United States v. Watson, 525 F.3d 583 (7th Cir. 2008). · Go Syfert
United States v. Watson, 525 F.3d 583 (7th Cir. 2008). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
79 citation events (79 in the last 25 years) across 25 distinct courts.
Strongest positive: Tyus v. McConahay (ohnd, 2025-06-11)
Treatment trajectory · 2002 → 2026 · click a year to view as-of
2002 2014 2026
Top citers, strongest first. 45 distinct citers.
discussed Cited as authority (verbatim quote) Tyus v. McConahay
N.D. Ohio · 2025 · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
statement unwittingly made to a confidential informant . . . is not 'testimonial' for confrontation clause purposes.
discussed Cited as authority (verbatim quote) Christopher Matthew Henderson v. State of Alabama. (Appeal from Madison Circuit Court: CC-17-3064).
Ala. Crim. App. · 2024 · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
the confrontation clause does not ... apply to statements that are not testimonial in nature.
discussed Cited as authority (verbatim quote) Cano v. Williams
D. Colo. · 2021 · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
a statement unwittingly made to a confidential informant and recorded by the government is not 'testimonial' for confrontation clause purposes.
discussed Cited as authority (verbatim quote) State v. Raymond L. Nieves
Wis. · 2017 · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
a statement unwittingly made to a confidential informant and 21 no. 2014ap1623-cr recorded by the government is not 'testimonial' for confrontation clause purposes.
examined Cited as authority (verbatim quote) State v. Raymond L. Nieves (2×)
Wis. · 2017 · quote attribution · 2 verbatim quotes · confidence high
a statement unwittingly made to a confidential informant and 21 no. 2014ap1623-cr recorded by the government is not 'testimonial' for confrontation clause purposes.
examined Cited as authority (verbatim quote) United States v. Anthony Volpendesto (4×) also: Cited as authority (rule), Cited "see, e.g."
7th Cir. · 2014 · signal: see · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
most people would not say that they knocked over a bank, spit on a policeman, or shoved their mother if it wasn't true.
discussed Cited as authority (verbatim quote) United States v. Earl Johnson
6th Cir. · 2009 · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
statement unwittingly made to a confidential informant and recorded by the government is not 'testimonial' for confrontation clause purposes.
discussed Cited as authority (quoted) State v. Patel
Conn. App. Ct. · 2019 · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence low
statement unwittingly made to a confidential informant and recorded by the government is not 'testimonial' for confrontation clause purposes
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Shaver 405867 v. Hoffner
W.D. Mich. · 2025 · signal: cf. · confidence medium
Cf. United States v. Watson, 525 F.3d 583, 589 (7th Cir. 2008) (noting that “a statement unwittingly made to a confidential informant and recorded by the government is not ‘testimonial’ for Confrontation Clause purposes”); United States v. Johnson, 440 F.3d 832, 843 (6th Cir. 2006) (concluding that an unwitting declarant’s secretly recorded statements made to a friend were not testimonial in nature).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Wayne Dinsmore Gray v. Kelly Santoro
C.D. Cal. · 2023 · confidence medium
See U.S. v. 9 Saget, 377 F.3d 223, 229 (2d Cir. 2004) (“a declarant’s statements to a confidential 10 informant, whose true status is unknown to the declarant, do not constitute 11 testimony within the meaning of Crawford”) (Sotomayor, J.); U.S. v. Johnson, 581 12 F.3d 320, 325 (6th Cir. 2009) (same); U.S. v. Watson, 525 F.3d 583, 589 (7th Cir. 13 2008) (same); U.S. v. Udeozor, 515 F.3d 260, 270 (4th Cir. 2008) (same); U.S. v. 14 Underwood, 446 F.3d 1340, 1347 (11th Cir. 2006) (same); U.S. v. Hendricks, 395 15 F.3d 173, 182-84 (3d Cir. 2005) (same); Allen v. Montgomery, 2020 WL 8265500 ,…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Keith Elwood Hargrove v. Commonwealth of Virginia
Va. Ct. App. · 2023 · confidence medium
Citing Davis, several federal circuit courts have also held that an “out-of-court statement of a co-defendant made unknowingly to a government agent is not ‘testimonial’ within the meaning of Crawford.” United States v. Dale, 614 F.3d 942, 956 (8th Cir. 2010); see United States v. Udeozor, 515 F.3d 260, 269-70 (4th Cir. 2008); United States v. Watson, 525 F.3d 583, 589 (7th Cir. 2008).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Bobby Ray Ruiz v. the State of Texas
Tex. App. · 2021 · confidence medium
Walter, 267 S.W.3d at 890 (citing United States v. Watson, 525 F.3d 583, 586 (7th Cir. 2008)).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Michael Bryan Templeton v. State
Tex. App. · 2021 · confidence medium
Id. (citing United States v. Watson, 525 F.3d 583, 586 (7th Cir. 2008)).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Rick Aaron Fisher v. Commonwealth of Kentucky
Ky. · 2021 · confidence medium
