United States v. Daryls Foster Steed

674 F.2d 284, 1982 U.S. App. LEXIS 20687, 10 Fed. R. Serv. 147

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
• Decided: March 25, 1982
• Docket: 79-5294
• Status: Published

Opinions

BUTZNER, Circuit Judge:

The United States appeals from the district court’s judgment of acquittal of Darlys Foster Steed after a jury found her guilty of mail fraud and furnishing a false statement to a government agency. We reach the following conclusions with respect to the four issues the appeal raises: (1) we have jurisdiction to hear the appeal; (2) we can review the district court’s assessment of the sufficiency of the evidence; (3) the district court erred when it held that the evidence was insufficient to sustain the jury’s verdict; (4) the district court did not err in the admission of evidence, and its alternative grant of a new trial is unwarranted. Consequently, we vacate the judgment of acquittal and remand the case for reinstatement of the verdict of the jury and entry of judgment against Steed.¹,

I

Although the Supreme Court has not decided the precise jurisdictional question raised by this appeal, its decisions construing the Criminal Appeals Act of 1970, 18 U.S.C. § 3731, and the double jeopardy clause of the fifth amendment dispense with the need for extended discussion. The Court has held that by enacting § 3731 Congress “intended to remove all statutory barriers to Government appeals and to allow appeals whenever the Constitution would permit.” United States v. Wilson, 420 U.S. 332, 337, 95 S.Ct. 1013, 1018, 43 L.Ed.2d 232 (1975). Thus, the meaning of the double jeopardy clause becomes critical to the government’s right of appeal.

Recently in the course of reviewing the principles derived from this clause, the Court pointed out that “the Double Jeopardy Clause does not bar a Government appeal from a ruling in favor of the defendant after a guilty verdict has been entered by the trier of fact.” United States v. DiFran-cesco, 449 U.S. 117, 130, 101 S.Ct. 426, 433, 66 L.Ed.2d 328 (1980). To illustrate this dictum, the Court cited two cases that held that the government could appeal judgments of acquittal based on the insufficiency of the evidence to sustain the verdicts of guilty.² The Court explained the rationale for this principle in United States v. Wilson, 420 U.S. at 344-45, 95 S.Ct. at 1022-23:

[Wjhere there is no threat of either multiple punishment or successive prosecutions, the Double Jeopardy Clause is not offended. In various situations where appellate review would not subject the defendant to a second trial, this Court has held that an order favoring the defendant could constitutionally be appealed by the Government. Since the 1907 Criminal Appeals Act, for example, the Government has been permitted without serious constitutional challenge to appeal from orders arresting judgment after a verdict has been entered against the defendant. .. . Since reversal on appeal would merely reinstate the jury’s verdict, review of such an order does not offend the policy against multiple prosecution.

We therefore conclude that we have jurisdiction to hear the government’s appeal, and we turn next to the question of the standard governing our review of the district court’s judgment of acquittal.

II

At the outset, we cannot accept the suggestion that we must accord absolute deference to the district court’s determination that the evidence is insufficient. This standard of review, now pressed by Steed on rehearing, initially was prescribed by the panel for reasons cogently stated in its opinion.³ Admittedly, this practice would achieve symmetry in the disposition of all judgments of acquittal based on insufficiency of the evidence whether granted before the case is submitted to the jury or after the verdict.⁴ But the attainment of this goal would be at the expense of interests the Congress deemed important. By enacting 18 U.S.C. § 3731 to enable the government to appeal adverse judgments unless the “Constitution prohibits further prosecution,” Congress did not act on the basis of any perception that the trial judge should be permitted to assess the evidence conclusively. On the contrary, it expressed its preference for appellate review to the extent permitted by the double jeopardy clause. In short, insofar as the Constitution permits, Congress granted the government an appeal of right no less expansive than that accorded to defendants. This change in policy, wrought by the Criminal Appeals Act of 1970, cannot be given effect by creating a standard of review that defers absolutely to the trial judge’s assessment of the evidence.

