Fill and Sign the Jury Instruction Rico Conspiracy Offense Form

334 61.2 RICO - Conspiracy Offense 18 USC § 1962(d) Title 18, United States Code, Sect ion 1962(c), makes it a Federal crime or offense for anyone who is associated with an "enterprise" engaged in, or the activities of which affect, interstate commerce, to participate in conducting the affairs of the enterprise through a "pattern of racketeering activity." The meaning of these terms and an explanation of what must be proved in order to establish that offense, is discussed in that part of the instructions covering Count of the indictment. However, the Defendants named in Count of the indictment- - the conspiracy count - - are not charged in that Count with violating Section 1962(c); rather, they are charged with knowingly and willfully conspiring to violate that law, the alleged conspiracy itself being a separate crime or offense in violation of Section 1962(d). So, under that law a "conspiracy" is a combination or agreement of two or more persons to join together to attempt to accomplish an offense that would be in violation of Section 1962(c) as elsewhere defined in these instructions. It is a kind of "partnership in criminal purposes" in which each member becomes the agent of every other member. The evidence in the case need not show that the alleged members of the conspiracy entered into any express or formal agreement; or that they directly discussed between themselves the details of the scheme and its purpose, or the precise ways in which the purpose was to be accomplished. Neither must it be proved that all of the persons charged to have been members of the conspiracy were such, nor that the alleged conspirators actually succeeded in accomplishing their unlawful objectives. What the evidence in the case must show beyond a reasonable doubt is: First: That two or more persons, in some way or manner, came to a mutual understanding to try to accomplish a common and unlawful plan, namely, to engage in a "pattern of racketeering activity" as charged in the indictment; and Second: That the Defendant knowingly and willfully became a member of such conspiracy; and Third: That at the time the Defendant knowingly and willfully agreed to join in such conspiracy, the Defendant did so with the specific intent either to personally participate in the commission of two "predicate offenses," as elsewhere defined in these instruct ions, or that the Defendant specifically intended to otherwise participate in the affairs of the "enterprise" with the knowledge and intent that other members of the conspiracy would commit two or more "predicate offenses" as a part of a "pattern of racketeering activity." A person may become a member of a conspiracy without full knowledge of all of the details of the unlawful scheme or the names and identities of all of the other alleged conspirators. So, if a Defendant has an understanding of the unlawful nature of a plan and knowingly and willfully joins in that plan on one occasion, that is sufficient to convict for conspiracy even though the Defendant did not participate before, and even though the Defendant played only a minor part. Of course, mere presence at the scene of a transaction or event, or the mere fact that certain persons may have associated with each other, and may have assembled together and discussed common aims and interests, does not necessarily establish proof of the existence of a conspiracy. Also, a person who has no knowledge of a conspiracy, but who happens to act in a way which advances some purpose of a conspiracy, does not thereby become a conspirator. ANNOTATIONS AND COMMENTS 18 USC § 19 62 (d) provides: It shall be unlawful for any person to conspire to violate any of the provisions of subsections (a), (b) or (c) of t his section. Maximum Penalty: Twenty (20) years imprisonment and applicable fine. United States v. Beale, 9 21 F.2d 1412 (11t h Cir. 1 991) discusses the alternate methods of proving a RICO conspiracy. United States v. Starrett, 55 F.3d 1525 (11th Cir. 1 995) observes that no overt act is required under § 19 62 (d).