# Petition — JOSEPH N. PECORA v. UNITED STATES (Nos. 80-490, 80-486)

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## Record

- **Collection:** Supreme Court brief
- **Document type:** Petition
- **Published:** January 1, 1980

## Text

Supreme Court. y. S.
FILED

80-499 SEP 25 1980

——$—$—$—$—$—$—$—$—$—————

ODAK, JR., CLERK

In che
Supreme Court of the United States

" No.
Term 1980

JOSEPH NICHOLAS PECORA,

Petitioner,
v.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Respondent.

PETITION For Writ oF CERTIORARI TO THE
UNiTED STATES Court OF APPEALS For THE
Fourtu Circuit

Joun L. Donerty, Esquire

MANIFESTO, DOHERTY, LOVE &
TALARICO, P.C.

200 Lawyers Building
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219
412-471-8893

Attorney for Petitioner

Financial Press Corporation, Pittsburgh

i
QUESTIONS PRESENTED FOR REVIEW

Whether the Fourth Circuit's failure to reverse Petition-
er’s conviction for failure to charge that the Government
must prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that Defen-
dant must be predisposed to commit the offense for
which he is has been charged, should stand in light of the
Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals opinion in United States
v. Wolf, 594 F2.d 77, (Sth Cir. 1979) and the District of
Columbia Court of Appeals in Hansford v. United
States, 303 F.2d 219 (D.C. Cir. 1962)?

Whether a county prosecuting attorney’s office is an
enterprise which engages in or affect: *:.terstate or for-
eign commerce within the scope of the Racketeer Influ-
ence Corrupt Organization Statute (RICO) WUS.C.
§1961-1968? — :

Whether the Fourth Circuit’s holding that the term
“Enterprise”, within the scope of the Racketeer Influ-
ence Corrupt Organization Statute (RICO) 19 U.S.C.
§1961-1968 encompasses an illegal association that is
proved only by facts constituting the “pattern of racket-
eering activity,’ should stand in light of the Eighth
Circuit Court of Appeals decision in United States v.
Anderson and Mooney, 79-1809?

Whether the Fourth Circuit’s failure to reverse petition-
er’s conviction for failure to charge that there must be
more than one predicate offense for conviction under 18
U.S.C. §1962 (4) Conspiracy, should stand in light of the
Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals decision in United States
v. Elliott, 571 F.2d 880 (1977)?

Whether the Fourth Circuit failure to reverse Petition-
er’s conviction on the basis of the Government’s refer-
ence to evidence which had been excluded, should
stand in light of United States v. Leon, 534 F.2d 667 (6th.
Cir. 1976)?

il

TABLE OF CONTENTS

‘Page
QUESTIONS PRESENTED FOR REVIEW.......
es hy ayes accessed ees l
ORDERS AND OPINION BELOW ...........-+- l
65 5 55 yn ede cve va boeken 2
CITED STATUTES:

EE ep crdvdaedersvixes 2

I a yi s aa a 3
STATEMENT OF THE CASE...............0... 4
REASONS FOR GRANTING THE WRIT ......-. 6
GSR: Rete en RM RA 21
APPENDIX:

ORDER & OPINIONS .........0000005 APPENDIX

A-M

ili

TABLE OF CITATIONS

Page
Berger v. United States, 295 U.S. 78, 88, 58 S. Ct. 629
RS are ee Soe ae ee ee eee 17

Garris v. United States, 309 F.2d 862 (D.C. Cir. 1968) ..18
Hansford v. United States, 303 F.2d 219 (D.C. Cir.)

ei cs he cake oo baa eo PEON tedbe nee Lé7
Ketchum v. United States, 354 F.2d 715, 719

PUR. SE ko ko o buh s Wee vaeeom a bead 18
McMillan v. United States, 363 F.2d 165, (5th Cir.

SE ce Fale Cae ks Celaya varia kas eet eekeres 17
Rewis v. United States, 401 U.S. 808, 912, 91

ls OE So or Ae hokw cack Wane ds eens 12
Robinson v. United States, 32 F.2d 505, 510

Se, ME Pause CO ans waked «uke back oe 20

United States v. Altese, 542 F.2d 104 (2nd Cir. 1976). ..11
United States v. Anderson & Mooney,

Pade ao edd scues rae wae kk i, 13, 14
United States v. Borum, 484, F.2d 424, 427
pea, es eS is Sette be kes week eaehecens 7

United States v. Campanale, 518 F.2d 352
(9th Cir. 1975) cert. denied 423 U.S. 1050,
ee ee FEF CE sa oes ko seek chews 11, 15

United States v. Cappetto, 502 F.2d 1350
(7th Cir. 1974) cert. denied 420 U.S. 925, 95

re. es PN ip ee ee ae ll
United States v. Elliott, 571 F.2d 880 (1977)......... i, 15
United States v. Frumento, 563 F.2d 1083 (3rd

SER as 4 6-akin oe Ps ee caches ees eee 10

United States v. Hawes, 529 F.2d 472 (5th Cir. 1976)... 11

iv

Page

United States v. Leon, 534 F.2d 667

Tey ere ee i, 17, 19, 20, 21
United States v. Kessler, 449 F.2d 1315 (2nd

Re Ra Pe rs ne tet 15
United States v. Mandel, 591 F.2d 1347, 1375

SN I Gwe a LOC ee. Se ee oak ll
United States v. Nerone, 563 F.2d 836

CC EOE Ce cock FON Res ewRae ee oawautac hens ll
United States v. Sutton, 604 F.2d 260, 268

ae, SEES teil veccgs Peek ene hue debee hasan ll
United States v. Wolffs, 594 F.2d 77 (1979) ........ i, 6, 8

United States v. Vignola, 464 Fed. Supp. 1091 (1979) ..12

STATUTES
ae Rf er oer ee a 2,5, 12, 16
Se Sie UE sss caw hkbw es peace edpeal waa 3, 12, 15, 16
ep 8 errr Tr rere rere ere ree 1]
Others:
124 U.P.A.L. Rev. 192, 196 (1975) ........ ccc cece 10

Pub.L.No. 91-452 900G(a) .....ccccscccccvcsecces 1]

LIST OF THE PARTIES

The following original defendants were indicted along
with the Petitioner, Joseph Nicholas Pecora: Robert E. Alto-
mare, Leonard Z. Alpert, Joseph Aperfine, Donald “Ding-
bat” DeLong and Constance “Gus” Karas.

ORDERS AND OPINIONS BELOW

The Order of the District Court continuing bond pre-
viously set was filed on February 26, 1979, and is reprinted as
Appendix A.

The Order of the District Court extending the deadline
for Pre-Trial Motions was filed on February 27, 1979, and is
reprinted as Appendix B.

The Opinion of the District Court denying Petitioner's
Pre-Trial Motions for Bill of Particulars, Discovery and Sup-
pression, filed April 4, 1979, is reprinted as Appendix C.

On April 12, 1979, the original indictment was dismissed
and is reprinted as Appendix D.

On April 23, 1979, the District Court issued a Bond
Continuance which is reprinted as Appendix E.

The District Court issued a Continuance on April 26,
1979, and it is reprinted as Appendix F.

On May 3, 1979, Petitioner was denied a Motion for a
Bill of Particular and Motion to Dismiss Indictment which is
reprinted as Appendix G.

The Order of the District Court granting a Continuance
of Pre-Trial Motions and Sentencing was filed October 4,
1979, and it is reprinted as Appendix HI.

On October 23, 1979, the District Court denied Defen-
dant’s Motion for Continuance, and it is reprinted as Appen-
dix I.

On October 26, 1976, the District Court granted
Defendants additional time to review transcript. The Order
is reprinted as Appendix J.

2

The Judgement and Probation/Committment Order of
the District Court filed November 1, 1979, is reprinted as
Appendix K.

The Opinion of the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals,
filed July 1, 1980, is reprinted as Appendix L.

The denial of Petition for Rehearing issued by the
Fourth Circuit, filed July 28, 1980, is reprinted as Appendix
M.

JURISDICTION

The Judgement Order of the United States Court of
Appeals for the Fourth Circuit (Appendix L) was entered
July 1, 1980. A timely Petition for Rehearing was denied July
28, 1980. (Appendix M)

The jurisdiction of the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals
was invoked in accordance with 28 U.S.C. §1291.

Pursuant to Rule 22 of the Rules of this Honorable
Court, the within Petition for Writ of Certiorari is being filed
within sixty (60) days after the entry of the Court of Appeal’s
final Order.

The jurisdiction of this Honorable Court is invoked

under 28 U.S.C. §1254(1).

CITED STATUTES
18 U.S.C.S. §1962

(a) It shall be unlawful for any person who has received
any income derived, directly or indirectly, from a pattern of
racketeering activity or through collection of an unlawful
debt in which such person has participated as a principal
within the meaning of Section 2, title 18, United States Code
[18 USCS §2], to use or invest, directly or indirectly, any part
of such income, or the proceeds of such income, in acquisi-
tion of any interest in, or the establishment or operation of,
any enterprise which is engages in, or the activities of which

3

effect, interstate or foreign commerce. A purchase of securi-
ties on the open market for purposes of investment, and
without the intention of controlling or participating in the
controll of the issuer, or of assisting another to do so, shall not
be lawful under this subsection if the securities of the issuer
held by the purchaser, the members of his immediate family,
and his or their accomplices in any pattern or racketeering
activity or the collection of an unlawful debt after such
purchases do not amount in the aggregate to 1% of the out-
standing securities of any one class, and do not confer, either
in law or in fact, the power to elect one or more directors of
the issuer.

(b) It shall be unlawful for any person through a pattern
of racketeering activity or through collection of an unlawful
debt to acquire or maintain, directly or indirectly, any inter-
est in or control of any enterprise which is engaged in, or the
activities of which affect, interstate of foreign commerce.

(c) It shall be unlawful for any person employed by or
associated with any enterprise engaged in, or the activities of
which affect, interstate or foreign commerce, to conduct or
participate, directly or indirectly, in the conduct of such
enterprise's affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity
or collection of unlawful debt.

