DARREN JOSEPH TINKER v. STATE OF FLORIDA ( 2022 )


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  •        DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA
    FOURTH DISTRICT
    DARREN JOSEPH TINKER,
    Appellant,
    v.
    STATE OF FLORIDA,
    Appellee.
    No. 4D19-3232
    [June 8, 2022]
    Appeal from the Circuit Court for the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit,
    Broward County; Barbara Anne McCarthy, Judge; L.T. Case No. 18-
    005619-CF-10A.
    Antony P. Ryan, Regional Counsel, and Siobhan Helene Shea, Special
    Assistant Regional Counsel, Office of Criminal Conflict and Civil Regional
    Counsel, West Palm Beach, for appellant.
    Ashley Moody, Attorney General, Tallahassee, and Richard Valuntas,
    Assistant Attorney General, West Palm Beach, for appellee.
    CONNER, C.J.
    Darren Joseph Tinker (“Defendant”) appeals his judgments and
    sentences after a jury found him guilty of multiple counts related to an
    alleged scheme involving Defendant and his parents. Defendant raises
    seven issues on appeal. However, because one issue is dispositive and
    requires reversal, the remainder of the issues are moot. We hold that the
    evidence was insufficient to allow the charges to proceed to determination
    by a jury. The trial court erred in denying Defendant’s motion for
    judgment of acquittal.
    Background
    Defendant, his mother, and his father were charged with multiple
    counts related to an alleged scheme whereby companies created by
    Defendant’s father obtained properties via fraudulent deeds.1 Defendant
    was a vice president of Global Management Consulting Group Corp.
    (“Global Management”) for at least some period during which the scheme
    was alleged to have spanned. Defendant’s father was president of Global
    Management and Defendant’s mother was also vice president of the
    company. Defendant’s father and mother were also listed as corporate
    officers of a related corporation, Global Homebuyers LLC (“Global Home
    Buyers”) (collectively, “the Global companies”). The three co-defendants
    lived in one of the properties obtained in the scheme.
    The case proceeded to a jury trial with all three co-defendants
    represented by the same attorney. Defendant was charged with multiple
    counts of grand theft of residential properties, criminal use of personal
    identification information of both living and deceased persons, and filing
    false documents or records against real property. The State acknowledged
    that some of the business conducted by the Global companies was
    legitimate. However, it alleged that the Global companies, through
    Defendant and his parents, also perpetrated fraud. During the trial, copies
    of deeds which were signed by Defendant either as a representative of
    Global Management or as a witness were introduced into evidence to show
    Defendant’s participation in the criminal scheme. A power of attorney
    used in the scheme which bore Defendant’s signature as a witness was
    also introduced into evidence, as well as an eviction notice signed by
    Defendant as a representative of Global Management for one of the
    properties which it fraudulently obtained and then rented. Additionally, a
    security visitor log was introduced into evidence from the Broward County
    Governmental Center with Defendant’s name listed on seven dates, which
    the State contended proved multiple instances of Defendant recording
    fraudulent documents as part of the scheme.
    Defendant did not contest that the various documents the State entered
    at trial were fraudulent. Instead, Defendant’s theory of defense was that
    he had no knowledge of the fraudulent activity and that the fraud had been
    perpetrated by a rogue employee of Global Management, along with the
    help of several other individuals.
    Defendant was twenty-four years old at the time of trial. His father
    testified that Defendant started working for the family business in high
    1 Defendant’s mother and father also appealed their judgments and sentences.
    Along with this opinion, we also issue a consolidated opinion reversing the
    mother’s and father’s cases and remanding for a new trial. See Tinker v. State,
    4D19-3235 and 4D19-3233 (Fla. 4th DCA June 8, 2022).
    2
    school, ran errands, and cleaned the office. Additionally, he performed
    limited customer service by answering customer questions. Defendant
    testified he was fired multiple times by his father because he had a terrible
    work ethic. His father made him a vice president of Global Management
    to keep the appearance of a family business, but he had no duties as vice
    president. The State presented no evidence to conflict with the testimony
    of Defendant and his parents about his limited role in the family business.
