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EFTA00102999
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is particularly instructive here. See 386 F. Supp.3d at 366. In denying the motion to dismiss,
Judge Marrero found Stringer's holding "that the identity of a victim was not required to be
contained in an indictment, despite the centrality of the victim's identity to the charge" to be
equally applicable in a case involving sex trafficking charges. Id. at 369. The same logic follows
here. The use of pseudonyms to refer to the minor victims of sexual abuse in Counts One through
Four is no more prejudicial to the defendant here than the absence of victim identities was to the
defendants in Kidd or Stringer. This is especially so when the Government has already provided
the defendant with the birth month and year of each victim, provided discovery regarding each
victim, and has repeatedly indicated that it will provide the defendant with the names of its
witnesses, including the minor victims referenced in the Indictment, four weeks in advance of trial.
Such disclosure will ensure that the defendant is readily able to bar future prosecutions for the
same offense, and together with the elements of each crime and additional details contained in in
the Indictment, is more than sufficient to survive a motion to dismiss.
Second, the Indictment "state[s] the time and place (in approximate terms)" of the conduct
alleged in Counts One through Four. Stavroulakis, 952 F.2d at 693 (quoting Mammal, 513 F.2d
at 1113). In particular, Counts One through Four each allege that the defendant engaged in a
continuing course of conduct involving the enticement and transportation of minors with intent to
commit illegal sex acts, as well as conspiracies to do so, between in or about 1994 and in or about
1997. See Indictment ¶¶ 1, 6, 7, 9-11, 13, 15-17, 19. Courts in the Second Circuit have consistently
upheld indictments containing a range of time rather than a specific date. See, e.g., Kidd, 386. F.
Supp. 3d at 369 ("[Th]e Second Circuit routinely upholds the 'on or about' language used to
describe the window of when a violation occurred." (citing United States v. Nersesian, 824 F.2d
1294, 1323 (2d Cir. 1987)); United States v. Vickers, No. 13 Cr. 128 (RJA) (HKS), 2014 WL
154
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1838255, at *1, 4-6 (W.D.N.Y. May 8, 2014) (denying motion to dismiss indictment charging enticement of a minor, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 2423(a), "between in or about 2000 to in or about 2004," because "the Indictment states all the elements of the crime charged by tracking the statutory language," as well as "the nature of the criminal activity" and "the underlying facts"). "This is especially true in cases of sexual abuse of children: allegations of sexual abuse of underage victims often proceed without specific dates of offenses," including "[i]n cases of continuing sexual abuse," for which "it is sufficient for the indictment to specify a period of time— rather than a specific date—in which defendant committed the acts at issue . . . ." United States v. Young, No. 08 Cr. 285 (KMK), 2008 WL 4178190, at *2 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 4, 2008) (internal quotation mark omitted) (quoting Edwards v. Mazzuca, No. 00 Civ. 2290 (RJS), 2007 WL 2994449, at *5 (S.D.N.Y. Oct. 15, 2007)). Indeed, "[b]ecause minors often are not capable of remembering the exact dates when the alleged acts occurred, `fairly large time windows in the context of child abuse prosecutions are not in conflict with constitutional notice requirements!" Young, 2008 WL 4178190, at *2 (quoting Valentine v. Konteh, 395 F.3d 626, 632 (6th Cir. 2005)). The same is true here. The minor victims in this case cannot reasonably be expected to recall the exact dates when particular instances of abuse took place during their adolescence. This is especially so for Minor Victim-1, who experienced numerous instances of abuse over multiple years of her youth. Providing the approximate ranges of dates during which the offenses took place fully satisfies the requirements of an adequately pled charging instrument. The defendant cites no authority to the contrary, and her motion to dismiss should accordingly be denied. Third, the Indictment lists in clear detail the allegations relevant to each element of every criminal statute for which she is charged. Beyond simply "parroting the language of a federal criminal statute," Resendiz-Ponce, 549 U.S. at 108, the Indictment provides extensive detail 155 EFTA00103180
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regarding how the defendant is alleged to have committed the crimes charged in Counts One
through Four. See Indictment ¶¶ 1-11. Indeed, "by providing Defendant with a narrative of the
manner in which Defendant is alleged to have committed the charged offenses, the Indictment
provides Defendant with more detail than is strictly necessary" under the governing law. United
States v. Kozel, No. 19 Cr. 460 (KMW), 2020 WL 4751498, at *2 (S.D.N.Y. Aug. 17, 2020).
Although the defendant complains that some of the terms used in the speaking portions of
the Indictment are somehow vague, she cites no authority to suggest that her difficulty
comprehending basic language in portions of a charging instrument that do not speak to the
elements of the offense requires dismissal.' Counts One and Three, charging the defendant with
violations of 18 U.S.0 § 371, "clearly contain[] the elements of the offense charged, fairly inform[]
[her] of the charge[s] against [her], and enable[] [her] to plead an acquittal or conviction in bar of
future prosecution for the same offense." United States v. Bunn, 154 F. App'x 227, 229 (2d Cir.
