Petition — Jarrett v. United States
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Office -Supreme Court, U.S,
„
No. AUG 8 1993
5 =) NL STEVAS,
2 NN
In THE
Supreme Court of the United States
Ocroser Term, 1982
RONALD JARRETT,
Petitioner,
vs.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
f Respondent.
PETITION FOR WRIT OF CERTIORARI
TO THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE SEVENTH CIRCUIT
LOUIS CARBONARO
CaRBONARO & CARBONARO
79 West Monroe Street
Chicago, IIlinois 60603
(312) CEntral 64722
Attorney for Petitioner
Midwest Law Printing Co., Chicago 60611, (312) 321-0220
i
QUESTIONS PRESENTED
1. Whether petitioner presented a valid claim of vin-
dictive prosecution under the doctrine of Blackledge v.
Perry which prohibits prosecution or punishment of a
defendant for exercising his constitutional rights.
2. Whether the Court of Appeals erroneously held
that petitioner’s claim of vindictive and selective prose-
cution was waived by failure to raise it under Rule 12(b)
prior to trial, and whether the District Court’s actions
should be interpreted as granting relief from any waiver.
3. Whether errors and omissions of trial counsel, in-
cluding waiver of a claim which in effect constituted
petitioner’s only defense by failure to comply with the
time limitations of Rule 12(b), denied him effective
assistance of counsel.
ii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUESTIONS PRESENTED . . . .. . i
TABLE OF AUTHORITIES. . iii
r ...... 1
r ]”, 2
CONSTITUTIONAL PRO VISIONS
AND STATUTES INVOLVED .. .
STATEMENT OF THE CASE . .
REASONS FOR GRANTING THE WRIT:
1.
Petitioner Has Stated A Valid Claim Of
Vindictive And Selective Prosecution ............. 12
2.
Petitioner Did Not Waive His Claim Of Vin-
dictive And Selective Prosecution . 18
3.
Petitioner Did Not Receive Effective Assist-
See 25
III Sica cen echissssncebuasindcaspnewesséedontns 29
APPENDIX
1—Opinion of Court of Appeals. . . . . . App. 1
2—Order Denying Rehearing . . . App. 21
3—District Court Judgment Order App. 22
iii
TABLE OF AUTHORITIES
Cases
Blackledge v. Perry, 417 U.S. 2c 21 (1974) .......... 12, 17
Bordenkircher v. Hayes, 434 U.S. 357 (1978) . 16
Colton v. Kentucky, 407 U.S. 104 (1972) . . 17
Davis v. United States, 411 U.S. 233 (1973) ...... 20, 21, 25
Fallen v. United States, 378 U.S. 139 (1964) ....... 24
Fay u. Nota, 372 U.S. 391 (1963) . . . . . 22, 25
Herring v. Estelle, 491 F. 2nd 125 (5th Cir. 1974) .. 26
Johnson v. Zerbst, 304 U.S. 458 (1938) . . . 25
Kent v. United States, 423 F.2d 1050 (5th Cir.
P/ — ̃⁵²ß 27
McMann v. Richardson, 397 U.S. 759 (1970) 26, 27
North Carolina v. Pearce, 395 U.S. 711 (1969) ... 12, 18
United States v. Andrews, 633 F. 2d 449 (6th Cir.
1 ↄ eR ENR eA CURR Ce SP REA 18
United States v. Bourque, 541 F. 2d 290 (Ist Cir.
—— — aliadiaed 13
United States v. Easter, 539 F. 2d 663 (8th Cir.
— Ä A dias imenitacumiinoeinedied 27, 28
United States v. Goodwin, ..... UB: cos FO be
PPT » et eee Ret Mocs erat 12, 16
United States v. Oaks, 508 F. 2d 1403 (9th Cir.
. A AA FAP SUE. BY STC 22
United States v. Velsicol Chemical Corp., 498 F.
nee 15, 16
United States v. Wilson, 639 F. 2d 500 (9th Cir.
— ³ w» » ̃ ͤ- . 12, 13
iv
Constitutional Provisions,
Rules And Other Authorities
Fifth Amendment to the Constitution of the United
States (Due Process Clause) . 2
Sixth Amendment to the Constitution of the United
US salah ae lil aia eee ͥͤ hia oamianes 2
—TT—T—TVTT—T0——— 3, 13
Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, Rule 12(b) ...
VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVTVTTTP—T—T—T—T—TJV—TVTTVGVTF passim
Notes of Advisory Committee on Rules, Rule 12,
T 19
Wright, Federal Practice and Procedure: Criminal
( 19
Ix TRE
Supreme Court of the United States
Ocroser Term, 1982
RONALD JARRETT,
Petitioner,
vs.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Respondent.
PETITION FOR WRIT OF CERTIORARI
TO THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE SEVENTH CIRCUIT
Ronald Jarrett hereby petitions that a writ of certio-
rari be issued to review the judgment and opinion of The
United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
entered on April 5, 1983.
OPINION BELOW
The judgment and opinion of The United States Court
of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit was entered on Apri!
5, 1983 (No. 82-1128) and is reported at 705 F.2d 198
(7th Cir. 1983). The opinion is attached hereto as Ap-
pendix 1.
*
JURISDICTION
The judgment of The United States Court of Appeals
for the Seventh Circuit (App. 1) was entered on April 5,
1983, affirming the petitioner’s conviction dated Janu-
ary 21, 1982. A petition for rehearing was denied on
June 8, 1983. The jurisdiction of this court is invoked
under and pursuant to 28 U.S.C. Sec. 1254(1).
CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS AND
STATUTES INVOLVED
Fifth Amendment to the Constitution of The United
States (Due Process Clause):
“No person shall. . . be deprived of life, liberty or
property, without due process of law...
Sixth Amendment to the Constitution of the United
States:
“In all crimina! prosecutions, the accused shall en-
joy the right . . . to have the Assistance of Counsel
for his defense.”
Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, Rule 12:
7 = *
“(b) Pretrial Motions. Any defense, objection, or re-
quest which is capable of determination without the
trial of the general issue may be raised before trial
by motion. Motions may be written or oral at the
discretion of the judge. The following must be
raised prior to trial:
(1) Defenses and objections based on defects
in the institution of the prosecution; or
*
(2) Defenses and objections based on defects
in the indictment or information (other than
that it fails to show jurisdiction in the court or
to charge an offense which objections shall be
noticed by the court at any time during the
pendency of the proceeding); or
(3) Motions to suppress evidence; or
(4) Requests for discovery under Rule 16; or
(5) Requests for a severance of charges or
defendants under Rule 14.”
E * *
(f) Effect of Failure to Raise Defenses or Objections.
Failure by a party to raise defenses or objections or
to make requests which must be made prior to
trial, at the time set by the court pursuant to sub-
division (c), or prior to any extension thereof made
by the court, shall constitute waiver thereof, but the
court for cause shown may grant relief from the
waiver.
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
On December 15, 1977, Alfred’s Orange Blossom Jew-
elry Store, in Chicago, Illinois, was robbed by two gun-
men of approximately $39,000.00 in diamonds, watches
and yags (phony diamonds), and $3,000.00 in cash (Tr.
41). Approximately three years later on or about Octo-
ber 29, 1980, petitioner was charged by a federal grand
jury in a one-count indictment with the robbery, in vio-
lation of the Hobbs Act (18 U.S.C. Sec. 1951) (R. 1).
Sometime during 1978, petitioner became a suspect in
an unrelated investigation of another offense conducted
by Department of Justice Attorney S. Gay Hugo of the
Department of Justice Strike Force in Chicago, Illinois,
8
before the Special September 1978 Grand Jury. Some-
time prior to November of 1978 F. B. I. Agent Pecoraro
attempted to contact Petitioner as a suspect (R. 32). In
March of 1979, Agent Pecoraro served petitioner with a
grand jury subpoena. Petitioner appeared before the
grand jury on April 11, 1979, and refused to testify on
the grounds of his Fifth Amendment privilege against
self-incrimination (R. 32, 40, 61).
Just eight days later, on April 19, 1979, Department
of Justice Strike Force Attorney S. Gay Hugo obtained
an indictment charging petitioner with unlawful posses-
sion of a firearm three and one-half years earlier. The
firearms charge had already been the subject of a State
Court prosecution which terminated when the court
found no probable cause for the traffic stop of petitioner
which resulted in the seizure of the firearm (R. 32, 40).
Petitioner moved to dismiss the federal firearms prose-
cution on the grounds of vindictive prosecution and pre-
indictment delay. Although the district court denied the
motion to dismiss, in finding no probable cause for the
arrest of petitioner, as the State Court had found ear-
lier, the district court noted “irregularities” in the case
which it found “particularly troubling” and also ob-
served:
[T]he return of the indictment only eight days
after the defendant exercised his right to remain
silent before another grand jury on an unrelated
investigation is almost incredible. In view of the
court’s resolution of the motion to suppress, no
further comment on these aspects of the case need
be made. (R. 40)
The government did not appeal from the district court’s
finding of no probable cause, and the case was later dis-
missed (R. 32).
While the firearms case was pending, F.B.I. Agent
Pecoraro and another agent who were working with the
=
Strike Force and the grand jury on the original investi-
gation in which petitioner was a suspect, began looking
into the Orange Blossom robbery, the subject of the
instant prosecution. In June of 1979, they located and
told one David Willis, who admitted committing bur-
glaries and robberies in 1977 and 1979 and who was one
of the alleged gunmen in the Orange Blossom Robbery,
that he could get on a “witness protection program” if
he told them what he knew about the Orarge Blossom
robbery (R. 153-157, 174-80). Willis admitted that he
was one of the gunmen who had robbed the Orange
Blossom (R. 153-57, 180-81). Later, in September of
1979, they contacted one Ronald Brown, who was incar-
cerated in the Cook County Jail on two pending burgla-
ry charges. Brown had been an informant for the F.B.I.
since September of 1978, during which he was paid by
the F.B.I. and while so employed by the F.B.I., gave
them bogas information and committed a number of
burglaries. During this time he had told Special Agent
Gorman about the Orange Blossom robbery and said that
it was organized by a guy named Joe Rodriquez (a/k/a
Joe Zito), who used two men from Indiana to commit it.
Brown never mentioned petitioner to the agents at this
time, but claimed at trial, when he testified against
petitioner, that he was lying then (R. 280-84).
