United States v. William Walker

PELL, Circuit Judge.

Defendant-appellant William Walker appeals from his conviction of extortion under color of official right in violation of the Hobbs Act, 18 U.S.C. § 1951. 1 Walker’s first trial in November 1979 resulted in a deadlocked jury and was declared a mistrial. A second jury found Walker guilty in December 1979. He was sentenced to six months imprisonment and placed on a three year probation term.

I

William Walker has been employed by the Chicago Fire Department as a firefighter since 1973. Walker’s duties as a firefighter did not include individual inspections of residential units.…