Case: 16-10476 Date Filed: 04/27/2018 Page: 1 of 24
[DO NOT PUBLISH]
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT ________________________
No. 16-10476 ________________________
D.C. Docket No. 2:14-cr-00124-SPC-CM-1
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
versus
JOSE BENITEZ, JR.,
Defendant-Appellant.
________________________
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida ________________________
(April 27, 2018)
Before JILL PRYOR, ANDERSON and HULL, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM: Case: 16-10476 Date Filed: 04/27/2018 Page: 2 of 24
After a jury trial, Jose Benitez challenges his conviction for armed bank
robbery. Benitez argues that the district court committed two errors during his
trial: (1) omitting from its jury instruction the phrase “that is a firearm,” which was
included in Benitez’s indictment and (2) admitting into evidence some of Benitez’s
prior convictions. After careful review, and with the benefit of oral argument, we
affirm.
I. BACKGROUND
A. Indictment
On October 29, 2014, a grand jury charged Benitez with one count of armed
bank robbery, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2113(a) and (d) (Count One), and one
count of using and carrying a firearm during the crime of violence alleged in Count
One, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(l)(A)(ii) (Count Two). The jury convicted
Benitez on only Count One. We review the elements of armed bank robbery, the
pretrial proceedings, and then the evidence at trial.
B. Elements of Armed Bank Robbery
Count One charged that Benitez
did knowingly by force and violence and intimidation, take and cause to be taken from the person and presence of bank employees, certain property and money, that is United States currency in the approximate amount of $12,824.00, belonging to and in the care, custody, control, management, and possession of Iberia Bank . . . and in committing said offense, [Benitez] did assault and
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put in jeopardy the life of another person by the use of a dangerous weapon, that is a firearm.
For the sake of clarity and brevity, we later on refer to “that is a firearm” as the
“firearm phrase.”
The elements of armed bank robbery are: (1) the defendant knowingly took
money in the care, custody, control, management, or possession of a federally
insured bank from or in the presence of the person described in the indictment;
(2) by means of force and violence or by means of intimidation; and (3) knowingly
assaulted a person or put a person’s life in jeopardy by using a “dangerous weapon
or device” while stealing the property or money from the bank. 18 U.S.C.
§ 2113(a), (d); see also Eleventh Circuit Pattern Jury Instructions (Criminal Cases)
2010, Judicial Council of the Eleventh Circuit, Instruction 76.2 (June 21, 2010). 1
Under this Circuit’s precedent, a toy gun or a replica of a firearm constitutes a
“dangerous weapon or device” for purposes of 18 U.S.C. § 2113(d). United States
1 In relevant part, the federal armed bank robbery statute provides that: (a) Whoever, by force and violence, or by intimidation, takes, or attempts to take, from the person or presence of another, or obtains or attempts to obtain by extortion any property or money or any other thing of value belonging to, or in the care, custody, control, management, or possession of, any bank, credit union, or any savings and loan association ... Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both. (d) Whoever, in committing, or in attempting to commit, any offense defined in subsections (a) and (b) of this section, assaults any person, or puts in jeopardy the life of any person by the use of a dangerous weapon or device, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty-five years, or both. 18 U.S.C. § 2113(a), (d) (emphasis added). 3 Case: 16-10476 Date Filed: 04/27/2018 Page: 4 of 24
v. Garrett, 3 F.3d 390, 391 (11th Cir. 1993). What matters is how others perceive
the weapon. United States v. Woods, 127 F.3d 990, 993 (11th Cir. 1997)
(explaining that “possession of what appears to be a gun during a robbery can play
an integral part in the commission of the crime and evidences, in the mind of the
victim, an ability to use a weapon”).
C. June 4, 2015 Change of Plea Hearing
On June 4, 2015, Benitez stated that he was going to plead guilty on Count
One without a plea agreement, but that he was going to maintain his plea of not
guilty on Count Two. The government opposed splitting the pleas in this way.
The government argued that Benitez could not plead guilty to Count One without
admitting that he possessed a firearm during the bank robbery, which would
foreclose Benitez’s ability to plead not guilty to the firearm offense in Count Two.