(d) It shall be unlawful for any person to conspire to
violate any of the provisions of subsections (a), (b) or (c) of
this section. Added Oct. 15, 1970, P.L. 91-452, Title 1X,
$901 (a), 84 Stat. 941.

18 U.S.C.S. §371

If two or more persons conspire either to commit any
offense against the United States, or to defraud the United
States, or any agency thereof in any manner or for any
purpose, and one or more of such persons do any act to
effect the object of the conspiracy, each shall be fined not
more than $10,000. or imprisoned not more than five years,

or both.

4

If, however, the offense, the commission of which is the
object of the conspiracy, is a misdemeanor only, the punish-
ment for such conspiracy shall not exceed the maximum
punishment provided for such misdemeanor.

(June 25, 1948, ch 645, $1, 62 Stat. 701.)

STATEMENT OF CASE

Ronald Donnell was the elected Sheriff of Hancock
County, West Virginia, after July 1, 1977, and Robert G.
Altomare was the County’s prosecuting attorney.

Being aware of widespread gambling in the county for
some time, Donnell became involved in an undercover
investigation which initially involved the State Police and the
Federal Law Enforcement Authorities. The investigation
began in November, 1977.

Once Silvo (Birdie) Pinciaro had offered to support
Donnell in his election in exchange for the Sheriff's assistance
in helping Pinciaro take over the gambling activities in Weir-
ton, West Virginia.

To accomplish this goal, Pinciaro and Donnell insti-
gated several raids in the Weirton area in order to intimidate
the gambling operators into paying for protection.

A trial, evidence of a taped conversation between Peti-
tioner and Donnell was introduced. The government theo-
rized that said conversation involved payoffs for protection
for a barbout (dice) game allegedly operated by Petitioner.

On February 6, 1979, Petitioner, Joseph N. Pecora, was
indicted at Criminal Numbers 79-00003-E-06 and 79-00003-
E-02 in the United States District Court for the Northern
District of West Virginia. On April 5, 1979, a superseding
indictment was returned. The indictment charged him with
a single count (Count 2) of violating 18 U.S.C. §1962(d) the
Racketeer Influence and Corrupt Organizations Act
(RICO).

5

Specifically, the indictment alleged that from January 1,
1977, to January, 1979, in Hancock County, West Virginia,
Pecora and five (5) other individuals conspired to commit an
offense, to-wit: 18 U.S.C. §1962(c). Concerning Pecora, it
was alleged that certain monies were paid on his behalf to
Robert G. Altomare, Prosecuting attorney of Hancock
County and Ronald A. Donnell, Sheriff of Hancock County,
for the return of various slot machines which had earlier
been seized in raids conducted by the Sheriff's office, and as
protection money for a dice game operated in the county.
Pre-Trial Motions were filed, and the District Court, Honor-
able Robert E. Maxwell, District Judge, ruled upon them
(Appendix B). After a severance of several defendants was
ordered on May 21, 1979, a jury trial was convened involving
co-defendants Karas, Pecora and Donald DeLong.' On May
25, 1979, the jury returned verdicts of guilty as to each
defendant.

After Post-Trial Motions (Appendix F) were orally
denied, Petitioner was sentenced to five (5) years imprison-
ment and ordered to pay a $10,000.00 fine (Appendix G).

Petitioner appealed to the Fourth Circuit Court of
Appeals. On July 1, 1980, Petitioner's conviction was
affirmed (Appendix L).

Petitioner then made petition to the Fourth Circuit for
Rehearing, and was denied such on July 28, 1978, (Appendix

H).

Your Petitioner, Joseph Nicholas Pecora, now prays that
a Writ of Certiorari issue to review the judgement of the
United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
entered in the above entitled case on July 1, 1980, and the
Order denying the Petition for Rehearing dated July 28,
1980.

‘Subsequent to trial, Mr. DeLong died. Mr. Karas was convicted
along with Petitioner.

6
REASONS FOR GRANTING THE WRIT

1. WHETHER THE FOURTH CIRCUIT'S FAILURE
TO REVERSE PETITIONER'S CONVICTION
FOR FAILURE TO CHARGE THAT THE
GOVERNMENT MUST PROVE, BEYOND A REA-
SONABLE DOUBT, THAT DEFENDANT MUST
BE PREDISPOSED TO COMMIT THE OFFENSE
FOR WHICH HE HAS BEEN CHARGED,
SHOULD STAND IN LIGHT OF THE FIFTH CIR-
CUIT COURT OF APPEALS IN UNITED STATES
v. WOLF 594 F.2d 77 (5th Cir. 1979) AND THE DIS-
TRICT OF COLUMBIA COURT OF APPEALS IN
HANSFORD v. UNITED STATES, 303 F .2d 219 (D.C.
Cir. 1962)?

The trial court charged the jury on entrapment as fol-
lows:

The defendants here assert that they were victims of
entrapment as to the crimes charged in this indictment.
Where a person has no previous intent or purpose to
violate the law, but is induced or persuaded by a law
enforcement officer or their agents to commit a crime,
he is a victim of entrapment, and the law as a matter of
policy forbids his conviction in such case.

On the other hand, where a person already has the
readiness and willingness to break the law, the mere fact
that the Government agents provide what appears to be
a favorable opportunity is not entrapment.

If, then, the jury should find beyond a reasonable doubt
that the evidence in the case or that before anything at
all occurred respecting the alleged offense involved in
this case, the defendants were ready and willing to
commit the crime charged in the indictment, whenever
opportunity was afforded, and that Government offic-
ers or their agents did no more than offer the opportu-
nity, then the jury should find that the defendants are
not victims of entrapment.

cod
‘

On the other hand, if the evidence indicates and should
leave you with a reasonable doubt whether the defen-
dant had the previous intent or purpose to commit any
offense of the character here charged, and do so only
because they were induced or persuaded by some
officer or agent of the Government, then it is your duty
to acquit them. (App. 686a-687a).

The instruction that a person must have “no previous
intent or purpose to violate the law” is fatally vague. This
lack of procession is critical in the instant case, in view of the
evidence presented that the Petitioner was engaging in gam-
bling, a violation of the law, yet it was presently charged not
with gambling but with bribery.

What was critical for the jury to understand when con-
sidering whether Petitioner had been entrapped to commit
the bribery offense, was whether the Petitioner had a predis-
position to commit bribery, not whether he was predisposed
to gamble.

The critical issue is whether the defendant was predis-
posed to commit the offense for which he was charged.
Clearly, a person who steals credit cards may not be predis-
posed to steal guns. United States v. Borum, 484 F.2d 424,
427, (D.C. Cir. 1978). However, the Fourth Circuit Court of
Appeals refused to overturn Petitioner's conviction rejecting
the clair that failure to make the distinction between gam-
bling and bribery was reversible error.

| The Fourth Circuit Opinion is in disagreement with two
other Federal Circuit Courts of Appeals, the Fifth and the
D.C. Circuit.

In Hansford v. United States, 303 F.2d 219 (D.C. Cir.
1962), a narcotics prosecution, the defendant took the stand
and was cross-examined about his three (3) prior convictions
(two for larceny, one for narcotics). The trial court charged
the jury as follows:

“T]he law says that if an otherwise innocent person, not

inclined to commit a criminal offense, is induced, is led

8

into, is enticed by a police officer to commit a criminal
offense, the prosecution can have no benefit from it and
he would not be guilty. Understand that I say ‘otherwise
innocent person’ who would not have committed the
crime except for some enticement, or inducement
...you have got to take into consideration, the testi-
mony on the part of the Government concerning Hans-
ford’s background,...you have got to consider that
background, the whole of it, in determining whether he
was an innocent man who would not have made that
sale, but for being seduced into it. Id. at 221.

Judge Fahy for the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals,
however, in disagreement with the District Court and the
Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals in the instant matter, disap-
proved of the above charge stating:

[R]eadiness or predisposition is not established by evi-
dence that the person is not ‘innocent’ in that he has a
criminal record. Innocent in the context of entrapment
means that the defendant would not have perpetrated
the crime for which he is presently charged but for the
enticement of the police official. Id. at 222 (emphasis
supplied)

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals reiterated Judge
Fahy’s Opinion in the recent decision of United States v.
Wolf fs, 594 F.2d U.S. 77, (5th Cir. 1979). In Wolffs, supra the
defendant was convicted of conspiracy to possess with
intent to distribute marijuana, conspiring to distribute same,
and abusing communication facilities in commiting a felony.
His conviction was reversed for several reasons, of which
failure to do the following was one.

“The instruction also must be unmistakeably clear in
informing the jury that if the evidence in the case leaves
a reasonable doubt as to whether defendants had the
predisposition to commit an offense of the character
charged, apart from the Government inducement or
persuasion, the defendant must be found not guilty
(emphasis added).” 594 F.2d at 83.

9

This issue is presented to the Court to effectuate resolu-
tion of the conflict between the Fourth Circuit Court of
Appeals and the Fifth and D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals.

2. WHETHER A COUNTY PROSECUTING ATTOR-
NEYS OFFICE IS AN ENTERPRISE WHICH
ENGAGES IN OR AFFECTS INTERSTATE OR
FOREIGN COMMERCE WITHIN THE SCOPE
OF THE RACKETEER INFLUENCE CORRUPT
ORGANIZATION STATUTE (RICO) 18 U.S.C.
§1961 through 1968?

The Racketeer Influence Corrupt Organizations
(RICO) 18 U.S.C. §1961-1968, proscribes the operation of
any “enterprise” by a pattern of racketeering activities. Sec-
tion 1961(4) defines and “enterprise” as including “any indi-
vidual, partnership, corporation, association, or other legal
entity, and any union or group of individuals associated in
fact although not a legal entity.”

The only enterprise which Petitioner was allegedly asso-
ciated with was the office of the prosecuting attorney of
Hancock County, West Virginia, a statutory creation in the
State of West Virginia. The duties of a county prosecutor are
set out in West Virginia Code, Chapter 7, Article 4, §1
(MICHIE 1976 replacement volume). These duties include
the enforcement of the criminal laws of the State of West
Virginia, the defense and prosecution of all civil suits in
which the State of West Virginia, and the County or the
Board of Education is a party, as well as to assist the Attorney
General of the State of West Virginia in the county and which
the prosecutor serves.

