No. 19-6840

Manuel Antonio Severino v. United States

Lower Court: Eleventh Circuit
Docketed: 2019-12-04
Status: Denied
Type: IFP
Response WaivedIFP Experienced Counsel
Tags: circuit-split criminal-law criminal-prosecution legal-duty mens-rea statutory-interpretation tax-fraud willfulness
Latest Conference: 2020-01-10
Question Presented (from Petition)

Whether, in a prosecution for aiding and assisting in the preparation or filing of false tax returns under 26 U.S.C. § 7206(2), the government is required to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the accused voluntarily and intentionally violated a known legal duty as required by this Court's precedent; or whether, as the Eleventh Circuit held here, it is sufficient if the government merely proves a lower mens rea standard by proving that the accused simply acted with the intent to do something the law forbids?

Question Presented (AI Summary)

Whether, in a prosecution for aiding and assisting in the preparation or filing of false tax returns under 26 U.S.C. § 7206(2), the government is required to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the accused voluntarily and intentionally violated a known legal duty as required by this Court's precedent; or whether, as the Eleventh Circuit held here, it is sufficient if the government merely proves a lower mens rea standard by proving that the accused simply acted with the intent to do something the law forbids?

Docket Entries

2020-01-13
Petition DENIED.
2019-12-23
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 1/10/2020.
2019-12-18
Waiver of right of respondent United States of America to respond filed.
2019-12-02
Petition for a writ of certiorari and motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed. (Response due January 3, 2020)

Attorneys

Manuel Severino
Bernardo LopezFederal Public Defender, Petitioner
United States of America
Noel J. FranciscoSolicitor General, Respondent