When Brown talked to Agent Pecoraro in September
of 1979, he admitted that he was the other gunmen in
the Orange Blossom robbery, but this time claimed that
petitioner also participated in the robbery and acted as
a “lookout”. Two weeks later, Brown was released from
custody. (R. 259-60, 263-66, 270).
The F.B.I. recommended an attorney for Brown and
the burglary charges were ultimately dismissed at the
request of the F.B.I. (R. 263-66, 270). During Sep-
tember, 1979 Brown was relocated and given a new
identity. The F.B.I. paid his rent and utility bills, as
* *
well as 820 per day for food for Brown and his family
(R. 214-17). In October of 1979 Willis, the other gun-
man, was also relocated by the government, given a new
identity and assisted in finding employment. He was
paid $14,000.00 by the government for various expenses.
In addition, the government paid for his housing, utili-
ties and furnishings (R. 143-45).
Almost one year later, on October 29, 1980, the Spe-
cial September 1978 Grand Jury (the same grand jury
which had been conducting the original investigation
before which petitioner had refused to testify) indicted
petitioner for a violation of the Hobbs Act based on the
Orange Blossom robbery. This indictment was also ob-
tained by Special Attorney Hugo of the Department of
Justice Strike Force (R. 1).
Prior to trial petitioner asked his attorneys! whether
this was a proper federal case, and discussed with them
the fact that this case appeared to be an effort by the
Government to retaliate against him and harass him
owing to his refusal to testify. Petitioner stated in his
affidavit that both attorneys told him that it appeared
the Government was trying to “get” him, and that they
knew what it was “all about.” Petitioner informed both
attorneys of this indictment in the federal firearms case,
filed about one week after his grand jury appearance,
which was pending before Judge Roszkowski, and dis-
cussed it with Mr. Walsh, one of his attorneys, in the
presence of another attorney who represented him in
These conversations are related in petitioner’s affidavit
filed in support of his claim that he was denied effective
assistance of counsel by failure of trial counsel to move to dis-
miss the indictment on the grounds of vindictive and discrim-
inatory prosecution. On September 2, 1982, the Court of
Appeals granted petitioner’s motion to file the affidavit as a
supplemental record.
i
the firearms case. Petitioner asked whether this case
could be dismissed before trial on grounds that the Gov-
ernment was retaliating against him and harassing
him, and his attorneys told him that they had to go to
trial before his claims of retaliation and harassment
could be raised. Petitioner stated in his affidavit that he
continually asked them when the claims would be raised,
and they repeatedly told him that they would be raised
later. Petitioner stated that Mr. Lydon, one of his attor-
neys, told him that his claims were the strongest part of
his case and both attorneys mentioned “vindictiveness”.
Petitioner’s affidavit states that he was never told that
failure to make the claims prior to trial would result in
waiver, that he would have insisted that these claims be
raised before trial if he knew that this was required,
and that he was relying on the expertise and judgment
of his attorneys.
Trial on the Orange Blossom robbery charges began
on December 15, 1980. On the second day of the trial,
counsel for the petitioner informed the court that he
wanted to file a motion raising the issues of prosecu-
torial vindictiveness and pre-indictment delay (Tr. 75-76).
In response, the district court said:
THE CourRT: Well, you go ahead and do that.
You can do that at the appropriate time. (Tr. 76)
During the testimony of Brown and Willis, the two
gunmen, defense counsel failed to object to the govern-
ment’s leading questions concerning the benefits they
had received from the government in exchange for their
testimony. Defense counsel did not object to the identi-
fication by Brown and Willis of the handgun allegedly
carried by Brown during the robbery, nor was either
witness cross-examined on this point. Willis was allowed
to testify, also without objection, to hearsay statements
by one Joseph Rodriquez, also known as Joe Zito, who
2
allegedly told Brown and Willis that petitioner was
planning the robbery. Willis also testified, also without
objection by defense counsel, to other statements by Zito
after the robbery concerning alleged hearsay conversa-
tions with petitioner (Tr. 162-64, 244-45).
Although Willis claimed that on the day of the rob-
bery he traveled to the Orange Blossom in petitioner’s
car, Brown testified in direct contradiction to Willis,
that he (Brown) rode to the Orange Blossom in petition
er’s car, but this difference was not explored on cross-
examination of Brown.
Defense counsel also failed to object to admission in
evidence of invoices for jewelry purchased by Orange
Blossom during the year, when exhibits were offered to
show the jurisdictional element of interstate commerce,
although there was no testimony that the items reflected
in the exhibits were taken during the robbery.
During cross-examination petitioner denied partici-
pation in the robbery, and denied that he owned any
police scanners or walkie-talkies, or had any in his home
when he was visited by agents in April of 1978 (Tr.
303-05). There was no objection to their questions by
defense counsel. In rebuttal, an agent was allowed to
testify over objection that he had been in petitioner’s
home in April of 1979, sixteen months after the robbery
and one year after the time referred to by petitioner,
and had seen three walkie-talkies in a closet in petition-
er’s bedroom (Tr. 329-30). However, defense counsel did
not object and in fact agreed to an instruction on im-
peachment which specifically mentioned the testimony
about walkie-talkies in his home in April of 1979.
Although Brown and Willis were admitted partici-
pants in the robbery, defense counsel did not request a
standard instruction on “accomplice” testimony. Later,
*
during elosing arguments, defense counsel told the jury
that the testimony of all witnesses was to be judged by
the same standard (Tr. 347).
On December 18, 1980, the jury returned a verdict of
guilty. On December 27, 1980, petitioner filed a motion
raising the issue of selective and prosecutorial vindic-
tiveness and requesting a hearing on the claim (R. 32).
Two months later, on February 17, 1981, other coun-
sel appeared for petitioner, and asked that sentencing
be continued to permit full exploration of the issue of
the court’s jurisdiction and prosecutorial vindictiveness.
The court replied:
THE CouRT: Well, you are certainly entitled to
raise any points that you want... and if you find
something to bring to my attention, why, you are
certainly welcome to do so and I would expect you
to do it. (R. 40 at p. 8)
The following colloquy between former counsel and
the district court also took place:
Mr. LYDON: .. . I am wondering whether you re-
ceived the post trial motions that we filed to dis-
miss, one, for vindictive prosecution—
Tur Court: Yes, I have those but I assumed
that you were going to present them and I was
going to suggest today—
. . . that obviously there is going to have o be
some kind of a hearing. . in connection with the
contentions raised by—I am aware of the fact that
you filed such motions and I assumed that the hear-
ing was going to go ahead covering that (as well as
the Government’s dangerous special offender peti-
tion). (Id. at 11).
a
On March 27, 1981, the government filed a lengthy
response directed to the merits of petitioner’s claims, but
did not assert that such claims were waived by failure
to bring them prior to trial, and did not dispute peti-
tioner’s right to a hearing (R. 61).
On June 23, 1981, the district court denied petitioner’s
claim of unlawful preindictment delay, but observed
that a hearing of some kind would be required on the
other claims. The Court said:
“The government has given, through affidavits,
reasonable explanations for its actions. But these
affidavits have not been tested by cross-examina-
tion. Indeed, the fact that the government felt it
necessary to respond to this motion with its own
evidentiary showing lends further support to this
court’s conclusion that some limited hearing should
be required to determine whether there may be
reasonable doubt as to the prosecutor’s motive in
this case.
Thus, even though defendant has not yet raised a
reasonable doubt in the court’s mind to warrant a
full scale evidentiary hearing, the court will give
the defendant the opportunity to present what evi-
dence he currently has to cross-examine the govern-
ment’s affiants in this hearing.” (R. 70 at 7).
Also on June 23, 1981 the government for the first time
asserted that petitioner had waived his claims by failure
to present them prior to trial under Rule 12(b), but the
court ordered an evidentiary hearing (R. 70-71).
However, on July 30, 1981, the date set for an evi-
dentiary hearing, the district court ruled that petition-
er's claims had been waived by failure to raise them by
pretrial motion under Rule 12(b). (Transcript by July
30, 1981).
ones
Just before sentencing petitioner filed a motion assert-
ing that he was denied effective assistance of trial
counsel, which was denied by the district court. (R. 61).
Subsequently, petitioner filed an affidavit in support of
his claim of ineffective assistance of counsel based on
failure of trial counsel to raise the claims of vindictive
and selective prosecution and preindictment delay prior
to trial. (Supp. R.)? On September 17, 1981, petitioner
was sentenced to 25 years imprisonment as a special
dangerous offender (R. 99).
On appeal, the Court of Appeals for the Seventh Cir-
cuit affirmed petitioner’s conviction. The Court held
that petitioner’s claim of selective prosecution was
waived by failure to raise it prior to trial pursuant to
Rule 12(b) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure.
As to the claim of vindictive prosecution, the Court
observed in a footnote that “this is not the type of situa-
tion which falls within the perimeters of a vindictive
prosecution defense.” (Opinion, p. 8, fn. 8). The Court
refused to reach the issue of whether petitioner had
been relieved of any waiver because petitioner “never
requested such relief from the district court.” (Opinion,
pp. 10-11). The Court also held that the petitioner's
claim of effective assistance of counsel was not properly
before the court even though petitioner has been given
leave to add this argument to his brief.
2 The facts stated in petitioner’s affidavit are summarized in
this statement, supra at pp. 6-7.
x
REASONS FOR GRANTING THE WRIT
1.
PETITIONER HAS STATED A VALID CLAIM OF
VINDICTIVE AND SELECTIVE PROSECUTION.
Certiorari should be granted because this case pre-
sents a number of questions concerning the scope of this
Court’s prior rulings prohibiting vindictive prosecutions
following a defendant’s exercise of his constitutional
rights. This Court in North Carolina v. Pearce, 395 U.S.
711 (1969) held that Due Process requires that a defend-
ant be free of the “fear of vindictiveness” which may
unconstitutionally deter him from exercising his right to
appeal or collaterally attack his conviction. Subsequently
in Blackledge v. Perry, 417 U.S. 21 (1974) this Court
held, following Pearce, that it was not constitutionally
permissible for the State to bring a more serious charge
in response to a defendant’s request for a trial de novo
because due process “requires that such a potential for
vindictiveness must not enter into North Carolina’s two-
tiered appellate process.” (417 U.S. at 28) The principle
underlying both these and subsequent decisions prohibit-
ing vindictive prosecution is that Due Process does not
permit the prosecutor to punish a person for “doing
what the law plainly allowed him to do.” (United States
v. Goodwin, 73 L. Ed. 2d at 87).
