Court filing
Indictment — United States v. Tracy D. Wade (Dkt. 160, S.D. Fla. No. 0:23-cr-60173)
Filed September 25, 2024 in United States v. Tracy D. Wade; one of 133 filings from this case.
Record facts
| Court | U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida |
|---|---|
| Filed | 2024-09-25 |
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida · No. 0:23-cr-60173-KMW · Doc. 160 · 2024-09-25 · Docket on CourtListener
Full text
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
CASE NO. 23-60173-CR-KMW(s) (GRAHAM)
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
vs.
CAROLYN DENISE WADE and
TRACY D. WADE,
Defendants.
____________________________________________/
UNITED STATES’ PROPOSED JURY INSTRUCTIONS
AND VERDICT FORM
Pursuant to the Court’s Criminal Trial Scheduling Order, entered August 12, 2024
(DE 125), the United States of America, by and through its undersigned counsel, respectfully
submits the following jury instructions and verdict form.
The United States respectfully requests that the Court allow the United States to
propose such additional instructions as become appropriate based upon the testimony and
evidence at trial, and that the parties be informed prior to closing arguments which
instructions the Court will give to the jury.
Respectfully submitted,
MARKENZY LAPOINTE
UNITED STATES ATTORNEY
By: /s/ David A. Snider
David A. Snider
Assistant United States Attorney
Court ID No. A5502260
500 E. Broward Blvd
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33394
Tel: (954) 660-5696
Fax: (954) 356-7336
Email: david.snider@usdoj.gov
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P1
Preliminary Instructions – Criminal Cases
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
CASE NO. 23-60173-CR-KMW(s) (GRAHAM)
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
vs.
CAROLYN DENISE WADE and
TRACY D. WADE,
Defendants.
____________________________________________/
Members of the Jury:
Now that you have been sworn, I need to explain some basic principles about
a criminal trial and your duty as jurors. These are preliminary instructions. At the
end of the trial I will give you more detailed instructions.
Duty of jury:
It will be your duty to decide what happened so you can determine whether
the defendant is guilty or not guilty of the crime charged in the indictment. At the
end of the trial, I will explain the law that you must follow to reach your verdict.
You must follow the law as I explain it to you even if you do not agree with the law.
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What is evidence:
You must decide the case solely on the evidence presented here in the
courtroom. Evidence can come in many forms. It can be testimony about what
someone saw or heard or smelled. It can be an exhibit admitted into evidence. It can
be someone’s opinion. Some evidence proves a fact indirectly, such as a witness
who saw wet grass outside and people walking into the courthouse carrying wet
umbrellas. Indirect evidence, sometimes called circumstantial evidence, is simply a
chain of circumstances that proves a fact. As far as the law is concerned, it makes
no difference whether evidence is direct or indirect. You may choose to believe or
disbelieve either kind and should give every piece of evidence whatever weight you
think it deserves.
What is not evidence:
Certain things are not evidence and must not be considered. I will list them
for you now:
• Statements and arguments of the lawyers. In their opening statements
and closing arguments, the lawyers will discuss the case, but their
remarks are not evidence;
• Questions and objections of the lawyers. The lawyers’ questions are
not evidence. Only the witnesses’ answers are evidence. You should
not think that something is true just because a lawyer’s question
suggests that it is. For instance, if a lawyer asks a witness, “you saw
the defendant hit his sister, didn’t you?” – that question is no evidence
whatsoever of what the witness saw or what the defendant did, unless
the witness agrees with it.
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There are rules of evidence that control what can be received into evidence.
When a lawyer asks a question or offers an exhibit and a lawyer on the other side
thinks that it is not permitted by the rules of evidence, that lawyer may object. If I
overrule the objection, then the question may be answered, or the exhibit received.
If I sustain the objection, then the question cannot be answered, and the exhibit
cannot be received. Whenever I sustain an objection to a question, you must ignore
the question and not try to guess what the answer would have been.
