The depletion of assets from a business engaged in interstate commerce satisfies the jurisdictional requirement of the Hobbs Act.
The defendant appeals his Hobbs Act convictions for robbing motels, arguing the evidence failed to prove the required effect on interstate commerce and that the district court improperly admitted hearsay testimony regarding out-of-state guests. The court reviews the sufficiency of the evidence de novo, viewing it in the light most favorable to the government. It holds that the government need only establish a minimal effect on commerce, and that a mere depletion of assets from a business engaged in interstate commerce satisfies this requirement. The court finds the evidence of out-of-state guests sufficient to establish the nexus and affirms the admission of the motel clerks' testimony under the catch-all hearsay exception, finding it possessed adequate guarantees of trustworthiness.
At page 1244 Establishing minimal effect on interstate commerce for Hobbs Act83 citing casesA mere ‘depletion of assets’ of a business engaged in interstate commerce will meet the requirement.
- United States v. De Andre Smith, 967 F.3d 1196 (11th Cir. 2020).published (A mere ‘depletion of assets’ of a business engaged in interstate commerce will meet the requirement.)
- United States v. Mufasa Wilson Sejour, No. 18-11571 (11th Cir. Dec. 10, 2018).unpublished ([A] mere depletion of assets of a business engaged in interstate commerce will meet the requirement.)
- United States v. Dean, 606 F. Supp. 2d 1340 (M.D. Ala. 2009).published(The government needs only to establish a minimal effect on interstate commerce to support a violation of the Hobbs Act.)
- United States v. Samuel Gray, 260 F.3d 1267 (11th Cir. 2001).published (A mere ‘depletion of assets’ of a business engaged in interstate commerce will meet the requirement.)
- United States v. Steven Roseboro, No. 24-13264 (11th Cir. May 5, 2026).unpublishedThe denial of a “motion[] for a judgment of acquittal will be upheld if a reasonable trier of fact could conclude that the evidence establishes the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.” United States v. Rodriguez, 218 F.3d 1243, 12…
- United States v. Jy'Quale Grable, 162 F.4th 1321 (11th Cir. 2026).publishedUSCA11 Case: 23-10544 Document: 67-1 Date Filed: 01/05/2026 Page: 11 of 20 “The two required elements for a substantive Hobbs Act conviction are ‘robbery and an effect on interstate commerce.’” United States v. Taylor, 480 F.3d 1025 , 1026…
- United States v. Rolando Antuain Williamson, No. 22-12843 (11th Cir. Feb. 13, 2025).publishedUnited States v. Rodriguez, 218 F.3d 1243, 1244 (11th Cir. 2000). 1.
- United States v. Nihad Al Jaberi, 97 F.4th 1310 (11th Cir. 2024).publishedFirst, “[w]e review the sufficiency of the evidence to support [a defendant’s] conviction de novo, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the government and drawing all reasonable inferences and credibility choices in favor of…
- United States v. Erotida Natasha Harden Ortiz, No. 23-11028 (11th Cir. Mar. 25, 2024).unpublishedThe district court’s denial of a motion for a judgment of acquittal will be upheld “if a reasonable trier of fact could conclude that the evidence establishes the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.” Id. (quoting United States v.…
- United States v. Jirard Kincherlow, 88 F.4th 897 (11th Cir. 2023).publishedWe will uphold the district court’s denial of a motion for judgment of acquittal “if a reasonable trier of fact could conclude that the evidence establishes the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.” United States v. Holmes, 814 F.3…
Show 72 more citing cases
- United States v. William Raymond Beach, 80 F.4th 1245 (11th Cir. 2023).publishedWe will uphold a district court’s denial of a motion for judgment of acquittal “if a reasonable trier of fact could conclude that USCA11 Case: 21-11342 Document: 48-1 Date Filed: 08/30/2023 Page: 18 of 26 the evidence establishes the defen…
- United States v. Victor Ricardo Grant, No. 22-10910 (11th Cir. Aug. 15, 2023).unpublishedWe will uphold the district court’s denial of a motion for judgment of acquittal “if a reasonable trier of fact could conclude that the evidence establishes the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.” United States v. Rodriguez, 218…
- United States v. Edward Walker, 73 F.4th 915 (11th Cir. 2023).published“The district court’s denial of the motions for a judgment of acquittal will be upheld if a reasonable trier of fact could conclude that the evidence establishes the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.” United States v. Rodriguez,…
- United States v. Casey David Crowther, No. 21-12255 (11th Cir. June 5, 2023).unpublishedThe district court’s denial of “motions for a USCA11 Case: 21-12255 Document: 56-1 Date Filed: 06/05/2023 Page: 3 of 9 judgment of acquittal will be upheld if a reasonable trier of fact could conclude that the evidence establishes the defe…
- USA v, Legestin Richards, No. 21-10695 (11th Cir. Jan. 26, 2022).unpublishedId. 1 We review the sufficiency of the evidence in support of a conviction de novo, “viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the government and drawing all reasonable inferences and credibility choices in favor of the jury’s ve…
- United States v. Danyel Megal Black, No. 20-14280 (11th Cir. Jan. 5, 2022).unpublishedUnited States v. Rodriguez, 218 F.3d 1243, 1244 (11th Cir. 2000).