As observed by one court,
“Little substantive difference can be detected be-
tween selective prosecution and vindictive prosecu-
tion.” (United v. Wilson, 639 F.2d 500, 502
(9th Cir. 1981)).
The court went on to observe that vindictive prosecution
arises when the government increases the severity of
alleged charges in response to defendant’s exercise of
2
constitutional rights, and selective (or discriminatory)
prosecution occurs where defendant is prosecuted initi-
ally for having exercised a constitutional right. (639
F.2d at 502). But the interests involved are the same in
both selective and vindictive prosecution:
“the defendant seeks protection from criminal prose-
cution initiated punitively, in response to the exer-
cise of his constitutional rights.” (639 F.2d at 502)
But frequently the vindictive motive is also present in
the case of discriminatory or selective prosecution. As
stated in United States v. Bourque, 541 F.2d 290 (lst
Cir. 1976),
“... personal vindictiveness on the part of a prosec-
utor or the responsible member of the administra-
tive agency recommending prosecution would also
— a charge of discrimination.” (541 F.2d at
Petitioner in the instant case raised the claim that the
prosecution against him was both vindictive and dis-
criminatory. It was vindictive because it followed and
was motivated by a desire to retaliate against him and
punish him for his refusal to testify before the grand
jury in the original investigation. It was discriminatory
because petitioner was prosecuted under the Hobbs Act
(18 U.S.C. Sec. 1951) for the robbery of a local jewelry
store, when vitually hundreds of local robberies never
give rise to Hobbs Act prosecutions. Petitioner’s claim
was further supported by the fact that immediately
after he exercised his Fifth Amendment privilege, the
government brought a three year old weapons prosecu-
tion against petitioner based on an arrest which the
State Court had previously found to be lacking in prob-
able cause, and by the fact that federal agents sought
out and made arrangements for the principal witnesses
against the petitioner in the instant case to be paid and
placed in a “witness protection program” in exchange
*
for their testimony against petitioner. The original in-
vestigation, the subsequent weapons prosecution and the
instant prosecution were all under the direction of the
same Department of Justice Strike Force Attorney, and
the indictment against petitioner in the instant case was
returned by the same special grand jury before which
he had claimed his Fifth Amendment privilege not to
testify. So strong was the appearance of vindictiveness
that the district judge in the weapons case noted “irreg-
ularities,” found it “particularly troubling” and ob-
served that it was “almost incredible,” but did not find
it necessary to rule on petitioner’s motion to dismiss
based on vindictive prosecution because he granted peti-
tioner’s motion to suppress the evidence.
Although these facts obviously support the prima
facie inference that petitioner’s refusal to testify in
reliance upon his constitutional rights resulted in not
just one but two prosecutions against him, the Court of
Appeals held that petitioner did not present a claim of
vindictive prosecution because this. . . is not the type
of situtation that falls within the perimeters of Black-
ledge v. Perry.” (opinion p. 8 fn. 8) The court explained
that petitioner’s claim of vindictive prosecution fails
because “vindictive prosecution has as its basis an in-
crease in charges or a new prosecution allegedly brought
in retaliation for the exercise of constitutional rights”
and here “there is a single prosecution, and no increase
in charges” (Id.) The court further observed that peti-
tioner “apparently wishes to equate his appearance as a
witness before the grand jury with a criminal proceeding
against him personally.” (Id.)
To the extent that the Court of Appeals implies that
the proceeding before the grand jury was not a proceed-
ing against petitioner personally, it is inconsistent with
the fact that petitioner was regarded as a suspect in the
original grand jury investigation. Agent Pecoraro testi-
—1§—-
fied that petitioner was contacted as a suspect in the
original investigation, and the Government admitted in
the trial court that petitioner was a suspect (Govérn-
ment’s Response to Defendant’s Motions to Arrest Judg-
ment and Judgment of Acquittal, pp. 11-12). Moreover,
there was not just a “single prosecution” but two prose-
cutions following petitioner’s exercise of his constitu-
tional rights. After petitioner successfully defended
against the weapons prosecution, he was prosecuted for
the Orange Blossom robbery in the instant case.
To be sure, the court of appeals may be technically
correct and seems to have followed the prevailing views
as to Perry, namely, that there must be an increase in
charges based upon the same facts which supported a
previous charge in which the defendant relied upon his
constitutional rights. However, where the prosecution is
initiated with a vindictive motive in order to punish
a person for exercising his constitutional rights, it
makes little sense not to call it by the name of “vindic-
tive prosecution.” By granting certiorari the Court can
consider the question of whether the constitutional pro-
hibition against vindictive prosecution is limited to those
situations illustrated by Pearce and Perry, as the Court
of Appeals assumed, or whether all retaliatory prosecu-
tion for the exercise of constitutional rights is pro-
hibited by due process of law.
The timing of the prosecutions against petitioner in
the instant case as well as the stale nature of the
charges supports an inference of a reasonable likelihood
of vindictiveness. In granting a defense motion to dis-
miss an indictment on the grounds of prosecutorial vin-
dictiveness, the district court in United States v. Velsicol
Chemical Corp., 498 F. Supp. 1255 (D.D.C. 1980) said:
“When, as in this case, the government chooses not
to lodge charges for a period of time and then
2
makes the decision to prosecute so close after a
defendant elects to exercise his rights in the face of
prosecution opposition, apparent vindictiveness is
established. Indeed, the question of the delay and
the timing of the present indictment is crucial.”
(498 F. Supp. at 1264-65)
This case is an appropriate vehicle for further clarifica-
tion of Perry because, as in the Velsicol case, the timing
of the charges against petitioner “strongly indicates a
retaliatory motive.” (498 F. Supp. at 1265)
The existence of apparent vindictiveness under the
facts of the instant case is also supported by Borden-
kircher v. Hayes, 434 U.S. 357 (1978) where this Court
contrasted the “give and take” of plea bargaining where
a defendant is free to accept or reject the prosecutor’s
offer with the “unilateral imposition of a penalty upon a
defendant who has chosen to exercise a legal right to
attack his original conviction.” (434 U.S. at 362) When
petitioner appeared before the grand jury in the instant
case he was not given a choice of testifying or facing
indictment on other charges. Rather, after petitioner
had exercised his right not to testify, the subsequent
charges constituted the “unilateral imposition of a pen-
alty” on petitioner for the exercise of that legal right.
Subsequently, in United States v. Goodwin U.S.
8 73 L. Ed. 2d 74 (1982), in which defendant was
charged with a felony after refusing to plead guilty to
misdemeanor charges, the court refused to apply a pre-
sumption of vindictiveness under the circumstances of
that case, but reaffirmed the general principle under-
lying vindictive prosecution cases, and pointed out that
a defendant must be free from actual vindictiveness:
“In declining to apply a presumption of vindictive-
ness, we of course do not forec the possibility
that a defendant in an appropriate case might
prove objectively that the prosecutor’s charging
=
decision was motivated by a cesire to punish him
for doing something that the law plainly allowed
him to do.” (73 L. Ed. 2d ai 87)
The importance of avoiding persenal vindictiveness
was also expressed by this Court in Colton v. Ken-
tucky, 407 U.S. 104 (1972) where, in finding no due
process violation in the Kentucky two-tier system per-
mitting trial de novo before a different judge, the Court
remarked that there was little chance of “personal vin-
dictiveness” before a different jury because it has no
“personal stake in the prior conviction and no motiva-
tion to engage in self-vindication.” (412 U.S. at 17)
In contrast, question of personal vindictiveness is
present here because the earlier investigation during
which petitioner refused to testify and both subsequent
indictments were obtained by the Department of Justice
Strike Force Special Attorney Hugo rather than treated
as routine matters prosecuted by an Assistant United
States Attorney in the ordinary course of business. In
fact, it is entirely fair to say that neither the weapons
charge nor the very unusual Hobbs Act robbery charge
would have been brought against petitioner in the ordi-
nary course of business. This case is therefore stronger
for petitioner than Perry where the Court observed that
“There is, of course, no evidence that the prosecutor
in this case acted in bad faith or maliciously in seek-
ing 2 felony indictment against Perry.” (417 U.S.
at
In contrast, here petitioner has claimed that the partic-
ular prosecutor was actually motivated “to engage in
self-vindication” when petitioner refused to testify be-
fore the grand jury in the investigation which she was
conducting. As one Court of Appeals observed as to the
facts of Blackledge v. Perry:
“Anyone who assessed these facts objectively, would
conclude that the prosecutor had retaliated ayainst
a;
the defendant.” United States v. Andrews, 633 F.2d
449, 453 (6th Cir. 1980) (en banc).
In Goodwin this Court observed that the broad principle
that Due Process forbids punishment of a person be-
cause he has done what the law plainly allows him to do
underlies the line of cases beginning with North Caro-
lina v. Pearce and is in itself uncontroversial. The princi-
ple itself is too basic to be limited merely to cases in
which an attack on a previous conviction results in an
increased charge. This is an appropriate case for this
Court to recognize, as the Court of Appeals refused to
do, that the Due Process prohibition against vindictive
and retaliatory prosecution also protects petitioner and
others similarly situated from the vindictive motives of
a prosecutor.
2.
PETITIONER DID NOT WAIVE HIS CLAIM OF VIN-
DICTIVE AND SELECTIVE PROSECUTION.
This Court should grant certiorari also to consider the
question raised by the erroneous holding of the district
court and court of appeals that petitioner waived his
claim of vindictive and selective prosecution by failure
to raise the claim prior to trial pursuant to Rule 12(b) of
the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure.
1. The Court of Appeals reached the conclusion that
petitioner’s claims had been waived only because it re-
jected completely his characterization of his claim as
one of vindictive prosecution, characterized it as solely a
claim of “discriminatory” prosecution and then cited
some authority for the proposition that a claim of dis-
criminatory prosecution must be raised prior to trial
under Rule 12(b). As already pointed out above, the mis-
characterization of the claim does not change the fact
that petitioner has made a prima facie showing that this
prosecution was both vindictive and discriminatory.
