United States v. Norbert L. Hildebrandt, 961 F.2d 116 (8th Cir. 1992). · Go Syfert
United States v. Norbert L. Hildebrandt, 961 F.2d 116 (8th Cir. 1992). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
24 citation events (11 in the last 25 years) across 10 distinct courts.
Strongest positive: United States v. Marcin Garbacz (ca8, 2022-04-27)
Treatment trajectory · 1992 → 2026 · click a year to view as-of
1992 2009 2026
Top citers, strongest first. 20 distinct citers. How cited ↗
discussed Cited as authority (rule) United States v. Marcin Garbacz
8th Cir. · 2022 · confidence medium
“Although ignorance of the law traditionally is no defense, Congress has carved out an exception to that rule in certain criminal tax statutes by making ‘specific intent to violate the law’ one of the elements.” United States v. Hildebrandt, 961 F.2d 116, 118 (8th Cir. 1992) (quoting Cheek, 498 U.S. at 200 ).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Anderson v. O'Sullivan
Md. Ct. Spec. App. · 2015 · confidence medium
Not just judicial authority, but all authority”); United States v. Dykstra, 991 F.2d 450, 453 (8th Cir.1993) (noting that defendant, who acted pursuant to the "Redemption” theory, "acted with the intent to secure an unwarranted financial gain for himself”); United States v. Hildebrandt, 961 F.2d 116, 117 (8th Cir.1992) (convicting a defendant of submitting false statements to a government agency for filing false forms with the IRS as instructed by "Redemptionist” teachings); United States v. Landers, 564 F.3d 1217, 1219 (10th Cir.2009) (calling a “Redemptionist” book titled Crackin…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Anderson v. O'Sullivan
Md. Ct. Spec. App. · 2015 · confidence medium
Not just judicial authority, but all authority”); United States v. Dykstra, 991 F.2d 450, 453 (8th Cir. 1993) (noting that defendant, who acted pursuant to the “Redemption” theory, “acted with the intent to secure an unwarranted financial gain for himself”); United States v. Hildebrandt, 961 F.2d 116, 117 (8th Cir. 1992) (convicting a defendant of submitting false statements to a government agency for filing false forms with the IRS as instructed by “Redemptionist” teachings); United States v. Landers, 564 F.3d 1217, 1219 (10th Cir. 2009) (calling a “Redemptionist” book title…
cited Cited as authority (rule) United States v. Hunter
D.C. Cir. · 2014 · confidence medium
See United States v. Anderson, 353 F.3d 490, 497, 507 (6th Cir.2003); United States v. Hildebrandt, 961 F.2d 116, 117, 119 (8th Cir.1992).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) United States v. John Natale
7th Cir. · 2013 · confidence medium
Compare United States v. Riccio, 529 F.3d 40, 46-47 (1st Cir.2008) ("willfulness” in § 1001 means "nothing more ... than that the defendant knew that his statement was false when he made it or — which amounts in the law to the same thing — consciously disregarded or averted his eyes from its likely falsity” (quoting United States v. Gonsalves, 435 F.3d 64, 72 (1st Cir.2006))); United States v. Russo, No. 98-3245, 2000 WL 14298 , at *5 (10th Cir. Jan. 10, 2000) ("willful” in § 1001 "does not require proof of evil intent but rather only that 'the act [was] done deliberately and with …
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Ramani Pilla v. Eric Holder, Jr.
6th Cir. · 2012 · signal: cf. · confidence medium
Cf. United States v. Hildebrandt, 961 F.2d 116, 119 (8th Cir.1992) (holding that third parties were victims for sentencing purposes where the defendant made false statements about the parties’ income to the IRS, triggering an investigation).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) United States v. Christopher Todd Drapeau