Sometimes I may order that evidence be stricken and that you disregard or
ignore the evidence. That means that when you are deciding the case, you must not
consider that evidence.
Some evidence is admitted only for a limited purpose. When I instruct you
that an item of evidence has been admitted for a limited purpose, you must consider
it only for that limited purpose and no other.
Credibility of witnesses:
In reaching your verdict, you may have to decide what testimony to believe
and what testimony not to believe. You may believe everything a witness says, or
part of it, or none of it. In considering the testimony of any witness, you may take
into account:
• The opportunity and ability of the witness to see or hear or know the
things testified to;
• The witness’s memory;
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• The witness’s manner while testifying;
• The witness’s interest in the outcome of the case and any bias or
prejudice;
• Whether other evidence contradicted the witness’s testimony;
• The reasonableness of the witness’s testimony in light of all the
evidence; and
• Any other factors that bear on believability.
I will give you additional guidelines for determining credibility of witnesses
at the end of the case.
Rules for criminal cases:
As you know, this is a criminal case. There are three basic rules about a
criminal case that you must keep in mind.
First, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. The indictment
against the defendant brought by the government is only an accusation, nothing
more. It is not proof of guilt or anything else. The defendant therefore starts out
with a clean slate.
Second, the burden of proof is on the government until the very end of the
case. The defendant has no burden to prove her innocence or to present any
evidence, or to testify. Since the defendant has the right to remain silent and may
choose whether to testify, you cannot legally put any weight on a defendant’s choice
not to testify. It is not evidence.
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Third, the government must prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable
doubt. I will give you further instructions on this point later, but bear in mind that
the level of proof required is high.
Conduct of the jury:
Our law requires jurors to follow certain instructions regarding their personal
conduct in order to help assure a just and fair trial. I will now give you those
instructions:
1. Do not talk, either among yourselves or with anyone else, about
anything related to the case. You may tell the people with whom you
live and your employer that you are a juror and give them information
about when you will be required to be in court, but you may not discuss
with them or anyone else anything related to the case.
2. Do not, at any time during the trial, request, accept, agree to accept,
or discuss with any person, any type of payment or benefit in return for
supplying any information about the trial.
3. You must promptly tell me about any incident you know of involving
an attempt by any person to improperly influence you or any member
of the jury.
4. Do not visit or view the premises or place where the charged crime
was allegedly committed, or any other premises or place involved in
the case. And you must not use Internet maps or Google Earth or any
other program or device to search for a view of any location discussed
in the testimony.
5. Do not read, watch, or listen to any accounts or discussions related
to the case which may be reported by newspapers, television, radio, the
Internet, or any other news media.
6. Do not attempt to research any fact, issue, or law related to this case,
whether by discussions with others, by library or Internet research, or
by any other means or source.
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In this age of instant electronic communication and research, I want to
emphasize that in addition to not talking face to face with anyone about the case,
you must not communicate with anyone about the case by any other means,
including by telephone, text messages, email, Internet chat, chat rooms, blogs, or
social-networking websites and apps such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat,
YouTube, or Twitter. You may not use any similar technology of social media, even
if I have not specifically mentioned it here.
You must not provide any information about the case to anyone by any means
whatsoever, and that includes posting information about the case, or what you are
doing in the case, on any device or Internet site, including blogs, chat rooms, social
websites, or any other means.
You also must not use Google or otherwise search for any information about
the case, or the law that applies to the case, or the people involved in the case,
including the defendant, the witnesses, the lawyers, or the judge. It is important that
you understand why these rules exist and why they are so important:
Our law does not permit jurors to talk with anyone else about the case, or to
permit anyone to talk to them about the case, because only jurors are authorized to
render a verdict. Only you have been found to be fair and only you have promised
to be fair – no one else is so qualified.
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Our law also does not permit jurors to talk among themselves about the case
until the court tells them to begin deliberations, because premature discussions can
lead to a premature final decision.
Our law also does not permit you to visit a place discussed in the testimony.