—19—
2. The contention that petitioner’s claims were not
waived is supported by the Advisory Committee Notes
and the 1975 amendments to Rule 12(b\1) and (2) which
describe those objections and defenses which must be
raised prior to trial to include irregularities in the grand
jury proceedings and defects in the indictment or in-
formation (other than lack of jurisdiction or failure to
state an offense) (Notes of Advisory Committee on Rules,
Rule 12, 18 U.S.C. at 167). Professor Wright has pointed
out that categories (1) and (2) also include misjoinder of
offenses or defendants, multiplicity, duplicity and failure
of the magistrate to follow the rules. (Wright, Federal
Practice and Procedure: Criminal 2d § 193 at 700). In
contrast, those objections and defenses which a defendant
may raise by motion prior to trial (but which are not
waived if not raised) include such matters as former jeop-
ardy, statute of limitations, immunity, lack of jurisdic-
tion and failure of the indictment or information to state
an offense. (Notes of Advisory Committee at 167)
The claims of selective and vindictive prosecution
are not “defects in the institution of the proceedings”
like those described by the Advisory Committee, but are
analogous to a claim that prosecution is barred by
double jeopardy, which could not be cured and would
preclude the prosecution from calling upon a defendant
to answer the charges at all. Significantly, this Court
in Perry compared a claim of vindictive prosecution to
a claim of former jeopardy. (417 U.S. at 30) Since a
claim of selective prosecution is similar to a claim of
vindictive prosecution, both should be treated like a
claim of double jeopardy and not considered waived if
not raised prior to trial.
3. Petitioner’s contention that his claim of vindictive
and selective prosecution is not the type of correctable
“defect in the institution of the proceedings” contem-
2
—20—
plated by the waiver provision of Rule 12(b) is also sup-
ported by this Court's discussion of the waiver provisions
under the prior rule in Davis v. United States, 411 U.S.
233 (1973) where the court explained that:
“The waiver provisions of Rule 12(b\2) are opera-
tive only with respect to claims of defects in the
institution of criminal proceedings. If its time lim-
its are followed, inquiry into an alleged defect may
be concluded and, if necessary, cured before the
court, the witnesses, and the parties have gone to
the burden and expense of a trial.” (411 U.S.
at 241)
This observation obviously contemplates limitation of
the waiver provisions to defects which could be cured
before trial. It is extremely reasonable that such claims
must be raised prior to trial because failure to do so
might result in the burden and expense of a trial fol-
lowed by the burden and expense of another trial. There
is no such possibility with claims such as vindictive
prosecution, discriminatory prosecution and double jeo-
pardy because once these claims have been successfully
raised, there will not be another trial.
To be sure, the trial which was held might have been
avoided if the claim had been successfully raised prior
to trial, but by the same token a hearing on the discrim-
inatory and vindictive motives of the prosecution might
have been avoided entirely by the return of a verdict of
not guilty. Where as here either the return of a verdict
of not guilty or a favorable ruling on defendant’s motion
to dismiss would also terminate the prosecution, the con-
venience of all concerned may be served by proceeding
to trial first. For example, in petitioner’s case the
indictment was returned on October 23, 1980, the case
proceeded to trial less than two months later and the
actual trial took only three days. In contrast, the pro-
=
ceedings resulting from petitioner’s motion to dismiss on
the grounds of vindictive and discriminatory prosecu-
tion continued over a period of over seven months, and a
hearing would have involved several days of testimony
and numerous exhibits.
Further support for these contentions is gleaned from
the Davis Court’s explanation, in support of its inter-
pretation of the waiver provision of Rule 12(b), that:
“If defendants were allowed to flout its time limita-
tions, on the other hand, there would be little in-
centive to comply with its terms when a successful
attack might simply result in a new indictment
prior to trial. Strong tactical considerations would
militate in favor of delaying the raising of the claim
in hopes of an acquittal, with the thought that if
those hopes did not materialize, the claim could be
used to upset an otherwise valid conviction at a time
when reprosecution might well be difficult.” (411
U.S. at 241).
The Court’s reference here to “reprosecution” obviously
contemplates the kind of errors which are “curable” and
which would not bar reprosecution after a successful
post trial motion or appeal.
4. There is something highly perverse and unfair in
applying the waiver rule to a situation in which it did
not occur to any of the lawyers involved on either side
nor to the district judge that there was any possibility of
waiver until after several months had passed, the gov-
ernment had responded on the merits and the district
judge had set the matter for a hearing. The district
court, as well as Counsel for the government obviously
assumed that the petitioner’s claim could be raised after
trial and in fact when counsel for petitioner first brought
up the subject, the district court informed him that it
could be raised “at the appropriate time” (Tr. 76). Given
the fact that the trial was already in progress, the dis-
trict court’s reference to “the appropriate time” obvi-
ously referred to after trial.
The waiver provisions of Rule 12(b) should be a
“bright line” rule which makes clear to counsel and the
court what claims will be waived if not raised prior to
trial. When, as here, reasonable men do not even think
of waiver until several months after the claim has been
raised and until the parties have devoted considerable
time to briefing and arguing the merits of the claim,
the waiver rule has no reasonable application and serves
only as “an airtight system of forfeitures.” Fay v. Nowa,
372 U.S. 391 (1963).
To hold otherwise and permit this characterization of
the claim as selective rather than vindictive to control
application of the waiver provisions of Rule 12(b)(2) is to
engage in a kind of “shell game” with petitioner.
5. This Court should also grant certiorari to consider
whether or not the actions of the trial court in delaying
sentencing for nine (9) months, permitting the parties to
address the merits of petitioner’s claim, and setting the
matter for an evidentiary hearing constituted “relief
from waiver” pursuant to Rule 12(b). When counsel for
petitioner first raised the point during trial, the trial
court invited counsel to “go ahead and do that. You can
do that at the appropriate time.” (Tr. 76) Thi: invitation
by the district court compares most favorably to the
court’s statement in United States v. Oaks, 508 F. 20,
1403 (9th Cir. 1974) where the district court, in response
to counsel’s statement that he wanted to raise the point
of discriminatory prosecution, “All right. The point is
duly noted.” The Court of Appeals held that this state-
ment constituted “relief from waiver” within the mean-
ing of the prior waiver provisions of Rule 12(b\2) (508
F.2d at 1405) Surely, in the instant case, the district
court’s invitation to file the motions “at the appropriate
wiih.
time” should similarly be construed as “relief from
waiver.”
Moreover, if there was any doubt about the district
court’s remarks during trial, its subsequent actions
affirmatively support the conclusion that relief from
waiver was allowed. When new counsel filed his appear-
ance two months after trial, and asked for sentencing to
be continued so as to permit full exploration of the ques-
tion of vindictive prosecution, the district court remarked
that counsel was “certainly entitled to raise any points
that you want.” (R. 40 at p. 8) A few minutes later,
with reference to the motion to dismiss based on
vindictive prosecution filed by the trial counsel, the
court apparently in reference to its remark during trial
that the point could be raised at “the appropriate time,”
said that “I assumed you were going to present them.”
(Id. at 11) The court then remarked that “. . obviously
there is going to have to be some kind of a hearing” in
the connection with the claim of vindictive and discrimi-
natory prosecution. (Id. at 11) If the trial court’s re-
marks during trial did not constitute relief from waiver,
was such relief not granted by the trial court’s remarks
just quoted?
But there is more to support petitioner’s contention
that relief from waiver was granted. In June, six months
after trial, the court stated that the government’s affi-
davits had not been tested by cross-examination and
again observed that “.. The fact that the government
felt it necessary to respond to this motion with its own
evidentiary showing lends further support to this court’s
conclusion that some limited hearing should be required
to determine whether there may be reasonable doubt as
to the motive in this case.” (R. 20 at 7) The government
then, for the first time, asserted that petitioner had
waived his claims, but the court nevertheless set the
cause for a hearing on July 30, 1981. Did not this consti-
.
tute “relief from waiver”? Does the fair administration
of justice permit the district court to lead counsel to
believe that there has been no waiver for several months,
and then inexplicitly and suddenly change its mind?
In the face of such overwhelming evidence in support
of the obvious conclusion that the district court had
intended to and in fact did grant relief from waiver
(before inexplicably changing its mind eight months
after trial), the Court of Appeals refused to reach the
issue of whether petitioner could have been relieved of
his waiver “since he never requested such relief from
the district court.” (Opinion, p. 11) Certainly both the
district court and the court of appeals have violated this
Court’s injunctions against overly rigid or formalistic
interpretation of the federal criminal rules. (Fallen v.
United States 378 U.S. 139 (1964) Certiorari should be
granted so this Court can offer guidelines as to when
and under what circumstances the actions of the district
court constitutes “relief from waiver.”
6. Although petitioner contended that the govern-
ment, by responding on the merits and by failure to
raise its claim of “waiver” until several months after
trial, had “waived” its right to assert that petitioner’s
claim had been waived, the court of appeals rejected
this claim in a footnote as “completely without merit.”
(Opinion, p. 11 fn. 11) But if the waiver provisions of
Rule 12(b) are designed to save the time and expense of
the government and court by avoiding useless proceed-
ings, do not the same considerations apply to the re-
sources of petitioner? After the district court invited peti-
tioner to raise his claims of discriminatory and vindic-
tive prosecution in February, counsel for petitioner
investigated, spent days in legal research and brief
writing, submitted motions for discovery and briefs on
the merits and made numerous court appearances, all
for nothing apparently because at the last minute the
government cried “waiver” and rendered useless the last
six months of work. Petitioner and his counsel had cer-
tainly relied on the good faith of the government and
the court in spending time and money getting ready for
a hearing. Under the circumstances, should not the
government and the court have been equitably estopped
from raising the question of waiver at the last minute?
7. This case certainly illustrates the need for addi-
tional guidance on the question of which claims are and
which claims are not waived by failure to raise them
prior to trial. Both petitioner and his counsel were well
aware of petitioner’s claim of discriminatory and vindic-
tive prosecution and in fact counsel stated to petitioner
that it was the strongest part of his case. (Supp. R.)
There was obviously no intention that the claim be
waived or abandoned by waiting until after trial to
raise it. There was obviously no waiver in the sense of
an “intentional relinquishment or abandonment of a
known right or privilege.” (Johnson v. Zerbst, 304 U.S.
458, 464) Under the circumstances of this case, this is
certainly sufficient to show cause for relief from waiver
under Rule 12(b) (Davis v. United States, 411 U.S.
233, 255) (Marshall, J., dissenting) To hold otherwise is
simply to apply “an airtight system of forfeitures” (Fay
v. Noia, 372 U.S. 391, 482).
PETITIONER DID NOT RECEIVE EFFECTIVE
ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL.
