United States v. Stephen Becker A/k/a/ \Steven Fox\" A/k/a/ \"Dr. Fox\". Appeal of Stephen Becker", 892 F.2d 265 (3d Cir. 1989). · Go Syfert
United States v. Stephen Becker A/k/a/ \Steven Fox\" A/k/a/ \"Dr. Fox\". Appeal of Stephen Becker", 892 F.2d 265 (3d Cir. 1989). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
G Cite
cited 7× by 5 distinct cases, last quoted 2010 · …the critical determination is whether one agreement existed. at p. 268 Topic ↗
cited 4× by 2 distinct cases, last quoted 2010 · …splitting one conspiracy into several prosecutions. at p. 268 Topic ↗
54 citation events (31 in the last 25 years) across 9 distinct courts.
Strongest positive: United States v. Rigas (ca3, 2010-05-12)
Treatment trajectory · 1990 → 2026 · click a year to view as-of
1990 2008 2026
Top citers, strongest first. 27 distinct citers. How cited ↗
examined Cited as authority (verbatim quote) United States v. Rigas (6×) also: Cited as authority (rule), Cited "see, e.g."
3rd Cir. · 2010 · signal: see also · quote attribution · 2 verbatim quotes · confidence high
the critical determination is whether one agreement existed.
examined Cited as authority (verbatim quote) United States v. Rigas (6×) also: Cited as authority (rule), Cited "see, e.g."
3rd Cir. · 2009 · signal: see also · quote attribution · 2 verbatim quotes · confidence high
the critical determination is whether one agreement existed.
discussed Cited as authority (verbatim quote) United States v. Smith (2×) also: Cited as authority (rule)
3rd Cir. · 1996 · signal: see · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
the critical determination is whether one agreement existed.
discussed Cited as authority (verbatim quote) United States v. J. David Smith, David Smith (2×) also: Cited as authority (rule)
3rd Cir. · 1995 · signal: see · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
the critical determination is whether one agreement existed.
discussed Cited as authority (verbatim quote) State v. Callahan
Vt. · 1991 · signal: see also · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
double jeopardy claim may be waived if not raised at trial
discussed Cited as authority (rule) United States v. Fr'neil Hickson
3rd Cir. · 2018 · confidence medium
Hickson relies on. the principle, generally attributed to Braverman v. United States, 317 U.S. 49 , 63 S.Ct. 99 , 87 L.Ed. 23 (1942), that “the double jeopardy clause prohibits [the government] from splitting one conspiracy into several prosecutions.” United States v. Becker, 892 F.2d 265, 268 (3d Cir. 1989).
cited Cited as authority (rule) United States v. Jones
E.D. Pa. · 2016 · confidence medium
The Double Jeopardy Clause “prohibits [the government] from splitting one conspiracy into several prosecutions.” United States v. Becker, 892 F.2d 265, 268 (3d Cir.1989).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) United States v. James Johnson
3rd Cir. · 2014 · signal: cf. · confidence medium
Cf. United States v. Becker, 892 F.2d 265, 267 (3d Cir.1989) (noting that “consignment arrangement[s]” for contraband give “provider[s] of the substance the necessary supervisory control of the participants”).
examined Cited as authority (rule) United States v. Percy Travillion (3×) also: Cited "see", Cited "see, e.g."
3rd Cir. · 2014 · confidence medium
The Double Jeopardy Clause “prohibits [the government] from splitting one conspiracy into several prosecutions.” United States v. Becker, 892 F.2d 265, 268 (3d Cir.1989).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) United States v. Rawlins
3rd Cir. · 2010 · confidence medium
We did so, however, without analyzing the sufficiency of the “date unknown” language. 8 “The Double Jeopardy Clause prohibits the government from ‘splitting one conspiracy into several prosecutions.’ ” United States v. Rigas, 605 F.3d 194 (3d Cir. 2010) (en banc) (quoting United States v. Becker, 892 F.2d 265, 268 (3d Cir. 1989)). 9 For example, Rawlins was seen pulling flight tags on November 8,2003, and he promised Donovan he would do the same on May 1, 2004. 10 Sylvester’s account was consistent with Donovan’s testimony that Rawlins had acted as a lookout for him, and that b…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) United States v. Rigas (2×) also: Cited "see, e.g."
M.D. Penn. · 2008 · confidence medium