    After its initial presentation of evidence, the State rested, and
    Defendant moved for a judgment of acquittal. He argued that his name
    came up in the investigation only because he worked for the family
    company; his name on the visitor log at the recording office did not show
    guilt; the State did not prove the purported signatures on documents were
    his; he was only fourteen years old when the alleged fraudulent scheme
    began; and there was no evidence that he knew of a fraudulent scheme or
    that information in the documents filed for recording was fraudulent. The
    motion was renewed at the conclusion of all evidence, incorporating the
    same arguments. The trial court denied both motions.
    The jury found Defendant guilty of twelve counts of unlawful filing of a
    false document; twenty-seven counts of criminal use of personal
    identification information; thirteen counts of criminal use of a deceased
    person’s personal identification information; and fifteen counts of grand
    theft, for a total of sixty-seven convictions. The trial court granted
    Defendant’s motion for downward departure for sentencing and sentenced
    Defendant to twenty years in prison, followed by twenty years of probation.
    Defendant gave notice of appeal.
    Appellate Analysis
    “We review the denial of a motion for judgment of acquittal de novo.”
    Demus v. State, 
    281 So. 3d 505
    , 507-08 (Fla. 4th DCA 2019). “The
    question presented by such a motion is whether, in a light most favorable
    to the State, the evidence is legally sufficient to support the charge.” Bright
    v. State, 
    191 So. 3d 497
    , 498 (Fla. 1st DCA 2016). In other words, “an
    appellate court must ‘view[] the evidence in the light most favorable to the
    State’ and, maintaining this perspective, ask whether ‘a rational trier of
    fact could have found the existence of the elements of the crime beyond a
    reasonable doubt.’” Bush v. State, 
    295 So. 3d 179
    , 200 (Fla. 2020)
    (alteration in original) (quoting Rogers v. State, 
    285 So. 3d 872
    , 891 (Fla.
    2019)).
    The State also alleged that Defendant acted as a principal. “In order to
    be guilty as a principal for a crime physically committed by another, one
    3
    must intend that the crime be committed and do some act to assist the
    other person in actually committing the crime.” Staten v. State, 
    519 So. 2d 622
    , 624 (Fla. 1988).
    “In resisting a judgment of acquittal, the state can rely on any evidence
    adduced, even evidence later determined to have been erroneously
    admitted.” Pryear v. State, 
    243 So. 3d 479
    , 484 (Fla. 1st DCA 2018)
    (quoting State v. Brockman, 
    827 So. 2d 299
    , 302 (Fla. 1st DCA 2002)). “A
    defendant is not entitled to a judgment of acquittal ‘merely because
    evidence that is critical to the court’s finding of sufficiency was improperly
    admitted.’” 
    Id.
     (quoting Barton v. State, 
    704 So. 2d 569
    , 573 (Fla. 1st DCA
    1997)).
    On appeal, Defendant does not frame his arguments around specific
    counts. Instead, he frames his arguments around various categories of
    evidence, contending that the State was unable to prove that he had the
    requisite knowledge of the “scheme” to support guilt on the counts against
    him.
    In response, the State argues on appeal, as it did below, that five
    categories of evidence support Defendant’s guilt: (1) he was a corporate
    officer of Global Management; (2) he physically recorded some of the
    fraudulent instruments; (3) he “sign[ed] and/or witness[ed] various
    fraudulent documents”; (4) he lived with his parents, co-defendants in the
    scheme, in one of the homes that was obtained by Global Management via
    fraudulent documents; and (5) he signed an eviction notice for one of the
    tenants living in one of the properties obtained by fraud. Notably, during
    closing argument, the State admitted that Defendant was guilty to “a lesser
    degree” than his parents.
    As to the substantive crimes charged, we address the categories of
    evidence relied upon by the State.
    Criminal Use of Personal Identification Information and a Deceased Person’s
    Personal Identification Information
    “[T]he elements of fraudulent use of personal identification information
    are: (1) willfully and fraudulently using or possessing with intent to
    fraudulently use; (2) another person’s personal identification information;
    and (3) without that person’s authorization or prior consent.” Sibley v.
    State, 
    955 So. 2d 1222
    , 1226 (Fla. 5th DCA 2007); see also § 817.568(2)(c),
    Fla. Stat. (2018); Fla. Std. Jury Instr. (Crim.) 20.13.