2005). Counts Two and Four, charging violations of 18 U.S.0 §2422 and § 2243, respectively,
similarly contain the elements of those offenses and adequately inform the defendant of the charges
ss Alternatively, the defendant claims that the acts listed throughout the Indictment do not
constitute illegal behavior. In this vein, the defendant makes specific reference to "grooming" as
conduct that is not illegal. (Def. Mot. 12 at 4). The defendant cites no authority for this argument,
which is contrary to Second Circuit law. In particular, the Second Circuit has for many years
found grooming behavior to be a means to "persuade, induce, or entice" minors to engage in illegal
sexual activity. See, e.g., United States v. Thompson, 896 F.3d 155, 173 (2d Cir. 2018) ("Our
precedent, however, supports applying a broad definition of enticement in this context: that
definition would reasonably include Thompson's grooming of the minor victims to act as he
desired with regard to many matters over the months before he made the video."); United States v.
Dorvee, 616 F.3d 174, 180 (2d Cir. 2010) ("We do not believe that the district court was clearly
erroneous in finding, as a matter of fact, that these images were sent as part of a grooming process
to persuade the agent to engage in the type of sexual conduct depicted in the images." (internal
quotation marks and citation omitted)); United States v. Brand, 467 F.3d 179, 203 (2d Cir. 2006)
("Brand's sexual advances and grooming behavior provide additional evidence in support of the
jury's finding that Brand attempted to entice a minor."). In any event, whether grooming alone
constitutes a crime is immaterial to the instant motion, and it will be for the jury to decide whether
the evidence at trial, as a whole, establishes the elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.
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against her. The Indictment also cites the relevant state criminal statute under which the defendant is charged constituting "sexual activity" within the language of both § 2422 and § 2243, specifically, violations of New York Penal Law § 130.55. Indictment ¶9 11(b), 13, 17(b), 19. The defendant cites no authority for her suggestion that by providing additional detail regarding how the defendant committed the charged crimes, the Government is somehow required to provide even more specificity beyond the basic elements of the crimes charged. Absent any such authority, and where there is no suggestion that the Indictment fails to allege the essential elements of each crime charged, there is no basis to dismiss any of the counts in the Indictment. For the foregoing reasons, the defendant's sufficiency challenges to the Indictment fail as a matter of law, and her motion to dismiss Counts One through Four should be denied. VIII. There Is No Basis to Strike Any Portion of the Indictment The defendant moves to strike any reference to Minor Victim-3 from the Indictment, claiming that—contrary to the plain terms of the Indictment—the events involving Minor Victim- 3 are unrelated to the conspiracies charged in Counts One and Three and that some of that the allegations regarding Minor Victim-3 are unduly prejudicial. (Def. Mot. 6). The motion is baseless. First, as the Indictment itself makes clear, the defendant's and Epstein's interactions with Minor Victim-3 were part of a broader scheme and agreement to entice and transport minor victims with intent to commit illegal sex acts. Even if Minor Victim-3 was not ultimately transported as a minor, the core of a conspiracy is an agreement to engage in criminal conduct; there is no legal requirement that the agreed upon crime be completed. Although Minor Victim- 3's experiences cannot alone form the basis of a timely substantive charge, both charged conspiracies include timely overt acts, and it is well established that a charged conspiracy can encompass otherwise time-barred acts so long as at least one overt act in furtherance of the 157 EFTA00103182
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conspiracy is timely. Second, the description of Minor Victim-3's experiences in the Indictment is no more inflammatory or prejudicial than those regarding Minor Victim-1 and Minor Victim-2. Finally, even if evidence regarding Minor Victim-3 were not admissible as direct evidence of the charged conspiracies—which it is—that evidence will be admissible under Federal Rule of Evidence 404(b) to prove the defendant's knowledge, intent, and modus operandi. Accordingly, the motion to strike references to Minor Victim-3 as surplusage should be denied. A. Relevant Facts As alleged in the Indictment, Minor Victim-3 was one of the minor girls whom the defendant groomed to engage in sexual activity with Jeffrey Epstein. Minor Victim-3 was born in . At trial, the Government expects that Minor Victim-3 will testify,' in substance and in part, that when she was , she met the defendant. After meeting Minor Victim- 3, the defendant befriended Minor Victim-3 by, among other things, discussing Minor Victim-3's life and family with Minor Victim-3. As a result, the defendant came to know Minor Victim-3's age. While the Government is proffering these facts for purposes of this Motion, the underlying information, which is contained in the FBI 302 reports of interviews with Minor Victim-3, will be produced to the defense as 3500 material in advance of trial. 158 EFTA00103183