- United States v. Rodrick Domonique Jones, No. 20-10359 (11th Cir. Sept. 13, 2021).unpublishedUnited States v. Rodriguez, 218 F.3d 1243, 1244 (11th Cir. 2000) (per curiam).
- United States v. Shane Patrick Sprague, No. 20-13275 (11th Cir. Sept. 10, 2021).unpublished“The district court’s denial of [a] motion[] for a judgment of acquittal will be upheld if a reasonable trier of fact could conclude that the evidence establishes the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.” United States v. Rodriguez…
- United States v. Paul E. Sanat, No. 20-10777 (11th Cir. June 14, 2021).unpublishedThe district court’s denial of a motion for judgment of acquittal “will be 2 USCA11 Case: 20-10777 Date Filed: 06/14/2021 Page: 3 of 13 upheld if a reasonable trier of fact could conclude that the evidence establishes the defendant’s guilt…
- United States v. Karen Latrice Houston, No. 20-10810 (11th Cir. May 20, 2021).unpublishedThe district court’s denial of a motion for judgment of acquittal “will be upheld if a reasonable trier of fact could conclude that the evidence establishes the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.” United States v. Rodriguez, 218…
- United States v. Christopher C. Coburn, No. 20-10758 (11th Cir. Mar. 31, 2021).unpublishedBut, he insists, the government’s witnesses “did not indicate any knowledge of who had signed the homeowner’s names upon, or who had filed the application forms and fee waiver forms in the bankruptcy court”—only “circumstantial evidence wa…
- United States v. Titus Lamb, No. 20-10236 (11th Cir. Oct. 28, 2020).unpublishedUnited States v. Rodriguez, 218 F.3d 1243, 1244 (11th Cir. 2000).
- United States v. Juan Carlos Bazantes, 978 F.3d 1227 (11th Cir. 2020).published“The district court’s denial of the motions for a judgment of acquittal will be upheld if a reasonable trier of fact could conclude that the evidence establishes the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.” United States v. Rodriguez,…
- United States v. Bryan Evan Singer, 963 F.3d 1144 (11th Cir. 2020).publishedUnited States v. Rodriguez, 218 F.3d 1243, 1244 (11th 17 Case: 18-14294 Date Filed: 06/26/2020 Page: 18 of 46 Cir. 2000) (per curiam).
- United States v. Johnnie Charles Grimsley, Jr., 808 F. App'x 865 (11th Cir. 2020).unpublishedThe district court’s denial of “motions for a judgment of acquittal will be upheld if a reasonable trier of fact could conclude that the evidence establishes the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.” United States v. Rodriguez, 218…
- United States v. Joshua Griffin, No. 18-14826 (11th Cir. Apr. 2, 2020).unpublishedThe district court’s denial of “motions for a judgment of acquittal will be upheld if a reasonable trier of fact could conclude that the evidence establishes the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.” United States v. Rodriguez, 218…
- United States v. Ricardo Silva, No. 18-13102 (11th Cir. Mar. 27, 2020).unpublished We will uphold the denial of a Rule 29 motion if “a reasonable trier of fact could conclude that the evidence establishes the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.” United States v. Rodriguez, 218 F.3d 1243, 1244 (11th Cir. 2000).
