United States v. Odom , 252 F.3d 1289 ( 2001 )


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  •                                                                             [PUBLISH]
    IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
    FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT                            FILED
    U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
    ____________                     ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
    MAY 31, 2001
    THOMAS K. KAHN
    No. 98-6241                           CLERK
    ____________
    D.C. Docket No. 97-00157-CR-1
    UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
    Plaintiff-Appellee,
    versus
    ALAN ODOM, BRANDY NICOLE BOONE,
    Defendants-Appellants.
    ____________
    Appeals from the United States District Court
    for the Southern District of Alabama
    ____________
    (May 31, 2001)
    Before BIRCH and BLACK, Circuit Judges, and NESBITT*, District Judge.
    NESBITT, District Judge:
    *
    Honorable Lenore C. Nesbitt, U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of Florida,
    sitting by designation.
    Defendants-Appellants Brandy Boone and Alan Odom appeal from their
    criminal convictions for conspiracy to commit arson and for conspiracy to use fire
    to commit a felony prosecutable in a United States court. Both Defendants
    challenge their conviction under 
    18 U.S.C. § 844
    (i), contending that the United
    States failed to prove that St. Joseph’s Baptist Church, the church which the
    Defendants were convicted of burning, had a sufficient connection to interstate
    commerce. Both Defendants also challenge their conviction under 
    18 U.S.C. § 844
    (h)(1), contending that the indictment insufficiently defined the elements of the
    offense and the jury’s verdict was inconsistent. Defendant Boone also challenges
    the order requiring her to pay restitution. For the reasons stated below, we reverse
    the conviction under § 844(i) and affirm on all other counts.
    I. BACKGROUND
    A. Statement of Facts
    On the evening of June 30, 1997, Defendants-Appellants Odom and Boone
    attended a party in Little River, Alabama, a rural community in southern Alabama.
    The partygoers, including Boone and Odom, consumed a large quantity of alcohol.
    Around 10 or 11 p.m., a number of the partygoers, including Odom and Boone, left
    the party in three vehicles with the purpose of finding an abandoned car and setting
    it on fire. The group obtained gasoline from a local service station and then went
    2
    in search of an abandoned car. After being unable to locate the abandoned car, the
    three vehicles pulled up alongside one another at an intersection and Boone
    suggested “Let’s burn the nigger church.”
    All three vehicles drove directly from the intersection to St. Joseph’s Baptist
    Church, which was just down the road. Odom and Michael Woods broke into the
    church and set fire to a sofa and some curtains. One of the partygoers convinced
    the others to extinguish the fire and not burn down the church. After extinguishing
    this fire, all of the partygoers left the church grounds. Unbeknownst to Boone or
    the others, Odom and Woods returned in a short time to finish the job they started
    – to burn down the church – which they successfully accomplished.
    B. Proceedings Below
    A grand jury in the Southern District of Alabama issued a ten count
    indictment charging Odom, Boone and others with conspiracy to commit an
    offense against the United States (
    18 U.S.C. § 371
    ), damaging religious property
    because of the religious character of the property (
    18 U.S.C. § 247
    (a)(1)), use of
    fire or explosive to commit a felony prosecutable in federal court (
    18 U.S.C. § 844
    (h)(1)), damage or destruction by means of fire or explosive of any property
    used in interstate commerce or in any activity affecting interstate commerce (
    18 U.S.C. § 844
    (i)) and aiding and abetting an offense against the United States (18
    
    3 U.S.C. § 2
    ).
    At trial, the government presented the following evidence of St. Joseph’s
    Baptist Church’s connection to interstate commerce: (1) one Bible, three hymnals
    and an unspecified number of Sunday School materials in the church had been
    purchased from the National Baptist Publishing Board in Nashville, Tennessee; (2)
    natural gas used to heat the church was purchased in Alabama, but originated in
    Mississippi; (3) the church received donations from the pastor’s brother and sister-
    in-law who reside in Detroit, Michigan; (4) the church was a dues-paying member
    of the First Eastern Shore Missionary Baptist Church Association, an intrastate
    church association, which, in turn, chose delegates to attend the Alabama State
    Baptist Convention, which, in turn, chose delegates to attend the National Baptist
    Convention. There was no evidence that any member of St. Joseph’s congregation
    had ever been elected to attend the state or national conventions. There was no
    evidence that any interstate traveler had ever visited St. Joseph’s Church.