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B. Applicable Law "Although the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure grant the Court authority to strike surplusage from an indictment, see Fed. R. Crim. P. 7(d), li]t has long been the policy of courts within the Southern District to refrain from tampering with indictments."' United States v. Bin Laden, 91 F. Supp. 2d 600, 621 (S.D.N.Y. 2000) (quoting United States v. Jimenez, 824 F. Supp. 351, 369 (S.D.N.Y. 1993)). "Motions to strike surplusage from an indictment will be granted only where the challenged allegations are 'not relevant to the crime charged and are inflammatory or prejudicial.' United States v. Scarpa, 913 F.2d 993, 1013 (2d Cir. 1990) (quoting United States v. Napolitano, 552 F. Supp. 465, 480 (S.D.N.Y. 1982)). "'Ulf evidence of the allegation is admissible and relevant to the charge, then regardless of how prejudicial the language is, it may not be stricken." Id. (brackets in original) (quoting United States v. DePalma, 461 F. Supp. 778, 797 (S.D.N.Y. 1978)); see also United States v. Mulder, 273 F.3d 91, 99 (2d Cir. 2001). "This standard is an exacting one, and only rarely is alleged surplusage stricken from an indictment." 159 EFTA00103184
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Murgio, 209 F. Supp. 3d at 724 (internal quotation marks omitted) (quoting United States v. Smith, 985 F. Supp. 2d 547, 610 (S.D.N.Y. 2014)). In setting forth allegations in an indictment, the Government is not limited to description of only the bare elements of a crime; rather, an indictment may be used to provide background to the charged criminal conduct, to describe the circumstances, means, and methods of an offense, and to describe evidence that is otherwise admissible at trial. Simply put, "[s]tatements providing background are relevant and need not be struck." United States v. Mostafa, 965 F. Supp. 2d 451, 466 (S.D.N.Y. 2013) (citing Mulder, 273 F.3d at 100). Allegations also will not be stricken where they elucidate the circumstances, means, and methods of a charged scheme or would be admissible, in the alternative, under Rule 404(b) of the Federal Rules of Evidence. See United States v. Hernandez, 85 F.3d 1023, 1030 (2d Cir. 1996) (affirming denial of motion to strike surplusage where "[d]efendants' cocaine-related activity was clearly relevant evidence of the organizational structure and method of operation of their heroin conspiracy, and it also tended to establish the nature of the relationship between Defendants and their supplier of heroin, defendant Jose Antonio Hernandez," and citing Rule 404(b)). In terms of timing, "[c]ourts in this district routinely await presentation of the Government's evidence at trial before ruling on a motion to strike." Mostafa, 965 F. Supp. 2d at 467 (citing, inter alia, Scarpa, 913 F.2d at 1012); see also United States v. Ahmed, No. 10 Cr. 131 (PKC), 2011 WL 5041456, at *3 (S.D.N.Y. Oct. 21, 2011). As multiple courts have concluded, "'[t]here is little or no purpose in attempting to predict in advance of trial what evidence will prove admissible or how specific allegations relate to the overall charges." Smith, 985 F. Supp. 2d at 612 (brackets in original) (quoting United States v. Butler, 351 F. Supp. 121, 124 (S.D.N.Y. 2004)). 160 EFTA00103185
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C.
Discussion
The defendant's motion to strike should be denied—or at a minimum deferred until after
the conclusion of the Government's direct case—because all of the challenged allegations pertain
to evidence that will be relevant and admissible at trial, and are not unduly prejudicial.
First, the allegations regarding Minor Victim-3 are properly included in the Indictment's
description of the conspiracies charged in Counts One and Three because evidence of those
incidents is relevant and admissible at trial as direct evidence of the crimes charged. Counts One
and Three allege that the defendant participated in conspiracies with Epstein both to transport
minor victims and to entice minor victims to travel with the intent to commit illegal sex acts.
Indictment¶¶ 9-11, 15-17. In the course and as part of those conspiracies, the defendant groomed
multiple minor victims for sexual abuse by Epstein through multiple methods, including
befriending victims and encouraging minor victims to provide massages to Epstein knowing he
would engage in sex acts with them. Id. ¶¶ I, 4, 7, 14. As detailed in the Indictment, that grooming
was a fundamental part of both conspiracies because it encouraged minor victims to be alone with
and to engage in sex acts with Epstein. Id. ¶¶ I, 4, 14. It follows that the defendant's role grooming
Minor Victim-3 to engage in sex acts with Epstein was a part of and therefore constitutes evidence
of these conspiracies. Id. ¶¶ 7(c), 11(d), 17(d).