- United States v. Isaiah Meme, 803 F. App'x 373 (11th Cir. 2020).unpublishedThe district court’s denial of “motions for a judgment of acquittal will be upheld if a reasonable trier of fact could conclude that the evidence establishes the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.” United States v. Rodriguez, 218…
- United States v. Humberto Herrera, No. 17-13440 (11th Cir. Dec. 31, 2019).unpublishedExamples of a “minimal effect” sufficient to meet the jurisdictional requirement include that a robbery deprived a business of cash or resulted in a “mere depletion of assets.” See, e.g., United States v. Woodruff, 296 F.3d 1041, 1049 (200…
- United States v. Tariq Khalil Jones, No. 17-13906 (11th Cir. Sept. 6, 2019).unpublishedSee id. at 1276; United States v. Rodriguez, 218 F.3d 1243, 1244 (11th Cir. 2000).
- United States v. Dustin Unseth, No. 18-13302 (11th Cir. Aug. 21, 2019).unpublished“The District Court’s denial of a motion for judgment of acquittal will be upheld ‘if a reasonable trier of fact could conclude that the evidence establishes the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.’” United States v. Holmes, 814 F…
- United States v. Gustavo Enrique Llanos Miranda, No. 18-11127 (11th Cir. May 17, 2019).unpublishedThe district court’s denial of “motions for judgment of acquittal will be upheld if a reasonable trier of fact could conclude that the evidence establishes the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.” United States v. Rodriguez, 218 F…
- United States v. Juan Escudero, No. 17-15774 (11th Cir. Feb. 12, 2019).unpublishedWe will uphold the district court’s denial of a motion for judgment of 2 Case: 17-15774 Date Filed: 02/12/2019 Page: 3 of 11 acquittal “if a reasonable trier of fact could conclude that the evidence establishes the defendant’s guilt beyond…
- United States v. Troy Markeith Griffin, No. 17-10749 (11th Cir. Feb. 16, 2018).unpublished“A mere depletion of assets of a business engaged in interstate commerce will meet the requirement.” United States v. Rodriguez, 218 F.3d 1243, 1244 (11th Cir. 2000) (internal quotation marks omitted).
- United States v. Livingston Samuels, 713 F. App'x 897 (11th Cir. 2017).unpublishedUnited States v. Rodriguez, 218 F.3d 1243, 1244 (11th Cir. 2000) (per curiam).
- United States v. Maurice Williams, 714 F. App'x 917 (11th Cir. 2017).unpublishedThe district court’s denial of “motions for a judgment of acquittal will be upheld if a reasonable trier of fact could conclude that the evidence establishes the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.” United States v. Rodriguez, 218…
- United States v. Quartavious Davis, 711 F. App'x 605 (11th Cir. 2017).unpublished United States v. Rodriguez, 218 F.3d 1243, 1244 (11th Cir. 2000).
- United States v. Reginald Eugene Grimes, Sr., 705 F. App'x 897 (11th Cir. 2017).unpublishedUnited States v. Rodriguez, 218 F.3d 1243, 1244 (11th Cir. 2000).
- United States v. Brian C. Weiler, 652 F. App'x 913 (11th Cir. 2016).unpublishedThe district court’s denial of “motions for judgment of acquittal will be upheld if a reasonable trier of fact could conclude that the evidence establishes the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.” United States v. Rodriguez, 218 F…
- United States v. Baston, 818 F.3d 651 (11th Cir. 2016).publishedThe statute prohibiting sex trafficking by force, fraud, -or coercion is a valid exercise of Congress’s full commerce power, so the government can satisfy the commerce element in that statute by proving that the defendant’s conduct had “a…
- United States v. Damion St. Patrick Baston, No. 14-14444 (11th Cir. Mar. 24, 2016).publishedThe statute prohibiting sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion is a valid exercise of Congress’s full commerce power, so the government can satisfy the commerce element in that statute by proving that the defendant’s conduct had “a m…
- United States v. Williams, 643 F. App'x 933 (11th Cir. 2016).unpublishedHoward, 742 F.3d at 1341 ; United States v. Rodriguez, 218 F.3d 1243, 1244 (11th Cir.2000).
