United States v. Ronald E. Robinson

439 F.3d 777, 97 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 1317, 2006 U.S. App. LEXIS 5254, 2006 WL 488407
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
DecidedMarch 2, 2006
Docket05-2096
StatusPublished
Cited by26 cases

This text of 439 F.3d 777 (United States v. Ronald E. Robinson) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Ronald E. Robinson, 439 F.3d 777, 97 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 1317, 2006 U.S. App. LEXIS 5254, 2006 WL 488407 (8th Cir. 2006).

Opinion

BENTON, Circuit Judge.

Ronald Eugene Robinson was convicted of income tax evasion under 26 U.S.C. § 7201. On appeal, Robinson challenges the district court’s 1 refusal to grant a mistrial after allowing the judge’s nephew to testify, the court’s denial of certain agency documents during discovery, the prosecutor’s conduct at trial, the admission of an incorrect summary of gross receipts, and the denial of his motion for mistrial based on an Internal Revenue Service agent’s testimony. Having jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291, this court affirms.

I.

Ronald Eugene Robinson owned “Robinson Masonry.” In 1997, the Internal Revenue Service notified him that he failed to file returns for 1995 and 1996. Although he eventually agreed to assessments for *779 those years, Robinson did not make any payments.

Subsequently, Robinson failed to file returns for 1997, 1998 and 1999, even though his gross income exceeded $1.7 million during that time. Robinson also purchased several cars, titled in his brother’s name, and conducted many personal and business transactions in cash.

Both during discovery and at trial, Robinson’s attorney made several requests for investigative interview memoranda, an IRS Special Agent report, and Department of Justice memoranda, all of which were denied by the court. At trial, Robinson did not make any stipulations, requiring prosecutors to call more than 30 of his customers to establish they had submitted 1099 “Miscellaneous Income” forms to Robinson and the IRS.

Robinson was convicted and now appeals.

II.

A.

First, Robinson argues that the judge should have recused himself after his nephew testified. This court reviews recusal decisions for abuse of discretion. See Moran v. Clarke, 296 F.3d 638, 648 (8th Cir.2002). Robinson claims the judge failed to recuse himself as required by 28 U.S.C. § 455(b)(5)(iv):

(b) He shall also disqualify himself in the following circumstances:
(5) He or his spouse, or a person within the third degree of relationship to either of them, or the spouse of such a person:
(iv) Is to the judge’s knowledge likely to be a material witness in the proceedings. Under this provision, recusal is mandatory. See United States v. Tucker, 82 F.3d 1423, 1426 (8th Cir.1996).

One of the “customer” witnesses was a nephew of the judge, “a person within the third degree of relationship.” This court does not need to determine whether the witness was material,' however, because even if he were, it is harmless error. See Liljeberg v. Health Servs. Acquisition Corp., 486 U.S. 847, 862, 108 S.Ct. 2194, 100 L.Ed.2d 855 (1988) (“As in other areas of law, there is surely room for harmless error committed by busy judges who inadvertently overlook disqualifying circumstances.”); In re Fletcher, 424 F.3d 783, 794 (8th Cir.2005); see also Harris v. Champion, 15 F.3d 1538, 1571 (10th Cir. 1994) (extending Liljeberg’s harmless error analysis to § 455(b)); Parker v. Connors Steel Co., 855 F.2d 1510, 1527 (11th Cir.1988) (same). The nephew was one of 34 witnesses who testified that they conducted business with Robinson. He provided copies of his 1099 form and cancelled checks to the court, proving the amounts paid to Robinson for masonry services. This evidence would have been admitted by any judge, and could have been proven, if necessary, through other means. Therefore, the error was harmless and Robinson was not prejudiced.

B.

Next, Robinson claims he is entitled to the government’s reports, memoranda and internal documents relating to its computations of his gross income and gross receipts. This court reviews the denial of a discovery motion for abuse of discretion. See United States v. Lindsey, 284 F.3d 874, 877 (8th Cir.2002).

“ ‘[Rjeports, memoranda, or other internal government documents’ created by a government agent in connection with the investigation or prosecution of the case are *780 immune from discovery.” United States v. Wipf, 397 F.3d 632, 637 (8th Cir.2005), quoting Fed.R.Crim.P. 16(a)(2); see also United States v. Roach, 28 F.3d 729, 734 (8th Cir.1994). In addressing government documents with net worth and tax calculations, the Second Circuit stated, “Since Rule 16 clearly recognizes ‘the prosecution’s need for protecting communications concerning legitimate trial tactics,’ ... we hold that the district court did not abuse its discretion in ruling that the analysis of tax liability was not discoverable under Rule 16 .... ” United States v. Koskerides, 877 F.2d 1129, 1133-34 (2d Cir.1989) (citations omitted).

In this case, Robinson sought' to discover internal documents used by the government to calculate gross receipts, business expenses and taxes owed by Robinson. He argues that the denial of the government’s investigative materials and documents “made trial preparation extremely difficult.” While this may be true, there is no question that the information was not material to preparing Robinson’s defense. As the district court noted, he was provided sufficient information and could obtain additional information through cross-examination. The court did not abuse its discretion in determining that the tax liability computations were “reports, memoranda, or other internal government documents made ... in connection with investigating or prosecuting the case,” and thus not subject to disclosure under Fed.R.Crim.P. 16(a)(2).

C.

Robinson also asserts he was prejudiced by the prosecutor’s misconduct. Robinson does not point to any place in the record, and this court finds none, where he objected at trial to the prosecutor’s misconduct or moved for mistrial based on prosecutorial misconduct.

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439 F.3d 777, 97 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 1317, 2006 U.S. App. LEXIS 5254, 2006 WL 488407, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-ronald-e-robinson-ca8-2006.