Assuming for the moment that the court of appeals is
correct in its conclusion that petitioner’s claim of vindic-
tive and selective prosecution was waived by failure to
raise it prior to trial, is not such a waiver a denial of
effective assistance of counsel as guaranteed by the
Sixth Amendment? This contention must be viewed in
—26—
the context of the following facts: (1) There was an
appearance of vindictiveness resulting from the fact
that petitioner was indicted only a week after he had
refused to testify in another investigation before the
grand jury under circumstances which another district
judge found to be “almost incredible” and “particularly
troubling”; (2) The type of local robbery with which
petitioner was charged almost never gives rise to a fed-
eral charge of robbery under the Hobbs Act; (3) Peti-
tioner’s counsel were aware of the prior judge’s views
and told petitioner prior to trial in the instant case that
the motion to dismiss on grounds of vindictive and selec-
tive prosecution which they waived was the strongest
part of the case; (4) Petitioner himself wanted the point
raised and would have insisted that it be raised prior to
trial if he had known that failure to do so would have
constituted waiver; and (5) There was no conceivable
tactical advantage to be gained from not raising the
point prior to trial. Under the circumstances, it was
ineffective assistance of counsel for petitioner’s lawyers
to allow his claim to be subject to forfeiture, just as it
would be incompetence for a lawyer entrusted with the
responsibility of filing a personal injury lawsuit to for-
feit the claim by failure to file within the statute of lim-
itations.
The Sixth Amendment requires the effective assist-
ance of counsel performing within a minimum standard
of competency or “within the range of competence de-
manded of attorneys in criminal cases” McMann v.
Richardson, 397 U.S. 759, 771 (1970). Speaking to this
standard, the Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit has
observed that
. . . a lawyer who is not familiar with the facts and
the law relative to his client’s case cannot meet the
required minimum level.” Herring v. Estelle, 491
F.2d 125, 128 (6th Cir. 1974)
The Eighth Circuit has held that
„. . . trial counsel fails to render effective assist-
ance when he does not exercise the customary skills
and diligence that a reasonable competeni attor-
ney would perform under similar circumstances.”
United States v. Easter, 539 F.2d 663, 666 (8th Cir.
1976)
The Eighth Circuit in Easter held that under the cir-
cumstances present in that case failure of counsel to
question the search and seizure on the Fourth Amend-
ment grounds constituted ineffective assistance of coun-
sel and in so doing observed that it is fundamental to
afford a defendant in a criminal case a fair trial “that
his counsel assert that which may be his only defense.”
(539 F. ad at 666)
Applied to the circumstances of this case, these stand-
ards certainly require a holding that petitioner was
deprived of the effective assistance of counsel. Counsel
for petitioner surely was not familiar with “the law rel-
ative to his client’s case” if he did not know that failure
to raise petitioner’s claim would constitute waiver under
Rule 12(b) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure.
A lawyer not familiar with the rules surely does not fall
“within the range of competence demanded of attorneys
in criminal cases” as required by McMann v. Richard-
son. In this context it should be pointed out that this is
not the type of “waiver” which results from a tactical
decision made during trial not to object to a particular
question or not to raise a particular point in favor of
some other advantage. Rather, the failure to file a
timely motion to dismiss is similar to failure to file a
timely notice of appeal, which has been held to consti-
tute ineffective assistance of counsel. E.g. Kent v. United
States, 423 F.2d 1050 (5th Cir. 1970) It is analogous to
failure to file a personal injury case within the statute
of limitations, which as most lawyers learn in law school
8
is equivalent to a surgeon leaving a sponge in a patient
during an operation.
The failure of counsel for petitioner here to file a
timely motion resulted, as in Easter, in failure of coun-
sel to “assert that which may have been his only de-
fense.” (539 F.2d at 666) The remainder of the two-day
case against petitioner consisted principally of the testi-
mony of alleged accomplices who, if believed, left peti-
tioner with no defense, which is entirely consistent with
counsel’s statement to petitioner that the motion to dis-
miss was the strongest part of the case.
The failure of counsel for petitioner to raise his claims
of vindictive and selective prosecution was compounded
by numerous other errors and omissions which are
detailed above at pp. 1-9 of the statement of the case.
Most notably, counsel for petitioner failed to exploit
inconsistencies in the government’s case and failed to
request an instruction on accomplice testimony in a case
predicated entirely on the testimony of alleged accom-
plices. Counsel also failed to raise other points which
prompted the Court of Appeals to reject them on the
grounds that they were waived.
In sum, this case is also appropriate for certiorari
because it presents the question of effective assistance of
counsel in the context of the court of appeals decision
that petitioner’s strongest defense was waived by failure
of counsel to file a timely motion.
8
CONCLUSION
For the reasons stated above, it is respectfully re-
quested that this petition be granted.
Respectfully submitted,
LOUIS CARBONARO
Carsonaro & CaRBONARO
79 West Monroe Street
Chicago, Illinois 60603
(312) CEntral 6-4722
Attorney for Petitioner
App. 1
APPENDIX 1
IN THE
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE SEVENTH CIRCUIT
No. 81-2565
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff-A ppellee,
Vv.
RONALD JARRETT,
Defendant-A ppellant.
Appeal from the United States District Court for the
Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division.
No. 80 CR 666—Bernard M. Decker, Judge.
ARGUED SEPTEMBER 13, 1982—DECcIDED APRIL 5, 1983
Before WooD and POSNER, Circuit Judges, and DuMm-
BAULD, Senior District Judge.*
Woon, Circuit Judge. This appeal, raising a variety of
issues, arises from a jury conviction under 18 U.S.C.
§ 1951 (“the Hobbs Act”) for the armed robbery of
Alfred’s Orange Blossom Jewelers (“Orange Blossom”) in
Oak Lawn, Illinois, on December 15, 1977. The court
sentenced Jarrett as a dangerous special offender under
18 U.S.C. § 3575 to twenty-five years imprisonment.
* The Honorable Edward Dumbauld, United States Senior
District Judge for the Western District of Pennsylvania, is sit-
ting by designation.
App. 2
I. Jurisdiction
Jarrett asserts that the federal government lacked both
constitutional power and statutory authority to prosecute
him for the robbery of the Orange Blossom. According to
Jarrett, the Hobbs Act does not permit the federal
government to bring a criminal prosecution for a local
robbery of a retail store upon a de minimis showing of
effect on interstate commerce. Jarrett argues that,
although the de minimis standard applies in extortion
cases under the Hobbs Act, a more exacting standard
should apply in robbery cases because of constitutional
limits on the power of the federal government imposed by
the reservation of power to the states to prosecute
traditionally local offenses under the Tenth Amendment.
Jarrett points out that traditionally robbery is a local
offense whereas extortion is not. Thus, Jarrett concludes,
the government failed to establish Hobbs Act jurisdiction
in this case because, “of the $38,952.03 listed stolen, the
Government proved that about $2,000 worth of interstate
commerce was ‘affected,’” a figure which establishes only
a de minimis effect on commerce. An examination of the
statutory language of the Hobbs Act, the legislative
history of the Act, the cases interpreting the Act, and the
cases which examine the Tenth Amendment refute this
position.
Nothing on the face of the Hobbs Act indicates a con-
gressional intent to define the phrase “affects commerce”
more narrowly with respect to the offense of robbery as
opposed to the offense of extortion.? To the contrary, the
1 Although Jarrett cites to the Ninth Amendment, his x 4
ment is essentially a Tenth Amendment argument. Cf. J. Ely,
Democracy and Distrust at 34-41 (1980). In any event, the
Tenth Amendment provides a stronger argument does the
Ninth Amendment.
2 Title 18 U.S.C. § 1951 provides:
2 Whoever in any way or degree obstructs, delays, or
ects commerce or the movement of any article or com-
modity in commerce, by robbery or extortion or attempts
(Footnote continued on following page)
App. 3
statute places robbery and extortion on equal ground
regarding the jurisdictional requirement of affecting
commerce. Such equal placement and treatment provides
strong evidence that Congress intended the use of the
same standard in determining effect on commerce by
robbery or extortion.
The legislative history provides no support for Jarrett’s
contentions. Congress clearly intended to define as a
federal crime conduct that it recognized as punishable
under state law. United States v. Culbert, 435 U.S. 371,
379 (1978). The legislative debates contain numerous
statements to the effect that the conduct reached by the
Hobbs Act was already subject to punishment under
state robbery and extortion statutes.? Representatives
2 continued
or conspires so to do, or commits or threatens physical
violence to any person or property in furtherance of a plan
or purpose to do anything in violation of this section shall
be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned not more
than twenty years, or both.
(3) The term “commerce” means. . commerce between
points within the same State through any place outside
such State; and all other commerce over which the United
States has jurisdiction.
8 See, . g. 91 Cong. Rec. 11848 (1945) (remarks of Rep.
Powell) (“Extortion and robbe 1 crimes in all 48 States.“);
id. at 11900 (remarks of Rep. Hancock) (“robbery and extor-
tion, two crimes which are recognized as serious in every State
in the Union.. . . The courts of the States of this 2 have
tried thousands of cases of robbery and extortion.”); id.
11901 (remarks of — Gwynne) (Of course, the state law
prohibits robbe extortion. Unquestionably State in-
dietments could ie been returned against the members of
this union. The fact is, however, such indictments were not
returned. It is a breakdown of law enforcement reminding the
Congress of its duty to protect interstate commerce by the
enactment of this bill.”); id. at 11916 (remarks of Rep. Patrick)
(“If you gentlemen can convince me that any state in the Union
in which these depredations to which reference has been made
(Footnote continued on following page)
App. 4
who opposed the Hobbs Act contended that the Act in-
terfered with the rights of the states.‘ In passing the bill,
however, Congress concluded that “the States had not
been effectively prosecuting robbery and extortion affect-
ing interstate commerce and that the Federal Govern-
ment had an obligation to do so.” United States v. Culbert,
435 U.S. 371, 380. Contrary to Jarrett’s position, Con-
gress perceived both extortion and robbery to be crimes
traditionally subject to state prosecution.
Jarrett cites no case which distinguishes between the
degree to which commerce must be affected for purposes
of invoking federal jurisdiction for a charge of robbery
and for a charge of extortion under the Hobbs Act.
Courts draw no such distinction and require only a de
minimis effect for robbery as well as extortion.