In response, the district court suggested that the firearm phrase after
“dangerous weapon” in Count One was surplusage. Benitez agreed with the
district court, maintaining that he could be convicted of Count One without the
government proving that he used an actual firearm. 2 As Benitez reasoned, the
government need prove only that Benitez used a dangerous weapon, which could
even be a “toy gun.” Accordingly, Benitez could plead guilty to Count One
2 The transcript incorrectly attributes this statement to the government, but the context makes clear that it was Benitez’s counsel who made this statement. 4 Case: 16-10476 Date Filed: 04/27/2018 Page: 5 of 24
(armed bank robbery with a replica of a gun) and not guilty to Count Two (which
required an actual firearm). 3
The government disagreed, insisting that Benitez’s use of a firearm was an
element of the robbery offense charged in Count One. The district court again
questioned the government why the firearm phrase was not surplusage. In
response, the government conceded that the firearm phrase did not “enhance” the
bank-robbery-with-a-dangerous-weapon offense charged in Count One, but
explained that its position at trial would be that Benitez used a firearm. The
government acknowledged, however, that its position meant that Benitez could
admit at trial that he committed the robbery with a dangerous weapon that was not
a firearm and still defend against the firearm charge in Count Two.
The district court then asked defense counsel whether, assuming the firearm
phrase was surplusage, Benitez would be willing to plead guilty to Count One by
admitting that he robbed the bank with a dangerous weapon without specifying that
the dangerous weapon was a firearm. Counsel for Benitez answered yes,
acknowledging again that a “toy gun” would constitute a dangerous weapon under
the bank robbery statute in 18 U.S.C. § 2113(d).
3 As it is used in 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1), the term “firearm” means: (A) any weapon (including a starter gun) which will or is designed to or may readily be converted to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive; (B) the frame or receiver of any such weapon; (C) any firearm muffler or firearm silencer; or (D) any destructive device. Such term does not include an antique firearm. 18 U.S.C. § 921(a)(3). 5 Case: 16-10476 Date Filed: 04/27/2018 Page: 6 of 24
The district court gave both parties seven days to file memoranda and
scheduled a status conference for July 13, 2015. On June 12, 2015, the
government submitted a memorandum positing that the firearm phrase was an
element of Count One and that Benitez could not plead guilty to Count One
without admitting that he carried a firearm during the robbery. Benitez did not file
a memorandum.
D. July 13 and August 10, 2015 Status Conferences
At the status conference on July 13, 2015, the district court stated that it had
reviewed all of the information and pleadings submitted by counsel and would
allow Benitez to plead guilty to Count One but still contest his guilt on the firearm
offense charged in Count Two. In other words, because the firearm phrase in
Count One was surplusage, Benitez could admit that the weapon used in the bank
robbery was a dangerous weapon (a “toy” or replica gun). Thus, Benitez would
not have to admit that the dangerous weapon was an actual firearm.
Nearly a month later, on August 10, Benitez’s counsel informed the district
court that Benitez no longer intended to plead guilty on Count One. The district
court then scheduled the trial for September.
Before trial, the government gave notice that if Benitez testified, it intended
to use Benitez’s seven prior convictions for impeachment purposes at trial. These
convictions were a 1988 Florida conviction for burglary of a structure, a 1989
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Florida conviction for resisting an officer with violence, a 1994 Florida conviction
for aggravated battery, 1996 Florida convictions for bank robbery without a
weapon, grand theft, and battery on an EMT or firefighter, and a 1996 federal
conviction for conspiracy to distribute narcotics. Ultimately, the district court
allowed the government to question Benitez on only the 1996 convictions for
grand theft, battery on an EMT or firefighter, and conspiracy to distribute
narcotics. On appeal, Benitez challenges the admission of these three 1996
convictions.
II. TRIAL EVIDENCE
Benitez’s trial began on September 23, 2015 and lasted two days.
A. Opening Statements
In its opening statement, the government argued that, on October 8, 2014,
Benitez walked into the Cape Coral Iberia Bank wearing black clothing and
covering his face. Upon entering, Benitez pointed a handgun at several of the
bank’s employees and ordered them to lie on the ground before filling a satchel
with the bank’s money.
In defense counsel’s opening statement, defense counsel conceded that
Benitez committed the robbery but stated that the single trial issue for the jury to
decide was whether Benitez committed the robbery with a firearm or with a replica
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of a firearm. Benitez’s counsel argued that the government would not be able to
prove that Benitez carried an actual firearm when committing the robbery.