First, you can’t be sure that the place is in the same condition as it was on the day in
question. Second, even if it were in the same condition, once you go to a place
discussed in the testimony to evaluate the evidence in light of what you see, you
become a witness, not a juror. As a witness, you may now have a mistaken view of
the scene that neither party may have a chance to correct. That is not fair.
Finally, our law requires that you not read or listen to any news accounts of
the case, and that you not attempt to research any fact, issue, or law related to the
case. Your decision must be based solely on the testimony and other evidence
presented in this courtroom. Also, the law often uses words and phrases in special
ways, so it’s important that any definitions you hear come only from me, and not
from any other source. It wouldn’t be fair to the parties for you to base your decision
on some reporter’s view or opinion, or upon other information you acquire outside
the courtroom.
These rules are designed to help guarantee a fair trial, and our law accordingly
sets forth serious consequences if the rules are not followed. I trust that you
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understand and appreciate the importance of following these rules, and in accord
with your oath and promise, I know you will do so.
Taking notes:
Moving on now, if you wish, you may take notes to help you remember what
witnesses said. If you do take notes, please keep them to yourself until you and your
fellow jurors go to the jury room to decide the case. Do not let note-taking distract
you so that you do not hear other answers by witnesses. When you leave the
courtroom, your notes should be left in the jury room. Whether or not you take notes,
you should rely on your own memory of what was said. Notes are to assist your
memory only. They are not entitled to any greater weight than your memory or
impression about the testimony.
Course of the trial:
The trial will now begin. First, the government will make an opening
statement, which is simply an outline to help you understand the evidence as it comes
in. Next, the defendant’s attorney may, but does not have to, make an opening
statement. Opening statements are neither evidence nor argument.
The government will then present its witnesses, and counsel for the defendant
may cross-examine them. Following the government’s case, the defendants may, if
they wish, present witnesses whom the government may cross-examine. After all
the evidence is in, the attorneys will present their closing arguments to summarize
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and interpret the evidence for you, and I will instruct you on the law. After that, you
will go to the jury room to decide your verdict.
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B1
Face Page - Introduction
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
CASE NO. 23-60173-CR-KMW(s) (GRAHAM)
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
vs.
CAROLYN DENISE WADE and
TRACY D. WADE,
Defendants.
____________________________________________/
COURT’S INSTRUCTIONS TO THE JURY
Members of the Jury:
It’s my duty to instruct you on the rules of law that you must use in deciding
this case. After I’ve completed these instructions, you will go to the jury room and
begin your discussions – what we call your deliberations.
You must decide whether the Government has proved the specific facts
necessary to find the Defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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B2.2
The Duty to Follow Instructions and the Presumption Of Innocence
When a Defendant Does Not Testify
Your decision must be based only on the evidence presented during the trial.
You must not be influenced in any way by either sympathy for or prejudice against
the Defendant or the Government.
You must follow the law as I explain it – even if you do not agree with the
law – and you must follow all of my instructions as a whole. You must not single
out or disregard any of the Court's instructions on the law.
The indictment or formal charge against a Defendant isn’t evidence of guilt.
The law presumes every Defendant is innocent. The Defendant does not have to
prove her innocence or produce any evidence at all. A Defendant does not have to
testify, and if the Defendant chose not to testify, you cannot consider that in any way
while making your decision. The Government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable
doubt. If it fails to do so, you must find the Defendant not guilty.
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B3
Definition of “Reasonable Doubt”
The Government's burden of proof is heavy, but it doesn’t have to prove a
Defendant's guilt beyond all possible doubt. The Government's proof only has to
exclude any “reasonable doubt” concerning the Defendant's guilt.
A “reasonable doubt” is a real doubt, based on your reason and common sense
after you’ve carefully and impartially considered all the evidence in the case.
“Proof beyond a reasonable doubt” is proof so convincing that you would be
willing to rely and act on it without hesitation in the most important of your own
affairs. If you are convinced that the Defendant has been proved guilty beyond a
reasonable doubt, say so. If you are not convinced, say so.