And the trial court was correct when it concluded that, as a general matter, conversations between cell-mates will not be testimonial under Udeozor, 515 F.3d 260 , 269–70 (4th Cir. 2008); United States v. Watson, 525 F.3d 583, 589 (7th Cir. 2008); United States v. Underwood, 446 F.3d 1340 , 1347–48 (11th Cir. 2006); United States v. Hendricks, 395 F.3d 173 , 182–84 (3d Cir. 2005); United States v. Saget, 377 F.3d 223 , 229–30 (2d Cir. 2004)). 49 Maiden, at *5 and Hatfield, at *3. 50 See Davis, at 822; Rankins, at 131. 13 the Confrontation Clause.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) United States v. Palo Brown
7th Cir. · 2016 · confidence medium
See United States v. Grigsby, 692 F.3d 778, 791 (7th Cir. 2012) (upholding an increase for a leadership role based on the coconspirators’ testimony that the defendant initiated the bank-robbery scheme, played a leading role in recruiting others, supervised robberies from outside banks, and divided up the proceeds); United States v. Watson, 525 F.3d 583, 590 (7th Cir. 2008) (upholding an increase for a leadership role based on evidence that the defendant planned the bank robbery, pressured a coeonspirator for details about the bank, recruited another person, and kept most of proceeds before d…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Kendall Jerome Woods v. State
Tex. App. · 2016 · confidence medium
App. 2008) (citing Williamson v. United States, 512 U.S. 594, 599 (1994)). “[A] reasonable person would not normally claim that he committed a crime, unless it were true.” Id. (citing United States v. Watson, 525 F.3d 583, 586 (7th Cir. 2008)).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) State v. Lorenzo Reyes Jr.
Tex. App. · 2015 · confidence medium
See Brown v. Epps, 686 F.3d 281 , 288–89 (5th Cir. 2012); United States v. Dale, 614 F.3d 942, 956 (8th Cir. 2010); United States v. Smalls, 605 F.3d 765, 778 (10th Cir. 2010); United States v. Johnson, 581 F.3d 320, 325 (6th Cir. 2009); United States v. Watson, 525 F.3d 583, 589 (7th Cir. 2008); United States v. Udeozor, 515 F.3d 260 , 269–70 (4th Cir. 2008); United States v. Underwood, 446 F.3d 1340 , 1347–48 (11th Cir. 2006); United States v. Hendricks, 395 F.3d 173 , 182–84 (3d Cir. 2005); United States v. Saget, 377 F.3d 223 , 229–30 (2d Cir. 2004); State v. Brist, 799 N.W.2d 23…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) United States v. Kutz
7th Cir. · 2014 · confidence medium
As counsel observes, evidence about Kutz’s financial situation and sudden influx of money was relevant, see United States v. Watson, 525 F.3d 583, 588 (7th Cir.2008); United States v. Carrera, 259 F.3d 818, 829 (7th Cir.2001), and was not unfairly prejudicial, see United States v. Blackburn, 992 F.2d 666, 668-69 (7th Cir.1993).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) United States v. Daniel Kutz
7th Cir. · 2014 · confidence medium
As counsel observes, evidence about Kutz’s financial situation and sudden influx of money was relevant, see United States v. Watson, 525 F.3d 583, 588 (7th Cir. 2008); United States v. Cabrera, 259 F.3d 818, 829 (7th Cir. 2001), No. 13‐3659 Page 4 and was not unfairly prejudicial, see United States v. Blackburn, 992 F.2d 666 , 668–69 (7th Cir. 1993).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) United States v. Thurman
W.D. Ky. · 2013 · confidence medium
See, United States v. Johnson, 440 F.3d 832, 843 (6th Cir.2006) (unwitting declarant’s secretly recorded statements to close friend were non-testimonial); Mooneyham, 473 F.3d at 286-87 (co-defendant’s out-of-court statements to an undercover officer whose status was unknown were non-testimonial); United States v. Watson, 525 F.3d, 583, 589 (7th Cir.2008) (“A statement unwittingly made to a confidential informant and recorded by the Government is not ‘testimonial’ for Confrontation Clause purposes.”); United States v. Hendricks, 395 F.3d 173 , 182 n. 9 (3rd Cir.2005) (same); United …
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Derrick Brown v. Christopher Epps, Commissioner, e (2×) also: Cited "see"
5th Cir. · 2012 · confidence medium
See United Stales v. Dale, 614 F.3d 942, 956 (8th Cir.2010); United Stales v. Smalls, 605 F.3d 765, 778 (10th Cir.2010); United States v. Johnson, 581 F.3d 320, 325 (6th Cir.2009); United States v. Watson, 525 F.3d 583, 589 (7th Cir.2008); United States v. Udeozor, 515 F.3d 260, 269-70 (4th Cir.2008); United States v. Underwood, 446 F.3d 1340, 1347-48 (11th Cir.2006); United States v. Hendricks, 395 F.3d 173, 182-84 (3d Cir. 2005); United States v. Saget, 377 F.3d 223, 229-30 (2d Cir.2004). 37 .
discussed Cited as authority (rule) United States v. Ondray McKnight
7th Cir. · 2011 · confidence medium
See, e.g., Lewis v. United States, 385 U.S. 206, 209 , 87 S.Ct. 424 , 17 L.Ed.2d 312 (1966) ("[I]n the detection of many types of crime, the Government is entitled to use decoys and to conceal the identity of its agents.”); see also United States v. Rogers, 587 F.3d 816, 818 (7th Cir.2009) (describing a police officer pretending, over the Internet, to be a 13-year-old to gather evidence of a defendant’s attempts to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity); United States v. Watson, 525 F.3d 583, 585-86 (7th Cir.2008) (discussing the FBI’s use of an informant to elicit incriminating st…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) United States v. Sterling
E.D. Va. · 2011 · confidence medium
LEXIS 13512 (4th Cir. June 29, 2011) (“A statement unwittingly made to a confidential informant and recorded by the government is not ‘testimonial’ for Confrontation Clause purposes.”) (quoting United States v. Watson, 525 F.3d 583, 589 (7th Cir. 2008)).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) State v. Brist