As can be easily discerned, all authority and activity of
the prosecutor is strictly local in nature. Therefore, any
crimes involving the acts of the public official (employed by
the office of the Prosecuting Attorney) in conducting the
affairs of that office are necessarily local in nature. Conse-
quently, there actions do not, and were not meant to, come
within the ambit of the Organized Crime Control Act.

10)

The key note of the RICO Statute is commerce. This is
clearly demonstrated by the recent Third Circuit Opinion of
United States v. Frumento, 563 F.2d 1083 (3rd Cir. 1977).
Frumento affirmed the district courts finding that the
Bureau of Cigarette and Beverage Taxes in the Pennsylvania
Department of Revenue was an enterprise within the mean-
ing of §1961(4) because of its close nexus with commerce.
The Court went on to explain:

As we read the Organized Crime Control Act, Congress
was not civil to concern with limiting the protective and
remedial features of the Act to business and labor organ-
izations as it was with reducing the insidious capabilities
of persons in organized crime to infiltrate the American
economy. This accounts for the new civil remedies in
the Act which permit equitable restraint of economic
activity engaged in by organized crime as a substitute
for criminal prosecution with its attendant procedural
and constitutional protection for defendants. See Note,
Infiltration of Legitimate Business, 124 U. Pa. L. Rev.
192, 196 (1975). In other words, Congress’ concern was
enlarging the number of tools with which to attach the
envasion of the economic life of the country by the
cancerous influence of racketeering activity; Congress
did not confine its scrutiny to special areas of economic
activity. Congress did not confine its scrutiny to special
areas of economic activity. Congress had no reason to
adopt a constricted approach to the solution of the
problems. Congress was concerned with the infiltration
of organized crime into the American economy and to
the devastating effects of the racketeering activity had
upon it. Yet, we are asked to believe that Congress’
approach to a monumental problem besetting the coun-
try was myopic and artificially contained. Is it conceiv-
able that in considering the ever more widespread
tentacles of organized crime in the nation’s economic,
Congress intended to ignore an important aspect of the
economy because it was state operated and state con-
trol? We think not. Congress declared that the provi-
sions of Title IX ‘be liberally construed to effectuate

11

their remedial purposes.’ 84 Statute 947. 563 F.2d at 1091
through 1091; (emphasis supplied)

In the very recent case of United States v. Sutton, 604
F.2d 260, 268, (6th Circuit 1979), the Court set forth:

The legislative history conclusively demonstrates that
RICO was enacted in response to the growing subver-
sion of our society’s legitimate institutions of business
and labor by organized crime... .(emphasis added)

In United States v. Mandel, 591 F.2d 1347, 1375 (4th Cir.
1969) this Court held that the district court was correct in its
holding that “...the main purpose of Congress in enacting
Title IX was to prevent the infiltration of legitimate business
by organized crime.”

Whatever, since the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney
is a public entity, it is not an enterprise within the meaning of
the RICO Statute. United States v. Mandel, 415 F.2d 997,
1020-1022 (D.Md. 1976).

By the statute itself in its legislative history contain no
express consideration of whether an “enterprise” may
include public entities such as, governments and states.
There exist no valid basis for construing the statute so
broadly. Several other Circuit Courts? have given weight to
Congress's instructions that the provisions of the Organized
Crime Control Act should be “liberally construed to effectu-
ate its remedial purposes.” PUB. L.NO. 91-452 $904 (a).
What these courts have failed to note is that:

The act with its civil and criminal provisions, has both
punitive and remedial purposes. While Congress may
instruct courts to give broad interpretations to civil pro-
visions, it cannot require courts to abandon the tradi-
tional canon of interpretation that ambiguities in

*See United States v. Cappetto, 502 F.2d 1350, (7th Cir. 1974), cert.
denied, 420 U.S. 925, 95 S.Ct. 1121, (1975); United States v. Nerone, 563
F.2d 836 (7th Cir. 1977); United States v. Altese, 542 F.2d 104 (2nd Cir.
1976); United States v. Hawes, 529 F.2d 472 (5th Cir. 1976); United States
vb. Campanale, 518 F.2d 352 (9th Cir. 1975) cert. denied, 423 U.S. 1050, 96
S.Ct. 777, (1976).

12

criminal statutes are to be construed in favor of
leniency. Rewis v. United States, 401 U.S. 808, 912, 91
S.Ct. 1056, 1059-1060 (1955). To do so would be to
violate the principles of due process on which the canon
of interpretation rests.

Consequently, the government cannot succeed in its
quest for a conviction under RICO by merely proving a
conspiracy of the accused to do certain prohibited acts. If
this was all that was necessary, then Congress would not
have enacted the statute, for it already had 18 U.S.C. $371 for
such conduct. RICO was specifically enacted to help pre-
vent the investment of ill-gotten gains in legitimate business
enterprises.

The express language of 18 U.S.C. §1962(c) requires
that the government prove the named enterprise be one
engaged in, or the activities of which affect interstate com-
merce. United States v. Vignola, 464 Fed. Supp. 1091 (E.D.
Pa. 1979). Since the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney is not
engaged in interstate commerce, the only possible basis for
finding this enterprise to be within the statute would be to
prove that its activities affect interstate commerce.

The government attempted to prove the requisite inter-
state nexus by introducing evidence of: interstate phone
calls, purchase of office equipment and supplies out of state,
presence of out of state litigants and parties in lawsuits,
existence of law enforcement investigations concerning out
of state persons and use of national communications data
systems of the National Crimes Information Center. It is
contended that such evidence is inadequate to establish the
jurisdictional element of the statute.

The only matter which could reasonable be viewed as
affecting interstate commerce would be the purchase of
office supplies and equipment. There was no showing made
that these purchases were in any way affected by the matters
at bar. Moreover, the Prosecuting Attorneys Office does not
have the power or the authority, to purchase equipment or
supplies; this must be done by County Commission Office

13

which is a separate and distinct entity. West Virginia Code
Ann. §7-1-7 (1976 Replacement Volume).

The activities of the Prosecuting Attorneys Office may
sometimes necessitate contact with other states, but by no
stretch of the imagination may this contact by considered to
excert a substantial affect on interstate commerce. Natu-
rally, the office may purchase supplies which at some point
move across state lines. If this is a valid basis for jurisdiction,
then the activities of every household in America could be
seen as affecting interstate commerce, and they also would
come within reach of RICO.

Also, it was stipulated that none of the monies collected
by Altomare and/or Donnell in connection with bribery,
gambling, etc., was deposited in the County Commission
Funds. Thus, no link exists between the payoff monies and
the expenditure of same by or on behalf of the Prosecuting
Attorney’s Office in interstate or other commerce.

The question of whether a county prosecuting attorneys
office is an enterprise within or affecting interstate com-
merce within the RICO Act is an important question of
Federal Law and has not previously been considered by this
Court.

3. WHETHER THE FOURTH CIRCUIT'S HOLD-
ING THAT THE TERM “ENTERPRISE”, WITHIN
THE SCOPE OF THE RACKETEER INFLUENCE
CORRUPT ORGANIZATION STATUTE (RICO) 19
U.S.C. §1961-1968, ENCOMPASSES AN ILLEGAL
ASSOCIATION THAT IS PROVED ONLY BY
FACTS CONSTITUTING THE “PATTERN OF
RACKETEERING ACTIVITY,” SHOULD STAND
IN LIGHT OF THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT COURT
OF APPEALS DECISION IN UNITED STATES vy.
ANDERSON AND MOONEY, 79-1809?

The three judge panel of the 8th Circuit Court of
Appeals in United States v. Anderson and Mooney, 79-1089
offered the following interpretation:

14

The Government's view of the RICO prosecutions
against Anderson and Mooney leads to the conclusion
that almost any two criminal acts affecting interstate
commerce would fall within the ambit of RICO. Cer-
tainly Congress did not silently intend such a drastic
reshuffle of the federal-state balance as the expansive
theory of the Government would entail. (slip opinion)

In Anderson and Mooney, supra. involving two county
officials in Arkansas who were accused of taking kickbacks
in connection with county purchases of road maintenance
supplies, the Court specifically held that the officials illegal
scheme, entered into with a salesman, did not constitute an
“enterprise” within the statutory meaning of the word. (slip
opinion)

Accordingly in this maverick opinion, the three judge
panel further explained the Government failed to prove the
existence of the “enterprise” except through the acts of brib-
ery which also established its proof of the “pattern of racke-
teering activity.” (slip opinion) “The term ‘enterprise’ must
signify an association that is substantially different from the
acts which form the pattern of racketeering activity.” (slip
opinion)

By reversing the RICO convictions, the Eighth Circuit
chose a polar stance from the Fourth Circuit. In the instant
situation, the 4th Circuit permitted the term “enterprise” to
encompass the illegal association between Petitioner and his
co-defendants which was established only by facts which
also constituted the predicate acts comprising the pattern of
racketeering activity.

Accordingly, the question of whether the term “enter-
prise” encompasses an illegal association that is proved only
by facts which also establish the predicate acts constituting
the “pattern of racketeering activity” is presented to the
Court to effectuate resolution of the conflict between the
Fourth and Eighth Circuits.

15

4. WHETHER THE FOURTH CIRCUIT'S FAILURE
TO REVERSE PETITIONER'S CONVICTION
FOR FAILURE TO CHARGE THAT THERE
MUST BE MORE THAN ONE PREDICATE
OFFENSE FOR CONVICTION UNDER 18 U.S.C.
§1962(d) CONSPIRACY, SHOULD STAND IN
LIGHT OF THE FIFTH CIRCUIT COURT OF
APPEALS DECISION IN UNITED STATES vy.
ELLIOTT, 471 F.2d 880, 903 (5th Cir. 1977)?

In order for a violation of 18 U.S.C. §1962(d) to be
found, a defendant personally must commit two prescribed
acts. United States v. Campanale, 518 F.2d 352 (9th Cir.
1975); In United States v. Campanale, supra, which was an
18 U.S.C. §1962(d) case, the Court recognized, even though
a conspiracy was charged, it still was required that each
individual defendant commit two acts of racketeering to
establish a pattern and, therefore, make the individual a
member of the conspiracy.