    After the government produced all of its evidence supporting the interstate
    commerce nexus, defense counsel moved for judgment of acquittal on the § 844(i)
    count contending that the government had failed to present sufficient evidence of
    the requisite nexus to interstate commerce. The trial court held that the principles
    of United States v. Lopez, 
    514 U.S. 549
     (1995) did not apply and that the
    4
    government had met its jurisdictional burden.
    The jury returned a verdict convicting Odom of conspiracy to violate 
    18 U.S.C. § 844
    (i) and 844(h)(1) and, in two separate counts, of violating and
    attempting to violate both of those statutes. The jury found Boone guilty of
    conspiring to violate 
    18 U.S.C. § 844
    (i) and conspiring to willfully use fire to
    commit a felony prosecutable in a United States court under 
    18 U.S.C. § 844
    (h)(1),
    in violation of 
    18 U.S.C. § 371
    . After the jury verdict, defense counsel moved to
    set aside the jury’s verdict with respect to the § 844(h)(1) conspiracy conviction on
    the ground that the verdict was inconsistent. The district court denied that motion.
    Pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 2K1.4, which has a guideline range of 33-41 months
    (offense level 20, criminal history category I), the district court sentenced Boone to
    41 months imprisonment, followed by a three-year supervised release term with the
    special condition of 300 hours of community service. The court also ordered
    Boone to pay $96,836 restitution to St. Joseph’s Baptist Church jointly and
    severally with three co-defendants.
    II. DISCUSSION
    A. Section 844(i) & Interstate Commerce Requirement
    Defendants Odom and Boone challenge the application of 
    18 U.S.C. § 844
    (i)
    to the arson of St. Joseph’s Baptist Church contending that an insufficient
    5
    connection exists between the arson of St. Joseph’s Church and interstate
    commerce for the statute to be constitutionally applied. “A fundamental and
    longstanding principle of judicial restraint requires that courts avoid reaching
    constitutional questions in advance of the necessity of deciding them.” Lyng v.
    Northwest Indian Cemetery Protective Ass’n, 
    485 U.S. 439
    , 445 (1988). This
    principle requires that a decision on a constitutional question is appropriate only
    after addressing the statutory questions. 
    Id. at 446
    . Thus, here, we must determine
    whether the government met its burden under § 844(i) before addressing whether
    the statutory requirements satisfy the interstate commerce clause of the
    Constitution.
    Section 844 prohibits the malicious damaging or destroying or attempting to
    damage or destroy, by means of fire or explosive, any building used in interstate
    commerce or in any activity affecting interstate commerce. 
    18 U.S.C. § 844
    (i).
    The Supreme Court recently clarified in Jones v. United States, 
    120 S. Ct. 1904
    (2000), that the qualifying words “used in” signaled that Congress did not invoke
    its full authority under the Commerce Clause. 
    Id. at 1909-10
    . Section 844(i) does
    not cover the destruction of buildings whose damage might affect interstate
    commerce. 
    Id. at 1910
    . Rather § 844(i) is limited to buildings used in interstate
    commerce. Id. Therefore, § 844(i) requires the government to prove that St.
    6
    Joseph’s Church was used in interstate commerce or an activity affecting interstate
    commerce.
    The Jones court set forth the method to determine whether damage or
    destruction of a building is properly prosecutable under § 844(i). Id. The proper
    inquiry “is into the function of the building itself, and then a determination of
    whether that function affects interstate commerce.” Id. (quoting United States v.