In Stirone v. United States, 361 U.S. 212, 215 (1960), an
extortion prosecution, the Court stated that the Hobbs
Act “speaks in broad language, manifesting a purpose to
use all the constitutional power Congress has to punish
interference with interstate commerce by extortion,
robbery or physical violence.” Reaffirming this view in
United States v. Culbert, 435 U.S. 371 (1978) (extortion
prosecution), a unanimous Supreme Court said:
the statutory language [of the Hobbs Act] sweeps
within it all persons who have “in any way or degree
continued
has not adequate laws to convict people for robbery and for
every one of the things set out here, I will vote for this bill.”);
id. at 11906 (remarks of Mr. Robison) (“The definition of
robbery and extortion set out in this bill . . . are defined in sub-
—_ y the same way by the laws of every State in the Un-
ion.
4 91 Cong. Rec. 11903 (remarks of Rep. Welch); id. at 11848
(remarks of Rep. Powell) (“Mr. Speaker, this is another
ridiculous threat against democracy. It is the more ridiculous
because it comes from the great proponent of States’ rights. Ex-
tortion and robbery are crimes in all 48 States. then
ntlemen of the States’ rights school, do we need Federal
egislation.”).
App. 5
. .affect[ed] commerce... by robbery or extortion.”
... These words do not lend themselves to restrictive
interpretation; as we have recognized, they “mani-
fest ... a purpose to use all the constitutional
power Congress has to punish interference with in-
oe commerce by extortion, robbery or physical
violence.”
Id. at 373.
In a Hobbs Act robbery prosecution, United States v.
Caldarazzo, 444 F.2d 1046 (7th Cir.), cert. denied, 404
IJ. S. 958 (1971), this circuit drew no distinction between
the jurisdictional requirement for robbery and extortion
cases. In Caldarazzo, we ruled that “(t]he Hobbs Act
provides federal sanctions for robbery which ‘in any way
or degree obstructs, or delays, or affects commerce or the
movement of any article or commodity in commerce.’”
Id. at 1048-49.
We have previously held in an extortion case that “the
commerce element [of the Hobbs Act is] satisfied where
the actual impact on commerce is de minimis, .. . or
where, in the absence of proof of an actual impact, there
is a realistic probability that the extortionate transaction
will have some effect on interstate commerce.” United
States v. Hedman, 630 F.2d 1184, 1195 (7th Cir. 1980),
cert. denied, 450 U.S. 965 (1981). Thus, in light of
Caldarazzo and Hedman, we hold that the de minimis
standard applies to robbery cases under the Hobbs Act.
The Eighth Circuit, in Nick v. United States, 122 F.2d
660 (8th Cir.), cert. denied, 314 U.S. 687 (1941), addressed
a Tenth Amendment attack on the validity of the Anti-
Racketeering Act of 1934, ch. 569, 48 Stat. 979, 18 U.S.C.
§§ 420a-420e (the predecessor to the Hobbs Act). In up-
holding the validity of the Act, the court, 122 F.2d at 668,
explained as follows:
The argument as to the Tenth Amendment is that
this Act undertakes to invade State jurisdiction and
deal with domestic violence—in short, is an attempt
to exercise the police power reserved to the States
App. 6
under the Amendment. Clearly this is not true. The
Act is an exercise of 7 power but it is based
upon the protection of interstate commerce. If it
comes within the commerce clause of the Constitu-
tion it is not open to this objection. If it does not come
within the commerce clause it would be invalid
whether it involved an exercise of police power or
not. That the Act is within the commerce clause
seems clear... .
Similarly, the Ninth Circuit in Carbo v. United States,
314 F.2d 718, 733 (9th Cir. 1963) held that the Hobbs Act
is within the power of Congress and does not contravene
the Tenth Amendment.“
Rather than regulate the internal functions of the
states, the Hobbs Act regulates the activities of in-
dividuals. Furthermore, the Hobbs Act does not displace
the states’ freedom to prosecute robberies or extortions.
See generally Bartkus v. Illinois, 359 U.S. 121 (1959)
5 See generally United States v. Darby, 312 U.S. 100, 114
(1941) (“It is no objection to the assertion of the power to
regulate interstate commerce that its exercise is attended by
the same incidents which attend the exercise of the police
wer of the states.”); Hoke v. United States, 227 U.S. 321
1913) (Tenth Amendment challenge to White-Slave Traffie
— Act, ch. 395, 36 Stat. 825 9 United States v.
taszeuk, 517 F.2d 53, 58-59 (7th Cir.) (en ne), cert. denied,
423 U.S. 837 (1975); Gagliardo v. Un States, 366 F.2d 720,
722 (9th Cir. 1966) (18 U.S.C. § 1464 does not violate Tenth
Amendment); Marshall v. United States, 355 F.2d 999, 1004
Cir. 1966) (rejecting Tenth Amendment challenge to 18
S.C. § 1952), cert. denied, 385 U.S. 815 (1966); United States
v. Vignola, 464 F. Supp. 1091, 1099 n.23 (E.D. Pa. 1979) (un-
successful Tenth Amendment attack of RICO, 18 U.S.C. § 1961
oe) af} 4880 605 F.2d 1199 (3d Cir. 1979), cert. denied, 444
See generally United States v. Gi , 445 U.S. 360, 371
17 sery, 426 U.S. 833, 852
6). See also E Employment Opportunity Commission v.
1980
197
1970) Se 51 U.S.L.W. 4219 (March 2, 1983) (narrowly limits
Usery).
App. 7
(Illinois robbery conviction following federal prosecution
and acquittal of bank robbery presents no double jeopar-
dy probiem). The Hobbs Act presents no unconstitutional
intrusion upon the sovereignty of the states and, thus, is a
constitutional exercise of the commerce power.
Il. Jury Instruction on Affecting Commerce Element
Jarrett contends that the district court’s instruction
respecting the necessary element of interstate commerce
was inadequate. According to Jarrett, the instruction
which the trial court gave “improperly delegated to the
jury” the question of law of whether the robbery affected
interstate commerce. Thus, Jarrett argues, the trial court
erred in instructing the jury in terms of the governing
legal standard instead of requiring the jury to determine
only the factual questions supporting a finding of effect
on commerce, such as whether the Orange Blossom store
received jewelry from out-of-state suppliers. Jarrett fears
that the error “diverted the jury from its special office of
* the evidence, and making findings of faet
only.“
United States v. Kuta, 518 F. 2d 947, 951-52 (7th Cir.) (a
Hobbs Act case), cert. denied, 423 U.S. 1014 (1975), and
United States v. Sweet, 548 F.2d 198, 202 (7th Cir. 1977)
(18 U.S.C. § 844(i)), cert. denied, 430 U.S. 969 (1978), held
that the court determines as a jurisdictional matter
whether interstate commerce has been affected and the
jury finds whether the underlying facts exist. On the
issue of the requisite nexus to commerce, the district
judge in this case instructed the jurors:
Now, the defendant is charged, in effect, with the
crime of obstructing, delaying and affecting in-
terstate commerce by knowingly and willfully and
unlawfully committing robbery... .
R = **
Now, the term commerce“ means all commerce
— any point in the state and any point outside
thereof.
App. 8
The robbery here need only have a minimal effect
on commerce and it is not necessary for you to find
that the defendant knew or intended that his actions
would in any way affect commerce, it is only
necessary that the natural consequences of the acts
committed by the defendant charged in the indict-
ment was to affect commerce in any way or degree.
Record at 367-68.’
In dicta, we approved a similar instruction pertaining
to the element of commerce under the Hobbs Act in
United States v. Staszcuk, 517 F.2d 53, 55 n.6, 59 (7th Cir.)
(en banc), cert. denied, 423 U.S. 837 (1975). Moreover, no
prejudice resulted to Jarrett because the underlying
jurisdictional facts were not controverted. In any event,
Jarrett failed to object to the instruction at trial. Fed. R.
Crim. P. 52(a).
III. Selective Prosecution
Jarrett also raises a claim of selective prosecution.’ He
argues that it is not a claim which must be raised in a
pretrial motion under Rule 12(b) of the Federal Rules of
Criminal Procedure’ and, therefore, that he did not waive
In United States v. Stubin, 446 F.2d 457, 465 (3d Cir. 1971),
the Third Circuit examined a similar instruction and conclud-
ed that no plain error resulted.
Although Jarrett also claims vindictive prosecution, this
claim fails since vindictive prosecution has as its basis an in-
crease in charges or a new prosecution allegedly brought in
retaliation for the exercise of constitutional rights. Here there
is a hp prosecution, and no increase in charges. Jarrett ap-
1 77 1 to equate his appearance as a witness before
the 197 1978 grand jury with a criminal proceeding against him
veg: This, however, is not the type of situation that falls
within the perimeters of a vindictive prosecution defense.
Blac v. Perry, 417 U.S. 21 (1974); United States v. Wilson,
639 F.2d 500 (9th Cir. 1981).
Rule 12(b) provides:
Pretrial Motions. Any defense, objection, or
which is capable of determination without the trial o the
general issue may be raised before trial by motion. Motions
(Footnote continued on following page)
App. 9
that defense by failing to file his motion until after the
completion of the trial. We disagree.
It seems clear that a request for dismissal based on
selective prosecution must be raised before trial. United
States v. Taylor, 562 F.2d 1345, 1356 (2d Cir.), cert.
denied, 432 U.S. 909 (1977); United States v. Oaks, 508
F.2d 1403, 1404-05 (9th Cir. 1974), cert. denied, 426 U.S.
952 (1976). In order to gain an evidentiary hearing on the
issue of selective prosecution, the defendant must make a
prima facie case based on facts “sufficient to raise a
reasonable doubt about the prosecutor’s purpose.” United
States v. Falk, 479 F.2d 616, 620-21 (7th Cir. 1973). To do
this, the defendant must show (1) that the prosecutor
engaged in intentional discrimination based on an imper-
missible consideration, such as race, religion, or exercise
of constitutional rights, United States v. Peskin, 527 F.2d
71, 86 (7th Cir. 1975), cert. denied, 429 U.S. 818 (1976),
and (2) that “[wJhile others similarly situated have not
generally been proceeded against because of conduct
forming the basis of the charge against him, he has been
singled out for prosecution.” United States v. Berrios, 501
F. 2d 1207, 1211 (2d Cir. 1974). These issues bring into
question the institution of the prosecution; Rule 1Ab) re-
quires such issues to be raised prior to trial. The suf-
continued
may be written or oral at the discretion of the judge. The
following must be raised prior to trial:
(1) Defenses and objections based on defects in the in-
stitution of the prosecution; or
(2) Defenses and objections based on defects in the in-
dictment or information (other than that it fails to show
jurisdiction in the court or to charge an offense which
objections shall be noticed by the court at any time dur-
ing the pendency of the proceeding); or
(3) Motions to suppress evidence; or
(4) Requests for discovery under Rule 16; or
(5) ee for a severance of charges or defendants
under Rule 14.