Minn. Ct. App. · 2011 · confidence medium
United States v. Smalls, 605 F.3d 765, 778-80 (10th Cir.2010) (holding that recorded statement was nontestimonial when made to a “fellow inmate and apparent friend” who questioned declarant at behest of the government); United States v. Johnson, 581 F.3d 320, 324-25 (6th Cir.2009) (holding that statements, made to an FBI informant while declarant was in prison and recorded without the declarant’s knowledge, were not testimonial); United States v. Watson, 525 F.3d 583, 589 (7th Cir.2008) (holding that declarant’s “private statement to a confederate,” which was secretly recorded by t…
cited Cited as authority (rule) United States v. Adams
7th Cir. · 2010 · confidence medium
Crawford v. Washington, 541 U.S. 36, 53-55 , 124 S.Ct. 1354 , 158 L.Ed.2d 177 (2004); United States v. Watson, 525 F.3d 583, 588-89 (7th Cir.2008).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) United States v. Dale (2×)
8th Cir. · 2010 · confidence medium
See United States v. Udeozor, 515 F.3d 260, 269-70 (4th Cir.2008); United States v. Watson, 525 F.3d 583, 589 (7th Cir.2008); United States v. Underwood, 446 F.3d 1340, 1347-1348 (11th Cir.2006); United States v. Hendricks, 395 F.3d 173, 182-184 (3d Cir.2005); United States v. Saget, 377 F.3d 223, 229-230 (2d Cir.2004).
examined Cited as authority (rule) United States v. Smalls (6×) also: Cited "see"
10th Cir. · 2010 · confidence medium
In Davis , the Court expressed the view that "statements made unwittingly to a Government informant" or "statements from one prisoner to another" are "clearly nontestimonial." Davis, 547 U.S. at 825 , 126 S.Ct. 2266 (citing Bourjaily v. United States, 483 U.S. 171, 181-84 , 107 S.Ct. 2775 , 97 L.Ed.2d 144 (1987) and Dutton v. Evans, 400 U.S. 74, 87-89 , 91 S.Ct. 210 , 27 L.Ed.2d 213 (1970) (plurality)). [12] Similarly, beginning with then Judge Sotomayor's opinion for the Second Circuit in United States v. Saget, 377 F.3d 223 (2d Cir.2004), our sister circuits have relied on definitions of "te…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) United States v. Johnson
6th Cir. · 2009 · confidence medium
See United States v. Johnson, 440 F.3d 832, 843 (6th Cir.2006) (holding that an unwitting declarant’s secretly recorded statements to a close friend were nontestimonial); see also United States v. Mooneyham, 473 F.3d 280, 286-87 (6th Cir.2007) (stating that co-defendant’s out-of-court statements to an undercover officer whose status was unknown to the declarant were nontestimonial); United States v. Watson, 525 F.3d 583, 589 (7th Cir.2008) (“[A] statement unwittingly made to a confidential informant and recorded by the government is not ‘testimonial’ for Confrontation Clause purposes…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) United States v. Lee
7th Cir. · 2009 · confidence medium
Cf. United States v. Van Allen, 524 F.3d 814, 824 (7th Cir.2008) (rejecting the argument that a conviction for concealment of assets was based on a legally insufficient theory, where the government did not argue that theory to the jury); United States v. Watson, 525 F.3d 583, 590 (7th Cir.2008) (concluding that a line in the government’s indictment that contained a legally insufficient theory of jurisdiction did not invalidate a Hobbs Act conviction, where the government “never even mentioned” that theory to the jury).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) United States v. Lee, Kenneth
7th Cir. · 2009 · confidence medium
Cf. United States v. Van Allen, 524 F.3d 815 , 824 (7th Cir. 2008) (rejecting the argument that a conviction for concealment of assets was based on a legally insufficient theory, where the government did not argue that theory to the jury); United States v. Watson, 525 F.3d 583, 590 (7th Cir. 2008) (concluding that a line in the government’s indictment that contained a legally insufficient theory of jurisdiction did not invalidate a Hobbs Act conviction, where the govern- ment “never even mentioned” that theory to the jury).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Walter, Stephon Lavelle
Tex. Crim. App. · 2008 · confidence medium
The exception, rather, is founded on the broad assumption ‘that a person is unlikely to fabricate a statement against his own interest at the time it is made.’”) (internal citation omitted). 20 Williamson, 512 U.S. at 599 (discussing the federal counterpart to the Texas exception for statements against penal interest and noting that “Rule 804(b)(3) is founded on the commonsense notion that reasonable people, even reasonable people who are not especially honest, tend not to make self-inculpatory statements unless they believe them to be true.”). 21 See United States v. Watson, 525 F.3…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Walter v. State (2×) also: Cited "see"
Tex. Crim. App. · 2008 · confidence medium
The exception, rather, is founded on the broad assumption `that a person is unlikely to fabricate a statement against his own interest at the time it is made.'") (internal citation omitted). [20] Williamson, 512 U.S. at 599 , 114 S.Ct. 2431 (discussing the federal counterpart to the Texas exception for statements against penal interest and noting that "Rule 804(b)(3) is founded on the commonsense notion that reasonable people, even reasonable people who are not especially honest, tend not to make self-inculpatory statements unless they believe them to be true."). [21] See United States v. Wats…