- United States v. Melvin Hubert Holmes, 814 F.3d 1246 (11th Cir. 2016).publishedThe District Court’s denial of a motion for judgment of acquittal will be upheld “if a reasonable trier of fact could conclude that the evidence establishes the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.” United States v. Rodriguez, 218…
- United States v. Canetha Johnson, 608 F. App'x 764 (11th Cir. 2015).unpublishedHoward, 742 F.3d at 1341 ; United States v. Rodriguez, 218 F.3d 1243, 1244 (11th Cir.2000).
- United States v. Rogelio Torres, 504 F. App'x 810 (11th Cir. 2013).unpublishedWe have held that “[t]wo elements are essential for a Hobbs Act prosecution: robbery and an effect on commerce.” United States v. Rodriguez, 218 F.3d 1243, 1244 (11th Cir.2000).
- United States v. Charles Bernard Tolson, 488 F. App'x 399 (11th Cir. 2012).unpublished“The government needs only to establish a minimal effect on interstate commerce to support a violation of the Hobbs Act.” United States v. Rodriguez, 218 F.3d 1243, 1244 (11th Cir.2000).
- United States v. Lavell Bone, 433 F. App'x 831 (11th Cir. 2011).unpublishedUnited States v. Rodriguez, 218 F.3d 1243, 1244 (11th Cir.2000).
- United States v. Daniel Sawyer, 361 F. App'x 96 (11th Cir. 2010).unpublished
- United States v. Gino Velez Scott, 136 F. App'x 273 (11th Cir. 2005).unpublished
- United States v. Hernandez Lopaz Daniels, 135 F. App'x 305 (11th Cir. 2005).unpublished
- United States v. Robert Crawford, 133 F. App'x 612 (11th Cir. 2005).unpublished
- United States v. Kenneth A. Mills, 131 F. App'x 228 (11th Cir. 2005).unpublished
- United States v. James Gardner, 164 F. App'x 839 (11th Cir. 2006).unpublished
- United States v. Fred Carswell, Jr., 178 F. App'x 1009 (11th Cir. 2006).unpublished
- United States v. Arthur Picklo, 190 F. App'x 887 (11th Cir. 2006).unpublished
- United States v. Sophia Jean-Baptiste, 192 F. App'x 910 (11th Cir. 2006).unpublished
- United States v. Jaborie Brown, 227 F. App'x 795 (11th Cir. 2007).unpublished
- United States v. Richard H. Maclean, Jr., 227 F. App'x 844 (11th Cir. 2007).unpublished
- United States v. Sheldon Dean Christopher Watt, 243 F. App'x 512 (11th Cir. 2007).unpublished
- United States v. Alexander Lashaun Bohannon, 240 F. App'x 329 (11th Cir. 2007).unpublished
- United States v. Frederick Johnson, Jr., 277 F. App'x 890 (11th Cir. 2008).unpublished
- United States v. James Lynch, 287 F. App'x 66 (11th Cir. 2008).unpublished
- United States v. Clifford Darden, 343 F. App'x 445 (11th Cir. 2009).unpublished
- United States v. Jorge Luis Aranguren-Suarez, 346 F. App'x 557 (11th Cir. 2009).unpublished
- United States v. Jason Luntay Taylor, 480 F.3d 1025 (11th Cir. 2007).published
- United States v. Dean, 517 F.3d 1224 (11th Cir. 2008).published
- United States v. Rivera-Rivera, 555 F.3d 277 (1st Cir. 2009).published
- Nat'l Org. for Women, Inc. v. Joseph M. Scheidler, 396 F.3d 807 (7th Cir. 2005).published
- United States v. Trevor Ransfer, No. 12-12956 (11th Cir. Jan. 28, 2014).published
- United States v. Trevor Ransfer, 749 F.3d 914 (11th Cir. 2014).published
- Nat'l Org. v. Scheidler, Joseph M., No. 99-3076 (7th Cir. Jan. 28, 2005).published
- United States v. Darrel Pendergrass, 306 F. App'x 546 (11th Cir. 2009).unpublished
- United States v. Betty Chandler Trent, 306 F. App'x 482 (11th Cir. 2009).unpublished
- United States v. Dontreaun Tremayne Alexander, 682 F. App'x 873 (11th Cir. 2017).unpublished
- United States v. Jayson Demarko Stevens, 277 F. App'x 898 (11th Cir. 2008).unpublished
- United States v. Monterrio Kelley, 412 F.3d 1240 (11th Cir. 2005).published
- United States v. Carlton D. Brye, 318 F. App'x 878 (11th Cir. 2009).unpublished
- United States v. Jeanne E. Germeil, No. 19-14961 (11th Cir. Feb. 14, 2023).unpublished
- United States v. Avery Lans, No. 22-14095 (11th Cir. Jan. 2, 2024).unpublished
- United States v. Matthew Zayas, 141 F.4th 1217 (11th Cir. 2025).published
- United States v. Angela Chew, No. 25-10559 (11th Cir. July 27, 2026).unpublished
- United States v. Alpesh Patel, No. 25-14031 (11th Cir. Sept. 10, 2026).unpublished
At page 1245 Establishing interstate commerce nexus for Hobbs Act7 citing casesdesk clerk testified that motel robbed served out-of-state guests
- United States v. Quartavious Davis, 711 F. App'x 605 (11th Cir. 2017).unpublished United States v. Rodriguez, 218 F.3d 1243, 1244 (11th Cir. 2000).
