State v. Vickers

985 S.W.2d 1, 1997 Tenn. Crim. App. LEXIS 624
CourtCourt of Criminal Appeals of Tennessee
DecidedJuly 3, 1997
StatusPublished
Cited by65 cases

This text of 985 S.W.2d 1 (State v. Vickers) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Criminal Appeals of Tennessee primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Vickers, 985 S.W.2d 1, 1997 Tenn. Crim. App. LEXIS 624 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1997).

Opinion

OPINION

DAVID G. HAYES, Judge.

The appellant, Ernest Vickers, III, was convicted by a Madison County jury of one count of filing a false document with the Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance, Tenn.Code Ann. § 48-2-121(c); five counts of securities fraud, Tenn.Code Ann. § 48-2-121(a); and five counts of theft, Tenn.Code Ann. § 39-14-103. The eleven judgments of conviction reflect sentences for class C, D, and E felonies. 1 In this appeal as of right, the appellant contends that:

I. He was denied his constitutional right to a speedy trial;
II. His convictions in the instant case are barred by the doctrine of collateral estop-pel;
III. The trial court erred by refusing to charge the jury the defense of “advice of counsel;” and
IV.A material variance existed between counts four and five of the indictment and the proof at trial.

After a review of the record, we conclude that the appellant’s contentions are without merit. The judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

I. Background

Although the appellant does not challenge the sufficiency of evidence, a review of the history of this case is helpful to our consideration of the issues presented. In 1991, the appellant and his wife, Jacqueline Vickers, were indicted on thirty-four counts of securities fraud and theft offenses occurring between December 10, 1987, and September 28, 1990. These charges arose from the appellant’s management of an investment company, First National Bancshares Financial Services, Inc. (“Financial Services”). 2 The appellant organized Financial Services to permit him to borrow money from the general public by issuing uninsured certificates of investment or “bancshares certificates.” The certificates of investment were marketed and sold from an office located in the appellant’s bank, First National Bank of Jackson. The appellant’s convictions for securities fraud stem from the use of various schemes and devices to induce prospective investors to purchase certificates of investment from Financial Services.

The principle scheme employed by the appellant was the issuance of a “prospectus” to the investing public which overstated the assets of Financial Services and generally misrepresented the financial condition of the investment company. Through his deception, the appellant was able to convince, in particular, the customers of First National Bank of Jackson, many of whom invested their lifetime savings, to purchase the Financial Services certificates, which were designed to resemble the bank-issued certificates of deposit. The appellant then directed the inves *4 tors’ money into another corporation, First National Bancshares Corporation, a holding company, from which he was able to provide himself with personal loans totaling approximately 3.3 million dollars. The appellant’s fraudulent and deceptive practices were ultimately discovered. At the request of the Commissioner of Commerce and Insurance, Financial Services was placed in receivership and a receiver was appointed on September 28, 1990. The receiver testified that the assets of Financial Services consisted of four vehicles, two of which were in storage, a boat, and a trailer. On this same date, it was determined that Financial Services owed in excess of 3 million dollars, including 1.8 million owed to its individual investors. The non cash assets, primarily represented by accounts and notes payable by the appellant and his wife, were essentially worthless. In 1990, an attempt was made by the appellant to negotiate the sale of First National Bank of Jackson in order to cover all outstanding certificates of investment in Financial Services. Efforts to sell the bank proved unsuccessful, the contract for the sale expiring one day before the State filed receivership action.

The appellant was also indicted in Henderson County on similar charges of filing false documents, securities fraud violations, and theft. 3 These charges arose from the sale of Financial Services’ “bancshares certificates” in Henderson County. Similar schemes were employed to defraud investors in both Henderson and Madison Counties. The Henderson County charges resulted in an 18 count indictment. A mistrial was declared as to one count of false filing due to the jury’s inability to reach a verdict. The jury acquitted the appellant of the remaining 17 counts.

The chronological history of this case, as relevant to the present appeal, follows:

12-10-91 Indictment 91-1209 returned by a Madison County Grand Jury charging the appellant with 34 counts of securities fraud and theft.
9-28-92 Indictment 92-927 returned, “superseding” 91-1209, by Madison County Grand Jury charging the appellant with 34 counts of securities fraud and theft. 4
10-5-92 Indictment returned by Henderson County Grand Jury on related charges arising from the appellant’s business practices in Henderson County.
2-1-93 “Superseding” indictment obtained in Henderson County.
2-11-93 The appellant moved for a speedy trial.
3-29-93 Henderson County indictment amended, 93-095.
3-11-93 Hearing held on motion for speedy trial.
6-21-93 Motion for speedy trial denied.
3-3 to 21-94 Henderson County charges tried. The appellant was acquitted of all counts, except for one, which resulted in a mistrial.
12-15-94 Motion to dismiss Madison County indictment on grounds of double jeopardy and speedy trial.
2-24-95 Two attorneys from Attorney General’s Office appointed special assistant district attorneys to prosecute Madison County case.
I-3-95 Hearing on motion to dismiss.
5-11 & 12-95 Motion to dismiss Madison County indictment overruled.
8-8 to 19-95 Trial in Madison County, State proceeded to trial on 11 counts: 6 securities fraud and five theft. Jury returned convictions on all counts.
9-22-95 Sentencing hearing.
10-20-95 Motion for new trial.
4-22-96 Motion for new trial denied.
II-6-95 Judgments of conviction entered.

II. Right to a Speedy Trial

The appellant first contends that he was denied his constitutional and statutory right to a speedy trial. See U.S.

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Bluebook (online)
985 S.W.2d 1, 1997 Tenn. Crim. App. LEXIS 624, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-vickers-tenncrimapp-1997.