U.S. v. Hicks

Record supported defendant’s conviction on RICO charge arising out of scheme to use defendant’s and others’ positions as police officers to steal drugs and guns from pushers and to extort money from them. While defendant surmised that jury did not fully understand elements of RICO charge, defendant did not challenge sufficiency of indictment, did not object to any jury instructions or request additional instructions to help jurors understand different concepts, and did not object to prosecutor’s closing arguments about what was needed to be proved. Ct. also rejected defendant’s contention that record failed to support his theft of money belonging to United States conviction, where defendant claimed that govt. was required to prove beyond reasonable doubt that he was aware that money he stole belonged to U.S. government.