MARTIN L. C. FELDMAN, District Judge.
Before the Court are two motions: (1) the government's motion to vitiate the proffer agreement with Arata; and (2) Michael Arata's motion to dismiss for prejudicial joinder or, alternatively, to sever. For the reasons that follow, the Court defers ruling on the government's motion pending a limited evidentiary hearing, and Arata's motion is DENIED.
Peter and Susan Hoffman and Michael Arata were partners in various movie-related business ventures. One such venture was the purchase and renovation of a dilapidated mansion on Esplanade Avenue in New Orleans, which they turned into a post-production film editing facility. This federal white collar criminal case arises from the government's allegations that — in connection with the renovation project — the Hoffmans and Mr. Arata (through companies they owned) allegedly committed, aided and abetted, and conspired to commit, mail and wire fraud by submitting false expense reports in order to deceive the State of Louisiana into issuing state tax credits that they had not actually earned and were not entitled to receive.
The facts giving rise to this criminal case are more completely summarized in the second superseding indictment and in this Court's Order and Reasons dated July 18, 2014.
In renovating the property at 807 Esplanade Avenue, Peter Hoffman,
On June 19, 2009 the State issued $1,132,480.80 in tax credits to Seven Arts Production Louisiana, LLC as a result of the first application, the February 26, 2009 submission. Mr. Arata paid cash to the partnership for these tax credits, at a discounted price, through his company LEAP Film Fund II, LLC, and then sold the tax credits to local businesses and individuals for profit. (The State did not issue tax credits based on the January 20, 2010 and July 3, 2012 applications).
On January 27, 2014 Mr. Arata, during the government's investigation, with his counsel present, made statements to a Special Agent of the FBI pursuant to a written proffer agreement with the government. The government bargained for "completely truthful" information "with no material misstatements or omissions of fact" so that it could "assess the value, extent, and truthfulness of [Mr. Arata's] information about the criminal liability of [Mr. Arata] and others" in order to "ultimately reach a decision concerning [Mr. Arata's] cooperation." In exchange, Mr. Arata received assurances from the government that "statements or information contained in [Mr. Arata's] proffer may not be used in the government's case-in-chief against [Mr. Arata] should a trial be held."
Shortly thereafter, on February 6, 2014 a grand jury returned a six-count Indictment, charging Peter Hoffman and Michael Arata with conspiracy (Count 1), as well as aiding and abetting, and actually committing wire fraud (Counts 2-6), in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§§ 371, 2, 1343. After first superseding on April 3, 2014,
With respect to Count 1, which alleges conspiracy to use the mail or wires in furtherance of the defendants' scheme to defraud, the government alleges 37 specific overt acts, and charges that the defendants accomplished their conspiracy, and took steps to conceal their scheme from the State, when they: 1). prepared and filed material false and misleading tax credit applications, fraudulently claiming that certain expenditures had been made to 807 Esplanade when those expenditures had not been made; 2). prepared and submitted to the auditors and to the State materially false and misleading internal accounting books and records and payment receipt certifications to make it appear as if certain expenditures had been made and certain items had been paid for and received when those expenditures had not been made and those items had not been paid for or received; 3). prepared and submitted to the auditors and the State materially false and misleading invoices in support of fraudulent expenditures; 4). conducted materially false and misleading circuitous bank transfers of money to make it appear that certain items were paid for when those items had not been paid for; and 5). prepared and submitted to the auditors proofs of payment that were materially false and misleading in that only outgoing money transfers were disclosed to the auditors when the money had actually been immediately returned to the original bank account and those return money transfers were not disclosed to the auditors.
As to the wire fraud charges (Counts 2-5 against Peter Hoffman and Michael Arata and Counts 6-20 against all three defendants), the government alleges:
With respect to the mail fraud charge (Count 21), the government alleges:
The second superseding indictment also charges Mr. Arata with making false statements to federal agents.
All in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1001.
All three defendants moved to dismiss Counts 1 through 21 of the second superseding indictment (which charge them with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, as well as committing and aiding and abetting mail and wire fraud) on the ground that the indictment fails as a matter of law to state offenses against the United States; unissued tax credits, the defendants submitted, are not "property" and, therefore, cannot be the object of a mail or wire fraud scheme. On July 18, 2014 the Court denied the defendants' motions to dismiss Counts 1 through 21, holding that the film tax credits at issue constitute "money or property."