The proper standard of review is enunciated in Glasser v. United States, 315 U.S. 60, 80, 62 S.Ct. 457, 469, 86 L.Ed. 680 (1942): “The verdict of a jury must be sustained if there is substantial evidence, taking the view most favorable to the Government, to support it.” This is the familiar standard for review of a defendant’s claim that the evidence is insufficient to sustain the jury’s verdict of guilty. Whether the assessment of the evidence is at the behest of the government or the defendant, the function of the reviewing court is unchanged and consequently the same standard of review is appropriate. This, too, is the conclusion reached by other courts that have reviewed post-verdict judgments of acquittal.⁵

Ill

The jury found Steed guilty of furnishing a false statement to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in violation of the Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1717.⁶ She. also was found guilty of mail fraud for causing the false statement to be mailed to HUD in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1341.

After return of the verdict, the district court entered a judgment of acquittal because “no rational finder of fact could have found proof of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt on the evidence that was before the jury---- ⁷

To sustain the charge of violating 15 U.S.C. § 1717, the government had to prove that Steed willfully made an untrue statement of material fact in her application to HUD. See United States v. Steinhilber, 484 F.2d 386, 389-90 (8th Cir. 1973). To sustain the charge of mail fraud, the government was required to prove that Steed participated in a scheme to defraud and that she caused the mails to be used to execute or further the scheme. See Pereira v. United States, 347 U.S. 1, 8, 74 S.Ct. 358, 362, 98 L.Ed. 435 (1954). Both statutes require proof of a specific intent to defraud.

The Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1701, et seq., is a comprehensive statute requiring subdivision developers, unless exempt, to furnish prospective purchasers pertinent information about lots offered for sale.⁸ Among other things, the developer must disclose a description of access to the property, the availability of facilities for sewage, water, and other utilities, and the nature of the improvements to be installed by the developer. The Act subj'ects developers who furnish false information to both civil liability and criminal penalties.

Section 1702 authorizes the Secretary of HUD to exempt developers from complying with the Act if he finds enforcement is not necessary for the public interest because of the “small amount involved or the limited character of the public offering.” Pursuant to this authority, the Secretary promulgated 24 C.F.R. § 1710.14 (1974) exempting subdivisions of less than 300 lots that met certain other conditions. In addition to releasing the developer from complying with the Act, exemption substantially reduces the filing fee.

Steed was president and sole stockholder of Parkway Development Corporation, which was formed to sell 86 lots comprising a subdivision carved from a 460 acre tract owned by Thomas Beasley. Parkway, as a result of representations made by Steed that only 86 lots were involved, received an exemption from HUD. To procure this exemption, Steed certified: “There is no additional land owned or under option or other consideration for purchase by the developer that might be offered as part of a common promotional plan.” The indictment alleged that this statement was false.

Steed contends that the evidence was insufficient to show a common promotional plan and that even if there were such a plan, it evolved after she made the certification. Consequently, she asserts, the evidence was insufficient to show that she acted with fraudulent intent. At the most, she protests, she was simply a figurehead for her husband’s and Beasley’s enterprise.

Neither Steed nor her husband testified, so the jury had to ascertain from circumstantial evidence the extent of her knowledge about a common promotional plan to sell lots in more than one subdivision and whether she had a fraudulent intent when she applied to HUD for the exemption. The proof established that Steed had experience in the promotion and advertising of subdivision lots. She owned and operated Incentive Productions, Inc., a Memphis, Tennessee, company which engaged in this business. Her company received more than $66,000 from the sale of Parkway lots. In addition, she received over $40,000 in commissions and reimbursement for expenses.