    Ryan, 
    9 F.3d 660
    , 675 (8th Cir. 1993) (Arnold, C.J., concurring in part and
    dissenting in part)). This determination involves a three-part inquiry: (1) What is
    the function of the building? (2) Is the function of the building involved in
    commerce? (3) Does the commerce in which the building is involved sufficiently
    affect interstate commerce?
    1. Function of the Building
    There is no dispute that building owned by St. Joseph’s Church functioned
    as a church. The congregation used this building for regular worship services one
    Sunday a month, Sunday school classes on a weekly basis and Bible studies and
    prayer meetings one night each week. Additionally, regular choir practices and
    occasional funerals were held in the church. To enable the church to perform these
    functions, St. Joseph’s Church (1) purchased one Bible, three hymnals and an
    unspecified number of Sunday School materials from the National Baptist
    7
    Publishing Board in Tennessee; (2) used natural gas that originated in Mississippi;
    (3) received donations from out-of-state; and (4) paid dues to an intrastate
    organization which in turn was part of an interstate organization.
    2. Involvement in Commerce
    The legislative history of § 844(i) reveals that the statute was crafted
    specifically to include some non-business property such as police stations and
    churches. Russell v. United States, 
    471 U.S. 858
    , 860 (1985). While § 844(i)
    excludes no particular type of building, the property must be “actively employ[ed]
    for commercial purposes.” Jones, 
    120 S. Ct. at 1910
    . The question here is whether
    St. Joseph’s Church was sufficiently involved in interstate commerce so that the
    destruction of this church is covered by § 844(i).
    Churches are not commonly considered a business enterprise; nonetheless,
    churches can and do engage in commerce. The “business” or “commerce” of a
    church involves the solicitation and receipt of donations, and the provision of
    spiritual, social, community, educational (religious or non-religious) and other
    charitable services. See, e.g., United States v. Grassie, 
    237 F.3d 1199
    , 1204 (10th
    Cir. 2001) (explaining how the church buildings were used for a broad range of
    religious, cultural, social, recreational, educational and financial activities). The
    question of whether a building is used in commerce or affects commerce does not
    8
    turn merely on whether the activity is engaged in for a profit. Cf. Camps
    Newfound/Owatonna v. Town of Harrison, 
    520 U.S. 564
    , 584-85 (1997)
    (concluding that the commerce clause applies to charitable and non-profit entities).
    To require a profit motive would exclude not only universities, museums, schools,
    think tanks, police and fire stations, but also many hospitals, trade and professional
    organizations, lobbying organizations, and the non-profit, non-governmental
    organizations that epitomize commerce and capitalism: stock1 and commodity2
    exchanges and the World Trade Organization.3 Cf. 
    id. at 585
    ; Grassie, 
    237 F.3d 1199
    , 1210 n.7. In general, churches engage in activities and provide services to
    their members, to their community and to the public at large; churches solicit
    contributions to provide these services; and they purchase goods necessary to
    provide these services. Accordingly, the evidence proving that a church building is
    used in or affects interstate commerce must relate to these activities -- i.e. whereby
    it engages in activities relating to its “business” as a church.
    1
    See, e.g., NYSE, About the NYSE, at http://www.nyse.com/ about/about.html (last
    visited Feb. 7, 2001). The New York Stock Exchange has been an incorporated non-profit
    corporation since 1971. 
    Id.
    2
    See, e.g., Chicago Board of Trade, About CBOT, at http://
    www.cbot.com/cbot/www/page/0,1398,10+10+83,00.html (last visited May 14, 2001). The
    Chicago Board of Trade, the world’s oldest commodity futures exchange, presently operates as
    self-governing, self-regulated, not-for-profit, non-stock corporation. 
    Id.
    3
    See World Trade Organization, What is the World Trade Organization, at
    http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/ tif_e/fact1_e.htm (last visited Feb. 7, 2001).