The Court determined that "the government has not breached the proffer agreement simply by presenting to the grand jury and including the false statement counts in the superseding and second superseding indictment[;] the government did not need to seek the Court's advance permission to charge Mr. Arata."
The parties agree that the procedure articulated in this Court's October 8, 2014 Order and Reasons applies to the government's request for a judicial determination that Mr. Arata breached the proffer agreement.
The government submits that it is within the Court's discretion to hold an evidentiary hearing but that the Court need not hold one here, where the undisputed facts suffice to show that it is more likely than not that Arata made a material misstatement at the proffer. In other words, the government urges the Court to put aside any factual dispute and consider only the undisputed factual record on the papers.
The defendant counters that, if the Court is inclined to grant the government's motion, he is entitled to a hearing and to call certain witnesses to develop the record. What is now an incomplete record. The Court finds that the process calls for a limited evidentiary hearing. Of particular concern is whether an evidentiary record consisting entirely of unauthenticated evidence is a sufficient record starting point for determining the threshold issue: whether a defendant materially breached a proffer agreement.
Although the case literature suggests, as the government points out, "[i]f the pleadings show no factual dispute, the court may determine breach as a matter of law", that seems directed toward "pleadings" and not documentary evidentiary submissions.
The Court turns to consider the parties' arguments and the evidence that places the arguments in context. The government focuses on what it considers to be four material misrepresentations made by Arata during the proffer. The source of these purported misrepresentations is Government Exhibit A, the FBI 302 summarizing the proffer meeting. The government submits that it has shown by at least a preponderance of the evidence that Arata knowingly made at least one material false statement sufficient to vitiate the entire proffer agreement.
The government submits that Arata was debriefed on the eve of indictment to give him a final opportunity to tell his side of the story; but he gave false statements in an attempt to influence the government's decision whether to present an indictment against him. The parties agree that Arata's FBI 302 is an accurate representation of Arata's statements during his debriefing. In light of the documentary evidence, the government contends that it has shown by a preponderance of the evidence that Arata knowingly made at least one material false statement sufficient to vitiate the entire proffer agreement.
Placing in context the evidence it submits as to each of Arata's alleged false statements, the government addresses Counts 22 and 23 first, followed by Count 24, and finally considers Count 25.
Counts 22 and 23: Termination of Arata's relationship with Peter Hoffman and submission of legal fees to the State
The government first submits that, in an attempt to distance himself from Hoffman, Arata
Among the fictitious expenditures included in the January 20, 2010 application were hundreds of thousands of dollars in bogus legal fees for Peter Hoffman and Arata. Arata admitted during his proffer that the legal fees were bogus, but the government charges that he
The government then takes the Court through the many exhibits it has submitted: "When reviewed in sequence," the government submits, "these items prove by a preponderance of the evidence that Arata lied during the proffer about the termination of his relationship with Peter Hoffman in July 2009 and also lied about his knowledge of, and involvement in, the submission of bogus legal fees to the State for tax credits after July 2009." The government submits this documentary evidence: Exhibit D (November 12, 2009 emails between Arata and Hoffman), Exhibit E (December 21, 2009 email between Arata and his business partner, Jerry Daigle), Exhibit F (December 23, 2009 email from auditor Katie Kuchler to Arata attaching legal fee invoices), Exhibit G (December 24, 2009 email from Arata to Daigle), Exhibit H (December 28, 2009 email between Arata and Kuchler), Exhibit I (December 29, 2009 emails between Kuchler and Hoffman regarding proof of claimed expenditures), Exhibits J & K (December 31, 2009 emails from Arata to Kuchler supplying equity interest and ownership proof; proof of his ownership interest in SAPLA supported Hoffman's claim that Arata's legal fees were paid by increasing Arata's equity interest in SAPLA), Exhibit L (December 30-31, 2009 emails between Seven Arts in-house accountant, Marcia Matthews, Hoffman, and Arata), Exhibits M, N & O (January 7-8, 2010 emails between Kuchler and Hoffman regarding legal fees), Exhibit P (January 12, 2010 email from Hoffman to Arata), Exhibit Q (January 12, 2010 email from Arata to Kuchler in which Arata emailed to Kuchler the executed SAFELA operating agreement evidencing Voodoo's 40% interest in SAFELA), Exhibit R (January 20, 2010 Seven Arts 807 infrastructure project application filed with the State, which includes $350,000 in legal fees), Exhibit S (April 13, 2010 email between Hoffman and Arata and May 14, 2010 email between Hoffman and auditor John Theriot (with Arata, Kuchler, and others copied on the email) regarding auditor's withdrawal of audit reports).