See Smith, 82 F.3d at 1270 (stating “we have drawn a distinction between multiple and single conspiracies based upon the existence of a commitment to a single set of objectives”); Becker, 892 F.2d at 265 (finding drug distribution schemes “were two different objectives and agreements, and hence two conspiracies”).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) State v. Allah
N.J. · 2002 · confidence medium
See also United States v. Moore, 958 F.2d 646, 650 (5th Cir.1992) (noting that even though double jeopardy claim was waived, claim was meritless); United States v. Becker, 892 F.2d 265, 267-68 (3d Cir.1989) (declaring waiver of double jeopardy claim, but reviewing merits nevertheless); United States v. Thomas, 875 F.2d 559 , 562 n. 2 (6th Cir.), cert. denied, 493 U.S. 867 , 110 S.Ct. 189 , 107 L.Ed.2d 144 (1989) (holding that defendant waived double jeopardy challenge, but nonetheless addressing merits); United States v. Milhim, 702 F.2d 522, 524 (5th Cir.1983) (finding waiver but noting that …
discussed Cited as authority (rule) United States v. Shepard
W.D. Mich. · 1999 · confidence medium
See United States v. Gomez-Pabon, 911 F.2d 847, 860 (1st Cir.1990); United States v. Korfant, 771 F.2d 660, 662 (2d Cir.1985) (per curiam) (applying similar factors); United States v. Becker, 892 F.2d 265, 268 (3d Cir.1989); United States v. MacDougall, 790 F.2d 1135, 1144 (4th Cir.1986); United States v. Marable, 578 F.2d 151, 154 (5th Cir.1978); United States v. Castro, 629 F.2d 456, 461 (7th Cir.1980); United States v. Thomas, 759 F.2d 659, 661-62 (8th Cir.1985); United States v. Benefield, 874 F.2d 1503, 1506 (11th Cir.1989). 3 .
discussed Cited as authority (rule) United States v. Baucum
D.C. Cir. · 1996 · confidence medium
For a sampling of these cases, see United States v. Becker, 892 F.2d 265, 267 (3d Cir.1989) (double jeopardy is an affirmative defense which is waived if not raised at trial); United States v. $184,505 in Currency, 72 F.3d 1160 , 1165 n. 2 (3d Cir.1995) (double jeopardy claim not raised below, so reviewable only for plain error); Virgin Islands v. Smith, 949 F.2d 677, 682 (3d Cir.1991) ("When no objection is made at trial, however, we may affirm a conviction even when a constitutional error does not meet [the harmless error] standard.”); United States v. Mebane, 839 F.2d 230, 232 (4th Cir.19…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) United States v. Patrick Baucum
D.C. Cir. · 1996 · confidence medium
Perhaps Justice Harlan said it best when he noted that "No one, not criminal defendants, not the judicial system, not society as a whole is benefited by a judgment providing a man shall tentatively go to jail today, but tomorrow and every day thereafter his continued incarceration shall be subject to fresh litigation." Mackey v. United States, 401 U.S. 667, 691 , 91 S.Ct. 1171 , 1179, 28 L.Ed.2d 388 (1971) (Harlan, J., concurring in judgment in part and dissenting in part). 22 For these reasons, Baucum's petition for rehearing is 23 Denied. 1 The "schoolyard statute," 21 U.S.C. § 860 (a), dou…
cited Cited as authority (rule) United States v. Bethancourt
3rd Cir. · 1995 · confidence medium
United States v. Becker, 892 F.2d 265, 267-68 (3d Cir. 1989).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) United States v. Rodolfo Bethancourt (2×)
3rd Cir. · 1995 · confidence medium
United States v. Becker, 892 F.2d 265, 267-68 (3d Cir.1989).
cited Cited as authority (rule) United States v. Michael Keith Sears
9th Cir. · 1995 · confidence medium
Lorenzo, 995 F.2d at 1458 ; United States v. Becker, 892 F.2d 265, 268 (3d Cir.1989).
discussed Cited "see" United States v. Irving
E.D. Pa. · 2018 · signal: accord · confidence high
But the lack of temporal overlap is controlling here, because even similar acts taken as part of a conspiracy "cannot be the same since they occurred at different times." See United States v. Yahsi , 2013 WL 588178 (D.N.J. 2013), aff'd 490 F. App'x 476 , 478 (3d Cir. 2012) ; accord United States v. Becker , 892 F.2d 265 , 269 (3d Cir. 1989) *895 ("[T]he guarantee against double jeopardy does not insulate a criminal for subsequent offenses merely because he chooses to continue committing the same type of crime.").
discussed Cited "see" United States v. Alton Coles
unknown court · 2014 · signal: see · confidence high
