if   the

defendants were wolves in sheep’s clothing or merely sheep.                        In

addition, the government used very vivid language to describe the

      21
          Ambrusko admitted during cross-examination that she and
Tokars did not share a good relationship. She also revealed that
she did not implicate Tokars until five days after her initial
interview with the police, and she admitted that she had been
contacted by the media and had been approached about a book deal.

                                              45
torture of Michael Jones, relaying that Ferguson treated Jones

“like a piece of meat.”    R57-634.   Tokars and Mason also allege

that prosecutorial misconduct occurred during closing argument when

the government appealed to the conscience of the community and made

religious references. 22   Although the prosecutors may have gone a

bit overboard by bringing in two of the Ten Commandments and the

public policy against drugs, in light of the monumental evidence

against Tokars and Mason, we conclude that the prosecutor’s remarks

did not prejudice the substantial rights of the defendants.      See

United States v. Blakey, 14 F.3d 1557, 1560 (11th Cir. 1994).

L.   Jury Charges — Tokars’s Theory of the Case

     Tokars contends that the district court erred in refusing to

give his “theory of the case” charges and in giving a willful

blindness instruction.23     The court originally rejected all of

     22
          The objectionable portion of the closing argument reads
as follows:

          He is a wolf in sheep’s clothing, and you know it.
     And so is James Mason. Wolves in sheep’s clothing, they
     were masquerading and parading in our society as pillars
     of the community, and this is why we have so many
     problems in dealing with drugs. This is why we cannot
     educate our children to have respect when members of the
     community who are pillars are aiding and abetting the
     sales of this product that is destroying our communities
     whether they are in public housing or whether they are in
     upscale neighborhoods.
          He has violated laws of ages. Thou shalt not covet.
     Thou shalt not kill.
          He has violated the law of the United States. James
     Mason has violated the law of the United States.

R76-5375.
     23
          Tokars’s requested charges included: (1) a charge
regarding IRS form 8300, a statement of law regarding disclosure of
“Foreign Accounts” on a 1040 tax return, and a charge that routine

                                 46
Tokars’s so-called theory-of-the-case charges because they were

argumentative of the evidence.        Upon reconsideration, the court

decided to give its own version of the first charge regarding

foreign accounts information on an IRS 1040 tax return. Our review

of the record persuades us that the district court did not abuse

its discretion.

     Tokars also argues that the district court erred in giving the

willful   blindness   charge.    Even   if   there    is   no    evidence    of

deliberate    ignorance,   reversal    is   not   required      if   there   is

overwhelming evidence of actual knowledge.           See United States v.

Stone, 9 F.3d 934, 937 (11th Cir. 1993),          cert. denied, ___ U.S.

___, 115 S. Ct. 111, 130 L. Ed. 2d 58 (1994).           Our review of the

record convinces us that there was overwhelming evidence that

Tokars had actual knowledge.          Therefore, we see no abuse of

discretion.

M.   Due Process and Comments on Dismissed Charges

     Tokars contends that the district court erred in refusing to

give his requested charge informing the jury that Counts VIII and

IX of the indictment had been dismissed and in refusing his request

that the court tell the jury what specific evidence pertaining to

these two counts should not be held against Tokars.             The district

court refused to give the charges and instructed Tokars’s counsel

not to mention the dismissed counts to the jury.                However, the

legal service does not constitute directing the affairs of an
enterprise; (2) a charge relating to the Canons of Ethics requiring
an attorney to represent his client zealously; and (3) a charge
regarding the disclosure obligation with respect to foreign
investments on a 1040 tax return.

                                  47
district court provided the jury with a redacted indictment.              The

district court correctly concluded that even if the counts were

dismissed, the jury could still consider evidence of those crimes

as evidence of the existence of the enterprise.          See United States

v. Weiner , 3 F.3d 17, 22 (1st Cir. 1993) (evidence of dismissed

charges relevant to remaining RICO charges against defendant);

United States v. Gonzalez , 921 F.2d 1530, 1546-47 (11th Cir.)

(testimony    regarding   uncharged    acts     permissible   to   establish

continuity of RICO entity), cert. denied, 502 U.S. 860, 112 S. Ct.

178, 116 L. Ed. 2d 140, and cert. denied, 502 U.S. 827, 112 S. Ct.

96, 116 L. Ed. 2d 68      (1991).   Accordingly, there was no abuse of

discretion.

N.   Mason’s Sentence

     Mason argues that the district court erred in calculating his

base offense level by converting the $160,000 laundered into a

quantity of cocaine.          The government argues that note 12 to

U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1 allows a court making a drug approximation to

consider the price generally obtained for the drug.