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B4
Consideration of Direct and Circumstantial Evidence;
Argument of Counsel; Comments by the Court
As I said before, you must consider only the evidence that I have admitted in
the case. Evidence includes the testimony of witnesses and the exhibits admitted.
But, anything the lawyers say is not evidence and isn’t binding on you.
You shouldn’t assume from anything I’ve said that I have any opinion about
any factual issue in this case. Except for my instructions to you on the law, you
should disregard anything I may have said during the trial in arriving at your own
decision about the facts.
Your own recollection and interpretation of the evidence is what matters.
In considering the evidence you may use reasoning and common sense to
make deductions and reach conclusions. You shouldn’t be concerned about whether
the evidence is direct or circumstantial.
“Direct evidence” is the testimony of a person who asserts that he or she has
actual knowledge of a fact, such as an eyewitness.
“Circumstantial evidence” is proof of a chain of facts and circumstances that
tend to prove or disprove a fact. There’s no legal difference in the weight you may
give to either direct or circumstantial evidence.
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B5
Credibility of Witnesses
When I say you must consider all the evidence, I don’t mean that you must
accept all the evidence as true or accurate. You should decide whether you believe
what each witness had to say, and how important that testimony was. In making that
decision you may believe or disbelieve any witness, in whole or in part. The number
of witnesses testifying concerning a particular point doesn’t necessarily matter.
To decide whether you believe any witness I suggest that you ask yourself a
few questions:
• Did the witness impress you as one who was telling the truth?
• Did the witness have any particular reason not to tell the truth?
• Did the witness have a personal interest in the outcome of the case?
• Did the witness seem to have a good memory?
• Did the witness have the opportunity and ability to accurately
observe the things he or she testified about?
• Did the witness appear to understand the questions clearly and
answer them directly?
• Did the witness's testimony differ from other testimony or other
evidence?
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Persons Not on Trial
In addition, some of the people who may have been involved in these events
are not on trial. This does not matter. There is no requirement that all participants
of a scheme to defraud be charged and prosecuted in one proceeding.
You may not draw any inference, favorable or unfavorable, towards the
Government or the Defendant on trial from the fact that any person in addition to the
Defendant is not on trial here. You may also not speculate as to the reasons why
other persons are not on trial.
ANNOTATIONS AND COMMENTS
See United States v. Rabuffo, et al., Case No. 14-20008-CR-Moore, Transcript (DE 542) at 62 (In
addition, some of the people who may have been involved in these events are not on trial. This
doesn't matter. There is no requirement that all members of a conspiracy or all codefendants be
charged and prosecuted in one proceeding. You may not draw any inference, favorable or
unfavorable, towards the government or the defendant on trial from the fact that any person in
addition to the defendants is not on trial here. You may also not speculate as to the reasons why
other persons are not on trial.); United States v. Martin, Case No. 13-20457-CR-Cohn, Jury
Instructions (DE 144) at 7 (same).
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B8
Introduction to Offense Instructions
The superseding indictment charges 10 separate crimes, called “counts,”
against the Defendants. Each count has a number. You’ll be given a copy of the
superseding indictment to refer to during your deliberations.
Count 1 charges that the Defendants knowingly and willfully conspired to
commit wire fraud, in violation in Title 18, United States Code, Section 1349.
Defendants are not charged in Count 1 with committing a substantive offense – they
are charged with conspiring to commit that offense. I will also give you specific
instructions on that conspiracy offense.
Counts 2-3 charge that the Defendants committed what are called “substantive
offenses,” specifically, that Defendants committed wire fraud, in violation of Title
18, United States Code, Section 1343. Count 2 charges only Defendant Tracy Wade
with this offense. Count 3 charges both Defendants with this offense. I will explain
the law governing this offense in a moment.
Count 4 charges that the Defendants knowingly and willfully conspired to
make false statements to the Small Business Administration, in violation of Title 18,
United States Code, Section 371. Defendants are not charged in Count 4 with
committing a substantive offense – they are charged with conspiring to commit that
offense. I will also give you specific instructions on this conspiracy offense.