Moreover, the evidence showed that Baukman: (1) leased the Essex Avenue apartment, which was used to store, process, and package cocaine, in the name of his four-year-old son, and paid the rent and utilities from an account in his son’s name; (2) consulted with Coles about the pricing of drugs, and work conditions, including the fact that one conspirator had not worn gloves or a mask while preparing the cocaine and subsequently tested positive for drug use; (3) was contacted to secure a lawyer when a conspirator needed one; and (4) supervised at least two street-level managers, Custis and �…
discussed Cited "see" United States v. Jenkins
3rd Cir. · 2009 · signal: see · confidence high
See United States v. Becker, 892 F.2d 265, 268-69 (3d Cir.1989) (indicating that “[jjust because the time periods of the two conspiracies overlapped does not indicate that only one conspiracy existed,” nor is “some overlap between the personnel in the two conspiracies ... indicative of only one conspiracy,” and explaining that evidence of different objectives weighs in favor of finding two agreements existed); see also United States v. Smith, 82 F.3d 1261, 1267, 1269-70 (3d Cir.1996) (noting the importance of evaluating whether there are different objectives and whether the activities …
discussed Cited "see" United States v. Jenkins
3rd Cir. · 2009 · signal: see · confidence high
See United States v. Becker, 892 F.2d 265, 268-69 (3d Cir.1989) (indicating that “[jjust because the time periods of the two conspiracies overlapped does not indicate that only one conspiracy existed,” nor is “some overlap between the personnel in the two conspiracies ... indicative of only one conspiracy,” and explaining that evidence of different objectives weighs in favor of finding two agreements existed); see also United States v. Smith, 82 F.3d 1261, 1267, 1269-70 (3d Cir.1996) (noting the importance of evaluating whether there are different objectives and whether the activities …
cited Cited "see" United States v. Patterson
3rd Cir. · 2006 · signal: see · confidence high
See United States v. Becker, 892 F.2d 265, 267 (3d Cir.1989).
discussed Cited "see, e.g." United States v. Gelean Mark
3rd Cir. · 2008 · signal: see also · confidence medium
See also United States v. Becker, 892 F.2d 265, 268 (3d Cir.1989) (“The critical determination is whether one agreement existed.”) In order to determine whether one or more agreements existed, Liotard’s totality of the circumstances test instructs us to examine four factors: (1) the “locus eriminis” of the alleged conspiracies 3 ; (2) the degree of temporal overlap between the conspiracies; (3) the overlap of personnel between the conspiracies, including unindicted co-conspirators; and (4) the similarity in the overt acts charged and role played by the defendant in each indictment.
discussed Cited "see, e.g." United States v. Kevin Jacobs, AKA Maurice Hawkins
8th Cir. · 1996 · signal: see, e.g. · confidence medium
See e.g., United States v. Kelly, 892 F.2d 265, 261 (3d Cir.1989) (videotaped depositions of foreign witness taken without defendant’s presence admissible because witness was unavailable to testify at trial), cert. denied, 497 U.S. 1006 , 110 S.Ct. 3243 , 111 L.Ed.2d 754 (1990); United States v. Mueller, 74 F.3d 1152, 1156-57 (11th Cir.1996) (depositions of foreign witness admissible because the witness was unavailable to testify at trial).
discussed Cited "see, e.g." United States v. Pungitore
3rd Cir. · 1990 · signal: see also · confidence medium
See also United States v. Becker, 892 F.2d 265, 269 (3d Cir.1989) (successive prosecutions of two separate drug conspiracies did not constitute harassment); United States v. Partyka, 561 F.2d 118, 124 (8th Cir.1977), ce rt. denied, 434 U.S. 1037 , 98 S.Ct. 773 , 54 L.Ed.2d 785 (1978).
Retrieving the full opinion text from the archive…
UNITED STATES of America
v.
Stephen BECKER A/K/A/ “Steven Fox” A/K/A/ “Dr. Fox”. Appeal of Stephen BECKER
89-1399.
Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
Dec 19, 1989.
892 F.2d 265
1989 WL 152124
Thomas M. Dawson, Leavenworth, Kan., for appellant., Michael M. Baylson, Walter S. Batty, Jr., Ewald Zittlau, U.S. Attys. Office, Philadelphia, Pa., for appellee.
Greenberg, Seitz, Sloviter.
Cited by 30 opinions  |  Published