B. Government’s Evidence
As part of its case-in-chief, the government introduced five witnesses who
were present at the bank during the robbery. In sum, the witnesses testified that,
on October 8, 2014, a masked man with dark sunglasses entered the Iberia Bank in
Cape Coral Florida. Shortly after entering, the man brandished what appeared to
be a black handgun, ordered several of the bank’s employees to lie on the floor,
and forced the bank’s tellers to give him over $12,000 in cash. The robber then
fled the scene, but left a pair of sunglasses on the tellers’ counter. Law
enforcement investigators would later match fingerprints found on the sunglasses
to Benitez.
Catherine Lango, a bank employee, testified that when Benitez entered the
bank, he covered his face and brandished an object that looked like a gun. Based
on Benitez’s demeanor, Lango believed that he would shoot one of her coworkers.
Although Lango had no experience with guns, she believed that what Benitez was
carrying was a real gun because it looked authentic and because he was using it to
threaten the bank’s employees. On cross-examination, Lango testified that the gun
looked similar to the ones on fictional television shows.
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Gaile Sheehan, a bank teller, testified that Benitez walked up to her, pointed
what appeared to be a gun at her, and demanded money. Sheehan gave Benitez the
money because she thought he was going to kill her if she did not, based on the
gun and his angry demeanor. Sheehan did not have any training in firearms but
stated that the gun looked real to her.
Michael Piggott, the bank’s branch manager, testified that Benitez pointed
what Piggott believed was a gun at him and told him to get on the ground. Piggott
complied because he was in fear for his life, believing that the firearm was real
because he saw the bore of the gun and Benitez had his finger outside of the trigger
guard. Piggott had experience with firearms because he grew up in the military,
had participated in firearm training as part of the Army’s Reserve Officer Training
Corps (“ROTC”) during his freshman and sophomore years of college, and
continued to own and shoot several guns. On cross-examination, Piggott testified
that the gun looked like a real gun in the same way that guns portrayed on
television shows do. Piggott also opined that the gun looked like a .380 caliber
handgun, noting that he owned this type of firearm.
Nancy Coxe, the bank’s assistant branch manager, testified that she was in
Piggott’s office when Benitez entered the bank. After Benitez noticed Coxe,
Benitez pointed what looked like a semi-automatic handgun at her and told her to
get on the ground. Coxe thought Benitez was going to shoot her. Coxe had
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experience with firearms because she participated in ROTC in high school and had
fired several types of guns. Coxe explained that she did not think Benitez’s gun
was a toy gun because of its color and because it looked similar to a gun she had
shot in the past. Coxe thought the gun was a real gun because of the way that
Benitez was holding it. On cross-examination, Coxe testified that she believed the
gun was real, but acknowledged that she did not think anyone could be completely
sure unless they touched it.
Tina Pizzola, a former teller at the bank, testified that she was outside of the
bank in the parking lot when Benitez entered the bank. Pizzola testified that
Benitez stepped towards her, pointed what she believed to be a gun at her face, and
told her to get on the ground. Though Pizzola had no personal experience with
firearms, she believed that Benitez was carrying a gun because she had seen both
her father and brother-in-law (both former law enforcement officers) carry
firearms. Pizzola also testified that she had seen toy pistols because her grandsons
played with them. Pizzola conceded that she did not know for sure if the gun was
real, but that she “wasn’t about to test [Benitez] to see if it was real or not,” fearing
that Benitez would shoot her.
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C. Videos and Photographs
At trial, the parties introduced several photographs and the bank’s security
videos showing Benitez robbing the bank. Here is one of the images presented to
the jury that shows the gun in Benitez’s hand.
D. Defense’s Evidence
The defense called Benitez as its first witness. Benitez testified that he
robbed the bank carrying “a fake, plastic gun” that was a replica of a real firearm.
On cross examination, Benitez admitted that he lied to the police by telling them
that he had not committed the robbery. The government also questioned Benitez 11 Case: 16-10476 Date Filed: 04/27/2018 Page: 12 of 24
about his 1996 convictions under Florida law for grand theft and battery on an
EMT or firefighter and a 1996 federal conviction for conspiracy to distribute
narcotics. Benitez admitted to all three convictions.