The same principle that in a conspiracy prosecution
under 18 U.S.C. §1962(d) there must be more than one
predicate offense, is clearly stated in United States v. Elliott,
571 F.2d 880, 903 5th Cir. 1977);

To be convicted as a member of an enterprise con-
spiracy, an individual, by his words or actions, must
have objectively manifested an agreement to partici-
pate, directly or indirectly in the affairs of an enterprise
through the commission of two or more predicate
crimes. One whose agreement with the members of an
enterprise did not include this vital element cannot be
convicted under the act. Id. (emphasis on original)

The above cases clearly demonstrate that the elements
of §1962(d) conspiracy are different from those of 18 U.S.C.
§371 conspiracy. As written in United States v. Kessler, 449
F.2d 1315 (2nd Cir. 1971), in order to prove a §371 con-
spiracy, “knowing joinder in an unlawful scheme on one
occassion is sufficient. Id. (emphasis supplied)

16

In the instant case, the trial court charged the jury,
and the Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the following
instructions:

“...the government does not have to establish perfor-
mance of all the avert acts as set out in the indict™ent.
Proof beyond a reasonable doubt of one such act is
sufficient.

A conspiracy is a combination of two or more persons
by conserted action to accomplish unlawful purpose, or
to accomplish some lawful purpose by unlawful means.
So, a conspiracy is a kind of partnership in which each
member becomes the agent of every other member.
The gist of the offense, isa combination or agreement to
disobey or to disregard the law. (App. 673a)

Moreover, the Court repeated this incorrect charge to
the jury, viz., only one overt act need be proven, four more
times. This charge describes the conspiracy under §371.
However, Petitioner was not charged with violating §371, he
ws charged with violating §1962(d). The district court never
charged under §1962(d), and consequently, the jury was not
properly instructed on the crime for which the Petitioner
was charged.

Prejudice to Petitioner is particularly obvious for had
the proper standard been applied, it is foreseeable that an
acquittal would have been granted him. The Government, in
its opening address, explained the two predicate transac-
tions involving Pecora. Evidence of one (the slot machine
buy-back) was excluded. Accordingly, under a proper
application of §1962(d) to the facts, the evidence is insuffi-
cient to establish a violation.

This issue is presented to the Court to effectuate resolu-
tion of the conflict between the Fourth Circuit and the Fifth
Circuit.

17

5. WHETHER THE FOURTH CIRCUIT FAILURE
TO REVERSE PETITIONER’S CONVICTION ON
THE BASIS OF THE GOVERNMENT'S REFER-
ENCE TO EVIDENCE WHICH HAD BEEN
EXCLUDED, SHOULD STAND IN LIGHT OF
UNITED STATES v. LEON, 534 F.2d 667 (6th Cir.
1976)?

It is well established that the United States Attorney
may not inject improper or prejudicial material that deprives
that accused of his right to a fair trial. Berger v. United
States, 295 U.S. 78, 88, 58 S.Ct. 629 (1930); United States v.
Leon, 534 F.2d 667, 679 (6th Cir. 1976).

The Court in Leon, supra. did have a four prong test for
determining whether remarks made by a United States
_ Attorney was harmless.

Of these four factors, the first one, the tendency to
mislead the jury and prejudice the accused, is the prime
consideration. In determining undue prejudcial affect “the
inquiry should be whether the prosecutor's expression might
reasonably lead the jury to believe that there is other evi-
dence, unknown or unavailable to the jury, on which the
prosecution was convinced of the accused’s guilt.” McMillan
v. United States, 363 F.2d 165, 169 (5th Cir. 1966).

The prosecutor cannot assert that there was existent, but
unstated, evidence of which the jury did not have the
benefit. For example, in McMillan, the court overturned 2
conviction because the prosecutor expressed his personal
belief in the Defendant’s guilt and insinuated that he had
additional information, by way of a reliable informer, that
had been excluded by the court. The court explained this
information as follows:

“It is more probable that this led the jury to believe that

the whole government establishment has already deter-

mined appellants to be guilty on a glut of evidence
which by technical legalisms, was not put before them.”

Id. at 169.

18

The jury’s determination of guilt must be based solely
on evidence properly presented for their consideration. It is
well settled that “remarks on the availability of unused evi-
dence are clearly impermissible.” Ketchum v. United States,
354 F.2d 715, 719 (1st Cir. 1965).

Therefore, any references to evidence which has been
excluded by the court is certainly improper. Garris v. United
States, 309 F.2d 862, 865, 866 (ID.C. Cir. 1968); Kitchell v.
United States, supra.

In the instant case, the United States Attorney in his
opening statement, asserted that he would prove Petitioner
was involved with some slot machines. During the trial, the
trial court ruled that a tape recording, which contained the
only evidence linking Petitioner with any slot machines, was
inadmissible.

Petitioner, in his closing argument, properly pointed out
that the United States Attorney has failed to prove that he
was involved with any slot machines. During his rebuttal
argument, the United States Attorney raised the issue of
Petitioner's connection with the machines. Since all evidence
regarding this matter had been excluded, he could not argue
that his allegation had been proven. Instead, he discussed the
fact that a number of bench conferences had resulted in this
evidence being excluded. The United States Attorney
focused the jury’s attention on this matter, then instructed
them that they were not permitted to consider it.

As a parting shot, he declared that “. . .the government
does not need the slot machines....” App. 744a-745a The
improper remarks were objected to at sidebar, out of the
hearing of the jury. The court overruled the objection, and
the jury was never instructed to disregard the improper and
prejudicial remarks. The court suppressed this evidence in
order to prevent it from influencing the jury’s decision; but
the prosecutor’s remarks focused the jury’s attention on the
evidence, thereby, causing them to consider it anyway.

—

19

In Kitchell v. United States, supra, the Circuit Court
reversed the conviction of co-defendants on the basis of the
United States Attorney similarly referring to excluded evi-
dence in his concluding argument. In reversing the convic-
tion the Court stated:

Whether by negligence or design, the government did
its best to bring in and emphasis the very evidence
which these defendants had sought to avoid by their
motions for severance, and which the Court had care-
fully excluded, the government should have been par-
ticularly circumspect, instead of the opposite. We
cannot sanction such improprieties...” Id. at 719.

In the instant case, the prejudicial affect of the United
States Attorney’s remarks became manifest when the sur-
rounding circumstances are examined. The Government
needed to prove that Petitioner had committed two predi-
cate crimes, i.e. that Petitioner was involved with some slot
machines. The government sought to imply that there was
existing, but inadmissible, evidence which would satisfy the
burden of proof; thereby prejudicing the Petitioner and
making the jury more receptive to their theory of segment-
ing the single crime of bribery in order to create the requisite
number of predicate crimes.

That the jury was misled and confused was clearly
demonstrated by the jury’s question during deliberations
which revealed that they were pondering the Petitioner's
connection with slot machines. They asked “Do Jo Jo Pecora
have slot machines?” (App. 703a) This confusion would not
have developed had the prosecutor confined his rebuttal
argument to permissive subjects. Thus, the remarks did prej-
udice the Petitioner's right to a fair trial.

Whether the remarks were isolated or extensive, it is the
second factor in the Leon test. Although the improper
remarks were not extensive, there content and the court’s
failure to act to remove their effect upon the jury's mind
must also be considered. Wherever, as in the instant case, the

20)

remarks of counsel were outside of the record and highly
prejudicial, case law requires the court to sustain the objec-
tion of counsel and to instruct the jury not to pay any atten-
tion to the remarks excepted to. In fact,

Where argument of counsel is outside the record and
prejudicial, the court should not only sustain objections
thereto, but should instruct the jury to pay no attention
to portions of argument to which objections are sus-
tained.” Robinson v. United States, 32 F.2d 505, 510,
(8th Cir. 1929).

The district court, however, failed to give such an
instruction and the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals failed to
reverse the conviction based on that failed instruction.

The Court, instead of resolving the confusion,
instructed the Marshall to respond that: “it is for the jury to
recall the evidence.” This instruction was made over the
Petitioner's objection. The total absence of any evidence
connecting Pecora with any slot machines obligated the
Court to so instruct the jury. The Court's response could only
serve to exacerbate the prejudicial affect of the prosecutor's
remarks.

The third prong of the Leon test, whether the remarks
were deliberately or accidentally placed before the jury, is
of critical importance in the instant case. The prosecutor

‘annot, in good faith, claim that he has accidently referred to
evidence which has been suppressed. The Court has specifi-
cally found that this evidence should not be related to the
jury. Consequently, the prosecutor's reference to this
excluded evidence files in the fact of the Court’s determina-
tion and can only be viewed as deliberate. See Kitchell v.
United States, supra.

The strength of the competent proofs introduced to
establish the guilt of the accused is the fourth and final prong
of the test annunciated in Leon. The mere presence of evi-
dence sufficient to sustain a guilty verdict is insufficient to

21

automatically classify the prosecutor's improper remarks as
harmless err. United States v. Leon, 534 F.2d at 683. The
evidence against Pecora, however was in no way conclusive,
therefore the remarks of the prosecutor were clearly prejudi-
cial.

This question is presented to the Court to effectuate
resolution of the conflict between the Fourth and the Sixth
Circuits.

CONCLUSION

It is respectfully submitted that this Honorable Court
grant the Petitioner’s Petition for Writ of Certiorari as he has
presented one important question of Federal Law that has
not previously been considered by this Court, and four areas
of Federal Law which have caused conflict within the var-
ious Circuit Courts of Appeals.

Respectfully submitted:

MANIFESTO, DOHERTY, LOVE
& TALARICO, P.C.