These exhibits show, the government argues, that Arata made materially false statements regarding (a) terminating his relationship with Peter Hoffman in July 2009 and (b) his knowledge regarding the submission of the legal fees in the 2010 tax credit application; that after July 2009, Arata personally assisted in completing the January 20, 2010 application by helping to convince the auditor to include the bogus legal fees in the audit report and by reviewing the Hoffmans' affidavits which claimed thousands of hours of "supervisory" work that was submitted as expenditures to the State. Also, 10 months after the alleged termination of the relationship, that Arata still worked with Hoffman after the State uncovered some fraudulently claimed expenditures and the auditors withdrew their reports. And finally, contrary to Arata's claim to government investigators during his proffer, that Arata continued his relationship with Peter Hoffman on film-related projects at least until 2011. (Here, the government cites Exhibit T in support; Exhibit T is a January 4, 2011 email from Hoffman to Arata attaching a Loan and Security agreement for the film, Booty Patrol).
During the proffer, Arata was questioned regarding the claimed purchase of $1,027,090 in film equipment from Departure Studios in California.
Turning to the evidence, the government argues that the documents show that Arata tried to mislead the auditors and the State into believing that the equipment had been purchased and paid for. The misrepresentations in the documentary evidence are inconsistent with Arata's proffered claims of a business contribution and in fact prove that Arata knew the equipment had not been acquired in any manner. The government directs the Court to Exhibit U (November 19, 2008 email from Seven Arts employee to Arata, attaching both sides of Departure Studios circular transactions; and Arata email explaining that Seven Arts "has no `sale' contract for the equipment [but that] bank statements will evidence the payments"), Exhibit V (December 1, 2008 email from Arata to auditor in which Arata sends to the auditor only the outgoing "payment" side of the circular transaction, which the government contends created the illusion that SAPL had divested itself of $1,027,090 and paid Departure Studios; although he had the other side of the wire transfer as well, Exhibit U, Arata submitted only the "payment" side), Exhibit W (May 14, 2009 email from Arata to State and auditor attaching an invoice as proof of payment for Departure equipment), Exhibit X (Seven Arts Pictures Louisiana bank account statement, showing that on October 3, 2008, SAPL received $400,000 in cash from Arata's company Leap Film Fund; after the wire transfers in Exhibit U had the money bouncing back and forth between SAPL and Departure Studios to create the appearance of payments for the $1,027,090 in equipment, on October 7, 2008, the $400,000 inserted by Arata was withdrawn and sent back to Leap Film Funds, after the circular transactions were complete).
The government submits that this evidence shows that Arata knew that the equipment had not been "acquired" or "contributed"; in fact, the equipment had not been obtained in any manner. Arata's knowledge of the truth is shown by his providing bank transfer records, invoices and signed payment receipts to create an illusion that the film equipment had been paid for and purchased from a "vendor." Arata's false statement was intended to mislead the government into believing that Arata did not intend to defraud the auditor or the State with regard to the film equipment; but the government says the evidence shows that is what he did.
Finally, the government submits that
Turning again to Exhibit W, as well as Exhibit X, on October 3, 2008, Arata initiated circular transfers at Regions Bank by inserting $400,000 to be bounced back and forth in between bank accounts controlled by the defendants. And Exhibit U shows that on November 19, 2008 Arata received copies of both sides of the Regions Bank wire transfers for equipment and construction; but on December 1, 2008, Exhibit V shows, Arata deliberately withheld from the auditor the back half of the circular transactions related to film equipment. And, the next day, on December 2, 2008, Exhibit Y shows that Arata purposefully withheld from the auditor the back half of the circular transactions related to construction. Exhibit W shows that Arata signed and submitted fraudulent payment receipt certifications for construction and film equipment.