The defense’s second witness was Blanca Vega, Benitez’s 15-year-old
daughter. Vega testified that, in September 2014 (shortly before the bank robbery),
she had taken a photograph of herself with a fake pistol and posted it on social
media. After school officials became aware of the photograph, they contacted
Benitez, who told the school officials that the firearm was not real, but a toy gun.
Vega testified that she had looked at videos and photographs of Benitez robbing
the bank and believed that Benitez was carrying that same firearm replica when he
robbed the bank.
The defense’s third witness was Michael Galbreath, Vega’s school principal.
Galbreath testified that he had investigated Vega’s picture and had not found
reason for concern.
The fourth defense witness was Alfred Olsen, a private investigator and
former law enforcement officer. Olsen testified that he evaluated the security
video from the bank and attempted to determine what type of weapon or
instrument was used during the robbery. Olsen stated that the weapon held by
Benitez appeared to be a Browning Hi-Power handgun, but that the weapon was
distinguishable from a Browning Hi-Power handgun in several respects. Olsen
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then opined that the weapon was an Ekol Aras Magnum replica gun that fired
blanks.
Olsen also acknowledged that the Ekol Aras Magnum could be converted so
that it could fire live rounds. However, Olsen stated that the conversion would
require changing out the barrel and rechambering the gun, which was a
complicated process. Based on his evaluation, Olsen did not believe Benitez used
a real firearm during the robbery.
E. Government’s Rebuttal Evidence
In rebuttal, the government called Max Kingery, the chief of the firearms
technology criminal branch of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and
Explosives. Kingery reviewed the security video from the bank in which Benitez
held a handgun, but he could not definitively say if it was a handgun or a firearm
replica. Kingery explained that it was impossible to tell based on a video whether
the weapon was a replica of a firearm, an actual firearm, or something that could
be readily converted into a firearm.
Kingery also testified that some of the features of an Ekol Aras Magnum
could be present on firearms that are capable of firing projectiles. Kingery further
noted that the Ekol Aras Magnum could be readily converted into a weapon
capable of firing a projectile using a relatively simple process, and that his own
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office had made such a conversion. Finally, Kingery opined that the gun in the
photo of Benitez’s daughter and the gun used in the robbery were not the same.
After Kingery testified, Benitez recalled Olsen, who disputed Kingery’s
testimony about the viability of converting an Ekol Aras Magnum into an operable
firearm.
F. Closing Arguments
During its closing argument, the government argued Benitez was guilty of
Count One regardless of whether he was carrying a real gun or a fake gun during
the robbery, as he had admitted to carrying out the robbery with a toy gun. The
government also argued that Benitez was guilty of Count Two, as the evidence
showed that Benitez was carrying a functioning firearm during the robbery.
In defense counsel’s closing argument, Benitez’s counsel explained to the
jury that, because Benitez had admitted to committing the robbery, “the bulk of
[the jury’s] decision” would be on Count Two. Benitez’s counsel then argued that
the government failed to prove that Benitez carried an actual firearm during the
robbery. Benitez’s counsel asked the jury to find Benitez not guilty of Count Two.
G. Jury Instructions
At the end of the first day of trial, the district court questioned the
government about its proposed jury instructions,4 which defined “dangerous
4 Benitez did not file any proposed jury instructions. 14 Case: 16-10476 Date Filed: 04/27/2018 Page: 15 of 24
weapon or device” as “any object that a person can readily use to inflict serious
harm on someone else.” 5 Benitez objected to this definition, arguing that the
government was required to prove that the object held by Benitez during the
robbery was an actual firearm. As Benitez reasoned, the government had “put
[itself] into a corner by getting an indictment where the dangerous weapon that
must be proven must be a firearm.”
The government responded that, although the indictment had alleged that the
dangerous weapon was a firearm, the firearm phrase was not an element of the
offense. Rather the element of the offense was a dangerous weapon. Benitez
agreed, but argued that the government had previously argued that the firearm
phrase was not surplusage when contesting his guilty plea and thus had “adopted”
the firearm phrase as an element. The district court disagreed with Benitez,
explaining that the district court had already ruled that the firearm phrase was
surplusage and that it had previously given Benitez the option of pleading guilty to
Count One without admitting that the dangerous weapon in question was a firearm.