Fed. R. Crim. P. 12(b).
App. 10
ficiency of these showings can, in the majority of cases, be
determined without trying the general issue, which in
this case was whether Jarrett was involved in the Orange
Blossom robbery in violation of the Hobbs Act.
While it is suggested in United States v. Wilson, 639
F.2d 500, 506 (9th Cir. 1981) (Real, J., concurring), that a
selective prosecution defense may require a full trial in
order to develop the relevant facts, this is allowed for
within the pretrial motion scheme, by Rule 12(e).!° The
court may, for “good cause,” defer decision of a con-
stitutional objection if production of evidence will clarify
the issue, or if factual uncertainties require “trial of any
nontrivial part of ‘the general issue... United States v.
Barletta, 644 F.2d 50, 57-58 (Ist Cir. 1981) (emphasis
in original); Wright, Federal Practice and Procedure:
Criminal 2d § 194. The stringency of the time re-
quirements are similarly softened by Rule 12(f) which
allows the trial judge to relieve a defendant of his waiver
“for cause shown.” The policies behind restricting the
time for making a motion for dismissal based on selec-
tive prosecution are well served by Rule 12(b), while
arguments against including selective prosecution in
those motions covered by 12(b) are mitigated by the
deferral and waiver relief provisions of Rules 12(e) and
(f). The district court was correct in finding that Jarrett
waived his selective prosecution motion by failure to file
until two months after trial. We need not reach the issue
of whether Jarrett could have been relieved of his waiver,
10 Rule 12(e) provides:
Ruling on Motion. A motion made before trial shall be
determined before trial unless the court, for good cause
orders that it be deferred for determination at the trial of
the general issue or until after verdict, but no such deter-
mination shall be deferred if a party’s right to appeal is
adversely affected. Where factual issues are involved in
determining a motion, the court shall state its essential
findings on the record.
Fed. R. Crim. P. 12(e).
App. 11
since he never requested such relief from the district
court.!!
IV. New Trial
Jarrett claims entitlement to a new trial, citing as
grounds (1) new evidence or perjured testimony, (2)
government withholding of discovery materials, (3)
rebuttal on a collateral matter, and (4) admission of hear-
say.'2 Pursuant to Rule 33 of the Federal Rules of
Criminal Procedure, a court may grant a new trial toa
defendant “if required in the interest of justice.“ After
reviewing the record and the parties’ arguments, we are
convinced that the interest of justice does not require a
new trial.
Jarrett argues that “the jury never heard a critical
change in the testimony of his coconspirator, Brown,
1 Jarrett’s final argument that the government “waived”
recourse to Rule 12(f) by responding on the merits to Jarrett’s
post-trial motion is completely without merit.
Jarrett also contends that because the arrangements
between the government and his coconspirators, Willis and
Brown, were not binding upon the government prior to testify-
ing, Brown and Willis had a reason to lie. Although this
provides an argument to present to the jurors, it is frivolous to
contend it provides a basis for a new trial.
1 Rule 33 provides:
The court on motion of a defendant may grant a new trial
to him if required in the interest of justice. If trial was by
the court without a jury the court on motion of a defendant
for a new trial may vacate the judgment if entered, take
additional testimony and direct the entry of a new judg-
ment. A motion for a new trial based on the ground of new-
ly discovered evidence may be made only before or within
two years after final judgment, but if an appeal is —s
the court may grant the motion only on remand of the case.
A motion for a new trial based on any other grounds shall
be made within 7 days after verdict or finding of guilty or
within such further time as the court may fix during the 7-
day period.
Fed. R. Crim. P. 33.
App. 12
which occurred subsequent to trial.” Thus, the jury lacked
an important factor in evaluating Brown’s credibility.
At trial, Jarrett’s counsel asked Brown the following
questions and received the following answers:
Q. Isn't it a fact, Mr. Brown, that you didn’t see
Ronald Jarrett on December 15, 1977, until after the
Orange Blossom robbery had been concluded and ac-
complished?
A. No.
Q. Isn’t that a fact?
A. No, it is not.
Q. Would you lie to help yourself, sir?
A. No, I would not.
Subsequently, at the sentencing hearing, counsel asked
Brown about his parole release in 1968. Brown admitted
that he obtained a regular job, not because he wanted
or intended to live a law-abiding life, but because it
was a “necessity to get out on parole.” When asked if he
— lie to help himself, Brown answered, I probably
would.“ “
Contrary to Jarrett's position, we detect no ser ious con-
flict in Brown’s testimony. In the first passage, Brown
denied that he was lying about Jarrett’s participation in
the robbery in order to help himself. In the second
passage, Brown admitted that he would lie on certain oc-
casions, such as obtaining his parole release. Further-
more, during the trial, Brown admitted to lying on a sub-
ject more pertinent to the case, stating that he lied to a
4 Counsel then asked Brown the following questions and
Brown gave the following responses:
Q. Right. In fact, the more serious the matter the more
you lie, isn’t that right?
A. No, not really.
Q. If it means going to jail, for example, Mr. Brown,
you will lie, won’t you?
A. No.
Q. You won't?
A. No.
App. 13
special agent who was investigating the robbery. The
1 therefore, heard Brown admit that he sometimes
ied. Finally, accepting Jarrett’s contentions arguendo,
Brown’s testimony at the sentencing hearing does not
meet the test for granting a new trial based on newly dis-
covered evidence, United States v. Hedman, 655 F.2d 813,
814 (7th Cir. 1981), or based on perjured testimony,
Larrison v. United States, 24 F.2d 82 (7th Cir. 1928).
Newly discovered evidence, to be grounds for a new
trial, must be “material, and not merely impeaching or
cumulative.” Hedman, 655 F. 2d at 814 (emphasis added).
Here, Brown’s testimony is merely impeaching, at best.“
For perjured testimony to form the basis for a new
trial, the court must be reasonably convinced that the
testimony given by a material witness is false and that
the jury might have reached a different conclusion had
the truth come to light. United States v. Robinson, 585
F.2d 274 (7th Cir. 1978) (en banc), cert. denied, 441 U.S.
947 (1979); Larrison v. United States, 24 F.2d 82 (7th Cir.
1928). Brown’s statement at the sentencing hearing does
not convince us that he was lying while testifying at
Jarrett’s trial. Moreover, the fact that Brown lied at his
parole hearing would not impress the jury to reach a
different verdict because Brown already admitted to
them that he lied to the special agent.
Jarrett claims that the government withheld certain
documents necessary for the defense to impeach
witnesses for the prosecution. Unfortunately, Jarrett does
not describe in particulars the nature of the documents
he sought to discover.“ The district court restricted dis-
covery to “any statements of the witnesses that might be
1 Under no stretch of the imagination can Brown be deemed
to have recanted his testimony at trial. 8A Moore’s Federal
Practice 33.05 (2d ed. 1982).
1 Although Jarrett's argument alludes to a curtailment on
impeachment in the nature of prior convictions and mi .
a thorough study of the transcript of the district court
proceedings reveals no such limitations.
App. 14
usable for impeachment purposes, but not every state-
ment made by witnesses regarding Jarrett.” In clarifica-
tion, the court ruled, and we agree, that simply because a
witness has accused Jarrett of committing another crime
does not mean the witness is biased.’ Moreover, even if
evidence that prosecution witnesses accused Jarrett of
other crimes indicates bias, such evidence would be
cumulative since the witnesses in question here were
already accusing Jarrett of the Orange Blossom robbery.
There is no indication or suggestion that the witnesses
were accusing Jarrett of crimes so great in number as to
connote prejudice or bias. The district court did not err,
let alone abuse its discretion, by denying discovery. See
generally United States v. Watson, 669 F.2d 1374, 1384
(11th Cir. 1982); 10 Fed. Proc., L. Ed. § 26:403 (1982).
Jarrett claims that he was improperly impeached on a
collateral matter. At trial he testified that when he was
visited by ATF agents in April of 1978 (about four
months after the robbery), he did not have any police
scanners or walkie-talkies in his home. In rebuttal, an
ATF agent testified, over objection, that when he went to
Jarrett’s home on April 20, 1979, he found walkie-talkies.
A matter is collateral if the impeaching fact could not
have been introduced into evidence for any purpose other
than contradiction. 3 Weinstein’s Evidence 1607 at 607-
64 (1981). We agree with Jarrett that proof of possession
of walkie-talkies sixteen months after the crime was com-
mitted is collateral. However, this impeachment resulted
in harmless error beyond a reasonable doubt. Fed. R.
Crim. P. 52(a); Fed. R. Evid. 103(a); Chapman v. Califor-
nia, 386 U.S. 18 (1967). The remoteness in time and lack
of relevance should have been obvious to the jurors.
Possessing walkie-talkies is hardly inflammatory.
» Nor is it “evidence favorable to an accused . . . material
either to guilt or to punishment” which must be disclosed ac-
580 the Supreme Court’s decision in Brady v. Maryland,
373 U.S. 83, 87 (1963).
App. 15
Jarrett challenges the instruction given by the court
relating to the rebuttal testimony.!“ At trial, defense
counsel raised no objection; rather, counsel specifically
approved the instruction. Tr. 360 (“That’s fine, your
onor, that’s good.”). We do not consider the instruction
to constitute plain error. Fed. R. Crim. P. 52; Fed. R.
Evid. 103(d). Rather, it appears to be an agreed upon
stipulation as to the date of the agents’ visit!“ and a
limiting instruction designed to eliminate any prejudice
to Jarrett.
Jarrett’s final ground for a new trial—improperly ad-
mitting hearsay—is frivolous, not meriting detailed dis-
cussion. According to Jarrett’s contention, the district
court erroneously concluded that “the Government had
established a joint venture” between Rodriguez, Jarrett,
Brown, and Willis such that statements made by the now
deceased Rodriguez were not hearsay under Federal
Rule of Evidence 801(d\2XE). The independent evidence
of the conspiracy was more than sufficient to meet the
preponderance test adopted in United States v. Santiago,
582 F.2d 1128, 1135 (7th Cir. 1978). Willis and Brown
both testified to the participation of the four in the crime,
and to various admissions by Jarrett, Fed. R. Evid.