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Counts 5-10 charge that the Defendants made false statements to the Small
Business Administration, in violation of Title 15, United States Code, Section
645(a). Defendant Carolyn Wade is charged with this offense in Counts 5, 8, and 9.
Defendant Tracy Wade is charged with this offense in Counts 6, 7, and 10. I will
also explain the law governing this offense.
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O54
Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
18 U.S.C. § 1349
It’s a Federal crime to knowingly and willfully conspire or agree with
someone to do something that, if actually carried out, would result in the crime of
mail fraud.
A “conspiracy” is an agreement by two or more persons to commit an
unlawful act. In other words, it is a kind of partnership for criminal purposes. Every
member of the conspiracy becomes the agent or partner of every other member.
The Government does not have to prove that all the people named in the
indictment were members of the plan, or that those who were members made any
kind of formal agreement. The heart of a conspiracy is the making of the unlawful
plan itself, so the Government does not have to prove that the conspirators succeeded
in carrying out the plan.
The Defendant can be found guilty of this conspiracy offense only if all the
following facts are proved beyond a reasonable doubt:
(1) two or more persons, in some way or manner, agreed to try to
accomplish a common and unlawful plan to commit wire fraud, as
charged in the superseding indictment; and
(2) the Defendant knew the unlawful purpose of the plan and willfully
joined in it;
A person may be a conspirator even without knowing all the details of the
unlawful plan or the names and identities all of the other alleged conspirators.
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If the Defendant played only a minor part in the plan but had a general
understanding of the unlawful purpose of the plan – and willfully joined in the plan
on at least one occasion – that’s sufficient for you to find the Defendant guilty.
But simply being present at the scene of an event or merely associating with
certain people and discussing common goals and interests doesn’t establish proof of
a conspiracy. Also, a person who doesn’t know about a conspiracy but happens to
act in a way that advances some purpose of one doesn’t automatically become a
conspirator.
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O51
Wire Fraud
18 U.S.C. § 1343
It’s a federal crime to use interstate wire, radio, or television communications
to carry out a scheme to defraud someone else.
The Defendant can be found guilty of this crime only if all the following facts
are proved beyond a reasonable doubt:
(1)
the Defendant knowingly devised or participated in a scheme to
defraud someone by using false or fraudulent pretenses,
representations, or promises;
(2)
the false pretenses, representations, or promises were about a
material fact;
(3)
the Defendant acted with the intent to defraud; and
(4)
the Defendant transmitted or caused to be transmitted by wire
some communication in interstate commerce to help carry out the
scheme to defraud.
A “scheme to defraud” means any plan or course of action intended to deceive
or cheat someone out of money or property by using false or fraudulent pretenses,
representations, or promises.
A statement or representation is “false” or “fraudulent” if it is about a material
fact that the speaker knows is untrue or makes with reckless indifference to the truth,
and makes with the intent to defraud. A statement or representation may be “false”
or “fraudulent” when it is a half-truth, or effectively conceals a material fact, and is
made with the intent to defraud.
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A “material fact” is an important fact that a reasonable person would use to
decide whether to do or not do something. A fact is “material” if it has the capacity
or natural tendency to influence a person’s decision. It doesn’t matter whether the
decision-maker actually relied on the statement or knew or should have known that
the statement was false.
To act with “intent to defraud” means to act knowingly and with the specific
intent to use false or fraudulent pretenses, representations, or promises to cause loss
or injury. Proving intent to deceive alone, without the intent to cause loss or injury,
is not sufficient to prove intent to defraud.
The Government does not have to prove all the details alleged in the
indictment about the precise nature and purpose of the scheme. It also doesn’t have
to prove that the material transmitted by interstate wire was itself false or fraudulent;
or that using the wire was intended as the specific or exclusive means of carrying
out the alleged fraud; or that the Defendant personally made the transmission over
the wire. And it doesn’t have to prove that the alleged scheme actually succeeded
in defrauding anyone.