The defense claims that because the Indictment does not allege that each element of
substantive violations of 18 U.S.C. §§ 2422 and 2423(a) was met as to Minor Victim-3, her
experiences cannot be direct evidence of the conspiracies to violate those statutes charged in
Counts One and Three. But that argument ignores a fundamental tenet of conspiracy law. It is
axiomatic that a conspiracy does not require a completed substantive crime. See Salinas v. United
States, 522 U.S. 52, 65 (1997) ("It is elementary that a conspiracy may exist and be punished
whether or not the substantive crime ensures, for the conspiracy is a distinct evil, dangerous to the
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public, and so punishable in itself."). Indeed, "[i]t is well settled that the essential elements of the crime of conspiracy are: (1) that the defendant agreed with at least one other person to commit an offense; (2) the defendant knowingly participated in the conspiracy with the specific intent to commit the offenses that were the objects of the conspiracy; and (3) that during the existence of the conspiracy, at least one of the overt acts set forth in the indictment was committed by one or more of the members of the conspiracy in furtherance of the objectives of the conspiracy." United States v. Salarneh, 152 F.3d 88, 145-46 (2d Cir. 1998). Because a conspiracy does not require the completion of a substantive crime, it does not matter whether Minor Victim-3 was ever in fact transported as a minor, or whether the elements of the substantive crimes of transportation an enticement are satisfied as to her. See Salinas, 522 U.S. at 65. What matters is whether the Indictment properly alleges that the defendant agreed to participate in schemes to transport and entice minors to travel with the intent that an illegal sex act would be committed, and whether the allegations at issue are relevant and admissible evidence of that conspiracy. Here, that is plainly the case. As alleged, the defendant's participation in recruiting and grooming Minor Victim-3 to engage in sex acts as a minor with Epstein during the period charged in the Indictment, is itself evidence of the defendant's agreements with Epstein to identify minor girls to entice and transport for purposes of illegal sex acts.' Moreover, the 57 The defendant takes issue with the Indictment's reference to these sex acts as "abuse" because, she asserts, Minor Victim-3 was above the age of consent in the United Kingdom at the time they occurred. The description in the Indictment is factually accurate, however, because Minor Victim- 3 will testify to her subjective experience of these acts with a much older man as traumatic, exploitative, and abusive at trial. While the Government will be careful to avoid suggesting to the jury that any consensual act committed after Minor Victim-3 was at or above the age of consent was itself criminal (as opposed to evidence of the charged conspiracies), to the extent defense counsel wishes to request a particular limiting instruction or to seek authorization for a particular line of cross-examination regarding the legality of any sex acts that took place in London, the appropriate forum to do so is in a motion in litnine. 162 EFTA00103187
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Government further expects Minor Victim-3 will testify that , which is probative of the defendant's intent, in her initial interactions with Minor Victim-3, to entice Minor Victim-3 to travel and be transported for the purpose of engaging in sexual acts.' Thus, even if Minor Victim- 3 did not travel as a minor, the events involving Minor Victim-3 outlined in the Indictment constitute direct and admissible evidence of the agreements between and the relationship of the defendant and Epstein. Because evidence regarding Minor Vitim-3 is therefore relevant and admissible at trial, there is no basis to strike these allegations from the Indictment. See Scarpa, 913 F.2d at 1013. Given the relevance of these allegations, the defendant has not satisfied the "exacting" standard required to justify striking portions of an Indictment. Murgio, 209 F. Supp. 3d at 724 (quoting Smith, 985 F. Supp. 2d at 610). Accordingly, the motion should be denied, or, at the very least, deferred until "presentation of the Government's evidence at trial" after which the Court will have a full understanding of how Minor Victim-3's experiences fit into the charged conspiracies. Mostafa, 965 F. Supp. 2d at 467. The fact that the Government would be precluded, by virtue of the statute of limitations, from bringing a charge based exclusively on the experience of Minor Victim-3 is immaterial. It is well-established that a prosecution for a conspiracy is timely so long as the conspiracy exists and at least one timely overt act is committed in furtherance of the conspiracy within the applicable statute of limitations. See United States v. Salmonese, 352 F.3d 608, 614 (2d Cir. 2003) (citing Grunwald v. United States, 353 U.S. 391, 396-97 (1957)); United States v. Rutkoske, 506 F.3d 170, 174-75 (2d Cir. 2007); United States v. Mason, 479 F. App'x 397, 398 (2d Cir. 2012). 58 egar ess, e su sequent mvitatton emonstrates t e grooming an sex acts in Lon on were part of conspiracies to entice and transport minors. 163 EFTA00103188
