United States v. Plowman, No. 11-3781 (7th Cir. 2012)
Annotate this CasePlowman was a local government official in Indianapolis when he accepted a bribe from an undercover FBI agent. He was videotaped discussing payment for “taking care of” a zoning variance. The agent gave Plowman $5,000. Prior to trial, the government filed a motion in limine seeking to preclude Plowman from arguing an entrapment defense. The district court granted the motion. A jury then convicted Plowman of federal-funds bribery, 18 U.S.C. 666(a)(1), and attempted extortion under color of official right, 18 U.S.C. 1951(a). Plowman was sentenced to 40 months in prison. The Seventh Circuit affirmed. To argue entrapment to a jury, Plowman needed to provide sufficient evidence of both inducement and a lack of predisposition, but he failed to establish the first element.
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