8th Cir. · 1999 · confidence medium
Cf. United States v. Terry, 142 F.3d 702, 711-12 (4th Cir.1998) (defining “victim” for purposes of a § 5K2.3 enhancement, which also applies only to victims of the offense of conviction, to include indirect victims, based on the victim’s relationship to the offense), petition for cert. filed, (U.S. June 11, 1999) (No. 98-9790); United States v. Hildebrandt, 961 F.2d 116, 119 (8th Cir.) (holding that various law enforcement personnel and judges were “victims” of the crime of making false statements to a government agency for purposes of § 3A1.2(a) where the defendant made false stat…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) United States v. Christopher Drapeau
8th Cir. · 1999 · confidence medium
Cf. United States v. Terry, 142 F.3d 702, 711-12 (4th Cir. 1998) (defining "victim" for purposes of a § 5K2.3 enhancement, which also applies only to victims of the offense of conviction, to include indirect victims, based on the victim's relationship to the offense), petition for cert. filed, (U.S. June 11, 1999) (No. 98-9790); United States v. Hildebrandt, 961 F.2d 116, 119 (8th Cir.) (holding that various law enforcement personnel and judges were "victims" of the crime of making false statements to a government agency for purposes of §3A1.2(a) where the defendant made false statements abo…
discussed Cited "see" United States v. Gene Jirak
8th Cir. · 2013 · signal: see · confidence high
See United States v. Hildebrandt, 961 F.2d 116, 118-19 (8th Cir.1992) (concluding Cheek did not mandate a good faith defense instruction because its holding was premised on the complexity of the tax laws, and the defendant in Hildebrandt was convicted under a statute similar to § 287- 18 U.S.C. § 1001 ).
discussed Cited "see" State of Tennessee v. Luis Anthony Ramon
Tenn. Crim. App. · 2003 · signal: see · confidence high
In Barton, the Fifth Circuit Co urt of Appe als held that: No rmally, “[i]n reviewing a motion for jud gment of acq uittal, we ‘co nsider the evid ence as a whole taken in the light most favorable to the government, together with all legitimate inferences to be drawn therefrom to determine whether a rational trier of fact could have found guilt beyo nd a reasonable dou bt.’” United States v. Turner, 960 F.2d 4 61, 465 (5th Cir. 1992) (citations and footnote omitted); see United States v. Sanchez, 961 F.2d 116 9 , 11 73 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 506 U.S. 918 , 113 S. Ct. 330 , 121 L.
discussed Cited "see" United States v. Gregory Charles Ervasti, United States of America v. Deniene \Dee\" Ervasti"
8th Cir. · 2000 · signal: see · confidence high
See United States v. Hilde-brandt, 961 F.2d 116, 119 (8th Cir.) (finding no reversible error in not giving Cheek “good faith” instruction where defendant was convicted under general criminal statute’s “straightforward prohibition against making false, fictitious, or fraudulent statements to the government” in filing numerous false federal tax forms), cert. denied, 506 U.S. 878 , 113 S.Ct. 225 , 121 L.Ed.2d 162 (1992).
discussed Cited "see" United States v. Gregory Ervasti
8th Cir. · 2000 · signal: see · confidence high
See United States v. Hildebrandt, 961 F.2d 116, 119 (8th Cir.) (finding no reversible error in not giving Cheek "good faith" instruction where defendant was convicted under general criminal statute's "straightforward prohibition against making false, fictitious, or fraudulent statements to the government" in filing numerous false federal tax forms), cert. denied, 506 U.S. 878 (1992).
cited Cited "see" United States v. Joe Raymond Brooks
