Document Type

Article

Publication Date

11-1-2005

Abstract

Defendants-appellants, Chen Xiang ("Chen") and Lin Xian Wu ("Lin") (collectively, "Appellants"), appeal from judgments of conviction entered in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (Casey, J.), following a jury trial, convicting each of the Appellants, under a superseding indictment, of one count of conspiracy to commit extortion, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1951 ("Count One"); one count of extortion, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 2 and 1951 ("Count Two"); three counts of conspiracy to commit robbery, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1951 ("Counts Four, Seven, and Ten"); three counts of robbery, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 2 and 1951 ("Counts Five, Eight, and Eleven"); and four counts of using, carrying, and possessing a firearm during and in relation to participation in the charged extortion, robberies, and conspiracies to commit extortion and robbery, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(ii) ("Counts Three, Six, Nine, and Twelve").

Appellants contend that the evidence adduced at trial to prove their guilt in connection with the charged counts of extortion and of conspiracy to commit extortion 365*365 was insufficient as a matter of law. We agree and, accordingly, reverse the convictions of Appellants under Counts One and Two. Appellants also contend that as a consequence of the legal insufficiency of the extortion-related evidence, the convictions of Appellants for using, carrying, and possessing a firearm during and in relation to the charged extortion and conspiracy to commit extortion also must be reversed. We agree with Appellants in this regard, too, and accordingly reverse the convictions of Appellants under Count Three.[1] Finally, in view of these reversals, we remand for resentencing. We affirm the judgments of the District Court in all other respects.

Comments

428 F.3d 361 (2005)

UNITED STATES of America, Appellee, v. Xiao Qin ZHOU aka Viet Guy aka Viet Boy aka Vietnamese Boy, Lin Li aka Yi Jun aka Crazy Chung, Chun Rong Chen aka Yi Non, Li Wei aka Yi Guan, Li Xin Ye aka Pai Fot, and Hing Wah Gau aka Yi Hei, Defendants, Chen Zi Xiang aka Yi Soon aka Yi Soon Gang and Lin Xian Wu aka Ah Oo, Defendants-Appellants.

Docket No. 03-1575(L), 03-1610(CON).

United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit.

Argued: June 24, 2005.

Decided: November 1, 2005.

New York Law School location: File #3386, Box #149

Share

COinS