The district court returned to this discussion on the second day of trial after
Benitez’s counsel finished questioning his last witness. Benitez again contended
that (1) the firearm phrase was not surplusage and (2) the government was
5 This is the same definition as provided in the Eleventh Circuit’s pattern jury instructions that were applicable at the time of Benitez’s trial. Eleventh Circuit Pattern Jury Instructions (Criminal Cases) 2010, Judicial Council of the Eleventh Circuit, Instruction 76.2 (June 21, 2010). 15 Case: 16-10476 Date Filed: 04/27/2018 Page: 16 of 24
estopped from changing its argument at trial. In response, the government argued
that it had changed its position because the district court had ruled that the firearm
phrase was surplusage at the July 13 status hearing.
The district court agreed with the government, reminding Benitez that,
during the July 13 status hearing, it had given Benitez the option of pleading guilty
to Count One—that he committed the robbery with a dangerous weapon without
specifying that it was a firearm—and that Benitez was therefore clearly on notice
that the district court found the firearm phrase to be surplusage. The district court
also stated that the language was surplusage because the particular type of
dangerous weapon used was not an element under 18 U.S.C. § 2113(d).6
After the parties’ closing arguments, the district court instructed the jury that
Benitez could be convicted of armed bank robbery in Count One if the government
proved that he knowingly took money or property from the bank through force and
violence or intimidation, and in doing so assaulted someone or put someone’s life
in jeopardy by using a dangerous weapon or device while stealing the property or
money. The district court defined “dangerous weapon or device” to include “any
object that a person can readily use to inflict serious bodily harm on someone
else.” The district court stated that incitement of fear was sufficient to characterize
an apparently dangerous object as a “dangerous weapon or device,” regardless of
6 The district court also omitted the firearm phrase from the verdict form given to the jury, without any objection from Benitez. 16 Case: 16-10476 Date Filed: 04/27/2018 Page: 17 of 24
whether the object could actually put someone’s life in jeopardy. 7 Benitez then
renewed his objection to the jury instructions.
H. Deliberations and Verdict
During deliberations, the jury asked two questions, both relating to the
definition of “firearm” in Count Two. The jury first asked “by federal statute is a
gun firing blanks a firearm?” The jury also asked “what is [sic] federal statute of
readily convertible firearm?” There were no questions about Count One.
The district court answered the jury’s question by stating “you have been
given all of the instructions on the law. Any terms that are not defined in the jury
instructions are to be given their plain and ordinary meaning.” Neither party
objected to the district court’s answer.
After nearly three hours of deliberations, the jury found Benitez guilty of the
§ 2113(a) and (d) armed bank robbery charged in Count One, but found him not
guilty of the § 924(c) firearm offense charged in Count Two.
I. Sentencing
On January 4 and 25, 2016, the district court conducted Benitez’s sentencing
hearing.8 During the first hearing, Michael Piggott, the bank’s manager, testified
7 As to Count Two, the district court instructed the jury that a “firearm” means “any weapon designed to or readily convertible to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive. The term includes the frame or receiver of any such weapon or any firearm muffler or silencer.” This is the definition provided in the pattern jury instructions that were applicable at the time of Benitez’s trial. See Eleventh Circuit Pattern Jury Instructions (Criminal Cases) 2010, Judicial Council of the Eleventh Circuit, Instruction 35.2 (June 21, 2010). 17 Case: 16-10476 Date Filed: 04/27/2018 Page: 18 of 24
about the effect the robbery had on Lango, Sheehan, Coxe, and Pizzola. Piggott
explained that all of them were receiving psychological treatment and that one had
been diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder. Piggott also noted that all five
employees had been transferred to other Iberia Bank branches so that they would
not have to work in the branch where the robbery took place.
When the district court resumed Benitez’s sentencing hearing on January 25,
2016, it declined to apply a six-level enhancement for use of a firearm during the
robbery, as provided for in U.S.S.G. § 2B3.1(b)(2)(B) (2015), finding that the
government had not proven by a preponderance of the evidence that Benitez had
used a firearm during the robbery. Instead, the district court applied a four-level
enhancement under U.S.S.G. § 2B3.1(b)(2)(D) in light of Benitez’s use of a
dangerous weapon during the robbery.