8th Cir. · 1999 · signal: see · confidence high
See United States v. Hildebrandt, 961 F.2d 116, 118 (8th Cir.1992).
cited Cited "see" United States v. Joe Raymond Brooks
8th Cir. · 1999 · signal: see · confidence high
See United States v. Hildebrandt, 961 F.2d 116, 118 (8th Cir. 1992).
discussed Cited "see" United States v. Lorenzo (2×)
9th Cir. · 1993 · signal: see · confidence high
See United States v. Hildebrandt, 961 F.2d 116, 118-19 (8th Cir.), cert. denied, — U.S.-, 113 S.Ct. 225 , 121 L.Ed.2d 162 (1992).
discussed Cited "see" United States v. Windyceslau D. Lorenzo, United States of America v. Roger Elvick, United States of America v. Nathan K. Brown, United States of America v. Ron Knutt, United States of America v. Thomas Porter (2×)
9th Cir. · 1993 · signal: see · confidence high
See United States v. Hildebrandt, 961 F.2d 116, 118-19 (8th Cir.), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 113 S.Ct. 225 , 121 L.Ed.2d 162 (1992).
discussed Cited "see" United States v. Benjamin F. Gay Iii, Roy M. Porter
9th Cir. · 1992 · signal: see · confidence high
See United States v. Hildebrandt, 961 F.2d 116 , (8th Cir.1992) (refusing to extend Cheek beyond willful failure to file income tax cases); United States v. Donovan, No. 91-1574, 1992 WL 18217 , at *3, 1992 U.S.App.
discussed Cited "see, e.g." United States v. Bernice Stephens-Miller
6th Cir. · 2014 · signal: see also · confidence medium
See also United States v. Hildebrandt, 961 F.2d 116, 119 (8th Cir.1992) (holding that a jury instruction as to knowingly making or using a false, fictitious, or fraudulent writing was sufficient, even without a good faith instruction); Damra, 621 F.3d at 502 (explaining that “a jury’s conclusion that a defendant acted willfully ... would necessarily negate any possibility that the defendant acted in good faith.”) (internal quotation marks omitted).
discussed Cited "see, e.g." State v. Casper
Tenn. · 2009 · signal: see, e.g. · confidence medium
See, e.g., United States v. Hildebrandt, 961 F.2d 116, 118-19 (8th Cir.1992) (affirming the district court’s refusal to give an instruction based upon Cheek because “[t]he Cheek holding was premised on the complexity of the tax laws ... [and i]f Cheek is to be expanded, that expansion must be made by the Supreme Court.”). *691 Similarly, in Ratzlaf the Court stated that its holding did “not dishonor the venerable principle that ignorance of the law generally is no defense to a criminal charge,” because “[i]n particular contexts,” such as the anti-structuring provisions, “Congre…
discussed Cited "see, e.g." Opinion No.
Ark. Att'y Gen. · 2003 · signal: see also · confidence low
See also U.S. v. Hildebrandt, 961 F.2d 116 (8 th Cir. 1992) (generally discussing the use of Form 1099). 3 For representative definitions of "salary" that incorporate the notion of fixed, recurring payments in exchange for services rendered, as opposed to reimbursement for expenditures incurred in the course of rendering those services, see, e.g., A.C.A. §§ 24-11-818 (a)(1)(A) and 24-11-819 (a)(3) (governing firefighters' disability retirement benefits).
Retrieving the full opinion text from the archive…
UNITED STATES of America, Appellee,
v.
Norbert L. HILDEBRANDT, Appellant
91-2360.
Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.
Apr 3, 1992.
961 F.2d 116
1992 U.S. App. LEXIS 6034
1992 WL 65658
Andrea K. George, Asst. Federal Defender, Minneapolis, Mn., argued, for appellant., Judy Hallett and Jeffrey S. Paulsen, Asst. U.S. Attys., Minneapolis, Mn., argued, for appellee.
Gibson, Friedman, Magill.
Cited by 22 opinions  |  Published
[*117] JOHN R. GIBSON, Circuit Judge.