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Accordingly, overt acts that may, on their own, be untimely can nevertheless serve as direct evidence of the existence of a charged conspiracy. See, e.g., United States v. Benussi, 216 F. Supp. 2d 299, 301-07, 309 (S.D.N.Y. 2002) (admitting evidence of otherwise untimely acts during conspiracy trial); cf. United States v. Marcus, 628 F.3d 36, 43 (2d Cir. 2010) (declining to vacate a conviction on a statute with only prospective application when "the Government presented post- enactment evidence sufficient to satisfy the elements" in addition to evidence of relevant pre- enactment conduct). Evidence regarding Minor Victim-3 is thus admissible to prove the existence of the conspiracy, even if a conviction could not be supported based on her experiences alone.59 The Government agrees with the defendant that Minor Victim-3 turned 25 before 2003 and, as a result, a substantive count based exclusively on conduct involving Minor Victim-3 is time-barred. As discussed above, however, the conduct involving Minor Victim-1 and Minor Victim-2 alleged in the Indictment is timely. Thus, if the jury concludes that the conspiracies existed, involved either Minor Victim-1 or Minor Victim-2, and included at least one overt act as to either Minor Victim-1 or Minor Victim-2, then Counts One and Three are not time-barred. See Salmonese, 352 F.3d at 614. Moreover, and so as to ensure that any count of conviction is based on timely conduct, the Government would have no objection to an appropriate instruction from " As a fallback argument, the defense cites United States v. Hsia, 24 F. Supp. 2d 14 (D.D.C. 1998), in which a District Judge concluded that alleged overt acts involving concealment or "cover-ups" were not obviously within the scope of the charged conspiracy to defraud the United States by impairing and impeding the Immigration and Naturalization Service. Id. at 20, 24-26. Although the Court denied the motion to strike the alleged surplusage, it ordered the prosecution to provide a bill of particulars regarding the alleged acts of concealment. Id. at 26, 33. The case is readily distinguishable because the alleged surplusage in Hsia involved a completely different type of conduct—obstruction—than that charged in the indictment—fraud. Here, by contrast, the allegations regarding Minor Victim-3 involve conduct that falls within the heartland of the conspiracy: grooming a minor girl to engage in sex acts with Jeffrey Epstein. Moreover, in both the Indictment and in this memorandum, the Government has provided extensive detail regarding Minor Victim-3's anticipated testimony, which avoids any concern that the defendant will be surprised at trial, which was the animating concern in Hsia. See id. at 33. As such, this motion does not offer a basis for a bill of particulars. 164 EFTA00103189
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the Court informing the jury that, to convict on any conspiracy count, it must find at least one overt act in furtherance of the conspiracy that occurred within the statute of limitations. See Benussi, 216 F. Supp. 2d at 309 (describing a similar jury instruction provided for a conspiracy containing some allegations that were time-barred and others that were timely). Second, the allegations regarding Minor Victim-3 in the Indictment are no more inflammatory or prejudicial than those describing the experiences of Minor Victim-1 and Minor Victim-2. The references to "sexual abuse" accurately describe Minor Victim-3's experience of sex acts with Epstein as traumatic, exploitative, and abusive, and she will testify to that effect at trial. Moreover, because these acts were committed in furtherance of the criminal conspiracies charged in the Indictment, it is neither misleading nor prejudicial to imply that this activity involved illegal conduct. More to the point, because evidence regarding Minor Victim-3 "is admissible and relevant to the charge[s]" contained in Counts One and Three of the Indictment, the language describing Minor Victim-3's experiences in the Indictment "may not be stricken" "regardless of how prejudicial the language is . . ." Scarpa, 913 F.2d at 1013 (quoting DePalma, 461 F. Supp. at 797). Finally, even if Minor Victim-3's experiences did not constitute direct evidence of the crimes charged—which they do—this same evidence will also be admissible pursuant to Rule 404(b) to prove the defendant's knowledge, intent, and modus operandi. Federal Rule of Evidence 404(b) provides, in pertinent part: Evidence of any other crime, wrong, or act is not admissible to prove a person's character in order to show that on a particular occasion the person acted in accordance with the character. This evidence may be admissible for another purpose, such as proving motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, absence of mistake, or lack of accident. 165 EFTA00103190
