United States v. William Sisack

On his appeal from a conviction by a jury on five counts of giving false testimony before a grand jury [ 18 U.S.C. § 1623 ], Sisack argues (1) that the government failed to prove that the grand jury which called appellant to testify was investigating matters properly before á federal grand jury, (2) that the government failed to prove that his statements before the grand jury were material to its investigation and (3) that the prosecution witnesses were so lacking in credibility that their testimony could not support the verdict.

We affirm the conviction on all counts, direct the clerk to issue the mandate to the district court forthwith, and indicate that we will not entertain a petition for rehearing.

Sisack is a sergeant in the San Francisco Police Department. He was called before a federal grand jury which was considering possible violations of the Hobbs Act [ 18 U.S.C. § 1951 ]. He denied receiving money and other gifts from several named owners of local bars, some of which catered to homosexuals.

At his trial, the bar owners testified that they gave Sisack monthly installments or gifts apparently in return for noninterference from the police. The government also…