    9
    The purchase and receipt of goods or services necessary for or common to
    the maintenance of any building, such as gas, electricity, insurance, or mortgage
    loans, do not prove that the function of the building is to engage in commerce. See
    Jones, 
    120 S. Ct. at 1910-11
    . Just as the Jones Court determined that the purchase
    of natural gas could not rise to level of a private home being “used in or affecting
    commerce,” 
    id.,
     so too here, the mere receipt of natural gas, whether intrastate or
    interstate, is insufficient to show that St. Joseph’s Church was used in an activity
    affecting commerce. On the other hand, the receipt of donations, the purchase of
    hymnals and payment of dues are the type of commercial activities by which a
    church would conduct its business as a church, and therefore, engage in commerce.
    3. Involvement in Interstate Commerce
    The mere engagement in commercial activities may not necessarily provide
    the requisite nexus between the function of the building and interstate commerce.
    See United States v. Ryan, 
    227 F.3d 1058
    , 1061 (8th Cir. 2000) (explaining that a
    commercial building must still have an active connection to interstate commerce to
    be covered by § 844(i); see, e.g., id. at 1062-63 (concluding a vacant former
    commercial establishment failed to create a sufficient interstate commerce nexus
    under § 844(i)); United States v. Rea, 
    223 F.3d 741
    , 743 (8th Cir. 2000) (finding
    that merely because the building is church property does not mean that it meets the
    10
    interstate commerce requirement for § 844(i)).
    “[I]t is appropriate to avoid the constitutional question that would arise” if §
    844(i) were construed to extend to local criminal conduct. Jones, 
    120 S. Ct. at 1912
    .
    To avoid a constitutional problem requires interpretation of § 844(i) in accord with the
    requirements of the Commerce Clause. Cf. id. The Jones Court specifically instructed
    that § 844(i) should be construed, in accordance with United States v. Lopez, 
    514 U.S. 549
    , 567 (1995), to require a distinction between what is truly national and what is
    truly local. Jones, 
    120 S. Ct. at 1911-12
    .
    The presence of a jurisdictional element in § 844(i) enabled the Court in Jones
    to avoid a constitutional commerce clause analysis mandated by Lopez. Id. at 1912;
    see also Lopez, 
    514 U.S. at 562
     (explaining that a statute’s jurisdictional element
    might establish that the legislation was limited to “specific” incidents with explicit
    connections to interstate commerce). In construing a statute such as § 844(i), courts
    should presume, absent clear evidence to the contrary, that Congress did not intend
    to obliterate the distinction between national and local authority. Id. Therefore, the
    statute must be interpreted in such a way so it does not encompass “paradigmatic
    common-law state crime.” Id.
    Allowing the government to meet the interstate commerce requirement through
    only a nominal showing of a connection to interstate commerce would do as much to
    11
    “completely obliterate” the distinction between national and local authority as if no
    jurisdictional requirement existed at all. See Andrew St. Laurent, Reconstituting
    United States v. Lopez: Another Look at Federal Criminal Law, 
    31 Colum. J.L. & Soc. Probs. 61
    , 112 (1998) (“A purely nominal jurisdictional requirement ... does
    nothing to prevent the shifting of the [federal-state] balance ... [a]s virtually all
    criminal actions ... involve the use of some object that has passed through interstate
    commerce.”); see also Jones, 
    120 S. Ct. at 1911
     (warning that if minimal connections
    to interstate commerce sufficed to trigger § 844(i), the language “used in” would have
    no office); Morrison, 
    120 S. Ct. at 1752
     (advising of the importance of maintaining
    a distinction between national and local interests). The presence of a jurisdictional
    element may preserve the constitutionality of the statute so long as a case-by-case
    analysis requires sufficient proof of a connection to interstate commerce. Otherwise,
    Congress could circumvent the requirement of the Constitution’s interstate commerce
    clause by inserting a jurisdictional element into every statute and allowing the
    government to rely on the most minimal proof of that element.