The government submits that it is clear that Arata knew that he was not fully disclosing both sides of the circular transactions to the auditors. He acted deliberately with an intention to falsify to make it appear that certain items had been paid for so that tax credits could be claimed; tax credits to which he would not otherwise be entitled.
The government emphasizes that Arata does not dispute that he made the statements charged in the second superseding indictment; he does not dispute the accuracy of the FBI's account of those statements; he does not dispute the accuracy of the documentary evidence presented by the government. Arata only disputes the inferences and conclusions to be drawn from the evidence. The government submits that there is no need for additional evidence. But the complexity of the government's submissions contradicts the argument that an evidentiary hearing is unnecessary.
The government's submission, Arata correctly urges, is insufficient to carry its burden of proof, considering that it submits a series of emails, several of which do not include what he claims is the full story (Exhibits I, M, N, and O); two emails that were submitted to an auditing firm which did not prepare a tax credit application (Exhibits V and Y); and, finally, he insists virtually every email is rife with hearsay. Arata counters that the emails selected by the government (to the extent they are even relevant) do not set forth all the facts and that many of the government's factual assertions are contradicted by other excluded emails.
Moreover, Arata submits, that because of the factual questions that confront this motion, the government cannot carry its burden on the papers alone and an evidentiary hearing is necessary to develop a complete and accurate record. The Court agrees. But denial of this motion seems premature and an evidentiary hearing at which Arata would specifically call Jerry Daigle, Katie Kuchler-Davis, Marcia Matthews, Chris Stelly, Katherine Dodge, Stephanie Dillon, and Melissa Oelking seems abundantly appropriate in order to serve Mr. Arata's rights.
First, he submits that he told the truth when he stated that he terminated his relationship with Peter Hoffman in or about July 2009. Arata explained during the proffer session that he sent this "nice guy" letter instead of a harsher one because he had to continue dealing with Hoffman in order to unwind their business relationship.
Second, Arata protests that he told the truth when he stated that he did not know that $250,000 in legal fees had been submitted to the state. He contends that, in fact, the government cannot provide any evidence that Arata ever saw the January 2010 tax credit application or had any knowledge regarding what was included in it.
The emails submitted by the government arguably do not prove that Arata knew that Hoffman included legal fees in a subsequent tax credit application. At most, the emails might equally suggest that Arata was aware that Hoffman was attempting to include these fees and that Arata disagreed with that attempt. As several emails indicate (Government Ex. G and H), Arata complained about Hoffman's bogus invoices to Voodoo partner Jerry Daigle ("he submitted this to [auditor] Katie [Kuchler-Davis] without my approval"), and ridiculed the invoices to Ms. Kuchler-Davis ("the New Orleans, California bill?"). The government apparently overlooks that, in his proffer, Arata explained that "Arata talked to [Kuchler-]Davis on the phone and told her that he did not submit the legal invoices to Seven Arts. Arata told Davis that the fees were not his legal fees."
And, Arata submits that his statements are consistent with Ms. Davis' January 7, 2010 email to Hoffman that "Michael states that he did not receive the money for which you are billing a company he has no interest in, so I am taking out his hours and fees of $203,637.50." (Arata Ex. 6). This could be entirely consistent with what Arata said during the proffer: that he "called [Seven Arts employee Stephanie] Dillon and told her not to submit the invoices to the auditors, and said that he had not received payment, had not billed for the hours and had not discussed being owed legal fees." Instead of being directed to Arata's knowledge of the legal fee issue, most of the government's email exhibits consist of Hoffman trying to convince Kuchler-Davis to include Arata's legal fees (Govt. Ex. I, M, N, and O). The only emails between Arata and Kuchler-Davis contain copies of various corporate documents, and these emails make no reference to legal fees. (Govt. Ex. J, K, and Q). On their face, Arata takes the position that these emails support neither the government's conclusion that these emails were part of an attempt by Arata to include invalid legal expenses in a tax credit application, nor do they support the government's inference that Arata and Hoffman reconciled or that Arata returned to active involvement in the 807 Esplanade project. Perhaps most importantly, the record focuses no evidence on the ultimate issue: that Arata ever even saw the January 2010 tax credit application or had any idea what was contained in it.