The evidence also disclosed that if Beasley’s 460 acre tract were marketed as a single subdivision, it would not qualify for exemption from the Act. To procure exemption, Beasley ultimately used three development corporations to offer lots in contiguous subdivisions. The first of these corporations was Parkway of which Steed was the president and sole stockholder. She did not own stock in the other two. Parkway was allotted 86 lots, and Steed agreed that Beasley was to receive two-thirds of the profits from their sale. Thus, Steed knew that Beasley was participating in the receipts from the sale of land which he had formerly owned and which he had conveyed to Parkway. By the terms of the Act, § 1701(4), Beasley was one of the developers of the Parkway subdivision. In her application to HUD, Steed did not disclose Beasley’s silent interest.

The critical question raised by Steed is whether the evidence disclosed that she applied for the exemption with knowledge of Beasley’s plans to market his remaining land through other contiguous subdivisions. If she were ignorant of his plans, there would be merit in her contention that her certification concerning the absence of a common promotional plan was innocently made. Conversely, if she were aware of the plan to sell the remaining lots, the jury could find that she acted with fraudulent intent. There is proof that Steed’s husband knew of Beasley’s plan but no evidence that he in turn told Steed. Nevertheless, there is ample evidence from which the jury could find beyond doubt that Steed was also informed of Beasley’s plans for other contiguous subdivisions.

The same lawyer represented the Steeds and Beasley. After he prepared the application for exemption, he explained it to Steed, her husband, and Beasley. He specifically called their attention to the certification of the absence of a common promotional plan. He testified that he cautioned them as follows:

As part of a promotional scheme, and this was discussed with everybody that there had to be separate sales offices, that there had to be separate sales managers, or teams, or whatever if you please, that each section would be autonomous in and of itself, that each one of the sub-divisions that were set up would function on its own feet, and it was set up for that purpose.

The only subdivisions the parties contemplated were those formed from the 460 acre tract. When the lawyer referred to “each section” and “each one of the sub-divisions,” he was referring not merely to the Parkway subdivision but to the other subdivisions of the entire 460 acre tract. Thus, the jury was justified in finding that when Steed applied for the exemption, she was aware, contrary to her certification, that Beasley, who had a substantial, silent interest in Parkway, planned to subdivide his remaining land and that Parkway was simply a part of a common promotional plan to sell the whole 460 acre tract.

Notwithstanding the lawyer’s advice, Steed’s promotion company sent mailgrams offering sweepstake prizes to prospective purchasers of lots not only in the Parkway subdivision but in other contiguous subdivisions that were formed from the common tract. Furthermore, the same project managers, salesmen, sales offices, and bookkeeper were used for all of the subdivisions. The evidence shows beyond doubt that Steed was aware of these arrangements and participated in them. Moreover, Steed did not confine her activities to the sale of the 86 Parkway lots. Almost seven months after these lots had been sold, Steed told an employee, who was concerned with the other subdivisions, that she was the boss. It is quite apparent that Steed did not consider herself to be a mere figurehead.

We therefore conclude that the evidence, viewed in the light most favorable to the government, amply supports the jury’s verdict that Steed violated 15 U.S.C. § 1717 by intentionally furnishing a false statement of material fact to HUD.

The evidence also sufficed to show that Steed caused the mail to be used to further the fraudulent scheme to deceive HUD. Steed’s lawyer acted on behalf of Steed and her corporation when he prepared and personally mailed Steed’s signed application to HUD. The jury could find beyond a reasonable doubt that Steed knew that delivery of the papers to HUD was essential to the success of the scheme and that in the ordinary course of business her lawyer would mail them. It was not necessary for the government to prove that Steed personally mailed the application. Proof that her lawyer, acting as her agent, mailed the papers or proof that use of the mails “can reasonably be foreseen” is sufficient to sustain the conviction. See Pereira v. United States, 347 U.S. 1, 8-9, 74 S.Ct. 358, 362-363, 98 L.Ed. 435 (1954); United States v. Kenofskey, 243 U.S. 440, 443, 37 S.Ct. 438, 439, 61 L.Ed. 836 (1917). Under either theory, the evidence is sufficient to sustain the verdict that Steed violated 18 U.S.C. § 1341 by causing the mail to be used for the purpose of executing the fraudulent scheme to deceive HUD.