John L. Doherty
Attorney for Petitioner

200 Lawyers Building
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
412-471-8893

A-1
APPENDIX A

IN THe Unirep States District Court For THE
NorTHERN District or West VIRGINIA

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

of Criminal No. 79-00003-E-02
JOSEPH NICHOLAS PECORA,
re S. OU
Defendant. FILED AT ELKINS, W.VA.
FEB 26, 1979
THOMAS F. STAFFORD
ORDER _—

On February 16, 1979, came the United States of Amer-
ica by William A. Kolibash, Assistant United States Attorney
for the Northern District of West Virginia, and also came the
defendant, JOSEPH NICHOLAS PECORA, in person and
by his attorney, John L. Doherty, for arraignment. The
Court advised the defendant and his attorney that in view of
the complex nature of this case, he would enter a plea of not
guilty for the defendant. It was, therefore,

ORDERED that a plea of not guilty be entered, that
pretrial motions on behalf of the defendant be filed on or
before March 2, 1979, and that trial be scheduled at a later
date. It was further

ORDERED that the bond earlier given be continued

ENTER: FEB 26, 1979

“eeeeveevreeneeeeeeeeeneeeeeeeeeeeee

United States District Judge

I hereby certify that the annexed instru-
ment is a true and correct copy of the origi-
nal on file in my office.

Attest: Thomas F. Stafford

Clerk, U.S. District Court

Northern District

of West Virginia

By: /s/ Jeanne, WO’ Laven | |
Deputy Clerk

B-1

APPENDIX B

IN THe UNITED StaTeEs Districr CourT FOR THE
NORTHERN District OF WEST VIRGINIA

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Vv. Criminal No. 79-00003-E
ROBERT G. ALTOMARE,
JOSEPH NICHOLAS PECORA, VIOLATIONS:
LEONARD Z. ALPERT, 18 U.S.C. § 1503
JOSEPH APERFINE, 18 U.S.C. § 1962(c)
DONALD “DINGBAT” DELONG, | 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d)
CONSTATINE “GUS” KARAS, 18 U.S.C. § 2

Defendants

ORDER

It appearing to the Court that counsel for defendants in
the above-styled criminal action, will, because of the diffi-
culty in securing access to the discovery material until Feb-
ruary 27, 1979, be unable to adequately prepare pre-trial
motions, the Court, upon its own motion, does hereby,

ORDER that the deadline for submission of pre-trial
motions be extended until March 16, 1979, to give counsel an
opportunity to study and investigate the discovery material.

ENTER: FEB 27, 1979
/s/ Ropert E. MAXWELL

U.S. DISTRICT COURT — United States District Judge

FILED AT ELKINS, W. VA.

FEB 27, 1979
THOMAS F. STAFFORD | hereby certify that the annexed instru-
CLERK ment is a true and correct copy of the origi-

nal on file in my office.
Attest: Thomas F. Stafford
Clerk, U.S. District Court
Northern District

of West Virginia

Deputy Clerk

C-1
APPENDIX C

IN THE UnitTep States Districr Court For THE
NorTHERN District Or WEsT VIRGINIA

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff,
V. Criminal No. 79-00003-E

ROBERT G. ALTOMARE
: U. S. DISTRICT COURT

LEONARD Z. ALPERT, APR. 4, 1979
JOSEPH APERFINE, THOMAS F. STAFFORD
DONALD “DINGBAT” DELONG, CLERK
CONSTANTINE “GUS” KARAS,
Defendants.
ORDER

On the 27th day of March, 1979, at Wheeling, came the
United States of America by Stephen G. Jory, United States
Attorney, William A. Kolibash and William D. Wilmoth,
Assistant United States Attorneys for the Northern District
of West Virginia, and also came the defendants, in person
and by their counsel, Rudolph L. DiTrapano and Joseph
Thomas; Joseph Nicholas Pecora with his counsel, John L.
Doherty; Leonard Z. Alpert with his counsel, Stanley E.
Preiser and Frederick D. Fahrenz; Joseph Aperfine with his
counsel, Robert Yahn; Donald “Dingbat” DeLong with his
counsel, James E. Seibert, and Constantine “Gus” Karas with
his counsel, Thomas Livingston, for a hearing upon the var-
ious motions filed by these defendants. Upon consideration
of all matters offered and presented including the argument
of counsel, and for the reasons stated upon the record in
open court, it is

ORDERED as follows:

1. (a) The motion of the defendant, Robert G. Alto-
mare, that he be allowed to inspect the Grand Jury Minutes

C-2

of the Grand Jury which returned this indictment is granted
as to the record of his testimony before such Grand Jury but
is denied as to the record of any other person testifying
before such Grand Jury;

(b) the motion that he be granted an extension of
time in which to submit motions to dismiss is granted in
accordance with the limitation set forth in Item 8 below;

(c) the motion for the production of exculpatory
information and materials is granted;

(d) the motion to disclose interception of wire or
oral communications and electronic surveillance is denied
upon the representation of the United States that no such
action was taken;

(e) the motion for discovery and inspection is
denied as stated;

(f) the motion for transfer of trial within the district
is denied; and

(g) the motion to compel the United States to elect
is denied.

2. (a) The motion of the defendant, Joseph Nicholas
Pecora, for a bill of particulars is denied except as set forth in
Item 7 below;

(b) the motion for pre-trial discovery is denied as
stated; and

(c) the motion to suppress evidence is denied with-
out prejudice to this issue being raised at the trial of this
action.

3. (a) The motion of the defendant, Leonard Z.
Alpert, to dismiss this indictment or certain counts thereof is
denied except as is set forth in Item 7 below;

(b) the motion for a bill of particulars is denied
except as is set forth in Item 7 below;

C-3

(c) the motion for severance is denied except as is
set forth in Item 9 below and the motion to inspect the
statements of the other defendants is denied;

(d) the motion for a change of venue is denied;

(e) the request for disclosure of evidence is denied;

(f) the motion for disclosure of evidence intended
to be used at trial is denied as stated;

(g) the motion to compel disclosure of exculpatory
evidence is granted;

(h) the motion for an audibility hearing and visual
hearing on certain evidence is denied without prejudice to
this issue being raised at the trial of this action;

(i) the motion to compel government witnesses to
be interviewed is denied upon the representation that no
government witness is being held in protective custody and
all are available to counsel for the defendants;

(j) the motion to suppress is denied witout preju-
dice to the issue being raised at the trial of this matter;

(k) the motion to excise portions of the tape and
video recordings and the transcripts of the tape recordings
and to suppress the tape and video recordings entirely with-
out prejudice to the issue being raised at the trial of this
action;

(1) the motion to disclose interception of wire or
oral communications and electronic surveillance and the
motion to disclose mail cover is denied upon the representa-
tion of the United States that no such action was taken;

(m) the motion for disclosure of grants of immun-
ity, promises of leniency, or threats of prosecution, and any
plea bargaining is granted and the motion for disclosure of
any United States Department of Justice policy statements
of or regulations concerning the selection for prosecution
and/or prosection of “white collar” crimes is granted;

C-4

(n) the motion for the disclosure of all informers is
denied upon the representation of the United States that no
such informers were utilized in this case and that any such
informers are revealed in the files of the United States Attor-
ney which have already been made available to the defend-
ants;

(o) the motion for the early production of Jenck’s
Act materials is denied;

(p) the motion for a “rap” sheet and other informa-
tion on all prospective government witnesses is denied;

(q) the motion to require the government to dis-
close the manner of selecting the Grand Jury members is
denied;

(r) the motion to produce the minutes of the Grand
Jury which returned this indictment is granted as to the
record of this defendant’s testimony before such Grand Jury
but is denied as to the record of any other person testifying
before such Grand Jury;

(s) the motion to require the United States to dis-
close information as to the prospective petit jurors is denied;

(t) the motion for additional premptory challenges
is denied without prejudice to this issue being raised at the
trial of this matter;

(u) the motion for a hearing for the taking of evi-
dence in support of these motions is denied;

(v) the motion for the extension of time to file
memotanda of law in support of pre-trial motions is denied
except as is set forth in Item 8 below;

(w) and the motion to compel the United States to
elect or for severance of Counts or defendants is denied
except as is set forth below in Item 7.

4. (a) the motion of the defendant, Joseph Aperfine,
for the production of exculpatory evidence is granted;

C-5

(b) the motion for severence is denied except as is
set forth in Item 9 below;

(c) the motion to strike certain paragraphs of the
indictment is denied except as is set forth in Item 7 below;

(d) the motion for transfer within the district is
denied;

(e) the motion to require the government to trans-
cribe the tapes is denied;

(f) the motion to dismiss the indictment is denied
except as is set forth in Item 7 below; and

(g) the motion for a bill of particulars is denied
except as is set forth in Item 7 below.

5. (a) The motion of the defendant, Donald DeLong,
for a bill of particulars is denied except as is set forth in Item
7 below; and

(b) the motion to dismiss the indictment is denied
except as is set forth in Item 7 below.

6. (a) The motion of the defendant, Constantine
“Gus” Karas, to dismiss the indictment is denied except as is
set forth in Item 7 below;

(b) the motion for a bill of particulars is denied
except as is set forth in Item 7 below; and

(c) the motion to suppress evidence and for the
return of property is denied without prejudice to this issue
being raised at the trial of this matter.

7. (a) The paragraphs of Count I of the indictment
numbered 4(a), (b), (d), (e), (£), (g), (h), (i), (j), and (k) shall

be struck from the indictment;

(b) as to paragraph 4(e) of Count I of the indict-
ment, the United States shall file a bill of particulars stating
the identity of the Grand Jury referred to therein;

(c) as to Count II of the indictment, the United
States shall file a bill of particulars indicating the bribery

C-6

statutes of the State of West Virginia upon which it relies in
the prosecution of this matter, and all paragraphs which rely
upon West Virginia Code §$61-5-5 shall be struck from the
indictment;

(d) as to Count II of the indictment, the United
States shall file a bill of particulars indicating the gambling
statutes of the State of West Virginia upon which it relies in
the prosecution of this matter and all paragraphs which rely
upon West Virginia Code §61-10-1, 5, and 11 shall be struck
from the indictment;

(e) as to Count III of the indictment, the United
States shall file a bill of particulars stating the identity of the
Grand Jury referred to therein and, identify with particular-
ity the statutes of the State of West Virginia and the United
States of America upon which this investigation was based.
Upon the submission of this bill of particulars, the Court will
take such further action and enter such additional orders as
are deemed necessary.

8. The time period for the submission of additional
motions, which raise matters as have not been considered by
the Court, shall be extended to and including a date ten (10)
days before the scheduled trial date of each particular
defendant.