discussed Cited "see" McShan v. United States
S.D. Ill. · 2024 · signal: see · confidence high
The Government argues that, even if McShan produced evidence that the specific Circle K and Moto Mart stores only engaged in intrastate commerce (which he does not), “[a]fter being placed under oath, petitioner understood that when the court accepted the stipulation of facts, Petitioner gave up the ability to contest those facts.” (Doc. 12, p. 17; see id., pp. 17–18; id., Ex. 3, p. 17).
cited Cited "see" State of West Virginia v. Robert Dewayne Martin
W. Va. · 2013 · signal: see · confidence high
See United States v. Watson, 525 F.3d 583 (7th Cir. 2008); United States v. Hendricks, 395 F.3d 173 (3rd Cir. 2005); United States v. Saget, 377 F.3d 223 (2nd Cir. 2004).
cited Cited "see" United States v. Sinisa Muratovic
7th Cir. · 2013 · signal: see · confidence high
See id.
discussed Cited "see" Donjel Lamont Walker v. State
Tex. App. · 2013 · signal: see · confidence high
Evid. 803(24); see United States v. Watson, 525 F.3d 583, 586 (7th Cir.2008) (“Most people would not say that they had knocked over a bank, spit on a policeman, or shoved their mother if it wasn’t true.”).
discussed Cited "see" United States v. Tremayne Blackwell
4th Cir. · 2011 · signal: see · confidence high
See United States v. Watson, 525 F.3d 583, 589 (7th Cir.2008) (“A statement unwittingly made to a confidential informant and recorded by the government is not ‘testimonial’ for Confrontation Clause purposes.”) Therefore, Clement’s statements were not “testimonial” within the meaning of the Confrontation Clause. * *201 c.
discussed Cited "see" United States v. Henderson
4th Cir. · 2010 · signal: see · confidence high
See United States v. Watson, 525 F.3d 583, 589 (7th Cir.2008) (“A statement unwittingly made to a confidential informant and recorded by the government is not ‘testimonial’ for Confrontation Clause purposes.”) (collecting cases adopting rule), cert. denied, — U.S. -, 129 S.Ct. 972 , 173 *298 L.Ed.2d 117 (2009).
discussed Cited "see" Walter, Stephon Lavelle
Tex. Crim. App. · 2008 · signal: see · confidence high
See United States v. Watson , 525 F.3d 583, 586 (7th Cir. 2008), pet. for cert. filed (U.S. Aug. 6, 2008)(No. 08-5683) ("Most people would not say that they knocked over a bank, spit on a policeman, or shoved their mother if it wasn't true.") 22.
discussed Cited "see, e.g." United States v. Ledbetter
S.D. Ohio · 2015 · signal: see also · confidence medium
Johnson, 581 F.3d at 325 (collecting cases); see also, e.g., United States v. Watson, 525 F.3d 583, 589 (7th Cir.2008) (“[A] statement unwittingly made to a confidential informant and recorded by the government is not ‘testimonial’ for Confrontation Clause purposes.”); United States v. Saget, 377 F.3d 223, 229 (2d Cir.2004) (“[A] de-clarant’s statements to a confidential infor mant, whose true status is unknown to the declarant, do not constitute testimony within the meaning of Cra/ivford,”).
discussed Cited "see, e.g." United States v. Carr
7th Cir. · 2011 · signal: see also · confidence low
United States v. Griffin, 493 F.3d 856, 861 (7th Cir.2007); United States v. Sutton, 337 F.3d 792, 796 (7th Cir.2003); Peterson, 236 F.3d at 852 ; see also United States v. Watson, 525 F.3d 583 , 590 n. 3 (7th Cir.2008) (noting that Carr’s argument is a “perennial loser”).
cited Cited "see, e.g." Bryant v. State
Tex. App. · 2009 · signal: see, e.g. · confidence medium
See, e.g., United States v. Watson, 525 F.3d 583, 586 (7th Cir.2008), cert, denied,-U.S.-, 129 S.Ct. 972 , 173 L.Ed.2d 117 (2009); Walter v. State, 267 S.W.3d 883, 890 (Tex.Crim.App.2008). 7 .
cited Cited "see, e.g." Billy Ray Bryant v. State
Tex. App. · 2009 · signal: see, e.g. · confidence medium
See, e.g., United States v. Watson, 525 F.3d 583, 586 (7th Cir. 2008), cert. denied, __ U.S. __, 129 S.Ct. 972 (2009); Walter v. State, 267 S.W.3d 883, 890 (Tex. Crim.
cited Cited "see, e.g." Billy Ray Bryant v. State
Tex. App. · 2009 · signal: see, e.g. · confidence medium
See, e.g. , United States v. Watson , 525 F.3d 583, 586 (7th Cir. 2008), cert. denied , __ U.S. __, 129 S.Ct. 972 (2009); Walter v. State , 267 S.W.3d 883, 890 (Tex. Crim.
cited Cited "see, e.g." James Matthew Rogers v. State of Texas
Tex. App. · 2002 · signal: see, e.g. · confidence medium
See, e.g. , United States v. Watson , 525 F.3d 583, 586 (7th Cir. 2008), cert. denied , __ U.S. __, 129 S.Ct. 972 (2009); Walter v. State , 267 S.W.3d 883, 890 (Tex. Crim.
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee,
v.
Willie WATSON, Anthony Redmond, and Tracy Redmond, Defendants-Appellants
06-2680, 06-2963, 06-3114.
Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.
May 13, 2008.
525 F.3d 583
Renato Mariotti (argued), Office of the United States Attorney, Chicago, IL, for Plaintiff-Appellee., Richard H. Parsons, Andrew J. McGowan (argued), Office of the Federal Public Defender, Gareth G. Morris (argued), Standish E. Willis, Angela Lockett (argued), Chicago, IL, for Defendants-Appellants.
Kanne, Evans, Williams.
Cited by 56 opinions  |  Published
1 passage pin-cited by 1 case
Pinpoint authority: bottom 60%
Citer courts: Connecticut Appellate Court (1)
WILLIAMS, Circuit Judge.