IV

Before addressing the merits of the district court’s conditional grant of a new trial, which the parties have fully briefed, discussion of our jurisdiction to review this aspect of the case is appropriate.⁹ Quite understandably, Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 33 pertaining to new trials, which was last amended in 1966, does not deal with a situation that could arise only after passage of the Criminal Appeals Act of 1970, 18 U.S.C. § 3731. The Supreme Court, however, has pointed out that the same final judgment rule applies in criminal as well as civil cases. Parr v. United States, 351 U.S. 513, 518, 76 S.Ct. 912, 916, 100 L.Ed. 1377 (1956). We therefore turn to Rule of Civil Procedure 50(c)(1) to determine the scope of the final judgment rule when a court grants judgment notwithstanding the verdict and conditionally grants a motion for a new trial. Under these circumstances, the finality of the judgment is not affected, and an appellate court can review the conditional grant of a new trial and in an appropriate case “reverse the conditional grant of the new trial and direct that judgment be entered on the verdict.” Advisory Committee Notes to rule 50(c)(1). Conversely, the appellate court after reversing the judgment notwithstanding the verdict may allow the new trial.

Although we find no counterpart to rule 50(c)(1) in the criminal rules, we are satisfied that Parr, 351 U.S. at 518, 76 S.Ct. at 916, permits us in this instance to conform the interpretation of the final judgment rule in criminal cases to the interpretation set forth in rule 50(c)(1). We therefore conclude that we have jurisdiction to reverse the conditional grant of a new trial.

The district court admitted testimony of three persons who told about the misrepresentations and broken promises salesmen made to them when they purchased lots. Steed objected to the testimony of one of these witnesses on the ground that the misconduct of the salesman could not be attributed to her and that it was prejudicial. The admission of this testimony, however, was not assigned as a ground for a new trial in Steed’s written motion. Nevertheless, at the hearing on the motion, although the government protested that it was taken by surprise, the court permitted Steed to argue that the prejudice caused by this testimony justified a new trial. The district court agreed and conditionally granted a new trial.

We have some doubt that Rule of Criminal Procedure 33 permitted the judge to grant a new trial on a ground not set forth in the defendant’s motion. See United States v. Brown, 587 F.2d 187, 189 (5th Cir. 1979). But even if the court could implicitly allow Steed to supplement the motion by oral argument, we find no error in the admission of the evidence. The testimony of the purchasers disclosed that the promotion of the sale of the lots was conducted in a manner that the Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act prohibited. It was relevant to the issue pertaining to Steed’s intention in seeking an exemption from the Act. The government was entitled to show why exemption was important to Steed and Beasley. For these reasons, we cannot conclude that the probative value of the evidence was outweighed by prejudice. Cf. United States v. Amrep Corp., 560 F.2d 539, 545-46 (2d Cir. 1977). Accordingly, we hold that the conditional grant of a new trial must be reversed.

The district court’s judgment of acquittal and its conditional grant of a new trial are reversed, and the case is remanded for reinstatement of the jury’s verdict and further proceedings consistent with this opinion.

1 . A panel held that this court had jurisdiction to hear the government’s appeal but that it should defer to the trial court’s assessment of the evidence. Accordingly, the panel affirmed the judgment of acquittal. United States v. Steed, 646 F.2d 136 (4th Cir. 1981). We granted the government’s petition for rehearing en banc.

2 . United States v. Rojas, 554 F.2d 938, 941 (9th Cir. 1977); United States v. De Garces, 518 F.2d 1156, 1159 (2d Cir. 1975); accord, United States v. Dixon, 658 F.2d 181, 187-88 (3d Cir. 1981); United States v. Boyd, 566 F.2d 929, 931-33 (5th Cir. 1978); United States v. Callo-way, 562 F.2d 615, 616-17 (10th Cir. 1977); United States v. Blasco, 581 F.2d 681, 682-84 (7th Cir. 1978); United States v. Donahue, 539 F.2d 1131, 1133-34 (8th Cir. 1976).

