United States v. Richard D. Barnett Virgil R. Drake

POLITZ, Circuit Judge:

Richard D. Barnett and Virgil R. Drake appeal convictions for conspiracy to commit murder for hire in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 371 and 1958, and for aiding and abetting each other in attempted murder for hire in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1958 and 2. For the reasons assigned we affirm the convictions of Barnett and reverse the convictions of Drake.

Background

The record establishes that the relevant events began in early July 1997 in Belize City, Belize where Barnett, an American citizen, had been working for several months. He was scheduled.to return to the United States…