Based in part on this ruling, the district court calculated that Benitez had a
total offense level of 26 and a criminal history category of II, giving him an
advisory guidelines range of 70 to 87 months’ imprisonment. Based on the nature
and circumstances of the crime, the effect on the bank’s employees, and Benitez’s
8 During the January 4 hearing, Benitez objected to several enhancements applied in his presentence report. The district court declined to rule on Benitez’s objections at that time because the parties had not submitted legal support for their arguments. The district court explained that it would resume Benitez’s sentencing hearing on January 25 after considering each party’s arguments. 18 Case: 16-10476 Date Filed: 04/27/2018 Page: 19 of 24
criminal history, the district court sentenced Benitez to 122 months’ imprisonment
and five years of supervised release.
III. DISCUSSION
A. Firearm Phrase
On appeal, Benitez argues that the district court constructively amended the
indictment when it omitted the firearm phrase in the indictment from its jury
instructions on Count One.9
As this Court has explained, a constructive amendment occurs “when the
essential elements of the offense contained in the indictment are altered to broaden
the possible bases for conviction beyond what is contained in the indictment.”
United States v. Keller, 916 F.2d 628, 634 (11th Cir. 1990) (emphasis added).
For several reasons, the district court did not constructively amend the
indictment by not including the firearm phrase in its jury instructions, which were
the pattern jury instructions. First, the armed bank robbery statute does not include
as an essential element that the defendant used a firearm to carry out the offense—
only that he carried a dangerous weapon, which, as we have noted, can be a “toy
gun.” See 18 U.S.C. § 2113(d); Garrett, 3 F.3d at 391. Because the firearm phrase
was not an element of the armed bank robbery offense, no constructive amendment
occurred when the district court omitted it from its jury instructions. See United
9 This Court reviews de novo whether a district court’s jury instructions constructively amended the indictment. United States v. Gutierrez, 745 F.3d 463, 473 (11th Cir. 2014). 19 Case: 16-10476 Date Filed: 04/27/2018 Page: 20 of 24
States v. Deverso, 518 F.3d 1250, 1258 n.2 (11th Cir. 2008) (“Congress defines the
elements of an offense, not the charging document.”). Stated another way, Benitez
has not shown that the district court erred in giving the pattern jury instructions as
to armed bank robbery, given that the type of dangerous weapon is not an element
of that offense.
Second, and most importantly, this is not a case where the government
removed “firearm” from the indictment and then tried to prove that the defendant
carried a knife, a bomb, or another dangerous weapon. Rather, throughout the
pretrial proceedings and the trial itself, Benitez admitted that his weapon looked
like a firearm and acknowledged that the only issue at trial was whether the firearm
was a replica gun or a real gun. Because the removal of the firearm phrase from
the jury instruction did not broaden the elements of the conviction under Count
One, no constructive amendment occurred.
Alternatively, Benitez argues that the district court’s omission of the firearm
phrase from the jury instructions amounted to a variance from the indictment.10
See Keller, 916 F.2d at 634 (explaining that “[a] variance occurs when the facts
proved at trial deviate from the facts contained in the indictment [even though] the
10 “The standard of review for whether there is a material variance between the allegations in the indictment and the facts established at trial is twofold: First, whether a material variance did occur, and, second, whether the defendant suffered substantial prejudice as a result.” United States v. Chastain, 198 F.3d 1338, 1349 (11th Cir. 1999) (citing United States v. Prince, 883 F.2d 953, 959 (11th Cir. 1989)). 20 Case: 16-10476 Date Filed: 04/27/2018 Page: 21 of 24
essential elements of the offense are the same”). A variance requires reversal only
when the defendant can establish both that the variance was material and that his
rights were substantially prejudiced thereby. Id. at 633; United States v. Chastain,
198 F.3d 1338, 1349 (11th Cir. 1999).
Benitez’s variance claim fails too. Simply put, there was no variance here
between the indictment and the evidence at trial because both indicated that
Benitez had a firearm of some sort (either real or a replica).