    Rather, § 844(i) requires that covered property is employed actively, not merely
    in commerce, but in interstate commerce. Ryan, 
    227 F.3d at 1062
     (explaining that the
    building must be actively employed in interstate commerce at the time of the fire). A
    federal statute may regulate purely intrastate activity without demonstrating its
    12
    specific impact on interstate commerce, only if it regulates economic activity.
    Morrison, 
    120 S. Ct. at 1750
    ; United States v. Lopez, 
    514 U.S. 549
    , 559-61 (1995).
    Section 844(i) regulates non-economic activity, arson. The government, therefore,
    must show that this arson affects interstate commerce by showing how the function
    of this particular building was used in or affected interstate commerce.
    To be considered actively employed in interstate commerce, the function of a
    building must have more than a passive, past, or passing connection to interstate
    commerce. Jones, 
    120 S. Ct. at 1910
    . The Jones court observed every building is
    constructed with supplies that have moved in interstate commerce. 
    Id.
     Likewise,
    every building, every business, and every person in the nation, has received money or
    goods that traveled in interstate commerce or is a member of some organization that
    directly or indirectly is involved in interstate commerce.         Thus, to meet the
    jurisdictional requirement, the government must show that the function of the property
    involves the active engagement in commerce and the property either has a direct and
    regular connection to interstate commerce, see, e.g., Grassie, 
    237 F.3d at 1212
    (finding “a settled, regular pattern” of use of truck in interstate commerce sufficed
    although not actively employed in interstate commerce at the “precise time of the
    arson”), or a substantial connection to interstate commerce, see, e.g., United States v.
    Gaydos, 
    108 F.3d 505
    , 510 (3d Cir. 1995) (explaining that significant connections to
    13
    out-of-state factors could satisfy the interstate commerce nexus under § 844(i)).
    Here, the government offered evidence that the church engaged in interstate
    commerce by (1) receiving donations from two out-of-state donors, (2) utilizing a
    handful of Bibles and prayer books that had been purchased from an out-of-state
    source, and (3) indirectly contributing to an out-of-state church organization through
    its membership in the in-state church organization. These “connections” to interstate
    commerce are too passive, too minimal and too indirect to substantially affect
    interstate commerce.
    Alternatively, the government contends that even if the link between the arson
    of St. Joseph’s Church in particular and interstate commerce is insufficient, the
    aggregate effect of arson of church property suffices if it substantially impacts
    interstate commerce. Indeed, in United States v. Dascenzo, 
    152 F.3d 1300
     (11th Cir.
    1998), this Court suggested that only a “minimal effect on interstate commerce” was
    required under § 844(i) so long as the effect of arson on the particular type of property
    had an aggregate effect on interstate commerce. Id. at 1302-03. Because arson of
    church property substantially affects interstate commerce in the aggregate, the
    government contends that this statute is properly applied to the arson of St. Joseph’s
    Church.
    Yet, in United States v. Morrison, 
    120 S. Ct. 1740
     (2000), the Supreme Court
    14
    expressed great doubt as to whether aggregation should apply to any non-economic
    activity. See 
    id. at 1751
    . While the Court declined to adopt a per se rule against
    aggregating the effects of any non-economic activity, the Court observed that thus far,
    aggregation had only been upheld in cases where the regulated activity was economic
    in nature. Id.; e.g., Katenbach v. McClung, 
    379 U.S. 294
     (1964) (upholding
    regulation of restaurant’s discriminatory commercial practice because of aggregate
    affect created a highly restrictive effect on interstate travel); Heart of Atlanta, Inc. v.
    United States, 
    379 U.S. 241
     (1964) (same regarding hotel’s discriminatory practice);
    Wickard v. Filburn, 
    317 U.S. 111
     (1942) (sustaining regulation of manufacture of
    wheat because of aggregate effect on wheat production). The purpose of aggregation
    is to allow regulation of purely intrastate activity where the absence of such regulation
    would undercut a larger economic regulatory scheme affecting interstate commerce.
