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92.18    Murder-For-Hire

    92.18.1    Whether Jurisdictional Element Of Murder-For-Hire Law Requires Interstate Use Of Interstate Facility (18 USC 1958)


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 VOLUME 7 - CHAPTER 92

    92.18.1    Whether Jurisdictional Element Of Murder-For-Hire Law Requires Interstate Use Of Interstate Facility (18 USC 1958)

PRACTICE NOTE: There is a split in the circuits regarding the jurisdictional element of murder-for-hire per 18 USC 1958. Some circuits have held that the statute’s jurisdictional element is satisfied by proof merely that the defendant made an interstate use of a facility of interstate or foreign commerce. (See cases cited in [NF] United States v. Drury (11th Cir. 9/2/2003, No. 02-12924) 02-12924) 344 F3d 1089.) Other circuits hold that the interstate commerce element requires proof that a cellular telephone system actually used facilities in multiple states to complete a call between two parties in the same state. (Ibid.)