To “use” interstate wire communications is to act so that something would
normally be sent through wire, radio, or television communications in the normal
course of business.
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Each separate use of the interstate wire communications as part of the scheme
to defraud is a separate crime.
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O13.1
General Conspiracy Charge
18 U.S.C. § 371
It’s a separate Federal crime for anyone to conspire or agree with someone
else to do something that would be another Federal crime if it was actually carried
out.
A “conspiracy” is an agreement by two or more people to commit an unlawful
act. In other words, it is a kind of “partnership” for criminal purposes. Every member
of a conspiracy becomes the agent or partner of every other member.
The Government does not have to prove that all the people named in the
indictment were members of the plan, or that those who were members made any
kind of formal agreement.
The Government does not have to prove that the members planned together
all the details of the plan or the “overt acts” that the indictment charges would be
carried out in an effort to commit the intended crime.
The heart of a conspiracy is the making of the unlawful plan itself followed
by the commission of any overt act. The Government does not have to prove that the
conspirators succeeded in carrying out the plan.
The Defendant can be found guilty of this crime only if all the following facts
are proved beyond a reasonable doubt:
(1) two or more persons in some way agreed to try to accomplish a
shared and unlawful plan;
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(2) the Defendant knew the unlawful purpose of the plan and willfully
joined in it;
(3) during the conspiracy, one of the conspirators knowingly engaged
in at least one overt act as described in the indictment; and
(4) the overt act was committed at or about the time alleged and with
the purpose of carrying out or accomplishing some object of the
conspiracy.
An “overt act” is any transaction or event, even one that may be entirely
innocent when viewed alone, that a conspirator commits to accomplish some object
of the conspiracy
A person may be a conspirator without knowing all the details of the unlawful
plan or the names and identities of all the other alleged conspirators.
If the Defendant played only a minor part in the plan but had a general
understanding of the unlawful purpose of the plan and willfully joined in the plan on
at least one occasion, that’s sufficient for you to find the Defendant guilty.
But simply being present at the scene of an event or merely associating with
certain people and discussing common goals and interests doesn’t establish proof of
a conspiracy. A person who doesn’t know about a conspiracy but happens to act in
a way that advances some purpose of one doesn’t automatically become a
conspirator.
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False Statements to the SBA1
15 U.S.C. § 645(a)
It is a Federal crime to knowingly make any false statement for the purpose
of obtaining a loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”) or for the
purpose of influencing the action of the SBA in any way. The Defendant can be
found guilty of this crime only if all of the following facts are proved beyond a
reasonable doubt:
(1)
the Defendant knowingly made any false statement; and
(2)
the false statement was for the purpose of obtaining for herself
or for any applicant any loan or for the purpose of influencing in
any way the action of the SBA.
1 See United States v. Alexandra Acosta, Case No. 23-CR-60170-RNS (S.D. Fla.) (D.E. 68 at pp.
12).
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B9.2
On or About a Particular Date; Knowingly
You’ll see that the indictment charges that a crime was committed “on or
about” a certain date. The Government doesn’t have to prove that the crime occurred
on an exact date. The Government only has to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that
the crime was committed on a date reasonably close to the date alleged.
The word “knowingly” means that an act was done voluntarily and
intentionally and not because of a mistake or by accident.
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B10.4
Caution: Punishment
(Multiple Defendants, Multiple Counts)
Each count of the indictment charges a separate crime against one or more of
the Defendants. You must consider each crime and the evidence relating to it
separately. And you must consider the case of each Defendant separately and
individually. If you find a Defendant guilty or not guilty of one crime, that must not
affect your verdict for any other crime or any other Defendant.
I caution you that each Defendant is on trial only for the specific crimes
charged in the indictment. You’re here to determine from the evidence in this case
whether each Defendant is guilty or not guilty of those specific crimes.
You must never consider punishment in any way to decide whether a
Defendant is guilty or not guilty. If you find a Defendant guilty, the punishment is
for the Judge alone to decide later.