- United States v. Tyrone White, 256 F. App'x 333 (11th Cir. 2007).unpublished
- United States v. Deweese Burrows, 270 F. App'x 905 (11th Cir. 2008).unpublished
- United States v. Anthony Carcione, 272 F.3d 1297 (11th Cir. 2001).published
- United States v. George Peterson, 236 F.3d 848 (7th Cir. 2001).published
- United States v. Clarence Powell, 693 F.3d 398 (3d Cir. 2012).published
- United States v. Peterson, George, No. 99-3967 (7th Cir. Jan. 4, 2001).published
At page 1246 Admissibility of hearsay under rule 807 and confrontation clause4 citing casesNo cases have been cited or found in which the robbery of motels such as these were held not to involve interstate commerce. The district court correctly held…
- Michael Bratt v. Louis Genovese, No. 18-14849 (11th Cir. Aug. 9, 2019).unpublishedRivers v. United States, 777 F.3d 1306, 1312 (11th Cir. 2015) (citing United States v. Rodriguez, 218 F.3d 1243, 1246 (11th Cir. 2000)).
- Cynergy, LLC v. First Am. Title Ins. Co., 706 F.3d 1321 (11th Cir. 2013).publishedThis “catch-all exception to the hearsay rule” permits admission of a hearsay statement “if it is particularly trustworthy; it bears on a material fact; it is the most probative evidence addressing that fact; its admission is consistent wi…
- KMS Restaurant Corp. v. Wendy's Int'l, Inc., 194 F. App'x 591 (11th Cir. 2006).unpublished
- Marcus Rivers v. United States, 777 F.3d 1306 (11th Cir. 2015).published
At page 1243 “if a reasonable trier of fact could conclude that the evidence establishes the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.”0 citing cases
v.
Leodon RODRIGUEZ, Defendant-Appellant
Defendant Leodon Rodriguez appeals his conviction under the Hobbs Act, 18 U.S.C. § 1951(a), for committing six motel robberies. Two elements are essential for a Hobbs Act prosecution: robbery and an effect on commerce. See 18 U.S.C. § 1951(a). This appeal focuses on the effect-on-commerce element. Rodriguez alleges that the evidence did not prove the robberies had the requisite effect on interstate commerce required under the Act, and that the district court erred in admitting testimony of the motel clerks regarding the registering of out-of-state guests to show this element. We affirm.
Between February 6 and February 28, 1998, Rodriguez and a co-defendant not a party to this appeal robbed five Miami/Dade County motels, one of them twice, for a total of $2,090 by holding up the motels’ front desk clerks at gunpoint. A jury convicted Rodriguez of one count of conspiracy to obstruct commerce in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1951(a); five counts of obstructing commerce by robbery, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1951(a); and six counts of carrying a firearm during and in relation to the robberies, 18 U.S.C. § 924(c). Defendant was sentenced to a total of 1,381 months in prison. On this appeal, defendant challenges only his convictions for the Hobbs Act violations.