Third, Arata submits that he truthfully stated that he believed Departure Studios contributed film production equipment to Seven Arts as a business partner. The government argues that Arata lied when he stated he "thought Seven Arts `acquired' the equipment in that Seven Arts agreed with [Departure Studios owner Damon] Martin that he would contribute the equipment as part of being a business partner and did not think Seven Arts purchased or paid for the equipment." This explanation, he insists, was entirely correct. At the proffer session, Arata explained that Departure Studios and its owner were intended to be co-venturers in SAPL. Consistent with this, SAPL's business plan states that Departure Studios would be a managing member of the business and that Damon Martin would be part of the management team. (Arata Ex. 7). In addition, SAPL's Infrastructure Application made clear that Departure Studios would be a partner in the project. (Ex. 8). And Mr. Martin himself confirmed to the FBI that Peter Hoffman told him he was going to get a 25% stake in the business. (Ex. 9). Hoffman himself executed an affidavit on November 6, 2008 in which he stated that "Departure Studios will act an [sic] agent and co-venturer with Seven Arts in the operation of a post-production sound facility at 807 Esplanade, and it has confirmed the existence of this equipment. . . ." (Ex. 10). Hoffman also stated that Departure's equipment was "acquired by Seven Arts for use in its facility at 807 Esplanade in New Orleans, Louisiana which equipment will be delivered to 807 Esplanade upon completion of construction of the facilities at that location."
Finally, Arata submits that he truthfully stated that he thought he fully disclosed to the auditors the "circular transactions" for construction and equipment expenditures. The government contends that Arata lied when he said that he thought he fully disclosed the circular transactions. Arata stated in his proffer that "he thought he showed the auditors both sides of the transaction, which would have revealed the circular nature of the transaction." The four exhibits submitted by the government, purporting to prove that Arata did not disclose these transactions to the auditors, do not begin to explain the relationship between SAPL and its auditors and the extent of the disclosures made. In fact, noticeably absent from the government's evidence is any communications on this issue between Arata and Kuchler-Davis, the accountant from Malcolm Dienes, LLC, the firm that actually prepared the SAPL audits that were submitted to the state.
The government submits that the following issues remain undisputed even in the face of Arata's opposition and accompanying submission. The government counters:
(a) Arata concedes that he "stayed on with Seven Arts . . . because he knew he would not get his money back related to [the] project if he walked away." The government submits that this is inconsistent with an August 6, 2009 permanent and public withdrawal.
(b) Arata does not dispute or address his statement to Hoffman on November 12, 2009: "we both have the expectation that the relationship will continue to our mutual personal and professional benefit, on 807 and any other projects you may have." Ex. D. Arata addresses the "amicable settlement" language, but completely ignores this clear statement of reconciliation and future collaboration.
(c) Arata does not dispute or address the affidavits he reviewed for the Hoffmans on December 31, 2009. Ex. L. Arata's opposition addresses only an unrelated part of this email; he completely ignores the 807 Esplanade affidavits attached to this email for his review.
(d) Arata does not dispute or address the fact that he assisted the Hoffmans 8 months after the August 6, 2009 letter when the auditors decided to withdraw the first two audit reports. Govt. Ex. S and Ex. A to Arata's motion to dismiss for prejudicial joinder.
(e) Arata does not dispute or address the January 4, 2011 review of a Loan and Security Agreement for the Seven Arts film Booty Patrol. Ex. T.
(a) Arata does not dispute that his involvement with legal fees occurred after his 8/6/09 withdrawal.
(b) It is undisputed that "Mr. Arata was aware that Mr. Hoffman was attempting to include [legal] fees. . . ."
(c) It is undisputed that Arata and Jerry Daigle joked about the legitimacy of the legal fees on 12/24/09.
(d) It is undisputed that Arata initially told the auditor on 1/7/10 that "he did not receive the money for which [Hoffman was] billing a company [Arata] has no interest in . . ." and that the auditor then decided on "taking out [Arata's] hours and fees. . . ." Ex. M.