These three defendants were convicted of robbing an armored car outside a Chicago bank. They shot a guard three times at point-blank range (thankfully, he survived) and made off with $400,000 in cash. One of them, Willie Watson, pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting Hobbs Act robbery, 18 U.S.C. §§ 1951, 1952; the other two, brothers Anthony and Tracy Redmond, went to trial and were found guilty of Hobbs Act robbery, conspiracy to commit the same, and using a firearm during and in relation to the robbery, id. § 924(c). On appeal Tracy Redmond argues that evidence was improperly admitted in violation of Federal Rule of Evidence 804(d)(3) and the Confrontation Clause of the Sixth Amendment, and Anthony Redmond argues that the indictment listed an impermissible theory of federal jurisdiction, tainting the jury’s verdict. The district court did not abuse its discretion in admitting the evidence, and even if it did, any error is harmless; and the chances of the indictment influencing the jury are negligible. We therefore affirm the judgment of the district court.

I. Background

According to the government’s evidence at trial, Tracy Redmond actually committed the robbery and shot the guard, while Watson was the driver and Anthony rode along. After the robbery, the three drove away in their stolen van and switched to a different car to avoid detection; Anthony drove that car. But they weren’t as smooth in their post-robbery execution as they were in their pre-robbery planning. Anthony left a cigarette butt in the van as well as a soda can containing his saliva. Police later used these to link him to the robbery. Moreover, in the days following the heist, the defendants splurged. Tracy bought himself two cars and made $9000 in improvements to them, and Anthony bought a car of his own.

A fourth person — an insider — facilitated the robbery, and her apprehension by police officers led to the gang’s downfall. Estella Suttle, who is not a party to this appeal, was a teller at the bank that had hired the armored car. Among other things, she told the defendants about the bank’s security camera system. But after the robbery, she boasted to the wrong guy — an FBI informant. Suttle was arrested and agreed to cooperate with the authorities; she ultimately pled guilty herself. Officers concocted a ruse, directing Suttle to call Anthony (whom she was dating) and tell him, falsely, that she had seen a news report that “they identified the shooter.” Anthony did not express surprise or ask which crime she was referring to, and after their brief call he called Tracy. That call was not recorded. Later that night, Anthony visited Suttle and, as the FBI recorders rolled, the two had a wide-ranging conversation. Anthony said that he had spoken to Tracy, and that the[*586] two believed the news report to be a plant by the bank in order to fluster the culprits. Anthony said that Tracy’s face had been too well concealed for an identification: “I think it was just kinda a bit impossible for them to, like identify him ... because ... the whole face was covered ... his hair was up in his hat, he had his hat up over his face.” Anthony then made a statement that was eventually used as evidence of Tracy’s involvement:

I don’t know what’s going on but I mean, you know like when I told Dough [Tracy] he was like no they can’t identify me. Period. You know, so I don’t know. You know but I told him, I said look, I don’t know, I’m telling you what she told me, so be careful, be alert, watch your back, you know all that, you know cause you just never know.... I mean, a bank robber, come on man.... They identify you? They’re gonna come get you, period.

At trial, both Suttle and Watson testified for the government. The Redmond brothers were found guilty and sentenced to 256 months’ imprisonment (Tracy) and 190 months’ imprisonment (Anthony). Watson and the Redmonds then appealed.

II. Analysis

We address Tracy Redmond’s arguments first, and then turn to those raised by the other defendants.