Case 0:23-cr-60173-KMW Document 160 Entered on FLSD Docket 09/25/2024 Page 28 of 38
Summaries and Summary Testimony2
There has been summary testimony from witnesses at this trial and the
Court permitted this testimony in order to aid you in considering the evidence.
Therefore, you are to give no greater consideration to summary testimony than
you would give to the evidence upon which that testimony is based.
It is for you to decide whether the summary testimony or chart offered by
a witness correctly presented the information contained in the documents on
which they were based, and what weight to give such evidence.
2 United States v. Richardson, 233 F.3d 1285, 1293-94 (11th Cir. 2000).
Case 0:23-cr-60173-KMW Document 160 Entered on FLSD Docket 09/25/2024 Page 29 of 38
2
B11
Duty to Deliberate
Your verdict, whether guilty or not guilty, must be unanimous – in other
words, you must all agree. Your deliberations are secret, and you’ll never have
to explain your verdict to anyone.
Each of you must decide the case for yourself, but only after fully
considering the evidence with the other jurors. So, you must discuss the case
with one another and try to reach an agreement. While you’re discussing the
case, don’t hesitate to reexamine your own opinion and change your mind if
you become convinced that you were wrong. But don’t give up your honest
beliefs just because others think differently or because you simply want to get
the case over with.
Remember that, in a very real way, you’re judges – judges of the facts.
Your only interest is to seek the truth from the evidence in the case.
Case 0:23-cr-60173-KMW Document 160 Entered on FLSD Docket 09/25/2024 Page 30 of 38
3
S5
Note-taking
You’ve been permitted to take notes during the trial. Most of you –
perhaps all of you – have taken advantage of that opportunity.
You must use your notes only as a memory aid during deliberations. You
must not give your notes priority over your independent recollection of the
evidence. And you must not allow yourself to be unduly influenced by the notes
of other jurors.
I emphasize that notes are not entitled to any greater weight than your
memories or impressions about the testimony.
Case 0:23-cr-60173-KMW Document 160 Entered on FLSD Docket 09/25/2024 Page 31 of 38
4
S7
Aiding and Abetting; Agency
18 U.S.C. § 2
It’s possible to prove the Defendant guilty of a crime even without
evidence that the Defendant personally performed every act charged.
Ordinarily, any act a person can do may be done by directing another
person, or “agent.” Or it may be done by acting with or under the direction of
others.
A Defendant “aids and abets” a person if the Defendant intentionally
joins with the person to commit a crime.
A Defendant is criminally responsible for the acts of another person if the
Defendant aids and abets the other person. A Defendant is also responsible if
the Defendant willfully directs or authorizes the acts of an agent, employee, or
other associate.
But finding that a Defendant is criminally responsible for the acts of
another person requires proof that the Defendant intentionally associated with
or participated in the crime – not just proof that the Defendant was simply
present at the scene of a crime or knew about it.
In other words, you must find beyond a reasonable doubt that the
Defendant was a willful participant and not merely a knowing spectator.
Case 0:23-cr-60173-KMW Document 160 Entered on FLSD Docket 09/25/2024 Page 32 of 38
5
Deliberate Ignorance as Proof of Knowledge3
If a Defendant’s knowledge of a fact is an essential part of a crime, it’s
enough that the Defendant was aware of a high probability that the fact existed
– unless the Defendant actually believed the fact didn’t exist.
“Deliberate avoidance of positive knowledge” – which is the equivalent
of knowledge – occurs, for example, if a defendant possesses a package and
believes it contains a controlled substance but deliberately avoids learning that
it contains the controlled substance so he or she can deny knowledge of the
package’s contents.
So you may find that a defendant knowingly made any false statement if
you determine beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant (1) actually knew
that the statement was false, or (2) had every reason to know but deliberately
closed his or her eyes.
But I must emphasize that negligence, carelessness, or foolishness isn’t
enough to prove that the Defendant knew that a statement was false.