OPINION OF THE COURT

SLOVITER, Circuit Judge.

I.

Appellant Steven Becker appeals from his conviction, following a bench trial, of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846, of violating the Travel Act, 18 U.S.C. § 1952, of engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise (CCE) in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 848, and of aiding and abetting in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2. Becker asserts first that there was insufficient evidence to support his CCE conviction because the evidence did not support a finding that he managed, controlled, or organized the requisite five people. He also argues that the Pennsylvania prosecution was barred by an earlier West Virginia conviction and that the indictments against him in four jurisdictions comprise a piecemeal and fragmentary prosecution that has had the effect of harassing him financially and emotionally.

Becker does not contest that he was involved in a large scale drug operation that involved smuggling marijuana into the country and then reselling it. Evidence presented at the trial in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania showed that several large scale sales, involving over 1,000 pounds of marijuana each, took place in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Massachusetts between 1981 and 1985. The indictment alleges and the testimony shows that in furtherance of his sales, Becker rented a farmhouse in Massachusetts and also tried to interest some of the participants in these[*267] transactions in purchasing a piece of property in Oregon with a deepwater dock to facilitate the smuggling of Colombian marijuana into the country.

Becker was convicted in 1989 in the district court of West Virginia on charges of conspiracy to manufacture and distribute marijuana in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841 and 21 U.S.C. § 846 which involved his attempt to grow marijuana on a farm in West Virginia. He was sentenced to five years on that conviction. He has also been indicted for federal offenses in Oregon and Massachusetts, and those matters are pending. [1]

II.

We turn first to Becker’s contention that the evidence was insufficient to prove that there were five or more persons with respect to whom Becker occupied a position of organizer, supervisor or manager as required under the CCE statute. He concedes that the trial court “would be accurate” in naming four persons who were in that position, see Brief for Appellant at 23, but argues that the court was erroneous in concluding that Cangro, Hanman, Camel and Demaio were organized, supervised or managed by him.

Becker argues that none of the witnesses for the government testified that they considered themselves as employed or working for him or controlled by him. Of course, the witness’ own characterization of the relationship is not determinative for our purposes. Camel testified that Becker provided “help, guidance, advice.” App. at 165. Moreover Becker provided large quantities of marijuana to Cangro and Camel without requiring immediate payment, and was satisfied to be paid as they sold portions of the substance. A consignment arrangement has been held to give the provider of the substance the necessary supervisory control of the participants. See United States v. Apodaca, 843 F.2d 421, 426-27 (10th Cir.) cert. denied, — U.S. -, 109 S.Ct. 325, 102 L.Ed.2d 342 (1988).

Even if the relationship between none of the four individuals identified by the trial court and Becker was sufficient to make Becker that individual’s “supervisor” or “manager,” the necessary relationship can be found if Becker can be fairly viewed as the “organizer” of the transactions. See United States v. Aguilar, 843 F.2d 155, 157-58 (3d Cir.) cert. denied, — U.S. -, 109 S.Ct. 305, 102 L.Ed.2d 324 (1988). The testimony fully supports a finding that Becker organized the various marijuana transactions. Accordingly we reject Becker’s contention that there was insufficient evidence to support his conviction for engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise.

III.

Becker’s remaining claims on appeal arise from the same underlying contention; he alleges that one conspiracy existed, that the government has split that conspiracy into subsets, and that it is proceeding to prosecute him separately for each individual subset. The government responds first by arguing that Becker has waived his double jeopardy claim by raising it only after the trial. Becker did not contend until his sentencing that the Pennsylvania conviction was barred by the Double Jeopardy Clause of the Fifth Amendment. A double jeopardy claim may be waived if not raised at trial. See 1 Wright, Federal Practice and Procedure, § 193 (2d ed. 1982) (Double jeopardy falls into the class of affirmative defenses about which F.R.Cr.P. 12 is silent; a defendant can raise it before or during the trial, but if it is not raised, it is waived.); M. Rhodes, Orfield’s Criminal Procedure under the Federal Rules (2d ed. 1985) (same); United States v. Bascaro, 742 F.2d 1335, 1365 (11th Cir.1984) (defendant waived double jeopardy argument because not raised until appeal); United States v. Perez, 565 F.2d 1227, 1232 (2d Cir.1977) (“The constitutional immunity from double jeopardy is a personal right[*268] which, if not affirmatively pleaded by the defendant at the time of the trial, will be regarded as waived.”)- Becker’s failure to raise his double jeopardy claim earlier constitutes an adequate basis to reject his double jeopardy claim. Nonetheless, we reach the merits of his claim that the conspiracy charged in the West Virginia indictment was part of the conspiracy charged in the Pennsylvania indictment because that analysis also underlies his separate contention that the separate criminal prosecutions are harassing.