A. Tracy Redmond

The principal argument on appeal is Tracy Redmond’s challenge to the admission of Anthony Redmond’s statement discussed above. When Anthony went to visit co-schemer Suttle in response to her (false) assertion that she had seen a news report in which police boasted they had identified the gunman, Anthony said some things that were ultimately used to tie Tracy to the robbery. Anthony told Suttle that Tracy said that he (Tracy) could not possibly have been identified because he had worn a mask during the robbery. Tracy challenges the admission of this evidence under both Federal Rule of Evidence 804(b)(3) and the Confrontation Clause. We review the former argument for an abuse of discretion, United States v. hoggins, 486 F.3d 977, 981 (7th Cir.2007), and the latter de novo, United States v. Castelan, 219 F.3d 690, 694 (7th Cir.2000). [1]

1. Admission of the evidence did not violate Rule 804(b)(3)

Hearsay evidence like Anthony’s surreptitiously recorded, out-of-court statement is generally inadmissible because it is not sworn testimony, its admission prevents juries from evaluating the speaker’s credibility, and the opposing party cannot cross-examine the speaker. See Fed.R.Evid. 802; Williamson v. United States, 512 U.S. 594, 598, 114 S.Ct. 2431, 129 L.Ed.2d 476 (1994). One of the many exceptions to the hearsay rule, however, applies to statements against the declar-ant’s interest. Most people would not say that they knocked over a bank, spit on a policeman, or shoved their mother if it wasn’t true. Hence Rule 804(b)(3) provides for the admission of

A statement which was at the time of its making so far contrary to the declarant’s pecuniary or proprietary interest, or so far tended to subject the declarant to civil or cñminal liability, or to render invalid a claim by the declarant against another, that a reasonable person in the[*587] declarant’s position would not have made the statement unless believing it to be true.

(Emphasis added). In evaluating a district court’s decision to admit evidence under this rule, courts look at three factors: whether (1) the declarant is unavailable to testify at trial; (2) the statement was against the declarant’s penal interest; and (3) the circumstances suggest that the statement is trustworthy. United States v. Leahy, 464 F.3d 773, 797-98 (7th Cir.2006).

Tracy concedes that Anthony was “unavailable” under factor one because Anthony chose not to take the stand. But Tracy argues under factor two that Anthony’s statement — while concededly bad for Tracy — was not against Anthony’s interest when made. Tracy points out that under Williamson, our inquiry must be confined to the admissibility of a particular statement; we cannot simply admit all neutral statements that precede or follow a statement that is truly against the declarant’s interest. See also United States v. Bonty, 383 F.3d 575, 579 (7th Cir.2004). This limitation is significant in this ease because Anthony clearly exposed himself to criminal liability at various points in his conversation with Suttle. For instance, he gave a firsthand account of the way Tracy wore his mask during the robbery. Yet as the Court observed in Williamson, we must still evaluate the statement sought to be admitted “in light of all the surrounding circumstances.” 512 U.S. at 604, 114 S.Ct. 2431. This latter language shows that we must be mindful of the context in which a statement is made. See also id. at 606, 114 S.Ct. 2431 (Scalia, J., concurring).

The district court did not abuse its discretion in concluding that Anthony’s statement was against his penal interest. The paragraph that Tracy challenges does not make sense in a vacuum. Take, for instance, this phrase: “when I told Dough [Tracy] he was like no they can’t identify me.” Anthony had just (falsely) heard that the police claimed to have identified the shooter in the armored car robbery, and he immediately called Tracy to tell him the same. Thus, “when I told Dough” means, “when I told Tracy that a news report said that the police had identified the shooter in the armored car robbery.” While it may be technically possible that Tracy and Anthony just like to listen to the crime blotter and excitedly update each other about unsolved area robberies, in context, Anthony was indicating his inside awareness of the robbery and expressing concern that he and the crew might have reason to fear detection. Similarly, when Anthony said that he had told Tracy, “so be careful, be alert, watch your back, you know all that, you know cause you just never know,” in context, this can only mean, “be careful because the police may be on to you as a perpetrator of the robbery.” “Be careful” could theoretically be read as an innocent friend’s statement of concern for a guilty friend, but in context, Anthony was saying, “hey, don’t get caught because I don’t want to get caught.”

These statements do indeed expose Anthony to criminal liability as a member of the conspiracy. As we noted in United States v. Westmoreland, 240 F.3d 618, 626-27 (7th Cir.2001), “a statement that implicates the declarant in a larger conspiracy tends to subject the declarant to criminal liability and thus is a statement against interest. This is so because a member of a conspiracy is liable for any co-conspirator’s act committed in furtherance of the conspiracy” (internal citations omitted). By revealing his inside knowledge of the conspiracy and helping one of its perpetrators avoid detection, Anthony could at the very least be charged with[*588] being an accessory after the fact to robbery, 18 U.S.C. § 3; United States v. Osbom, 120 F.3d 59, 63-64 (7th Cir.1997), if not with the more serious crime of aiding and abetting the conspiracy, 18 U.S.C. § 2; United States v. Irwin, 149 F.3d 565, 569-71 (7th Cir.1998).