In any event, even assuming a material variance occurred, Benitez has not
shown the required prejudice. First, the district court put Benitez on notice at the
July 13 status hearing that the firearm phrase was surplusage and not an element of
the armed bank robbery offense. At that hearing, the district court gave Benitez
the option of pleading guilty to Count One by admitting to “all of the elements up
to and including that the weapon used in the bank robbery was a dangerous
weapon” while still maintaining his plea of not guilty to carrying a real firearm as
charged in Count Two. The district court’s statements were in agreement with the
arguments of Benitez’s counsel at the June 4 change of plea hearing, during which
Benitez’s counsel stated that Benitez would be willing to plead guilty to Count One
if the firearm phrase were found to be surplusage. Because of the district court’s
ruling at the pre-trial hearing, Benitez also knew that the government would not
have to prove that Benitez used a real firearm in order to obtain a conviction on
21 Case: 16-10476 Date Filed: 04/27/2018 Page: 22 of 24
Count One. The district court did not err in concluding that Benitez was “clearly”
on notice that the district court considered the firearm phrase to be surplusage.
Benitez cannot now argue that he was disadvantaged by the district court’s
not including the firearm phrase in the jury instructions as to Count One at trial.
Because he suffered no prejudice, there was no material variance that would
warrant a reversal.
B. Admission of Prior Convictions
As noted earlier, the government gave notice before trial of its intent to
introduce Benitez’s seven prior convictions if he testified.
On the second day of trial, the government again stated that it intended to
impeach Benitez with certain 1996 convictions. Benitez objected, arguing that
evidence of the convictions was inadmissible because they occurred over ten years
ago and that their prejudicial effect outweighed their probative value.
The district court conducted an analysis under Federal Rule of Evidence
609(b). The district court ruled that the government could impeach Benitez with
his 1996 convictions for grand theft, battery on an EMT or firefighter, and
conspiracy to distribute narcotics, noting that Benitez’s credibility was a central
issue at trial. However, the district court determined that the government could not
impeach Benitez with the 1996 bank robbery conviction, given the similarity
between that conviction and the present offense.
22 Case: 16-10476 Date Filed: 04/27/2018 Page: 23 of 24
The district court explained that “in weighing all of the factors, the probative
value and the similarity between the past, the past crimes, and the crime charged,
the point in time [of] the conviction, the defendant’s subsequent history outweighs
any prejudicial effect against the defendant.” The district court also ruled that the
government could not explore the details of those crimes.
Evidence of a defendant’s prior convictions that are more than ten years old
are admissible for impeachment purposes if the district court finds that the
probative value of the convictions substantially outweighs any prejudicial effect.
Fed. R. Evid. 609(b). In determining whether a prior conviction’s probative value
substantially outweighs its prejudicial effect for purposes of Rule 609(b), the
district court considers (1) the impeachment value of the prior conviction, (2) the
point in time of the conviction and the witness’s subsequent history, (3) the
similarity between the past crime and the charged crime, (4) the importance of the
defendant’s testimony, and (5) the centrality of the witness’s credibility. United
States v. Pritchard, 973 F.2d 905, 908-09 (11th Cir. 1992)
The district court did not abuse its discretion when it admitted evidence of
three of Benitez’s 1996 convictions: Florida convictions for grand theft and battery
of an EMT or firefighter under Florida law, and his federal conviction for
23 Case: 16-10476 Date Filed: 04/27/2018 Page: 24 of 24
conspiracy to distribute narcotics. 11 Though some of the Pritchard factors weigh in
Benitez’s favor, the district court correctly noted the importance of Benitez’s
testimony and credibility, as he was the only witness who actually knew whether
the object in question was a real or fake firearm. Id. at 909 (upholding the
admission of defendant’s 13-year-old conviction because “the crux of the case was
a credibility issue”). We find no reversible error. In re Rasbury, 24 F.3d 159, 168
(11th Cir. 1994) (“By definition . . . under the abuse of discretion standard of
review there will be occasions in which we affirm the district court even though we
would have gone the other way had it been our call.”).
Alternatively, any alleged error was harmless, as the evidence was
overwhelming that Benitez committed the armed bank robbery charged in Count
One, and because Benitez was found not guilty on Count Two. United States v.
Willner, 795 F.3d 1297, 1321 (11th Cir. 2015) (“When there is overwhelming
evidence of a defendant’s guilt . . . non-constitutional error is harmless.”).
IV. CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, we affirm Benitez’s conviction for armed bank
robbery in Count One. 12
AFFIRMED.
11 “The standard for review of a district court’s decision to admit evidence of prior convictions pursuant to Rule 609 is abuse of discretion.” Pritchard, 973 F.2d at 908. 12 In this direct appeal, Benitez has not raised any issues as to his sentence. 24