United States v. Anastasio, No. 18-421 (2d Cir. 2020)
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Defendant appealed his conviction for one count of racketeering conspiracy (RICO conspiracy count) and two counts of murder in aid of racketeering (VCAR murder counts) based on his involvement with the 10th Street Gang in Buffalo, New York and his role in the 2006 murders of two individuals. The jury also found that defendant was guilty of two special factors that, as part of the RICO conspiracy count, charged defendant with intentionally causing the deaths of the two individuals in violation of New York Penal Law 125.25(1) and 20.00.
The Second Circuit held that the evidence was insufficient to convict defendant of aiding and abetting the two murders. However, the court held that the government adequately proved defendant's knowing agreement to participate in a racketeering enterprise; there was no error in the district court's Batson ruling; and there was no abuse of discretion in the district court's denial of defendant's motion to sever his trial from that of his co-defendants. Accordingly, the court affirmed defendant's RICO conspiracy count; reversed the VCAR murder counts and the murder enhancements of the RICO conspiracy count; and remanded for resentencing.
The court issued a subsequent related opinion or order on September 1, 2020.
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