    4
    Although no case in Florida has addressed or interpreted section
    817.568(8)(c), Florida Statutes (2018), the offense of criminal use of a
    deceased individual’s personal identification information, the wording of
    subsection (8)(c) is virtually the same as subsection (2)(c), thus the
    elements are the same, except that the crime of criminal use of a deceased
    person’s identification information requires that the victim is deceased,
    rather than a living individual. Compare § 817.568(2)(c), Fla. Stat. (2018),
    with § 817.568(8)(c), Fla. Stat. (2018).
    The first element is the only one at issue. As to this crime, “‘[w]illfully’
    means intentionally, knowingly, and purposely.” Fla. Std. Jury Instrs.
    (Crim.) 20.13, 20.17 (emphasis added). “‘Fraudulently’ means purposely
    or intentionally suppressing the truth or perpetrating a deception or both.”
    Id.
    The State’s strongest evidence against Defendant as to the first element
    was that he signed 2 certain deeds and a power of attorney. However, for
    two reasons, Defendant’s signature on the documents is insufficient
    evidence that Defendant had knowledge of any fraudulent scheme.
    First, Defendant’s signature does not appear on any documents as a
    notary. Therefore, his signature was not certifying that he had satisfactory
    evidence that the person signing the document was in fact the person
    whom he or she purported to be. See § 117.05(5), Fla. Stat. (2018) (“A
    notary public may not notarize a signature on a document unless he or
    she personally knows, or has satisfactory evidence, that the person whose
    signature is to be notarized is the individual who is described in and who
    is executing the instrument.”).
    Second, Defendant’s signature appears on seven documents admitted
    into evidence by the State as either a witness or signor on behalf of Global
    Management. Two exhibits are duplicates. Of the remaining five
    documents, four are deeds transferring properties between the related
    Global companies. More importantly, no one testified that the signatures
    within the five documents were fraudulent, as the signors were all Global
    Management representatives.
    2Defendant also challenges the State’s evidence that it was his signature on these
    documents. However, although the trial court may have erred in allowing a
    detective who was not a handwriting expert to identify Defendant’s signature, the
    State may still rely on this evidence in combatting Defendant’s motion for
    judgment of acquittal. See Pryear, 243 So. 3d at 484.
    5
    Despite no testimony of fraudulent signatures, one of the four deeds
    did indicate possible fraud within the document. Specifically, while that
    deed is dated in 2010, Defendant’s mother signed as a notary on the deed
    and her notary stamp reflects that her commission expires in 2017. There
    was evidence that notary commissions are valid for only four years,
    indicating potential fraud within this deed given the discrepancy between
    the date of the document and the date of the expiration of the notary
    commission. However, any fraud regarding the date of expiration of the
    notary’s commission does not support an inference that Defendant had
    knowledge of any fraud with the notarization. We doubt that the average
    citizen pays attention to the expiration date on the notary’s stamp when
    the citizen’s signature as a party is acknowledged by a notary or added as
    a witness to a party signing, particularly because typically the notary signs
    last and typically the notary stamp is applied after the notary signs.
    Additionally, Defendant signed the deed with the suspect notary
    expiration date as a subscribing witness. The signature of two subscribing
    witnesses is required on a real estate conveyance. § 689.01, Fla. Stat.
    (2018). However, the signature of a subscribing witness does not certify
    that any information contained within the document is correct, but
    instead, simply vouches for the other signatures on the document. See
    Subscribing Witness, Black’s Law Dictionary (11th ed. 2019) (“Someone
    who witnesses the signatures on an instrument and signs at the end of
    the instrument to that effect.”); see also Attesting Witness, Black’s Law
    Dictionary (11th ed. 2019) (“Someone who vouches for the authenticity of
    another’s signature by signing an instrument that the other has signed.”).
    Again, because no one testified that the signatures on any of the deeds
    which Defendant signed were fraudulent, no evidence supports an
    inference that Defendant had knowledge of fraud.
    The fifth exhibit was a power of attorney purportedly signed by
    Defendant as an attesting witness. The power of attorney granted Global
    Management powers regarding a specific parcel of real property. While the
    State submitted evidence of fraudulent information in relation to the
    property associated with the power of attorney, the State did not submit
    any evidence that the power of attorney contained any fraud. And the
    State did not submit any evidence that Defendant knew of any fraudulent
    information in relation to the property.