18 The district court then instructed the jurors:
Now, there was some evidence introduced that the defen-
dant had possession of certain electronic equipment on the
occasion of the visit of certain agents to his e. Defen-
dant has denied that he had any such equipment on the oc-
eas ion of the visit. The date of such visit has now been es-
tablished as having taken place in April of 1979. The
evidence is to be considered by you only insofar as it may
affect the credibility of the defendant. It must not be con-
sidered by you as evidence of the guilt of the defendant of
the crime for which he is on trial.
Jarrett claims the district court erred in using the date
1979 in the instruction. However, defense counsel, in closing
argument, said, “And [Jarrett] was cross-examined about
something that happened in 1979, . did he have some walkie-
talkies .. in his house.” Tr. 344.
App. 16
801(dX2)A). Their testimony clearly established that
Rodriguez was a coconspirator of Jarrett’s within the
meaning of United States v. Gil, 604 F.2d 546 (7th Cir.
1979). Furthermore, Jarrett failed to object to the admis-
sion of Rodriguez’s statements at trial.
V. Sentencing
Jarrett attacks his sentence imposed under the
dangerous special offender statute, 18 U.S.C. § 3575,
arguing that the district court’s findings concerning
“dangerousness” are not supported by the record and are
clearly erroneous, that the court abused its discretion in
relying upon the witness Mara and the police reports for
corroboration of the witness Brown’s testimony, and that
the court erred in not explaining “why a twenty five
year sentence is required when the maximum under
the statute is twenty years.” We find Jarrett’s claims
meritless.
Jarrett contends the finding of dangerousness to be un-
supported by the record because Brown’s testimony is in-
credible. As the finder of fact in the sentencing hearing,
however, the court was entitled to accord such weight as
it saw fit to Brown’s testimony. United States v. Inendino,
604 F.2d 458, 463-64 (7th Cir.), cert. denied, 444 U.S. 932
(1979); United States v. Williamson, 567 F. 2d 610, 615-16
(4th Cir. 1977). Additionally, Brown’s testimony was cor-
roborated by Mara’s testimony and by the police records.
Jarrett complains that Mara did not testify as to his
personal knowledge concerning Jarrett’s participation in
a burglary of a Jewel grocery store and other incidents.
Pursuant to Rule 1101(dX3) of the Federal Rules of
Evidence, the Rules do not apply in sentencing hearings.
Thus, the Rules relating to hearsay do not apply. A judge
may properly conduct a broad inquiry, “largely un-
limited either as to the kind of information he may con-
sider, or the source from which it may come.” United
States v. Tucker, 404 U.S. 448, 446 (1972). Hearsay
evidence is admissible in sentencing proceedings, in-
cluding dangerous special offender proceedings. United
App. 17
States v. Inendino, 604 F.2d 458, 463 (7th Cir.), cert.
denied, 444 U.S. 932 (1979).
Similarly, regarding Jarrett’s claim of lack of authen-
tication, Rule 901 of the Federal Rules of Evidence is in-
applicable. In particular, however, Jarrett points out that
the FBI agent at the sentencing hearing did not make
copies of the police reports himself, or compare them
with the originals for accuracy. However, the copies in
question were xeroxes of the original—“admissible to the
same extent as an original” under Rule 1003 of the
Federal Rules of Evidence, unless “a genuine question is
raised as to the authenticity of the original.” Fed. R.
Evid. 1003. Thus, even if the Rules applied, the fact that
the agent did not make the xerox or conform it with the
original would make no difference. Although defense
counsel called the accuracy into question in form, he did
not do so in substance. Further, the district court assured
Jarrett he would consider the reports “with a grain of
salt,” and would consider them for the “limited purpose
of .. . determining whether or not there is any corrobora-
tion in this record as to the testimony given by Brown.”
Tr. 343-44.
Finally, Jarrett contends that the district court erred
in failing to explain its findings concerning “dangerous-
ness” under 18 U.S.C. § 3575(f). “A defendant is dan-
gerous” under Section 3575(f) “if a period of confine-
ment longer than that provided for such felony is re-
quired for the protection of the public from further
criminal! conduct by the defendant.” 18 U.S.C. § 3575(f).
In United States v. Neary, 552 F.2d 1184, 1193 (7th Cir.),
cert. denied, 434 U.S. 864 (1977), we noted that a trial
court must make additional factual determinations of
“special” and “dangerous” after a verdict of guilty to sup-
port the imposition of a sentence longer than the max-
imum sentence normally applicable to the crime. A find-
ing of dangerousness under Section 3575(f) involves an
evaluation of the defendant’s character and a prediction
of future criminal conduct, “matters which are tradi-
oy Pe to [the] wide discretion of a sentencing
court.”
App. 18
Contrary to Jarrett’s contention, the district court ex-
plained its findings concerning dangerousness. The
court’s explanation is in accord with the construction of
Section 3575(f) in Neary. The district court said,
[This defendant was in charge of an operation
and he was the mastermind behind it, he was the
organizer of it and he was the one who determined
after the Orange Blossom robbery took place who
was going to get what....
But in addition to that .. this defendant has, asa
juvenile, two arrests, on 58 different occasions he has
been arrested as an adult. He had two convictions as
a juvenile. There were 13 as an adult.
R *
Now, when this information was finally collected
... the government apparently decided . . . that socie-
ty needed some kind of better protection from the con-
tinuance of this criminal enterprise in which the
defendant was engaged and .. . the only way in
which he was making his living.
... [I]t is clear to me from this record, without any
question, that this defendant has been a professional
criminal all of his adult life and he qualifies beyond
question as a dangerous special offender... .
.. [V pur past record also indicates to me that
probation and parole are terms which, apparently,
have little meaning for you.
Thus, the district court found Jarrett to be dangerous to
society because of his criminal life-style.2° As the trial
court judge clearly articulated the reasoning behind his
decision in finding Jarrett to be dangerous, we hold that
2 Jarrett also alleges that the district court failed to com-
eae se the lan of Section 3575(f). This contention is
ivolous. The record reflects a clear understanding of the
statute by the district court.
App. 19
the district court did not abuse its discretion. United
States v. Madison, 689 F.2d 1300 (7th Cir. 1982).
VI. Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
Jarrett’s final claim is that he did not receive effective
assistance of counsel as guaranteed by the Sixth Amend-
ment. Jarrett makes numerous allegations respecting
this claim, ranging from failure to timely file a motion
asserting selective prosecution to failure to object to the
introduction of certain evidence. As relief, Jarrett re-
quests this court to reverse and remand for a new trial
or, in the alternative, to remand for a hearing on the in-
effective assistance of counsel claim.
This claim is not properly before us. Just prior to
sentencing, Jarrett filed a bare motion asserting ineffec-
tive assistance of counsel. The district court denied it. At
a subsequently held hearing ont motion alleging
denial of effective assistance, the district court indicated
that it would permit defense counsel to file affidavits in
support of this motion, would allow briefing, and then
would reconsider its prior ruling. In response, however,
defense counsel indicated he preferred not to address the
issue further, opting instead to seek collateral relief pur-
suant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255 if this court did not rule
favorably on appeal. We believe defense counsel’s original
inclination is correct. As we stated in United States v.
Lang, 644 F.2d 1232, 1240 (7th Cir.), cert. denied, 454
U.S. 870 (1981):
First, this type of allegation is more appropriately
dealt with by the district court. Procedurally,
several vehicles are available, including Rule 33 of
the Fed.R.Crim.P., Motion for a New Trial, or the
collateral relief available to federal prisoners under
28 U.S.C. § 2255. Second, examination of the record
does not provide clear evidence of the ineffective
assistance of counsel, the failure alleged being those
of litigation strategy. Nor do we have the im-
pressions and findings of the district judge to guide
us.
App. 20
For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the district
court is affirmed.
A true Copy:
Teste:
Clerk of the United States Court of
Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
App. 21
APPENDIX 2
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
For the Seventh Circuit
June 8, 1983.
Before
Hon. HARLINGTON WOOD, JR., Circuit Judge
Hon. RICHARD A. POSNER, Circuit Judge
Hon. EDWARD DUMBAULD, Senior District Judge*
No. 81-2565
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff-A ppellee,
U.
RONALD JARRETT,
Defendant-A ppellant.
Appeal from the United States District Court for the
Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division.
No. 80 CR 666—Bernard M. Decker, Judge.
ORDER
On consideration of the petition for rehearing and
suggestion for rehearing in banc filed in the above-
entitled cause by the defendant-appellant, no judge in ac-
tive service has requested a vote thereon, and all of the
judges on the original panel have voted to deny a rehear-
ing. Accordingly,
IT Is ORDERED that the aforesaid petition for rehearing
be, and the same is hereby, DENIED.
* The Honorable Edward Dumbauld, United States Senior
District Judge for the Western District of Pennsylvania, is sit-
ting by designation.
App. 22
APPENDIX 3
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS
EASTERN DIVISION
Docket No. 80 CR 666-1
United States of America vs.
Ronald Jarrett, Defendant
COUNSEL:
In the presence of the attorney for the government the
defendant appeared in person on this date, September 17,
1981, with counsel John W. Conniff.
PLEA:
Not guilty.
FINDING & JUDGMENT:
There being a verdict of guilty. Defendant has been
convicted as charged of the offenses of knowingly, will-
fully and unlawfully committing robbery, obstructing,
delaying and affecting commerce and unlawfully ob-
taining property by means of actual and threatened
force, violence and fear of injury, immediate and future,
to persons and property in their custody and possession;
In violation of Title 18, U.S.C. Sec. 1951.
SENTENCE OR PROBATION ORDER:
The court asked whether defendant had anything to
say why judgment should not be pronounced. Because no
sufficient cause to the contrary was shown, or appeared
to the court, the court adjudged the defendant guilty as
charged and convicted and ordered that: The defen-
dant is hereby committed to the custody of the Attorney
App. 23
General or his authorized representative for imprison-
ment for a period of Twenty Five (25) Years as dangerous
special offender within the meaning of Title 18, U.S.
Code 3575(e)(1) and 3575(f).
/s/ Bernard M. Decker
U.S. District Judge
Date September 17, 1981
This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.