     Application note 12 to U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1 states:          “Where there

is no drug seizure or the amount seized does not reflect the scale

of the offense, the court shall approximate the quantity of the

controlled substance.     In making this determination, the court may

consider,    for   example,   the   price   generally   obtained    for   the

controlled substance . . . .” Several other circuits have approved

the procedure of converting cash to the amount of cocaine necessary

to generate that amount of money.         See   United States v. Ferguson,

                                     48
35 F.3d 327, 333 (7th Cir. 1994) (no error in estimating the amount

of cocaine needed to generate the amount of cash laundered), cert.
denied, ___ U.S. ___, 115 S.Ct. 1832, 131 L. Ed. 2d 752 (1995);

United States v. Rios, 22 F.3d 1024, 1027-28 (10th Cir. 1994) (when

cash seized and either no drug is seized or the amount seized does

not reflect the scale of the offense, conversion of cash to

quantity of drugs appropriate so long as cash is attributable to

drug sales that are a part of same course of conduct or common

scheme of conviction);   United States v. Rivera, 6 F.3d 431, 446

(7th Cir. 1993) (approving conversion of seized currency to cocaine

equivalent as long as there is proof of the connection between the

money seized and the drug-related activity), cert. denied, ___ U.S.

___, 114 S.Ct. 1098, 127 L. Ed. 2d 411 (1994);     United States v.

Jackson, 3 F.3d 506, 511 (1st Cir. 1993) (same); United States v.

Hicks, 948 F.2d 877, 882 (4th Cir. 1991) (same);   United States v.

Stephenson, 924 F.2d 753, 764-65 (8th Cir.) (converting seized cash

to equivalent drug amount), cert. denied, 502 U.S. 813, 112 S. Ct.

63, 116 L. Ed. 2d 39, and cert. denied, 502 U.S. 916, 112 S. Ct.

321, 116 L. Ed. 2d 262 (1991).   But see United States v. Gonzalez-
Sanchez, 953 F.2d 1184, 1187 (9th Cir. 1992) (conversion improper

where no factual finding that money was connected to the drug

business).   We are persuaded by our sister circuits that hold that

money attributable to the drug transactions may be converted to the

equivalent amount of drugs for purposes of determining the drug

quantity.

                                 49
     Mason expresses the concern that in most cases there is

corroborative evidence of the amount of drugs involved, which he

claims was not available in this case.    Admittedly, only one of the

above cases addresses a money laundering situation.     However, the

evidence here clearly showed that Mason was involved in laundering

drug money. Consequently, it was reasonable for the district court

to convert the laundered money to an equivalent amount of cocaine.

We review the district court’s factual determination regarding the

quantity of drugs used to establish a base offense level for clear

error.   United States v. Taffe, 36 F.3d at 1050.   We conclude that

the district court did not clearly err.    Furthermore, the district

court was extremely cautious and found a higher conversion figure

of $25,000 a fairer standard than the $20,000 conversion figure

suggested in the presentence report.

     Mason also complains that the district court failed to make

the necessary factual findings to support the quantity of cocaine

attributed to him as required by United States v. Ismond, 993 F.2d

1498 (11th Cir. 1993).   However, Ismond is not applicable to this

case, because it dealt with the determination of a defendant’s

liability for the acts of others.    Mason was held accountable only

for cocaine money attributable to him.        Nevertheless, even if

Ismond did control, we hold that the district court made sufficient
factual findings regarding the extent of Mason’s involvement to

support its calculation of the quantity of drugs involved.

     Finally, Mason argues that the district court should have

sentenced him for Count VI and Racketeering Act Two using U.S.S.G.

                                50
§ 2S1.1 (laundering of monetary instruments) instead of U.S.S.G. §

2D1.1 (drug offenses).   Mason contends that since no guideline has

been expressly promulgated for defendants convicted of a drug

conspiracy based solely on money laundering activity, he should

have been sentenced under the most analogous offense guideline.

However, there is a guideline expressly promulgated on this issue.

Mason was convicted of conspiring to violate 21 U.S.C. § 841.

Section 1B1.2(a) directs a district court that is deciding the

applicable guideline to “[d]etermine the offense guideline section

in Chapter Two (Offense Conduct) most applicable to the offense of

conviction.” Application Note 1 to § 1B1.2 refers to the Statutory

Index, and the Statutory Index for 21 U.S.C. § 846 refers to, among

other sections, U.S.S.G. § 2D1.1.     Section 2D1.1 itself contains

the word “conspiracy” in its heading.   The district court thus did

not err in applying § 2D1.1 when sentencing Mason.
                          V.   CONCLUSION

     All of the issues presented in this appeal are without merit.

The defendants received a fundamentally fair trial which is all the

Constitution requires.    Accordingly, we affirm the defendants'

convictions and Mason's sentence in all respects.

     AFFIRMED.

                                 51