    Therefore, although the State submitted evidence that properties were
    obtained by the Global companies through fraudulent documents, the
    State did not submit any evidence upon which a rational juror could find
    beyond a reasonable doubt that Defendant had knowledge of fraudulent
    activity. Just because Defendant signed or witnessed a deed from one
    6
    Global entity to another entity does not provide even circumstantial
    evidence that he knew fraudulent activity was involved in the transaction.
    The State did not submit any evidence that Defendant knew the
    background or substance of any of the documents on which his signature
    appears or he filed for recording.
    As to the State’s contention that evidence that Defendant (1) was a
    corporate officer for Global Management during some portion of the years
    the fraudulent activity occurred, (2) recorded some of the fraudulent
    documents, (3) lived in one of the homes that was obtained by fraud, and
    (4) signed an eviction notice for one of the properties, we conclude that
    none of such evidence, singularly or in combination, is sufficient to prove
    beyond a reasonable doubt that Defendant knew of fraudulent activity to
    effectuate or assist the criminal scheme.
    The fact that Defendant was listed as a corporate officer in one of his
    father’s corporations is not sufficient to prove knowledge of criminal
    activity. The State argues a presumption exists that Defendant knew of
    the fraudulent actions of Global Management as a corporate officer, citing
    to United Bonding Insurance Co. v. Dura-Stress, Inc., 
    243 So. 2d 244
     (Fla.
    2d DCA 1971). However, United Bonding is a civil case which concluded
    that a corporate officer’s affidavit was not insufficient because he did not
    state that the affidavit was made from his own personal knowledge. 
    Id. at 246
    . The Second District said:
    It is generally held that when an officer of a corporation makes
    an affidavit in its behalf, it is not necessary that he should
    state the sources of his knowledge, or information and belief.
    An officer must be possessed of the requisite knowledge, but
    such knowledge on his part is presumed.
    
    Id.
     (citation omitted). However, regarding presumptive knowledge, a
    distinct difference exists between the scenario of a corporate officer
    executing an affidavit (inherently a statement of facts) and a corporate
    officer signing a document pertaining to a parcel of real property as a party
    or witness, including an attesting witness. Simply stated, United Bonding
    does not support the contention that, in a criminal case, each corporate
    officer of a company should be presumed to have knowledge of criminal
    activity charged in relation to corporate acts.
    Additionally, the State did not submit any evidence in this case to show
    that Defendant had any responsibilities for or knowledge of fraudulent
    activity because of his position as corporate officer, or that his position
    was anything more than a name on paper. Cf. State v. Petagine, 
    290 So. 7
    3d 991, 994 (Fla. 1st DCA 2020) (finding evidence sufficient to survive a
    motion to dismiss where the defendant was the leader of the executive
    council of a fraternity, directed all fraternity activities, and “had the
    organizational and actual authority to stop all acts of hazing conducted by
    all members of the [f]raternity”).
    The fact that Defendant lived with his family in one of the houses which
    was obtained through fraudulent documents also does not support that
    he had any knowledge or involvement in a scheme. The State did not
    submit any evidence that Defendant was anything other than a young
    person living in his parents’ house. We doubt that children from high
    school age to age twenty-four necessarily know the intricate details of the
    ownership interest in their parents’ home, particularly if a corporate entity
    owns the home.
    Finally, the fact that Defendant recorded some of the fraudulent deeds
    does not provide evidence that he did so with the knowledge or intent to
    defraud. Cf. Watkins v. State, 
    826 So. 2d 471
    , 474–75 (Fla. 1st DCA 2002)
    (finding that the trial court erred in denying the defendant’s motion for
    judgment of acquittal as principal to a charge of forgery where, although
    there was evidence that the defendant uttered the counterfeit check, there
    was no evidence he “falsely made, altered, forged or counterfeited the
    check or that he did some act or said some word that was intended to and
    did incite or cause another individual to counterfeit the check”).