Dictum to the contrary in United States v. Burroughs, 564 F.2d 1111, 1118 (4th Cir. 1977), can no longer be considered a guide to the law of this circuit.

3 . See United States v. Steed, 646 F.2d 136, 139-43 (4th Cir. 1981).

4 . When a judgment of acquittal based on insufficiency of the evidence is entered before the case is submitted to the jury, the double jeopardy clause bars a second trial at which the government could attempt to remedy the deficiencies of its proof. Fong Foo v. United States 369 U.S. 141, 82 S.Ct. 671, 7 L.Ed.2d 629 (1962). The Court reached the same result in United States v. Martin Linen Supply, Co., 430 U.S. 564, 97 S.Ct. 1349, 51 L.Ed.2d 642 (1977), where the double jeopardy clause barred the government from appealing a judgment of acquittal based on insufficient evidence after the jury deadlocked. Reversal of the judgment would have subjected the defendant to retrial on the issue of the sufficiency of the evidence.

5 . See United States v. Dixon, 658 F.2d 181, 188 (3d Cir. 1981); United States v. Burns, 597 F.2d 939, 941 (5th Cir. 1979); United States v. Blas-co, 581 F.2d 681, 684 (7th Cir. 1978); United States v. Rojas, 554 F.2d 938, 943 (9th Cir. 1977); United States v. Calloway, 562 F.2d 615, 617 (10th Cir. 1977).

6 . The district court granted a judgment of acquittal at the conclusion of the government’s case on another count charging a violation of 15 U.S.C. § 1717. The government has not appealed this judgment.

7 . Other pertinent extracts from the court’s oral opinion amplify its decision:

[T]he Court is aware of the fact that Mr. Steed and Mr. Beasley have been acquitted [of conspiracy to commit larceny by false pretenses] in the Circuit Court of Floyd County. And from the evidence that the Court heard here during this trial, I don’t think anyone at all could dispute the fact that Mr. Beasley and Mr. Steed were the prime movers in the development. And it just does not seem to this Court fair to convict this lady, who was way out on the perimeter, of a crime growing out of this development when Mr. Steed and Mr. Beasley have both been acquitted. It just does not seem justice.

... [I]f the Court had found sufficient evidence for the jury’s verdict, the Court would still have set aside the verdict in this case as to each count, because the Court feels like that the evidence as to the purchasers who came here and testified was highly prejudicial to the defendant. And that the prejudicial [effect] of their testimony far outweighed any probative value that their testimony might have had in the case.

I think the Court was in error when it permitted these witnesses to testify. So, I’m hoping, if the government takes the case to the Court of Appeals, the Court of Appeals will look at that facet of the case also. And if it is to come back, would advise the Court as to whether or not it would be proper to have admitted in evidence this testimony.

But the Court feels that there is not sufficient evidence in the case, looking at the evidence in a light most favorable to the government, drawing every reasonable inference that could be drawn therefrom, there just is not sufficient evidence to convict this lady of these charges beyond a reasonable doubt.

8 . Section 1701(3) provides:

“subdivision” means any land which is divided or proposed to be divided into fifty or more lots, whether contiguous or not, for the purpose of sale or lease as part of a common promotional plan and where subdivided land is offered for sale or lease by a single developer, or a group of developers acting in concert, and such land is contiguous or is known, designated, or advertised as a common unit or by a common name such land shall be presumed, without regard to the number of lots covered by each individual offering, as being offered for sale or lease as part of a common promotional plan. Section 1701(4) provides:

“developer” means any person who, directly or indirectly, sells or leases, or offers to sell or lease, or advertises for sale or lease any lots in a subdivision.

9 . Steed’s brief correctly notes that the court’s statement from the bench “in effect grants defendant’s alternative motion for a new trial.” This seems also to be the intention of the district judge, for he observed that he expected this aspect of his ruling to be reviewed.