United States v. Rodney Joseph, Jr.

MEMORANDUM

Defendants-Appellants Rodney Joseph, Jr. and Ethan Motta appeal their convictions under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (“RICO”) statute, 18 U.S.C. §§ 1961-1968 , and the Violent Crime in Aid of Racketeering (“VICAR”) statute, id. § 1959. Joseph also appeals from the district court’s orders denying his motions for a new trial. We have jurisdiction over these appeals pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291 . Finding no error in the district court’s rulings, we affirm the convictions and the orders denying a new trial.

Joseph and Motta were members of groups competing to provide security for illegal gambling rooms in Honolulu, Hawaii. In 2003, they successfully took over the security for rooms owned and operated by Kai Ming Wang from a group run by Lepo Taliese, but Taliese re-asserted control in early 2004. On January 7, 2004, the two groups met at a golf course in Oahu. Joseph, Motta, and co-defendant Kevin Gonsalves shot Taliese and two other men from Taliese’s group. Taliese and one of the other men died. The jury convicted Joseph and Motta of conducting racketeering activity, conspiring to conduct racketeering activity, operating an illegal gambling room,…