9. The trials of defendants, Robert G. Altomare, Leon-
ard Z. Alpert, and Joseph Aperfine, shall be severed from the
trials of the remaining defendants, such trial of the defend-
ants, Robert G. Altomare, Leonard Alpert, and Joseph Aper-
fine, to be joined with the trial of Robert G. Altomare in
Criminal Action No. 79-00007-E in which indictment the trial
of Robert G. Altomare has been severed from the trial of the
remaining defendants.

10. The trial of the defendants, Robert G. Altomare,
Leonard Z. Alpert, and Joseph Aperfine, upon the charges
contained in this indictment, joined with the defendant,
Robert G. Altomare, in Criminal Action No. 79-00007-E,

C-7

shall commence at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, April 23, 1979, in
the courtroom of this court in Wheeling, West Virginia,
before the Honorable Franklin T. Dupree, Jr., United States
District Judge. ,

11. The trial on the charges pending against the remain-
ing defendants in this indictment shall be scheduled as the
first criminal trial to commence at 10:00 a.m. on Monday,
April 30, 1979, in the courtroom of this court in Wheeling,
West Virginia.

ENTERED: APRIL 4th, 1979.

/s/ Rospert E. MAXWELL

United States District Judge

I hereby certify that the annexed instru-
ment is a true and correct copy of the
original on file in my office.

Attest: Thomas F. Stafford

Clerk, U.S. District Court

Northern District

of West Virginia

By: /s/ HELEN L. STEMFLE

PPRECICCP Pr SCeCseC Ces CeCe Sea EO e.8

Deputy Clerk

D-1

APPENDIX D

IN THe UNITED States Districr Court For THE
NORTHERN District OF West VIRGINIA

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff,

Vv. Criminal File No. 7-00003-E-01-02-03-

= 04-05-06
ROBERT G. ALTOMARE, U.S. DISTRICT COURT

JOSEPH NICHOLAS PECORA, pyyEp at ELKINS, W. VA.

LEONARD Z. ALPERT, APR 12 1979
JOSEPH APERFINE, THOMAS F. STAFFORD
DONALD “DINGBAT” DELONG, CLERK
CONSTANTINE “GUS” KARAS,
Defendants.
ORDER

A superseding indictment having been returned against
the above named defendants by the Grand Jury of this Court
on April 15, 1979, and the United States of America having
moved that the original indictments in Criminal Action No.
79-00003-E be dismissed, and the Court perceiving no objec-
tions thereto, it is

ORDERED that the original indictment returned by the
Grand Jury of this Court on February 6, 1979, be, and the
same is hereby, dismissed.

ENTER: April 12, 1979.
/s/ Ropert E. MAXWELL

United States District Judge

I hereby certify that the annexed
instrurnent is a true and correct copy
of the original on file in my office.
Attest: Thomas F. Stafford

Clerk, U.S. District Court
Northern District of West Virginia

By: /s/ Heven L. STEMFLE

e@eeeeeesee sce eeeoseeseeeeeeeeeeees

Deputy Clerk

E-1
APPENDIX E

IN THe UNitTeEp Srates Districr Court For THE
NorTHERN District OF WEST VIRGINIA

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Plaintiff,
V. es Criminal File No. 79-00003-E
ROBERT G. ALTOMARE, Vinkadtneee:
JOSEPH NICHOLAS PECORA, 18 U.S.C. § 1503

LEONARD Z. ALPERT,

JOSEPH APERFINE,

DONALD “DINGBAT” DELONG,

CONSTANTINE “GUS” KARAS,
Defendants.

18 U.S.C. § 1962(c)
18 U.S.C. § 1962(d)
18 U.S.C. § 2

ORDER

On the 13th day of April, 1979, came the United States
of America by Joseph W. Anderson, Assistant United States
Attorney for the Northern District of West Virginia, and also
came the defendants, ROBERT G. ALTOMARE, in person
and by his attorney, James Seibert, JOSEPH NICHOLAS
PECORA, in person and by his attorney, Carlton Rosen-
crance, LEONARD Z. ALPERT, in person and by his attor-
neys, Stanley E. Preiser and Frederick Fahrenz, JOSEPH
APERFINE, in person and by his attorney, Carlton Rosen-
crance, DONALD “DINGBAT” DELONG, in person and
by his attorney, James Seibert, and CONSTANTINE
“GUS” KARAS, in person, and by his attorney Carlton Ros-
encrance, for arraignment in the above-styled criminal
action.

The defendants each waived the reading of the Indict-
ment and entered pleas of not guilty to each Count contained
therein. Thereupon, the Court

ORDERED that the bonds executed by all defendants
pursuant to the order of the Court entered on February 22,

E-2

1979, with respect to an indictment returned on February 6,
1979, be continued. It was further

ORDERED that the schedule for motions and trial
established by the Court with respect to the above refer-
enced earlier indictment remain in effect in this matter,
except that the earlier ordered date for filing requested jury
instructions and legal authorities shall be extended from
Monday, April 16, 1979 to Wednesday, April 18, 1979.

ENTER: 4-23-79

/s/ Ropert E. MAXWELL

oe ee Ovreeuese ee 8.63 6828S. 82 86

United States District Judge

I hereby certify that the annexed
instrument is a true and correct copy
of the original on file in my office.
Attest: Thomas F. Stafford

Clerk, U.S. District Court
Northern District of West Virginia

By: /s/ even L. STEMFLE

eee eee ee ee eee ee eee eee ee ee eee

Deputy Clerk

F-1
APPENDIX F

In THe UNirep States District Court FOR THE
NORTHERN District OF WEST VIRGINIA

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff,

Vv. Criminal File No. 79-00003-E-02-05-06

JOSEPH NICHOLAS PECORA,
DONALD “DINGBAT” DELONG,

CONSTANTINE “GUS” KARAS, U. S. DISTRICT COURT

Defendants. FILED AT ELKINS, W. VA.
APRIL 26 1979
THOMAS F. STAFFORD
— CLERK

Upon consideration of the representation of Joseph W.
Anderson, Assistant United States Attorney for the Northern
District of West Virginia, that numerous items of evidence
being used in the trial of Criminal Action 79-3-E-01-03-04,
now being held before the Honorable Franklin Dupree, in
Wheeling, West Virginia, is required for the prosecution of
this criminal matter; that certain witnesses now appearing in
Criminal Action No. 79-3-E-01-03-04 are required for the
prosecution of this criminal action; that upon information
received from the Honorable Franklin Dupree, it is believed
that the criminal trial which he is now conducting is not
reasonably expected to be concluded until several days after
April 30, 1979; the one courtroom type of facility available in
the United States Courthouse in Wheeling, West Virginia,
does not allow the conduct of more than one trial at the same
time; it being the opinion of the Court that fundamental
fairness requires that the trial of this criminal action be held
in the Wheeling division of the Northern District, the imme-
diate location of the alleged criminal activity; that the
defendant, Constantine “Gus” Karas, is also a defendant in
Criminal Action No. 79-6-E-01, which is scheduled for trial
before the Honorable Charles H. Haden II on April 30, 1979,
in Parkersburg, West Virginia; the necessary overlapping of

F-2

trials and related proceedings of these companion criminal”
actions, now pending, when considered in context with the
complexity of the issues presented, compel the Court to
recognize that the ends of justice are best served here by
continuing the above matter for a short time beyond the
routine Speedy Trial Act time limits and that such action
outweighs the interests of the public and defendants to a
speedy trial, it is, accordingly.

ORDERED that the Court upon its own motion, in
accordance with 18 U.S.C. §3161(h)(8) (a), grants a continu-
ance in this criminal action and that the trial of this criminal
action, scheduled for April 30, 1979, be continued and the
same scheduled for and the trial to commence at 9:30 o'clock
a.m., on May 21, 1979, in the Courtroom of the United States
Courthouse in Wheeling, West Virginia.

ENTER: April 26, 1979

United States District Judge

I hereby certify that the annexed
instrument is a true and correct copy
of the original on file in my office.
Attest: Thomas F. Stafford
Clerk, U. S. District Court
Northern District of West Virginia

By: /s/ Heven L. STEMFLE

Deputy Clerk

G-l

APPENDIX G

InN THE UNrTrep States Districr Court
FOR THE NORTHERN District OF WEST VIRGINIA

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff,

v. CRIMINAL ACTION NO. 79-0003-E
-02-05-06

JOSEPH NICHOLAS PECORA,
DONALD “DINGBAT” DELONG,
CONSTANTINE “GUS” KARAS,

Defendants. U. S. DISTRICT COURT
FILED AT ELKINS, W. VA.
MAY 3, 1979
THOMAS F. STAFFORD
CLERK
ORDER

Joseph Nicholas Pecora, defendant in the above styled
criminal action, has submitted a motion for a bill of particu-
lars and a motion to dismiss the indictment. Upon considera-
tion of all matters, it is

ORDERED that defendant's motions are denied.
ENTERED: May 3, 1979.

/s/ Ropert E. MAXWELL

United States District Judge

I hereby certify that the annexed
instrument is a true and correct copy
of the original on file in my office.
Attest: Thomas F. Stafford

Clerk, U. S. District Court
Northern District of West Virgnia

By:.../8/ Heven L. STeMeLe
Deputy Clerk

H-1

APPENDIX H

IN THE UNITED States Districr Court FOR THE
NORTHERN District OF West VIRGINIA

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
v. Criminal No. 79-0003-E-02

JOSEPH NICHOLAS PECORA
U. S. DISTRICT COURT

FILED AT ELKINS, W. VA.
OCT 4, 1979
THOMAS F. STAFFORD
CLERK

On an earlier date, the Court scheduled rulings on post-
trial motions and sentencing in the above-styled criminal
action on October 2, 1979. It now appearing that JOSEPH
NICHOLAS PECORA, by counsel, has filed a motion to
continue the hearing date of October 2, 1979, and the Court
having considered the same, it is hereby

ORDER

ORDERED that the defendant’s motion be granted and
that the previously scheduled appearance date of October 2,
1979 be vacated and that the rulings on post-trial motions
and sentencing be re-scheduled at 10:00 A.M., on October
19, 1979, at Wheeling, West Virginia.