Tracy also argues that even if Anthony’s statement to Suttle was against Anthony’s penal interest, the circumstances render the statement untrustworthy. Anthony had gone to talk to Suttle about the news report, and, Tracy emphasizes, Anthony was downplaying to Suttle his own role in the robbery. Suttle was promised $20,000 for giving the crew inside information about the armored car, but instead she only got a few thousand. According to Tracy, Anthony was minimizing his own role in the crime so that he could avoid blame for giving Suttle such a meager cut — “it was Tracy’s show,” Anthony might have said to Suttle, “so Tracy stiffed you, not me.” This argument does give us some pause. After all, one of the key situations in which a co-defendant’s statement against interest is unreliable hearsay is when the co-defendant is shifting blame away from himself and onto another. See Varela v. United States, 481 F.3d 932, 936 (7th Cir.2007). Blaming one’s self and someone else does not necessarily reduce a statement’s trustworthiness, but that is not what Tracy is alleging happened here. On the other hand, the quintessential untrustworthy statement is made to police officers, who offer inducements to an arrested suspect in return for cooperation, United States v. Ochoa, 229 F.3d 631, 638 (7th Cir.2000), whereas here, Anthony thought he was speaking privately to a confederate. Every twist and turn in intra-conspiracy politics should not necessarily undermine the trustworthiness of a private statement between criminal plotters. Thus there are considerations both against and in favor of the trustworthiness of Anthony’s statement.

We need not pursue this issue further, for any error in admitting Anthony’s statement as evidence against Tracy was harmless. See Westmoreland, 240 F.3d at 629. The other evidence of Tracy’s guilt was substantial and supported a finding of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt even without Anthony’s recorded statement. Both Watson and Suttle cooperated with the government and testified in detail about Tracy’s leading role in planning and carrying out the armored car operation. Tracy went on a spending spree immediately after the robbery, buying a car the very next day and making thousands of dollars in improvements to it three days later, and buying another car two weeks later. See United States v. Ewings, 936 F.2d 903, 906 (7th Cir.1991) (“Spending sprees, like other evidence of pecuniary gain, tend to show participation in crimes where financial enrichment is the motive.”). And Tracy’s brother’s fingerprints and DNA were found all over a stolen van used in the robbery. This evidence supports the jury’s verdict of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, even in the absence of Anthony’s recorded statement.

2. Admission of the evidence did not violate the Confrontation Clause

Notwithstanding Rule 804(b)(3), Tracy contends that admitting Anthony’s statement violated his Sixth Amendment right to confront an adverse witness. In Crawford v. Washington, 541 U.S. 36, 68, 124 S.Ct. 1354, 158 L.Ed.2d 177 (2004), the Supreme Court explained that the Confrontation Clause bars the admission of a witness’s “testimonial statement” unless the witness is unavailable to testify at trial and the defendant had a prior opportunity to cross-examine him or her. The Confrontation Clause does not, however, apply to statements that are not testimonial in[*589] nature. See Davis v. Washington, 547 U.S. 813, 126 S.Ct. 2266, 2274-75, 165 L.Ed.2d 224 (2006). While the Court has not comprehensively defined the term “testimonial,” it stated in Crawford that it extends to “prior testimony at a preliminary hearing, before a grand jury, or at a former trial; and to police interrogations.” 541 U.S. at 68, 124 S.Ct. 1354. The Court also added that evidence is “testimonial” in nature when given in formal pleadings, such as affidavits, declarations, or confessions, or — most pertinent here — when “made under circumstances which would lead an objective witness reasonably to believe that the statements would be available for use at a later trial.” Id. at 52, 124 S.Ct. 1354. In short, an “accuser who makes a formal statement to government officers bears testimony in a sense that a person who makes a casual remark to an acquaintance does not.” Id. at 51, 124 S.Ct. 1354. The Constitution restricts the admission of the former type of out-of-court statement, while only the rules of evidence restrict the latter.

Anthony’s private statement to a confederate, which was secretly recorded, does not fit into any of Crawford’s broad categories of testimonial evidence. It certainly was not made to the police in an interrogation, which is the classic type of testimonial evidence the Sixth Amendment seeks to limit. Id. at 68, 124 S.Ct. 1354 (reversing lower court’s admission of evidence made during interrogation at police station). It was not contained in any formal court document, or given as evidence at another proceeding. The closest match would be if Anthony had reasonably believed that the statement would be preserved for later use at a trial, but he couldn’t have thought this because he did not know that the FBI was secretly recording the conversation. See, e.g., United States v. Summers, 414 F.3d 1287, 1302 (10th Cir.2005) (proper focus is on whether declarant would believe statement would later be used as evidence). A statement unwittingly made to a confidential informant and recorded by the government is not “testimonial” for Confrontation Clause purposes. United States v. Tolliver, 454 F.3d 660, 665 (7th Cir.2006); United States v. Underwood, 446 F.3d 1340, 1347-48 (11th Cir.2006); United States v. Hendricks, 395 F.3d 173, 182-84 (3d Cir.2005); United States v. Saget, 377 F.3d 223, 229-30 (2d Cir.2004).

