United States v. Samuel Manarite and Jeanne Manarite

Samuel and Jeanne Manarite appeal their convictions for conspiracy, money laundering, and interstate transportation and receipt of stolen property. They contend that the trial court erred in (1) denying their motions for judgment of acquittal, (2) refusing to instruct the jury on entrapment, (3) denying Jeanne Manarite’s motion to sever, (4) admitting evidence of Samuel Manarite’s parole status, and (5) assessing their sentences. We reverse the Manarites’ conspiracy convictions, vacate their sentences, and remand the case for resentencing.

I.

FACTS AND PROCEEDINGS BELOW

This case involves three criminal schemes that developed as a result of a sting operation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Las Vegas, Nevada, viz., a casino chip-cashing scheme, a casino credit scam, and the burglary of a fictitious drug dealer’s boat.

Under the FBI’s direction, an informant, Richard McLaughlin, set out to “get close” to Samuel Manarite. Manarite had an extensive criminal record and was reputed to have ties to the Mafia. They first met in December 1991, when McLaughlin approached Ma-narite to sell him some jewelry. Though Manarite had intermittent suspicions that…