Norbert L. Hildebrandt appeals both the judgment and his sentence following his conviction of two counts of submitting false statements to a government agency in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1001 (1988). The charges were based on Hildebrandt’s sending to the IRS false forms claiming that he had paid various individuals large sums of money. On appeal, Hildebrandt argues that: (1) the district court [1] committed reversible error by failing to instruct the jury that a subjective good faith belief that one is not violating the law negates the willfulness element of section 1001; (2) the district court erred by excluding certain evidence as hearsay; and (3) the district court erred by imposing a three-level enhancement under the sentencing guidelines on the ground that Hildebrandt’s victims were “official victims.” We affirm the judgment of the district court.

Hildebrandt was a Minnesota farmer who had serious financial troubles during the 1980s. When the bank that had acted as his lender stopped covering checks for which he lacked sufficient funds and also stopped extending him additional credit, Hildebrandt could not keep up the payments on his farm. The State of Minnesota, which held the mortgage, then foreclosed on his property.

Hildebrandt then discovered the teachings of one Roger Elvick, who sold tapes and other materials that informed farmers about their supposed legal rights. Hilde-brandt obtained a package of taped and written materials called “Introduction to Redemption.”

Following Elvick’s teachings, Hilde-brandt sent IRS Form 1099 to various individuals whom he believed had conspired to take away his farm and deprive him of his legal rights. Recipients included law enforcement personnel, judges, lenders, attorneys, and creditors who had been involved in some fashion with the foreclosure on Hildebrandt’s farm or with other legal proceedings involving Hildebrandt. [2]

IRS Form 1099 is used to report non-wage compensation. Hildebrandt, calculating “all of the damages that had incurred to me and my family through the denial of my rights,” treated these losses as the taxable gain of his victims. For instance, law enforcement officers who had enforced court orders against him and judges who had ruled adversely to him received 1099 forms stating that they had received various sums of money from Hildebrandt as non-wage compensation.

Twice in 1989, Hildebrandt filed false 1099 forms with the IRS. With both filings, he included a cover sheet, Form 1096, which summarized the information contained in the attached 1099 forms. On these forms, Hildebrandt claimed to have paid a total of about $68,000,000 in non-wage compensation. He also signed a statement on one of the 1096 forms stating that “under penalties of perjury” he declared that he had “examined this return and accompanying documents” and that to the best of his “knowledge and belief they are true, correct, and complete.”

The IRS uses computers to compare the data reported on -a particular Form 1099 with the tax return of the individual who purportedly received the income reported on the 1099. Tax examiners investigate any discrepancy between the two forms. Taxpayers bear the burden of explaining any such discrepancy.

Hildebrandt testified at trial that he believed the forms he filed were not false and that he had a legal duty to file them. He further testified that he expected the IRS to collect the taxes due on the income he had reported on the 1099 forms. Based on his sending the false 1096 and 1099 forms to the IRS, a jury convicted Hildebrandt on[*118] two counts of knowingly and willfully making false statements to a government agency in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1001. The court sentenced him to one year in prison followed by a two-year period of supervised release.

I.

Hildebrandt asserts that the district court committed reversible error by failing to give a “good faith” defense instruction [3] based on the Supreme Court’s recent decision in Cheek v. United States, — U.S. -, 111 S.Ct. 604, 112 L.Ed.2d 617 (1991).

A jury convicted the defendant in Cheek of willfully failing to file federal income tax returns and willfully attempting to evade income taxes. The Supreme Court held that the district court erred by instructing the jury to disregard evidence that Cheek believed that he was not required to file a return or pay income taxes. Id. 111 S.Ct. at 611. A defendant’s good faith belief that he is not violating the tax laws negates the statutory willfulness requirement, whether or not that good faith belief is objectively reasonable. Id. Although ignorance of the law traditionally is no defense, Congress has carved out an exception to that rule in certain criminal tax statutes by making “specific intent to violate the law” one of the elements. Id. 111 S.Ct. at 609. Such special treatment is largely premised on the “complexity of the tax laws,” which have so proliferated that the average citizen may have difficulty “comprehend[ing] the extent of [his] duties and obligations.” Id.

Although Cheek did not address whether its holding extends beyond the criminal tax context, its statement that certain criminal tax offenses are accorded '“special treatment” because of the complexity of the tax laws strongly suggests that its holding is limited to the tax area. In United States v. Dashney, 937 F.2d 532 (10th Cir.), cert. denied, — U.S. -, 112 S.Ct. 402, 116 L.Ed.2d 351 (1991), the Tenth Circuit refused to apply Cheek to violations of currency reporting statutes, drawing a distinction between the complexity of tax statutes and the “straightforward currency reporting requirements.” Id. at 540.

We believe a similar distinction exists here. The statutes at issue in Cheek required a “willful[ ] attempt[ ] ... to evade or defeat any tax,” 26 U.S.C. § 7201 (1988), and a “willful[ ] fail[ure]” to file a required tax return, 26 U.S.C.A. § 7203 (West Supp. 1991). The Court defined willfulness in this context as the voluntary and intentional violation of a known legal duty. Ill S.Ct. at 610. The government must prove that the defendant knew of his duty, and its effort fails “if the jury credits [the defendant’s submission] of a good faith misunderstanding and belief.” Id. at 611.