I. Insufficiency of the evidence to prove interstate commerce
We review the sufficiency of the evidence to support Rodriguez’s conviction de novo, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the government and drawing all reasonable inferences and credibility choices in favor of the jury’s verdict. See United States v. Guerra, 164 F.3d 1358, 1359 (11th Cir.1999). The district court’s denial of the motions for a judgment of acquittal will be upheld if a reasonable trier of fact could conclude that the evidence establishes the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. See United States v. Castleberry, 116 F.3d 1384, 1388 (11th Cir.1997).
The Hobbs Act literally prohibits any act that “in any way or degree obstructs, delays, or affects commerce ... by robbery or extortion.... ” 18 U.S.C. § 1951(a). The Supreme Court has made it clear that the Hobbs Act’s broad jurisdictional language is to be read as meaning what it says: “[The] Act speaks in broad language, manifesting a purpose to use all the constitutional power Congress has to punish interference with interstate commerce by extortion, robbery or physical violence. The Act outlaws such interference ‘in any way or degree.’ ” Stirone v. United States, 361 U.S. 212, 215, 80 S.Ct. 270, 4 L.Ed.2d 252 (1960). The government needs only to establish a minimal effect on interstate commerce to support a violation of the Hobbs Act. See United States v. Guerra, 164 F.3d 1358, 1360 (11th Cir.1999); United States v. Castleberry, 116 F.3d 1384, 1387 (11th Cir.1997). A mere “depletion of assets” of a business engaged in interstate commerce will meet the requirement. See United States v. Guerra, 164 F.3d 1358, 1360 (11th Cir.1999).
This is the evidence offered to establish that the motel was part of interstate commerce. The motel desk clerks testified that they personally had registered guests from out-of-state at some point. All but one motel desk clerk testified that they had registered guests from outside the country. An FBI agent testified that his review of the guest registration cards at two of the motels indicated there were out-of-state guests. Three of the motels had available in their lobbies brochures, fliers and other advertisements for tourist attractions in the local area and other parts of Florida.
[*1245] Rather than citing cases where the evidence was held to be insufficient, defendant compares this relatively sparse amount of evidence to the evidence held sufficient in four other cases: United States v. Castleberry, 116 F.3d 1384 (11th Cir.1997); United States v. Kaplan, 171 F.3d 1351 (11th Cir.), cert. denied, — U.S. —, 120 S.Ct. 323, 145 L.Ed.2d 252 (1999); United States v. Guerra, 164 F.3d 1358(11th Cir.1999); and United States v. Paredes, 139 F.3d 840 (11th Cir.1998). These cases do not require a reversal in this case.
First, such a comparison overlooks the factual distinctions in these cases which require different types of proof. Both Castleberry and Kaplan involve extortion schemes where the effect on interstate commerce was not readily apparent. In Castleberry, the defendant took money from his clients who were charged with driving under the influence (DUI), and paid money to the prosecutor to “dispose” of their cases. The government introduced evidence regarding the effect on commerce of nonprosecuted DUI cases as well as evidence regarding the flow in commerce of fines paid in such cases. At issue in Kaplan was an extortion scheme involving the defendant and a Panamanian lawyer. In that case, the government introduced evidence of foreign travel and interstate phone calls. Unlike Castleberry and Kaplan, the interstate commerce connection in this case is straightforward, involving the robbery of a commercial establishment engaged in interstate commerce.
United States v. Guerra, 164 F.3d 1358 (11th Cir.1999) and United States v. Paredes, 139 F.3d 840 (11th Cir.1998) involved cash robberies of establishments that sell products in interstate commerce. In both cases, the Court held that the government’s evidence that the establishments sold goods manufactured from out of state was sufficient to establish the necessary interstate nexus. See Guerra, 164 F.3d at 1361 ($300 from service station that was part of a nationwide network of gas stations and primarily sold fuel products drawn from outside the state; forced to close for more than two hours during police investigation and lost business over next several days); Paredes, 139 F.3d at 844 (less than $170 in cash from two local convenient stores not connected to out-of-state stores; small amount of stores’ merchandise manufactured outside of the state). These cases differ from this case. The proof of interstate commerce in this case is established by the traveling guests of the motels rather than interstate sales of products.