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"[E]vidence of uncharged criminal conduct is not evidence of `other crimes, wrongs, or acts' under Rule 404(b) if that conduct is 'inextricably intertwined with the evidence regarding the charged offense.'" United States v. Quinones, 511 F.3d 289, 309 (2d Cir. 2007) (quoting United States v. Towne, 870 F.2d 880, 886 (2d Cir. 1989)). Where "the indictment contains a conspiracy charge, uncharged acts may be admissible as direct evidence of the conspiracy itself." United States v. Diaz, 176 F.3d 52, 79 (2d Cir. 1999) (internal quotation marks omitted) (quoting United States v. Miller, 116 F.3d 641, 682 (2d Cir. 1997)); see also United States v. Thai, 29 F.3d 785, 812 (2d Cir. 1994). "An act that is alleged to have been done in furtherance of the alleged conspiracy ... is not an `other' act within the meaning of Rule 404(b); rather, it is part of the very act charged." United States v. Concepcion, 983 F.2d 369, 392 (2d Cir. 1992). The Second Circuit "follows the `inclusionary' approach to `other crimes, wrongs, or acts' evidence, under which such evidence is admissible unless it is introduced for the sole purpose of showing the defendant's bad character, or unless it is overly prejudicial under Fed. R. Evid. 403 or not relevant under Fed. R. Evid. 402." United States v. Pascarella, 84 F.3d 61, 69 (2d Cir. 1996) (internal citation omitted); see also United States v. Paulin, 445 F.3d 211, 221 (2d Cir. 2006); United States v. Zackson, 12 F.3d 1178, 1182 (2d Cir. 1993). Under this approach, uncharged acts are admissible in a conspiracy case where they are used to (i) explain the development of the illegal relationship between coconspirators; (ii) explain the mutual criminal trust that existed between coconspirators; and/or (iii) complete the story of the crime charged. See Diaz, 176 F.3d at 80; United States v. Pipola, 83 F.3d 556, 566 (2d Cir. 1996); United States v. Rosa, 11 F.3d 315, 334 (2d Cir. 1993). In addition, evidence of "other acts" is admissible under Rule 404(b) if it (i) is advanced for a proper purpose, "such as proving motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, absence of mistake, or lack of accident," Fed. R. Evid. 166 EFTA00103191
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404(b)(2); (ii) is relevant to the crime for which the defendant is on trial; (iii) has probative value that is not substantially outweighed by any unfair prejudicial effect; and (iv) is admitted with a limiting instruction to the jury, if requested. See Huddleston v. United States, 485 U.S. 681, 691- 92 (1988); United States v. LaP/am, 369 F.3d 153, 156 (2d Cir. 2004). Here, evidence regarding the defendant's interactions with Minor Victim-3 is admissible to prove the defendant's knowledge, intent, and modus operandi, all of which are permissible purposes under Rule 404(b). Testimony regarding the defendant's efforts to recruit and encourage Minor Victim-3 to engage in sex acts with Epstein in the context of massages establishes that the defendant knew of Epstein's attraction to minor girls and knew that Epstein used massage to initiate sexual contact with minor girls. Similarly, testimony regarding the defendant's interactions with Minor Victim-3, including how the defendant befriended Minor Victim-3 and then encouraged her to engage in sex acts with Epstein, establishes that the defendant intended for minor girls to engage in sex acts with Epstein when she befriended them, invited them to travel, and arranged for their travel.' Finally, the details of how the defendant interacted with Minor Victim-3 demonstrates that the defendant had a specific modus operandi when grooming minor girls to engage in sexual activity with Epstein. As with Minor Victim-1 and Minor Victim-2, the defendant asked minor girls details about their lives, normalized sexual topics and activity, and used her presence as an adult woman to convince minor girls that the sexual activity Epstein initiated was normal and acceptable. "The similarity sufficient to admit evidence of past acts to establish a recurring modus operandi need not be complete; it is enough that the characteristics relied upon are sufficiently idiosyncratic to permit a fair inference of a pattern's existence." United 60 Such evidence is particularly probative when it seems apparent from defense filings that the defendant plans to argue that even if she were somehow involved in transporting or traveling with minors, she had no knowledge or intent that they engage in sexual conduct with Epstein. 167 EFTA00103192
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States v. Sliker, 751 F.2d 477, 487 (2d Cir. 1984). Here, the defendant's specific and unique
approach to preparing minor girls to engage in sex acts with Epstein demonstrate the existence of
such an idiosyncratic pattern warranting admission.
Other acts evidence is, like all other evidence, inadmissible under Rule 403 if its probative
value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice. See Fed. R. Evid. 403.
Evidence is unfairly prejudicial, however, "only when it tends to have some adverse effect upon a
defendant beyond tending to prove the fact or issue that justified its admission into evidence."
United States v. Figueroa, 618 F.2d 934, 943 (2d Cir. 1980). Other acts evidence is typically not
unfairly prejudicial where it is not "any more sensational or disturbing than the crimes" with which
the defendant has been charged. United States v. Rolan-Zapata, 916 F.2d 795, 804 (2d Cir. 1990).
Here, as already discussed, evidence regarding Minor Victim-3's experiences with the defendant
and Epstein are no more inflammatory or upsetting than those of Minor Victim-1 and Minor
Victim-2. Those experiences include a wide range of abuse at the hands of Epstein, including
abuse that the defendant witnessed and participated in herself. Evidence regarding similar events
involving Minor Victim-3, who was of a similar age and experienced similar types of sexual
contact, is no more "sensational or disturbing" than the other acts detailed in the Indictment. Id.