    Lopez, 
    514 U.S. at 561
    . No regulatory scheme regulating an economic activity is
    present here.
    Regarding non-economic criminal activity, the Morrison court clearly rejected
    Congress’ ability to “regulate [such] conduct based solely on that conduct’s aggregate
    effect on interstate commerce.” 
    Id.
             Thus, if the government cannot meet the
    jurisdictional requirement in a criminal statute regulating non-economic activity, it
    may not rely on the aggregate effect of that conduct.            Accordingly, here the
    15
    government may not rely on the aggregate effect of arson on churches to establish the
    requisite nexus with St. Joseph’s Baptist Church.
    The Government has failed to set forth sufficient evidence establishing that St.
    Joseph’s Baptist Church, the building destroyed by Defendants’ act of arson, was used
    in or affected interstate commerce according to the requirements of § 844(i).
    Accordingly, Defendants’ convictions under § 844(i) are reversed.
    B. Vagueness of the Indictment
    Defendant Boone challenges Count I of the indictment, which charges her with
    conspiracy to use fire to commit a felony prosecutable in a federal court violating §
    844(h)(1). Defendant Boone contends that because Count I does not specify in which
    predicate felony, § 247(a)(1), § 247(c) or § 844(i), the government alleged Boone used
    fire to violate § 844(h)(1), Count I was unconstitutionally vague.
    Due process requires an indictment to provide notice sufficient to allow the
    defendant to prepare an adequate defense. United States v. Lehder-Rivas, 
    955 F.2d 1510
    , 1519 (11th Cir. 1992). Predicate felonies do not need to be listed in the
    indictment so long as the defendant has actual notice of the charge. Id.; see also
    United States v. Johnson, 
    982 F.2d 1192
    , 1197 (8th Cir. 1992); United States v.
    Zavala, 
    839 F.2d 523
    , 527 (9th Cir. 1988). Even an inadequate indictment satisfies
    due process if the defendant has actual notice, so that she suffers no prejudice. United
    16
    States v. Becton, 
    751 F.2d 250
    , 257 (7th Cir. 1984).
    In this case, Count I sets forth all of the underlying facts concerning the three
    felonies which the government charged the defendants with conspiring to commit by
    use of fire in violation of 
    18 U.S.C. § 844
    (h)(1): (1) intentional damage to religious
    real property in and affecting interstate commerce based on its religious character, 
    18 U.S.C. § 247
    (a)(1); (2) intentional damage to religious real property because of the
    race and color of individuals associated with the property, 
    18 U.S.C. § 247
    (c); and (3)
    malicious damage by fire of a building used in interstate commerce, 
    18 U.S.C. § 844
    (i). Defendant Boone knew that she was charged with conspiring to set fire to St.
    Joseph’s Baptist Church. Counts IV charged one predicate felony as a separate
    substantive count and Count V specified two of the predicate felonies. Therefore,
    Boone does not and cannot claim that she did not have notice of these felonies or that
    she was unable to mount a defense to these felonies. Accordingly, the indictment was
    not unconstitutionally vague.
    C. Inconsistent Verdicts
    Defendants Boone and Odom challenge the jury’s verdict convicting them of
    conspiracy to violate 
    18 U.S.C. § 844
    (h)(1), but acquitting them of violating the
    underlying predicate felonies as inconsistent verdicts. Nearly seventy years ago,
    Justice Holmes, writing for the Supreme Court, explained: “Consistency in the verdict
    17
    is not necessary.” Dunn v. United States, 
    284 U.S. 390
    , 393 (1932). As each count
    in an indictment is regarded as a separate indictment, merely the jury’s choice to
    acquit on one charge does not have a res judicata effect on any other separate count.
    
    Id.
     Justice Holmes further explained that “[t]he most that can be said [of an
    inconsistent verdict] is that the verdict shows that either in the acquittal or the
    convictions the jury did not speak their real conclusions, but that does not show that
    they were not convinced of the defendant’s guilt.” 
    Id.
             In other words, the jury
    compromised.