(e) Arata does not dispute or address the fact that later that same day he and Peter Hoffman discussed and agreed on legal fees being compensated by ownership interest in the related companies. Ex. N.
(f) Arata does not dispute or address that he "confirmed the hours" to the auditor the very next day on 1/8/14, after Arata and Hoffman agreed on how the legal fees were being compensated. Ex. O.
(g) Arata does not dispute or address Hoffman's 1/12/10 email that followed Arata's confirmation of the hours: "Please send the email to [the auditor] ASAP so that she doesn't get any more suspicious than she already is. . . ." Ex. P.
(h) Arata does not dispute or address the fact that one and a half hours after Hoffman's email, Arata sent the ownership interest records to the auditor, stating "We hope this helps you and Peter wrap up the SAPL audit." Ex. Q.
(i) Arata does not dispute or address the fact that he then assisted and advised the Hoffmans four months later when the auditor decided to withdraw the audits. Govt. Ex. S and Ex. A. to Government's Opposition to Arata's motion to dismiss.
Although Arata initially denied the legal fees because he was not paid cash, this evidence shows by a preponderance that he later acquiesced when Hoffman convinced him to support the legal fees by claiming he was paid with interest in the related companies.
(a) Arata does not dispute or address the fact that he repeatedly told the auditors and the State that the equipment had been purchased from a vendor, not contributed by a business partner. Ex. U, V, and W.
(b) Arata does not dispute or address the fact that he conducted circuitous transfers of funds to make it appear as if the equipment had been purchased and paid for, not contributed by a business partner. Ex. U, V, and X.
(c) Arata does not address or dispute the fact that, to this day, no film equipment has been contributed by Departure Films and that no partnership with Departure ever commenced.
The government submits that it satisfied its preponderance burden that Arata knew that the film equipment had not been contributed to the 807 project but that he had flatly told the auditors and the State that it had been purchased from a vendor. That he intended to mislead the government into believing that he did not intend to defraud the auditor or the State with regard to the film equipment.
In his proffer, Arata claimed that he thought he showed the auditors both sides of the circular transactions. The government contends that the following is undisputed:
(a) The government provided two examples of Arata culling out portions of the circular transactions in his submissions to auditors to make it appear that equipment had been paid for when in fact it had not. Ex. U, V and Y. And the government submitted copies of affidavits signed by Arata certifying "payment" for equipment and construction. Ex. W. Neither affidavit mentions that the vendors had not been paid and that the money had been returned to the originating account minutes after the withdrawal.
(b) Arata conducted the circular transfers.
(c) Arata only showed the front half of the circular transactions to the auditors and to the State.
The government submits that this shows by a preponderance that Arata intended to mislead the FBI with regard to his disclosing only the payment side of the circular transactions to the auditors and to the State.
Finally, the Court turns to analyze the merits of the evidentiary dimension of the parties' dispute as to material breach. The government agreed to not use in its case-in-chief against Arata any statements or information contained in his proffer. In exchange, Arata agreed to be "completely truthful."
Has the government proven by a preponderance of the evidence that Arata materially breached his promise to "be completely truthful"? On this complex and extensive record the Court believes that the answer is "perhaps" but out of caution the Court prefers to hold an evidentiary hearing to give Arata an opportunity to put on evidence of his side of the story and call the witnesses he represents can serve his contentions. On the other hand, if the government at such hearing establishes even one material misrepresentation, its motion will be granted:
Resolution of these issues will be submitted and deferred pending the evidentiary hearing requested by Arata, which will be held on Wednesday, January 7, 2015 at 10:30 a.m.
Mr. Arata claims he withdrew from any alleged conspiracy on August 6, 2009, well before the submission of the second and third tax credit applications; thus, any evidence submitted at trial concerning post-withdrawal conduct will prejudice him. Accordingly, he seeks relief under Rule 14(a) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, for prejudicial joinder, which he says requires dismissal or severance.
