United States of America, and Cross-Appellee v. Paul D. Wood, and Cross-Appellant

BALDOCK, Circuit Judge.

A two-count indictment charged Defendant-appellee, Paul D. Wood, with making false statements to FBI agents, 18 U.S.C. § 1001, and obstruction of justice. Id. § 1503. Both counts were based on alleged false statements Defendant made to FBI agents who, on behalf of a federal grand jury sitting in Arizona, were investigating allegations of corruption against Peter MacDonald, the former Chairman of the Navajo Nation.

At the close of the government’s case, Defendant moved for a judgment of acquittal. The district court raised the issue of whether count 2 — the obstruction of…