The government agrees that the double jeopardy clause prohibits it from splitting one conspiracy into several prosecutions. See Braverman v. United States, 317 U.S. 49, 63 S.Ct. 99, 87 L.Ed. 23 (1942). For purposes of our review, we may look only to the conviction on appeal and the West Virginia conviction which preceded it. Although the general test used to determine whether the second prosecution is barred is the same evidence test, Blockburger v. United States, 284 U.S. 299, 52 S.Ct. 180, 76 L.Ed. 306 (1932) (test for whether the two offenses are the same is whether each provision requires proof of a fact that the other does not), this court applies the “totality of the circumstances” test when the charge involves a conspiracy. See United States v. Liotard, 817 F.2d 1074, 1078 (3d Cir.1987). In Liotard, the criteria that the court examined included: (1) the locus criminis of the two conspiracies; (2) the degree of temporal overlap between the two conspiracies; (3) the overlap of personnel between the two conspiracies; (4) the overt acts charged and the role played by the defendant in the two indictments. Id. at 1078.

Applying the Liotard test to this case, we conclude that the Pennsylvania and West Virginia indictments involved two separate conspiracies. The transactions alleged in the two indictments took place in separate states. See United States v. Bendis, 681 F.2d 561 (9th Cir.1982) (two conspiracies existed, in part, because first conspiracy implicated a part of the world that the second one did not) cert. denied, 459 U.S. 973, 103 S.Ct. 306, 74 L.Ed.2d 286 (1982). The West Virginia conspiracy took place entirely in West Virginia which was the locus of the seed and was where the plants were grown. There was no distribution of the drugs because the plants were discovered before they were cultivated. The Pennsylvania conspiracy, on the other hand, was much broader. It covered a locus of several states, but not West Virginia.

The Pennsylvania indictment alleged a time span from “in or about 1981” to November 13, 1987 whereas the West Virginia indictment covered the limited period from approximately the Spring of 1981 until July 27, 1981. Just because the time periods of the two conspiracies overlapped does not indicate that only one conspiracy existed. See United States v. Daniels, 857 F.2d 1392 (10th Cir.1988) (second conspiracy completely subsumed in time by first conspiracy).

In any event, a party can be involved in more than one conspiracy at one time. Although there was some overlap between the personnel in the two conspiracies, this is also not indicative of only one conspiracy. Because Becker’s family was involved in his activities, it is not surprising that he would involve them in all his dealings, not just in some. Finally, no overt acts that were alleged in the Pennsylvania indictment overlap with the conspiracy in West Virginia.

The critical determination is whether one agreement existed. The object of the West Virginia conspiracy, which concerned growing marijuana, was “to manufacture and possess with intent to distribute.” App. at 248. The Pennsylvania conspiracy, on the other hand, concerned distributing, selling and buying marijuana and which involved smuggling it into the country and finding locations where it could be stored. These were two different objectives and agreements, and hence two conspiracies.

The Seventh Circuit drew a similar distinction recently. In United States v. Chiattello, 804 F.2d 415 (7th Cir.1986), the court held there were two conspiracies where the first indictment was for a conspiracy to buy marijuana in Mississippi and[*269] the second involved a plan to smuggle marijuana from Colombia and distribute it in Indiana. Chiattello tried to claim, much as Becker does, that one conspiracy existed to get marijuana “from whatever source” to distribute. Id. at 419. The argument failed. As the Seventh Circuit noted in an earlier case, “the guarantee against double jeopardy does not insulate a criminal for subsequent offenses merely because he chooses to continue committing the same type of crime.” United State v. West, 670 F.2d 675, 681 (7th Cir.1982). In West, the court looked at the fact that the two conspiracies did not depend on each other for success and that they had different ultimate objectives. See also United States v. MacDougall, 790 F.2d 1135, 1147 (4th Cir.1986) (fact that defendant has already been charged with a statutory violation “does not prevent the government from establishing the existence of the same type of crime”). We conclude that two conspiracies existed for double jeopardy purposes.

In light of this conclusion, we see no need to use our supervisory power to vacate the Pennsylvania conviction, as Becker asks us to do. See, e.g., United States v. Guido, 597 F.2d 194 (9th Cir.1979) (court used its supervisory power over the administration of criminal justice to prevent two trials prosecuting the same conspiracy). The government was not precluded from prosecuting the two conspiracies separately. Becker also points to the Oregon and Massachusetts indictments. These have not yet proceeded to trial. If Becker wishes to challenge those proceedings on double jeopardy or harassment grounds, he will undoubtedly have an opportunity to raise these claims in those fora.

IV.

For the reasons set forth above, we will affirm the judgment of conviction and sentence entered by the district court.

1

. In Massachusetts, Becker is indicted for a RICO violation, 18 U.S.C. § 1962(c). In Oregon Becker is indicted for violations of 18 U.S.C. § 2; 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(B), 952(a), 960.