ENTER: October 4, 1979, as of October 2, 1979

/s/ Ropert E. MAXWELL

SRO C Cee ee evrevec ee eee ee 6 8 6 6

United States District Judge

I hereby certify that the annexed instru-
ment is a true and correct copy of the origi-
nal on file in my office.

Attest: Thomas F. Stafford

Clerk, U. S. District Court

Northern District of West Virginia

By: /s/ Heven L. STEMFLE

eeeeerereeeeee ee eee seeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Deputy Clerk

I-]

APPENDIX I

IN THE UNITED STATES Districr Court
FOR THE NORTHERN District OF WEST VIRGINIA

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
v. CRIMINAL NO. 79-00003-E-02

79-00003-E-06
JOSEPH NICHOLAS PECORA and

CONSTANTINE GUS KARAS, _ U.S. DISTRICT COURT
Defendants. | FILED AT ELKINS, W. VA.
OCT 23 1979
THOMAS F. STAFFORD
ORDER CLERK

Defendants Joseph Nicholas Pecora and Constantine
Gus Karas, by and through their attorneys Joseph L. Doherty
and Thomas A. Livingston, have moved the Court to post-
pone sentencing for 30 to 45 days, thereby continuing the
time of. sentencing beyond the October 30, 1979, date now
set.

Upon consideration of all matters, it is

ORDERED that the Defendants’ Motion for Continu-
ance be, and the same is hereby, denied. The briefing sche-
dule, hearing date, and, if necessary following consideration
of the motions, the sentencing date earlier scheduled will be
maintained.

' ENTER: October 23, 1979.
/s/ Ropert E. MAXWELL

United States District Judge

I hereby certify that the annexed instrzu-
ment is a true and correct copy of the origi-
nal on file in my office.

Attest: Thomas F. Stafford

Clerk, U. S. District Court

Northern District of West Virginia

© BERCAA CEP PESO eC Ce Ser eee Teeeeat es

Deputy Clerk

J-1

APPENDIX J

RECEIVED OCT 29 1979
IN THE UNITED States Districr Court
FOR THE NORTHERN District OF WEsT VIRGINIA
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
V CRIMINAL #79-0003-E
“ROBERT G. ALTOMARE, ET AL,
Defendants

ORDER

On October 19, 1979, came the United States of Amer-
ica by William A. Kolibash, Assistant United States Attorney
for the Northern District of West Virginia, and also came the
defendants, JOSEPH NICHOLAS PECORA, in person and
by his attorney, John L. Doherty; and CONSTANTINE
“GUS” KARAS, in person and by his attorney, Thomas A.
Livingston. The attorneys for the defendants advised the
Court that they needed additional time to review the trans-
cript which had just been prepared in order to particularize
their Motions for Judgment of Acquittal and/or A New Trial
and requested that the Court delay disposition of the matter.
For the reasons set forth by the defendants’ attorneys, it was

ORDERED that the disposition of the matter be con-
tinued and re-scheduled for 4:00 P.M. on October 30, 1979 in
Wheeling.

ENTER: October 26, 1979.
/s/ Ropert E. MAXWELL

United States District Judge

I hereby certify that the annexed instru-
ment is a true and correct copy of the origi-
nal on file in my office.
Attest: Thomas F. Stafford
Clerk, U. S. District Court
U. S. DISTRICT COURT Northern District of West Virginia
FILED AT ELKINS, W. VA.

OCT 26 1979
THOMAS F. STAFFORD By: eeeee /s/ HELEN, L. STEMFLE eee scene

CLERK Deputy Clerk

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L-1

APPENDIX L
PUBLISHED
UnitTep STATES Court OF APPEALS

FOR THE FourTH CIRCUIT

No. 79-5311

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Appellee,
v.

CONSTANTINE “GUS” KARAS,
Appellant.

No. 79-5320

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Appellee,
V.

JOSEPH NICOLAS PECORA,
Appellant.

APPEAL FROM THE UNITED STATES District COURT FOR THE
NorTHERN District oF WesT VIRGINIA, AT ELKINS. ROBERT
E. MAxweELL, Cuter District JUDGE.

Argued: May 5, 1980 Decided: July 1, 1980

Before RUSSELL, Circuit Judge; FIELD, Senior Circuit
Judge; and HALL, Circuit Judge.

John L. Doherty (Manifesto, Doherty, Love and Talarico
on brief) for Appellant Pecora; Thomas A. Livingston
(Dennis J. Clark, Livingston, Miller, O’Mallery & Clark

on brief) for Appellant Karas; William A. Kolibash,

Assistant United States Attorney (Stephen G. Jory, United

States Attorney on brief) for Appellee.

L-2

HALL, Circuit Judge:

Constantine “Gus” Karas and Joseph N. Pecora appeal
from their respective convictions of violating the Racketeer
Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act [RICO Act], 18
U.S.C. §1962(d). Both men were charged with participating
in a conspiracy to bribe county law enforcement officials in
order to conduct illegal gambling activities. The govern-
ment’s evidence, gathered over a two-year period by state
and federal officials, consisted primarily of the sheriff's tes-
timony and numerous taped conversations between the
sheriff and various members of the conspiracy, including
Karas and Pecora. After a five-day trial, the jury returned
guilty verdicts against both men. After the district court
denied their post-trial motions, Karas and Pecora noted sev-
eral assignments of error. Finding no error, we affirm the
convictions.

I. Joint Assignments of Error

Both Karas and Pecora allege that the district court
committed error by: (1) giving an improper jury charge on
the issue of entrapment; (2) giving an incorrect jury charge
pertaining to the conspiracy element of § 1962(d); (3) failing
to grant the motion to sever their trials; and (4) failing to rule
that the evidence was insufficient to sustain the verdicts.
Appellants argue that a proper entrapment instruction
would require the government to show that both men were
already predisposed to commit the acts of bribery and gam-
bling underlying the RICO Act violation. Counsel contends
that no such predisposition was established at trial!’ and that
the entrapment instruction given was overly broad and
fatally vague. When read in its entirety,” the charge clearly

'Karas asserts that he was entitled to a defense of entrapment as a
matter of law. In view of the factual dispute regarding this issue, the trial
court properly submitted it to the jury for resolution.

*The trial court instructed the jury as follows:

If, then, the jury should find beyond a reasonable doubt from the
evidence in this case, that before anything at all occurred respecting

continued

L-3

informed the jury to apply the law of entrapment to the
charge in the indictment, which was conspiracy to violate
the RICO Act, not violations of bribery and gambling sta-
tutes. Appellants’ contention to the contrary is without merit.

Karas and Pecora also challenge the propriety of the
conspiracy instruction. Their main objection is that the trial
judge erroneously charged the jury as to a conspiracy under
18 U.S.C. §371, which requires only one overt act, rather
than $1962(d), which requires two racketeering activities.
United States v. Elliott, 571 F.2d 880 (5th Cir. 1977), and
United States v. Campanale, 518 F.2d 352 (9th Cir. 1975),
mandate at least two predicate offenses to establish a conspi-
racy under $1962(d). The district court did give a general
conspiracy charge, similar to that under $371, requiring only
one overt act. However, the trial judge further instructed the
jury that the appellants could not be convicted under
§1962(d) unless the purpose of the conspiracy was to violate
the RICO Act and that at least two racketeering acts had
occurred.? Viewing the overall conspiracy charge, there is no

the alleged offense involved in this case, the defendants were ready
and willing to commit the crime charged in the indictment, whenever
opportunity was afforded, and that government officers or their
agents did no more than offer the opportunity, then the jury should
find that the defendants are not victims of entrapment.

On the other hand, if the evidence indicates and should leave you
with a reasonable doubt whether the defendant had the previous
intent or purpose to commit any offense of the character here
charged, and did so only because they were induced or persuaded by
some officer or agent of the government, then it is your duty to acquit
them. (Emphasis supplied)

IThe specific instructions provide, in part, that:

The defendant, or any of them, may not be convicted simply
because they engaged in a conspiracy. The prosecution must show
beyond a reasonable doubt that the predominate purpose of the
conspiracy was to violate Title 18, United States Code, Section
1962(c). ... al

Third: that at least two acts of racketeering activity occurred ...
and that the acts were connected with each other by some common
scheme, plan, or motive. ...

Fourth: that through the proposed commission of two or more
connected acts the defendants would conduct or participate in the
conduct of the enterprise.

L-4

reason to believe that the jury was misled regarding the
requirement of at least two predicate offenses to find a
violation under §1962(d).

Appellants next argue that the district court abused its
discretion by failing to grant a severance of their trials. They
allege substantial prejudice by the refusal of the trial court to
grant any of the motions for severance under Rule 14 of the
Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure. Appellants urge that
their joint trial improperly allowed the jury to consider evi-
dence inculpatory to one defendant as pertaining to both of
the accused.

Both Karas and Pecora were indicted together’ based
upon their interrelated illegal activities. Absent a prejudicial
effect, persons indicted together may generally be tried
together. United States v. Shuford, 454 F.2d 772 (4th Cir.
1971). The appellants have failed to show that the denial of
their motions for severance deprived them of a fair trial.
United States v. Mandel, 415 F. Supp. 1033 (D. Md. 1976),
vacated on other grounds, 591 F.2d 1347 (4th Cir. 1979),
conviction aff'd en banc 602 F.2d 653 (4th Cir. 1979). Rather,
the district court’s instructions were calculated to ensure that
the jury considered the evidence only as to the defendant
against whom it was admitted. We do not think that the trial
court abused its discretion in denying the motions for sever-
ance. See, United States v. Dorsett, 544 F.2d 687 (4th Cir.
1976).

The last joint assignment of error challenges the suffi-
ciency of the evidence underlying the convictions. Pecora
contends that the evidence failed to show that he engaged in

‘The federal grand jury indicted several persons for violating the
RICO statute in connection with the alleged bribery and gambling activi-
ties in Hancock County, West Virginia. Before trial, the trials of the
remaining defendants were severed from that of Karas and Pecora due to
the anticipated complexity of the testimony and to minimize any possible
prejudicial effect which inculpatory evidence admitted against one
defendant may have had upon the remaining co-defendants.