Second, in determining whether there is a minimal effect on commerce, each case must be decided on its own facts. Rodriguez correctly states that government did not present evidence here that the motels closed operations or turned away customers as in Guerra. See Guerra, 164 F.3d at 1361 (“The service station here lost more than just the money the store clerk handed over to Guerra; it was forced to close for more than two hours while police investigated the robbery, and it lost business over the next several days.”). While such evidence obviously would have strengthened the government’s case, it is not required to satisfy § 1951(a). Nor does defendant’s evidence that these establishments do not require reservations; that they do not belong to a national chain; or that the majority of their business is from clientele that register at the hotel on a one-day basis rather than for an extended stay alter the determination. Evidence that these establishments have at some point registered guests from out-of-state is sufficient to establish their connection to interstate commerce. See United States v. Pearson, 508 F.2d 595 (5th Cir.1975) (court held that government’s evidence of 1,000 guest registration cards from a large Miami beach hotel sufficient to establish the requisite nexus to interstate commerce). The government offered evidence that the defendant took $2,090 from the motels, thereby depleting the assets of these establishments that operate in interstate commerce.
[*1246] No cases have been cited or found in which the robbery of motels such as these were held not to involve interstate commerce. The district court correctly held there to be sufficient evidence in the record to support the jury’s finding that defendant’s robberies had at least a minimal effect on interstate commerce.
II. Hearsay Argument
As to the evidence relied upon in the sufficiency evaluation, defendant argues that the testimony from the motel employees that motel guests were from outside of Florida was inadmissible hearsay. He contends for the first time on appeal, that the admission of this evidence violated the Sixth Amendment’s Confrontation Clause. The district court admitted the testimony pursuant to the catch-all exception to the hearsay rule, Federal Rule of Evidence 807, which' permits admission of hearsay if it is particularly trustworthy; it bears on a material fact; it is the most probative evidence addressing that fact; its admission is consistent with the rules of evidence and advances the interests of justice; and its proffer follows adequate notice to the adverse party. [1] Defendant’s challenge focuses on the first element: whether the motel clerks’ statements have the appropriate “guarantees of trustworthiness.” Fed.R.Evid. 807. The district court did not err in determining that the testimony met this requirement. All of the motel employees testified that they registered out-of-state or foreign guests. Employees of four of the motels, Villa Cortez Motel, Las Palmas, Cheo’s Motel and Sunnyside Motel, all testified that their statements were based on their review of documents such as a driver’s license or passport that indicated the guest was from out of state. Although the motel employee for Miami Executive Hotel did not so testify, an FBI agent testified that his review of guest registration cards at the hotel indicated there were guests registered from out of state. “The district court has considerable discretion in determining admissibility under [former] Rule 804(b)(5).” See United States v. Munoz, 16 F.3d 1116, 1122 (11th Cir.1994)(In 1997, the contents of Federal Rules of Evidence 803(24) and 804(b)(5) were combined and transferred to the new Rule 807.) Under the circumstances of this case, the court did not abuse that discretion. Nor was there plain error in evaluating defendant’s Confrontation Clause claim. See Idaho v. Wright, 497 U.S. 805, 813-21, 110 S.Ct. 3139, 111 L.Ed.2d 638(1990)(indicating that under the Confrontation Clause, as under the hearsay rules, courts must evaluate the totality of the circumstances to determine whether a statement contains particular guarantees of trustworthiness that make the declaration especially worthy of belief).
The, district court’s decision to admit the statements was proper under both Rule 807 and the Confrontation Clause.
AFFIRMED.
A statement not specifically covered by Rule 803 or 804 but having equivalent circumstantial guarantees of trustworthiness, is not excluded by the hearsay rule, if the court determines that (A) the statement is offered as evidence of a material fact; (B) the statement is more probative on the point for which it is offered than any other evidence which the proponent can procure through reasonable efforts; and (C) the general purposes of these rules and the interests of justice will best be served by admission of the statement into evidence. However, a statement may not be admitted under this exception unless the proponent of it makes known to the adverse party sufficiently in advance of the trial or hearing to provide the adverse party with a fair opportunity to prepare to meet it, the proponent’s intention to offer the statement and the particulars of it, including the name and address of the declarant.