In considering a defendant's request for relief under Rule 14 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, the Court first considers whether joinder was proper under Rule 8. Where an indictment charges multiple defendants and multiple counts, Rule 8(b) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure governs the appropriateness of joinder. Rule 8 states:
Fed.R.Crim.P. 8(b). The plain text of the Rule permits defendants to be joined if they are charged with participating in the same series of acts or transactions, and they need not be charged together in each count for joinder to be proper.
Turning to the allegations in the second superseding indictment, considering the conspiracy, wire and mail fraud allegations, the government charges a series of acts unified by substantial identity of facts. For this reason, the Court is satisfied that the defendants and charges are properly joined under Rule 8. Mr. Arata does not seriously advance a misjoinder argument per se; rather, the parties' quarrel centers on whether Arata is prejudiced by his joinder in light of his submission that he withdrew from any conspiracy early on in August 2009.
A claim of prejudice resulting from joinder triggers Rule 14. The Court turns to whether Mr. Arata has demonstrated entitlement to Rule 14 relief.
Recognizing that joinder might in some cases prejudice a defendant, or even the government, Rule 14(a) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure invests the Court with the discretion to "order separate trials of counts, sever the defendants' trials, or provide any other relief that justice requires." Fed.R.Crim.P. 14(a). When defendants are indicted together, joint trials are favored, because "[t]hey promote efficiency and serve the interests of justice by avoiding the scandal and inequity of inconsistent verdicts."
Given the efficiencies undergirding and the judicial system's preference for joint trials of defendants indicted together, a defendant "must overcome significant obstacles" to prevail on a request to sever his trial from that of his co-defendants.
Mr. Arata seeks a dismissal of Counts 1 through 21 against him or, alternatively, seeks severance. In support of his story that he withdrew from any conspiracy on August 6, 2009, he submits evidence that: he sent a letter dated August 6, 2009 to Mr. Hoffman terminating their business relationship; he notified other Seven Arts officers and others of his resignation; he advised the State that he had withdrawn from his representation of Seven Arts and Peter Hoffman; he abandoned his ownership interest in Seven Arts; he met with government agents and lawyers, cooperated and provided them with documents and participated in interviews; and he reminded the State of Louisiana Film Office that he had withdrawn from representing Seven Arts and that he was adverse to it. His withdrawal from the conspiracy, he maintains, bolsters his contention that the spillover effect from the evidence that will be presented in connection with his co-defendants would deny him a fair trial. The government counters that nothing in the charges or the factual submission by Arata resembles those rare instances in which joinder has been found to be prejudicial. The government contends that Arata has not cleared the hurdles he must clear to show prejudicial joinder. The Court agrees.
"Upon joining a criminal conspiracy, a defendant's membership in the ongoing unlawful scheme continues until he withdraws."
Although there is certainly some support in the record for Arata's affirmative defense of withdrawal, this is an issue that patently turns on factual controversies,
Nevertheless, putting aside the factual issue of withdrawal, Arata submits that prejudicial joinder warrants dismissal or severance. Arata invokes
Here, unlike in the case of Officer Warren, the charges and evidence against Arata and his co-defendants are the same; all three are charged with conspiring to commit, committing, and aiding and abetting wire and mail fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§§ 371, 1343, 1341.
Accordingly, the government's motion to vitiate the proffer agreement is submitted and deferred pending a limited evidentiary hearing.
At the same time he sent the termination letter, Arata informed the State that the audit supporting the tax credit application was being withdrawn and that he was no longer representing SAPL. Hoffman then removed Arata from the SAPL bank account and notified the state that SAPL had retained new counsel for its tax credit application.
Arata's position on this termination issue has always been consistent. In April 2012, almost two years before the indictment, Arata sent an email to the state explaining that he had informed them several times since mid-2009 that he does not represent Seven Arts, and that he will not forward communications to the proper party: "Indeed, I am adverse to Seven Arts in this matter and others that you may be aware of."
Complicating matters, the timeliness of Arata's withdrawal is a factor. Distinguishing between timely and untimely withdrawal, the Fifth Circuit instructs that "[a]n untimely withdrawal does not negate liability on the conspiracy charge, but instead helps a defendant guard against post-withdrawal acts done by other co-conspirators and thereby serves to minimize his liability on subsequent crimes."