L-5

a pattern of racketeering activity; i.e., commission of at least
two of the acts outlined in §1961(5). He admits to making
only one bribe and argues that two other bribes, allegedly
made by other defendants in his behalf, would at the most
only constitute installments of one overall bribe. We follow
the reasoning of other federal courts in rejecting thig install-
ment approach to bribery cases. E.g., United States v. And-
erson, 509 F.2d 312 (2d Cir. 1974); United States v. Alaimo,
297 F.2d 604 (3rd Cir. 1961).

Karas and Pecora also urge that the RICO statute is not
applicable to the allegedly illegal activities because there
was no “enterprise” or impact on interstate commerce
regarding the bribery and misuse of the offices of the county
law enforcement officials. We have already rejected similar
arguments regarding the scope of the RICO statute in Unit-
ed States v. Whitehead, No. 78-5160 (4th Cir. Mar. 20, 1980),
and United States v. Altomare, No. 79-5146 (4th Cir. June 17,
1980).°

II. Karas’ Assignments of Error

In addition to the above issues, appellant Karas raises
two others: (1) whether the trial court erred by admitting
evidence of other illegal activity, as well as evidence regard-
ing monies seized from unindicted persons; and (2) whether
the court should have allowed Karas to testify under a grant
of immunity given in a previous Case.

Karas contends that the playing of a taped conversation
in which he admitted to bribing local police officers was
irrelevant to the charged offense and was so prejudicial as to
outweigh its probative value. We believe the trial court

5United States v. Altomare was a companion case in which this Court

specifically held that: (1) the office of the prosecuting attorney was an mi
“enterprise” under the statute, and (2) that there was a sufficient nexus
with interstate commerce to come within the purview of the RICO Act.
See also United States v. Baker, No. 79-5167/68/69 (4th Cir. Mar. 17, 1980) /
(county sheriff's office is an enterprise under RICO); United States v.
Grzywacz, 603 F.2d 682 (7th Cir. 1979), and United States v. Brown, 555
F.2d 407 (5th Cir. 1977) (city police departments were enterprises under
RICO).

L-6

balanced the possible prejudicial effect against the rele-
vancy of the evidence and properly admitted it to show
Karas’ predisposition to commit the charged offense in view
of the defense of entrapment. Such a decision is in accord
with United States v. Russell, 411 U.S. 423 (1973); Sherman
v. United States, 356 U.S. 369 (1958); and United States v.
Koska, 443 F.2d 1167 (2d Cir.), cert. den., 404 U.S. 852
(1971). Moreover, this evidence would also be properly
admitted for the purpose of showing a furtherance of the
challenged conspiracy under Rule 801(d)(2)(E), Federal
Rules of Criminal Procedure.

Karas also challenges the admission of monies seized by
federal agents in January 1979 from the business premises of
Karas and four other alleged co-conspirators. He claims the
evidence is irrelevant because some monies were seized
from unindicted persons and because there was no connec-
tion shown between the monies and the alleged gambling
and bribery activities. Counsel claims that the jury’s reaction
to the large amounts of cash would adversely affect their
ability to impartially evaluate such evidence and is therefore
prejudicial.

The monies in question were seized from the establish-
ments in which gambling had been observed and whose
owners were purportedly members of the conspiracy to
which Karas belonged. The trial judge admitted this evi-
dence to show the source of the monthly $1500 bribe to
county law enforcement officials. We do not believe that the
seized monies were either so unrelated to the alleged con-
spiracy or so prejudicial to the appellant as to outweigh their
obvious relevancy to the issues at trial.

Karas final argument presents a somewhat novel
approach concerning the breadth of a grant of immunity.
Karas had been granted immunity by the government to
testify at a previous trial of one of the co-conspirators.
Although he never testified at the trial, there was a stipula-
tion as to his testimony. Before testifying at his own trial,

L-7

Karas sought a preliminary ruling that the grant of immunity
was still in effect. The government argued that the grant of
immunity was restricted to the earlier case and only pre-
cluded questioning Karas about this prior stipulated testi-
mony. During oral argument to this Court, Karas’ counsel
stated that he sought the preliminary ruling in order, to pre-
vent Karas’ testimony from being used in subsequent crimi-
nal proceedings. Counsel contends that the denial of
immunity in the present proceeding impairs Karas’ right to
present a defense as in Washington v. Texas, 388 U.S. 14
(1967).

The decision to grant immunity is within the sole discre-
tion of the prosecution. Thompson v. Garrison, 516 F.2d 986
(4th Cir. 1975); In re Kilgo, 484 F.2d 1215 (4th Cir. 1973).
Thus, the district court has no authority to confer immunity
sua sponte. United States v. Klauber, 611 F.2d 512 (4th Cir.
1979); In re Kilgo, supra. Since immunity is granted as a
substitute for a person’s Fifth Amendment rights, the refusal
to grant immunity permits the defendant to exercise his usual
rights under the Constitution. Every defendant must decide
whether or not to testify. Karas cannot extend his Fifth
Amendment rights, via an earlier grant of immunity as a
witness, to protect his testimony as a defendant in subse-
quent judicial proceedings ad infinitum.

Karas’ reliance on Washington v. Texas is misplaced. In
Washington, a state statute allowed a co-defendant to testify
for the prosecution but not for the defendant. This case does
not deal with the issue of testimony being made unavailable
since it was Karas’ choice not to take the stand. The district
court correctly recognized that the defendant had no right to
a grant of immunity and properly refused to extend the
earlier grant to the present proceedings.

III. Pecora’s Assignments of Error.

Appellant Pecora also alleges two other grounds as
error: (1) that the government’s closing argument was

L-8

improper and prejudicial; and (2) that he was prejudiced by
the trial court’s refusal to excise part of the indictment.

During the trial, the district judge had ruled that certain
evidence alleging Pecora’s involvement with slot machines
was inadmissable. In his closing argument, defense counsel
reminded the jury that the government had promised, in its
opening statement, to prove that Pecora had slot machines,
but instead no such evidence had been put before the jury
regarding this allegation. In rebuttal, the Assistant United
States Attorney stated that the trial court had prevented the
government from presenting any evidence of the slot
machines, but that in any event such evidence was not
needed for a conviction because other testimony established
three acts of bribery by Pecora. Shortly after this rebuttal,
defense counsel moved for a mistrial. The trial judge denied
the motion and indicated he would cure any problem of
prejudice by giving appropriate instructions during his
charge to the jury, which he later did.®

Pecora argues that the remarks made during rebuttal
were not harmless under the test in United States v. Leon,
534 F.2d 667 (6th Cir. 1976), and deprived him of a fair trial.
After evaluating the prosecution’s statements in light of the
four-prong test in Leon, we do not believe that Pecora was
denied his due process right to a fundamentally fair trial.

*Some of the cautionary instructions given by the trial court are as
follows:

The evidence in the case consists of the sworn testimony of the
witnesses ... and all exhibits received in evidence. ...

The statements and arguments of counsel are, of course, not
evidence in the case, unless made as an admission or stipulation of
fact.

Any evidence as to which an objection was sustained by the
court, and any evidence ordered stricken by the court, must be
entirely disregarded, or considered only for the limited purposes for
which the evidence was admitted.

L-9

Although the remarks of the government attorney are not
condoned by this Court, they clearly do not rise to the level
of egregious misconduct which was condemned in such
cases as Miller v. Pate, 386 U.S. 1 (1967), and Brady v.
Maryland, 373 U.S. 83 (1963). Considering the trial judge’s
charge to the jury regarding what evidence it should or
should not consider, such trial error, if any existed, would be
harmless under the rationale of Donelly v. DeChristoforo,
416 U.S. 637 (1974).

Pecora also asserts that he was prejudiced by the trial
court’s refusal to excise the allegation in the indictment that
he was engaged in business of an unknown nature in addition
to his vending machine company.’ The purpose for request-
ing this deletion was to counter any possible influence on the
jury by media allegations that Pecora had ties with organized
crime.

The government contends that the evidence presented
to the grand jury of Pecora’s gambling activities supported
the allegations in the indictment. In addition, th’. extensive
and painstaking jury selection proceedings ensured that only
jurors who are unaffected by any media coverage were
actually seated. We agree with the government's contentions
and uphold the refusal of the trial court to delete this part of
the indictment.

IV. Conclusion

Based on consideration of the issues raised by Karas and
Pecora, we find the assignments of error to be without merit
and affirm their convictions. The judgment of the district

court is
AFFIRMED.

7The challenged portion of the indictment relating to Pecora read as
follows:

Joseph Nicholas Pecora resided in Hancock County, West Virgi-
nia, was an owner/operator of J & Z Vending, and was engaged in
other business unknown to the Grand Jury.

Defense counsel sought deletion of the above underline portion of the
indictment.

M-l
APPENDIX M
UniTep STATES Court OF APPEALS
For THE FourtH Circuit
No. 79-5320

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Appellee,

versus

Joseph Nicholas Pecora
Appellant.

ORDER

Upon consideration of the appellant’s petition for
rehearing and suggestion for rehearing en banc, and no
judge having requested a poll on the suggestion for rehearing
en banc,

It is ADJ UDGED and ORDERED that the petition for
rehearing is denied.

Entered at the direction of Judge Hall for a panel con-
sisting of Judge Russell, Judge Field, and Judge Hall.

For the Court,

FILED
Jul 28 1980 _ /8/,WituiaM K. Sxate, IT,
U.S. Court of Appeals Clerk

Fourth Circuit

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I, John L. Doherty, Esquire, do hereby certify that a true
and correct copy of the PETITION FOR WRIT OF CER-
TORARI was mailed upon the Solicitor General, Depart-
ment of Justice, Washington, D.C. 20530, this 25th day of
September, 1980, by first class mail postage pre-paid.

eer ene Meee eee eee eee eee eee

John L. Doherty

AFFIDAVIT OF MAILING

The undersigned hereby certifies that the Petition for
Writ of Certiorari to the Superior Court of the United States
filed by Joseph Nicholas Pecora, has been mailed first class,
postage pre-paid, through the United States Postal Service
on Thursday, September 25, 1980.

John L. Doherty
Attorney for Petitioner

---

Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/brief%3Amicro_IA40385007_0508%3A1. Public record. Not legal advice.
