United States v. Horton

GEE, Circuit Judge:

Horton and Reed, convicted by a jury at a joint trial of conspiracy to obstruct commerce by means of extortion in violation of the Hobbs Act,1 appeal. As we shall see, the evidence established that the two conspired and attempted to extort money from a number of large domestic corporations by poisoning their products and threatening to kill their officers and employees. Appellants’ primary complaint to us is that their rights to speedy trial were breached. Other contentions are made as well and will be noticed. We reject them all and affirm both convictions.

Speedy Trial

Horto…