    This principle was more recently affirmed by United States v. Powell, 
    469 U.S. 57
     (1984). In Powell, the defendant was charged with possession with the intent to
    distribute cocaine and using the telephone in committing and facilitating certain
    felonies – i.e. conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to distribute. 
    Id. at 60
    . The
    jury acquitted the defendant of the former, but convicted her of the latter. 
    Id.
     The
    Supreme Court held the rule set forth in Dunn even applies to verdicts, such as the one
    here, that acquit on a predicate offense while convicting on the compound offense.
    
    Id. at 64
    . Defendants’ convictions for conspiring to violate 
    18 U.S.C. § 844
    (h)(1) in
    violation of 
    18 U.S.C. § 371
     will stand regardless of their acquittal on any or all of the
    other counts. Accordingly, Defendants Boone’s and Odom’s convictions under this
    count are affirmed.
    18
    D. Restitution
    Defendant Boone challenges the district court’s ordering her to pay, jointly and
    severally with Odom and others, over $96,000 in restitution to St. Joseph’s Baptist
    Church. Defendant Boone claims that the facts establish that she withdrew from the
    conspiracy and therefore, do not support the district court’s restitution order.
    Ordinarily, this Court reviews a district court’s restitution order for abuse of
    discretion. United States v. Davis, 
    117 F.3d 459
    , 462 (11th Cir. 1997). If a defendant
    fails to challenge a restitution order at sentencing, she waives that objection. 
    Id.
     In
    such a case, this Court reviews for plain error. 
    Id.
     Defendant Boone admits that she
    did not raise the issue below and we accordingly review for plain error.
    A restitution order may order payment of losses consistent with the common
    law of conspiracy. Namely, a defendant convicted of participation in a conspiracy
    is liable not only for her own acts, but also those reasonably foreseeable acts of others
    committed in furtherance of the conspiracy. 
    Id. at 462-63
    . A participant remains
    liable until the conspiracy ends or the participant withdraws. 
    Id.
             Here, Boone
    contends that she withdrew from the conspiracy once she left the church and that it
    was unforeseeable that Odom and others would return to the church to continue the
    arson of the church.
    A conspirator’s participation in a conspiracy is presumed to continue until all
    19
    activity related to the conspiracy ceases. United States v. Starrett, 
    55 F.3d 1525
    , 1550
    (11th Cir. 1995). Consequently, a defendant has the burden of proving (1) that she
    took affirmative acts inconsistent with the object of the conspiracy and (2)
    communicated those acts or her desire to withdraw to her co-conspirators (or disclosed
    the scheme to law enforcement). United States v. United States Gypsum, 
    438 U.S. 422
    , 464-466 (1978)(emphasis added); Starrett, 
    55 F.3d at 1550
    . The presumption
    here is that the conspiracy to burn the church continued. Merely leaving the church
    grounds did not necessarily end the conspiracy, nor her participation in the conspiracy.
    Boone took no affirmative acts inconsistent with the conspiracy: she did not put the
    original fire out; she did not convince the others to leave; and she did not announce
    to the others that she had changed her mind about the original plan to “burn the nigger
    church.” She is, therefore, appropriately liable for the acts of the other members of
    the conspiracy. Accordingly, the district court’s restitution order holding Boone
    jointly and severally liable with the other conspirators is appropriate and affirmed.
    III. CONCLUSION
    For the foregoing reasons, we reverse Appellants’ convictions under § 844(i)
    because the government failed to present sufficient proof that St. Joseph’s Church was
    used in or affected interstate commerce. We affirm the Appellants’ convictions under
    844(h)(1) because the indictment was not unconstitutionally vague nor the verdict
    20
    inconsistent. Finally, we affirm the district court’s restitution order because Appellant
    Boone failed to establish that she withdrew from the conspiracy; therefore, Boone is
    jointly and severally liable for the acts of her co-conspirators.
    AFFIRMED in PART, REVERSED in PART.
    21