Evidence of other acts involving the grooming or abuse of minor victims is regularly admitted for
similar purposes in cases where charges allege sexual activity with minors. See, e.g., United States
v. Vickers, 708 F. App'x 732, 737 (2d Cir. 2017) ("As to the testimony concerning Vickers'
`grooming' of his victims, we conclude that such evidence was admissible even under Rule 404(b),
because it was probative of Vickers' knowledge of how to secure adolescent boys' trust so that he
could sexually abuse them. We identify no abuse of discretion in the district court's decision to
admit all of the challenged testimony [regarding uncharged acts of sexual abuse] under Rule
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403."); United States v. McDarrah, 351 F. App'x 558, 563 (2d Cir. 2009) (affirming admission pursuant to Rule 404(b) of defendant's "e-mail responses to the Craigslist advertisements" for erotic services because the e-mails "were relevant to his knowledge and intent, because he wrote those emails to girls he knew could be minors (he enthusiastically indicated that girls younger than 18 are acceptable) and his e-mails showed his interest in actual sexual conduct"); United States v. Brand, No. 04 Cr. 194 (PKL), 2005 WL 77055, at *5 (S.D.N.Y. Jan. 12, 2005) (admitting "evidence that Brand exhibited an interest in child erotica and child pornography on the intemet in the period leading up to the charged conduct" under Rule 404(b) because evidence was "pertinent to whether he used the intemet in an attempt to engage in sexual conduct with" victim). Accordingly, Rule 403 does not bar the admission of evidence regarding Minor Victim-3, especially given its probative value in demonstrating the defendant's knowledge, intent, and modus operandi. In sum, because evidence regarding Minor Victim-3's experience is admissible both as direct evidence of the conspiracies charged in Counts One and Three and pursuant to Rule 404(b), there is no basis to strike the allegations regarding Minor Victim-3 from the Indictment. IX. The Defendant's Motion to Dismiss Count One or Count Three as Multiplicitous Is Premature The defendant moves to dismiss Counts One or Three on the ground that they are multiplicitous. (Def. Mot. 8). Because the Second Circuit has made clear that a multiplicity challenge does not become timely until after trial, this motion should be denied as premature. A. Relevant Facts Count One charges the defendant with participating in a conspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371, to transport minors with the intent to commit an illegal sex act, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2422. See Indictment ¶¶ 9-11. Count Three charges the defendant with participating in 169 EFTA00103194
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a conspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371, to entice minors to travel with the intent to commit
an illegal sex act, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2423(a). See Indictment ¶t 15-17. In other words,
Count One and Count Three charge the defendant with agreeing to commit two separate and
distinct federal crimes.
B.
Applicable Law
The Double Jeopardy Clause of the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution "protects against
multiple punishments for the same offense." North Carolina v. Pearce, 395 U.S. 711, 717 (1969).
Accordingly, a defendant cannot be sentenced for multiplicitous charges covering the same crime.
"An indictment is multiplicitous when it charges a single offense as an offense multiple times, in
separate counts, when, in law and fact, only one crime has been committed." United States v.
Chacko, 169 F.3d 140, 145 (2d Cir. 1999); see also United States v. Jones, 482 F.3d 60, 72 (2d
Cir. 2006) ("A claim of multiplicity cannot succeed, however, `unless the charged offenses are the
same in fact and in law."' (quoting United States v. Estrada, 320 F.3d 173, 180 (2d Cir. 2003)).
Although the Double Jeopardy Clause does not protect against simultaneous prosecutions for the
same offense, a defendant does have a right not to be punished twice for the same crime. United
States v. Josepliberg, 459 F.3d 350, 355 (2d Cir. 2006) (per curiam). Accordingly, "[i]f the jury
convicts on more than one multiplicitous count, the defendant's right not to suffer multiple
punishments for the same offense will be protected by having the court enter judgment on only
one of the multiplicitous counts." Id. Similarly, where the judgment of conviction has already
been entered on multiplicitous counts, that right is protected by vacating the convictions on all but
one count. Id.
The Second Circuit has clarified that District Courts should not rule on a motion to dismiss
a charge on multiplicity grounds until the time of sentencing. See id. (vacating district court's
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dismissal of count as multiplicitous prior to trial, as such a determination before trial is "at best
premature"). Among other reasons, courts look to "the record as a whole in determining whether
an indictment is in fact multiplicitous," and the record cannot be fully established until trial is
complete. United States v. McCowl'', 562 F.3d 458, 469 (2d Cir. 2009). Additionally, because
double jeopardy is meant to protect a defendant from successive punishments for the same offense,
a multiplicitous count does not violate the Clause unless and until sentence is imposed. See
Josephberg, 459 F.3d at 355 ("Where there has been no prior conviction or acquittal, the Double
Jeopardy Clause does not protect against simultaneous prosecutions for the same offense, so long
as no more than one punishment is eventually imposed.").