In contrast, 18 U.S.C. § 1001 concerns not a willful failure to act, but the willful doing of a prohibited act. To violate section 1001 in the manner relevant here, the defendant must knowingly and willfully make a material, false statement in any matter within a government agency’s jurisdiction. [4] In the context of this statute, the term “willful” simply means that the defendant did the forbidden act “ ‘deliberately and with knowledge.’ ” United States v. Carrier, 654 F.2d 559, 561 (9th Cir.1981) (citation omitted). See also Manual of Model Criminal Instructions for the District Courts of the Eighth Circuit 205 (1989) (“willfully” as used in section 1001 is generally defined as “deliberately” or “deliberately with knowledge”). It is not nec[*119] essary that the defendant act with the intent to deceive the United States or have actual knowledge that the statement was made in a matter within a federal agency’s jurisdiction. United States v. Yermian, 468 U.S. 63, 68-74, 104 S.Ct. 2936, 2939-42, 82 L.Ed.2d 53 (1984). The phrase “knowingly and willfully” modifies the terms “false statement” and is not relevant to the statute’s jurisdictional element. Id.

The district court here instructed the jury that to convict the defendant it must find that: (1) he “knowingly made or used a false, fictitious, fraudulent writing or document in submitting 1989 Forms 1096 and 1099 to the IRS”; (2) “[a]t the time [he] did so, he knew that the forms contained a false, fictitious or fraudulent statement”; and (3) “[he] did these acts knowingly, voluntarily and intentionally.”

We conclude that these instructions correctly conveyed the substance of the relevant law and that the district court did not err by refusing an instruction based on the Supreme Court’s holding in Cheek.

Hildebrandt also argues that even if section 1001 does not on its face invite an application of Cheek, that a Cheek instruction is nonetheless required here because his case arises from a tax matter.

We reject this argument. The Cheek holding was premised on the complexity of the tax laws, and Hildebrandt was convicted under a general criminál statute containing a straightforward prohibition against making false, fictitious, or fraudulent statements to the government." If Cheek is to be expanded, that expansion must be made by the Supreme Court.

II.

Hildebrandt next argues that the district court improperly excluded as hearsay written materials upon which he relied in submitting the 1099 forms. These materials included portions. of Elvick’s “Redemption Package.”

The record shows that the government later withdrew its objection. Hildebrandt then failed to offer the exhibits again and, in fact, withdrew his offer. We are not persuaded by Hildebrandt’s argument that the government’s withdrawal of its objection came so late in the trial that the introduction of the exhibits at that point would have confused the jurors. If Hildebrandt was prejudiced by the exclusion of these written materials, it was due to his own failure to offer them. There was no reversible error.

III.

Finally, Hildebrandt argues that the district court improperly imposed a three-level enhancement under United States Sentencing Guideline § 3A1.2 (1990) on the basis that the victims of his crime were “official victims” within the meaning of that guideline. Because he was convicted only for his actions against the IRS— which, under section 3A1.2, cannot be considered an individual victim — he argues that the district court erred by basing the enhancement on the fact that many of the recipients of the 1099 forms were “officials” within the meaning of section 3A1.2.

Hildebrandt’s argument ignores the fact that the government prosecuted him for statements made to the IRS claiming that these individuals had received substantial amounts of non-wage income when, in fact, they had not. Because the IRS investigates any discrepancy betweén the amounts reported on 1099 forms and an individual’s tax returns, Hildebrandt’s sending of the forms to the IRS certainly had the effect of making these individuals his victims. We thus conclude that the district court properly interpreted the scope of the guideline and did not err by imposing the three-level enhancement. The sentence imposed for this offense was modest.

For the foregoing reasons, we affirm the judgment of the district court.

1

. The Honorable Paul A. Magnuson, United States District Judge for the District of Minnesota.

2

. We have recently considered the appeals of other individuals who were involved in the sending of false 1099 forms. See United States v. Yagow, 953 F.2d 423 (8th Cir.1992); United States v. Citrowske, 951 F.2d 899 (8th Cir.1991); United States v. Telemaque, 934 F.2d 169 (8th Cir.1991).

3

. Hildebrandt submitted a proposed instruction that stated:

Willfulness is defined as a voluntary, intentional violation of a known legal duty.
A good faith misunderstanding of the law or a good faith belief that one is not violating the law negates willfulness, whether or not the claimed belief or misunderstanding is objectively reasonable.
4

. 18 U.S.C. § 1001 states:

Whoever, in any matter within the jurisdiction of any department or agency of the United States knowingly and willfully falsifies, conceals or covers up by any trick, scheme, or device a material fact, or makes any false, fictitious or fraudulent statements or representations, or makes or uses any false writing or document knowing the same to contain any false, fictitious or fraudulent statement or entry, shall be fined not more than $ 10,000 or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.