3 See United States v. Alexandra Acosta, Case No. 23-CR-60170-RNS (S.D. Fla.) (D.E. 68
at pp. 16).
Case 0:23-cr-60173-KMW Document 160 Entered on FLSD Docket 09/25/2024 Page 33 of 38
6
B12
Verdict
When you get to the jury room, choose one of your members to act as
foreperson. The foreperson will direct your deliberations and will speak for you
in court.
A verdict form has been prepared for your convenience.
[Explain verdict]
Take the verdict form with you to the jury room. When you’ve all agreed
on the verdict, your foreperson must fill in the form, sign it, date it, and carry it.
Then you’ll return it to the courtroom.
If you wish to communicate with me at any time, please write down your
message or question and give it to the marshal. The marshal will bring it to me,
and I’ll respond as promptly as possible – either in writing or by talking to you
in the courtroom. But I caution you not to tell me how many jurors have voted
one way or the other at that time.
Case 0:23-cr-60173-KMW Document 160 Entered on FLSD Docket 09/25/2024 Page 34 of 38
7
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
CASE NO. 23-60173-CR-KMW(s) (GRAHAM)
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
vs.
CAROLYN DENISE WADE and
TRACY D. WADE,
Defendants.
____________________________________________/
VERDICT
We, the Jury in the above-captioned case, unanimously find as follows:
As to Count 1 of the Superseding Indictment, we find the Defendant
CAROLYN DENISE WADE:
NOT GUILTY ______ GUILTY ______
As to Count 3 of the Superseding Indictment, we find the Defendant
CAROLYN DENISE WADE:
NOT GUILTY ______ GUILTY ______
As to Count 4 of the Superseding Indictment, we find the Defendant
CAROLYN DENISE WADE:
NOT GUILTY ______ GUILTY ______
Case 0:23-cr-60173-KMW Document 160 Entered on FLSD Docket 09/25/2024 Page 35 of 38
8
As to Count 5 of the Superseding Indictment, we find the Defendant
CAROLYN DENISE WADE:
NOT GUILTY ______ GUILTY ______
As to Count 8 of the Superseding Indictment, we find the Defendant
CAROLYN DENISE WADE:
NOT GUILTY ______ GUILTY ______
As to Count 9 of the Superseding Indictment, we find the Defendant
CAROLYN DENISE WADE:
NOT GUILTY ______ GUILTY ______
SO SAY WE ALL
Foreperson (please sign)
Date:
Case 0:23-cr-60173-KMW Document 160 Entered on FLSD Docket 09/25/2024 Page 36 of 38
9
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
CASE NO. 23-60173-CR-KMW(s) (GRAHAM)
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
vs.
CAROLYN DENISE WADE and
TRACY D. WADE,
Defendants.
____________________________________________/
VERDICT
We, the Jury in the above-captioned case, unanimously find as follows:
As to Count 1 of the Superseding Indictment, we find the Defendant
TRACY D. WADE:
NOT GUILTY ______ GUILTY ______
As to Count 2 of the Superseding Indictment, we find the Defendant
TRACY D. WADE::
NOT GUILTY ______ GUILTY ______
As to Count 3 of the Superseding Indictment, we find the Defendant
TRACY D. WADE::
NOT GUILTY ______ GUILTY ______
Case 0:23-cr-60173-KMW Document 160 Entered on FLSD Docket 09/25/2024 Page 37 of 38
10
As to Count 4 of the Superseding Indictment, we find the Defendant
TRACY D. WADE::
NOT GUILTY ______ GUILTY ______
As to Count 6 of the Superseding Indictment, we find the Defendant
TRACY D. WADE::
NOT GUILTY ______ GUILTY ______
As to Count 7 of the Superseding Indictment, we find the Defendant
TRACY D. WADE::
NOT GUILTY ______ GUILTY ______
As to Count 10 of the Superseding Indictment, we find the Defendant
TRACY D. WADE:
NOT GUILTY ______ GUILTY ______
SO SAY WE ALL
Foreperson (please sign)
Date:
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