Following the Second Circuit's directive, courts in this Circuit regularly defer ruling on a
multiplicity motion until after the conclusion of trial. See, e.g., United States v. Halkbank, No. 15
Cr. 867 (RMB), 2020 WL 5849512, at *9 (S.D.N.Y. Oct. I, 2020) (denying pretrial motion to
dismiss multiplicitous count and noting that "Ic]ourts in this Circuit have routinely denied pre-
trial motions to dismiss potentially multiplicitous counts as premature." (quoting United States v.
Medina, No. 13 Cr. 272 (PGG), 2014 WL 3057917, at *3 (S.D.N.Y. July 7, 2014))); United States
v. Dumitru, No. 18 Cr. 243 (LAK), 2018 WL 3407703, at *1 (S.D.N.Y. June 26, 2018) (denying
pretrial motion to dismiss multiplicitous count in light of "the Circuit's controlling view that the
question of multiplicitousness is properly considered only at a later point in the proceedings");
United States v. Mostafa, 965 F. Supp. 2d 451, 464 (S.D.N.Y. 2013) ("[M]ultiplicity is properly
addressed by the trial court at the sentencing stage."); United States v. Ghavami, No. 10 Cr. 1217
(KMW), 2012 WL 2878126, at *11 (S.D.N.Y. July 13, 2012) ("To the extent that the Indictment
alleges more than one conspiracy . . . , Defendants' multiplicity challenge is premature. Should
the jury convict Defendants on what the Court ultimately determines to be multiplicitous counts,
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the Court will enter judgment on only one of the multiplicitous convictions." (citations omitted));
United States v. Rivera, No. 09 Cr. 619 (SJF), 2011 WL 1429125, at *4 (E.D.N.Y. Apr. 13, 2011)
("Since it is possible that the jury will convict defendants on only one (1) of the respective counts
that they allege are multiplicitous, and acquit defendants on all of the counts with which they allege
that count is multiplicitous, the issue of whether the counts are multiplicitous in violation of the
Double Jeopardy Clause is premature at the pretrial stage.").
C.
Discussion
The defendant's motion to dismiss Counts One or Three of the Indictment as multiplicitous
is, at best, premature. Consistent with the directive of the Second Circuit, this Court should defer
ruling on this motion until after the completion of trial. The additional time will ensure that the
full factual record is developed before the Court conducts the multiplicity analysis, and the motion
may become moot depending on the jury's verdict.
First, the Court cannot conduct the multiplicity analysis before hearing all of the evidence
regarding the charges contained in the Indictment. Prior to trial, the record will not be fully
developed, and the Court cannot conduct the necessary analysis to determine whether the counts
are in fact multiplicitous. Consistent with the directive of the Second Circuit and the consistent
practice in this District, the Court should defer conducting any multiplicity analysis until after
hearing all of the evidence at trial. See Josephberg, 459 F.3d at 355.
Second, the motion may become moot because it is possible that the jury could conclude
that the defendant is guilty of one of the charged conspiracies but not guilty of the other. That is
because each charged conspiracy alleges that the defendant agreed to violate a different criminal
statute. Count One alleges that the defendant agreed to transport minors with the intent that they
engage in illegal sex acts. Count Three alleges that the defendant agreed to entice minors to travel
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with the intent that they engage in illegal sex acts. In other words, Count One requires proof of an agreement to transport, while Count Three requires proof of an agreement to entice. Transportation does not necessarily require enticement, and likewise enticement to travel does not necessarily require transportation. See United States v. Griffith, No. 99 Cr. 786 (HB), 2000 WL 1253265, at *4 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 5, 2000) (denying post-trial motion to dismiss as multiplicitous 18 U.S.C. § 2422 transportation charge and 18 U.S.C. § 2423(a) enticement charge involving same alleged conduct and noting "[t]hat persuasion and transportation involve proof of different facts is hardly contentious"). Here, it is possible that the jury could conclude, after hearing all the evidence, that the defendant agreed to transport one or more minors interstate, but that she did not agree to entice minors to travel. For example, the jury could theoretically conclude that although the defendant agreed to arrange transportation for a minor victim, the defendant herself did not agree to persuade or entice a minor victim to travel. Likewise, the jury could theoretically conclude that the defendant agreed to entice, or encourage, one or more minors to travel interstate, but she did not agree to actually transport or assist in the transportation itself. Although the Government expects to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant in fact agreed both to entice and to transport one or more minor victims, it is possible that the jury may reach a different conclusion. Depending on the inferences the jury draws from the evidence presented at trial, it could convict on one conspiracy count while acquitting on the other, or it could conclude that the defendant agreed both to transport and to entice, in which case it could convict on both counts. That possibility means that a motion to dismiss counts as multiplicitous is premature. Because the Government has the discretion to present to the jury both the theory that the defendant agreed to transport and the theory that the defendant agreed to entice, the defense motion is premature. See Josephberg, 459 F.3d at 173 EFTA00103198