3. Tracy’s sentence was reasonable

Tracy also challenges his sentence, but his arguments are unpersuasive and do not require much analysis. He contends that the district court clearly erred in imposing a two-point enhancement for being an “organizer, leader, manager, or supervisor,” U.S.S.G. § 3B1.1(c), arguing that Suttle was actually in charge. But the district court permissibly credited testimony that Tracy planned the robbery and pressed Suttle for insider details about the bank; brought Watson into the conspiracy; took the largest chunk of the proceeds for himself and decided how the rest should be apportioned; and actually committed the robbery and shot the guard. All of these factors support the district court’s decision. Id. cmt. n. 4; United States v. Johnson, 489 F.3d 794, 797-98 (7th Cir.2007). Tracy also argues that his sentence was unreasonable, but since it was within the Guidelines range we presume it was reasonable, Rita v. United States, —U.S.-, 127 S.Ct. 2456, 2462, 168 L.Ed.2d 203 (2007); United States v. Mykytiuk, 415 F.3d 606, 608 (7th Cir.2005), [2] and find that the district judge legitimately believed that callously shooting a guard three times and leaving him for dead warranted a stiff punishment.

[*590] B. Anthony Redmond

Anthony contends that the indictment offered two theories for satisfying the jurisdictional element of the Hobbs Act, and that one of those theories was legally invalid. The indictment first mentioned a “depletion of assets” theory of federal jurisdiction—that by stealing from the armored truck company, which customarily purchases items in interstate commerce, the defendants “limit[ed] the victim-enterprise’s potential as a purchaser of goods.” See United States v. Re, 401 F.3d 828, 835 (7th Cir.2005). But the indictment also stated an arguable second theory of satisfying the Hobbs Act’s jurisdictional element: “The Bank’s handling of coin and paper U.S. currency affected interstate commerce, and the coin and paper United States currency which Davis Ban-corp delivered to the bank by armored car traveled in interstate commerce.”

When an indictment offers two theories of liability and a jury returns a general verdict that does not say under which theory it convicted, the conviction can be imperiled. If the evidence would only support one theory or the other, the jury is presumed to have gone with the better-supported theory, and the conviction stands. But we cannot so credit the jury if one of the theories is legally insufficient—if, for instance, the behavior under that theory does not constitute a crime. See Tenner v. Gilmore, 184 F.3d 608, 611 (7th Cir.1999). If in the latter scenario “it is impossible to tell which ground the jury selected,” the case must be retried. Yates v. United States, 354 U.S. 298, 312, 77 S.Ct. 1064, 1 L.Ed.2d 1356 (1957); see also United States v. Gonzalez, 93 F.3d 311, 320 (7th Cir.1996).

Here, the government’s second “theory” of jurisdiction—that the money the defendants stole traveled in interstate commerce—is indeed legally insufficient, for if cash could serve as the jurisdictional hook, any robbery would be a federal crime under the Hobbs Act. See United States v. Peterson, 236 F.3d 848, 855 (7th Cir.2001). Nevertheless, it is exceedingly unlikely that the jury convicted under this “theory” of jurisdiction, because it was just a one-off line in the indictment that the government never even mentioned. We do not mean to excuse the government’s sloppy drafting; it could have averted this appellate argument with a more carefully worded indictment. But the government’s evidence at trial and its closing argument focused exclusively on the legally sound depletion of assets theory. Cf. United States v. Colvin, 353 F.3d 569, 577 (7th Cir.2003) (“highly unlikely” that jury convicted on impermissible ground, because it could not have done so and still convicted on a separate charge). The chances that in establishing federal jurisdiction the jury relied on a line in the indictment that was never mentioned at trial, instead of the proper theory that was advanced and well supported with evidence, are minuscule. On the facts of this case—and in the context of satisfying the de minimis connection to interstate commerce—we therefore reject Anthony’s argument. [3]

C. Watson’s and Anthony’s restitution argument

Finally, Anthony and Watson contend that the district court erred by neglecting to set out a schedule of restitution pay-[*591] merits. They concede that the district court properly ordered them to pay $400,000 in restitution, but argue that by simply saying that the payments must begin immediately, rather than giving a schedule of payments, the district court impermissibly delegated a core judicial duty. But they did not raise this contention below, and our decision in United States v. Sawyer, 521 F.3d 792, 795 (7th Cir.2008), decided after oral argument in this case, holds that a district court’s failure to set out a restitution schedule is not plain error.

III. Conclusion

For the foregoing reasons, we Affirm the defendants’ convictions and sentences.

1

. The government contends that in the district court, Tracy did not challenge tire admissibility of Anthony’s statement under Rule 804(b)(3), and that our review should be for plain error only. The government is incorrect: Tracy made this argument at record entry 104.

2

. Anthony Redmond does not directly challenge his sentence, but he contends that af[*590] fording a presumption of reasonableness to a sentence within the applicable Guidelines range is inconsistent with United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220, 125 S.Ct. 738, 160 L.Ed.2d 621 (2005). Rita had not yet been decided when Anthony filed his brief; it forecloses this argument.

3

. Tracy and Anthony also contend that under the Constitution, Hobbs Act robbery must[*591] have a substantial impact on interstate commerce. Neither develops the argument, so it is waived; and in any event it is a perennial loser. See United States v. Griffin, 493 F.3d 856, 861 (7th Cir.2007); United States v. Sutton, 337 F.3d 792, 796 (7th Cir.2003).