    Similarly, the State’s evidence that Defendant signed an eviction
    document does not demonstrate that he had knowledge that the Global
    companies obtained ownership of that property by fraud. These are
    actions which would have occurred in the regular course of business
    handling real properties. The State did not contend at trial that all the
    Global companies’ business involved fraud, and evidence was submitted
    that the Global companies engaged in some legitimate business. The
    actions which the State alleges support Defendant’s conviction do not
    indicate that Defendant had any knowledge of any fraudulent transactions
    in addition to legitimate transactions. Thus, without more, the evidence
    which the State submitted does not provide a sufficient basis upon which
    a rational juror could find beyond a reasonable doubt that Defendant knew
    or intended fraud.
    We agree with Defendant that Javellana v. State, 
    168 So. 3d 283
     (Fla.
    4th DCA 2015), a case with analogous facts, is instructive. In Javellana,
    the defendant was charged with financial exploitation of an elderly or
    disabled adult. Id. at 284. The defendant and his wife, a co-defendant,
    were well acquainted with the victim, an elderly woman with “a vast
    8
    financial estate.” Id. The wife worked at an investment firm and began
    assisting with the victim’s account in the early 1980s. Id. In the mid-
    1990s, the victim executed a will, including several trusts, which provided
    for long-term care of the victim’s adult children who were incapable of
    independent living. Id. Beginning in 2008, the victim made multiple
    amendments to her estate documents, through an attorney who was a
    “good friend” of the wife. Id. The wife referred the victim to her attorney
    friend. Id. The defendant and the wife also witnessed the victim’s
    execution of some amendments to her estate documents, and the
    defendant would “chauffeur[]” the victim on errands. Id. The amendments
    resulted in the defendant and the wife being residual beneficiaries of the
    victim’s estate. Id.
    After noting that the defendant was charged as a principal, we
    concluded that the evidence against him was insufficient to support a
    conviction:
    While we do not decide whether there was sufficient evidence
    to establish that the defendant’s wife exploited [the victim], we
    find the evidence was insufficient, however, to allow the jury
    to infer that the defendant aided and abetted or otherwise
    willingly participated in any such exploitation. The state
    points to no evidence establishing that the defendant was ever
    aware that [the victim] was amending her estate documents
    to benefit the defendant and his wife. There was no evidence
    that the defendant was involved in arranging the appointment
    for a court-ordered mental competency evaluation or that the
    defendant even spoke to his wife about [the victim’s] estate.
    There was simply no evidence that the defendant knew
    anything about [the victim’s] estate or of any plan by his wife
    to exploit [the victim]; thus, there was no evidence of his
    conscious intent that the crime be committed.
    Id. at 285. 3
    Like Javellana, even if (1) Defendant received a residual financial
    benefit of the fraud because of his position as an officer in Global
    Management; (2) served as a witness on documents (without proof of
    knowledge of fraud); (3) lived in his parents’ house, obtained by fraud; and
    3In Javellana, our analysis additionally opined that the State’s case did not rebut
    the defendant’s reasonable hypothesis of innocence. 168 So. 3d at 285. This
    additional basis for reversal was under the old special standard for circumstantial
    evidence.
    9
    (4) his family members were part of a scheme, we hold that such evidence,
    singularly and in combination, is insufficient to support an inference
    beyond a reasonable doubt that Defendant had any knowledge that fraud
    was occurring.
    Unlawful Filing of Documents or Records Against Real Property
    Pertinent to the facts of this case, the crime of unlawful filing of
    documents or records against real property has three elements: (1) the
    defendant filed an instrument; (2) at the time, the defendant had the intent
    to defraud or harass another; and (3) the instrument contained a
    materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation that
    purported to affect an owner’s interest in the property described in the
    instrument. In re Standard Jury Instructions in Criminal Cases-Report No.
    2016-02, 
    199 So. 3d 234
    , 239 (Fla. 2016).
    On the second element—the intent to defraud and harass another—the
    State’s evidence fails. Although Criminal Standard Jury Instruction 20.22
    does not contain any instructions on the intent to defraud or harass
    element of the crime, clearly a person cannot intend to engage in
    fraudulent activity without knowledge of the fraudulent nature of the
    activity. Cf. Anchor Prop. & Cas. Ins. Co. v. Trif, 
    322 So. 3d 663
    , 675 (Fla.
    4th DCA 2021) (“Indeed, in jurisprudence, ‘the word “false” implies
    something more than mere untruth: it imports knowledge and a specific
    intent to deceive.’” (quoting State v. Tedesco, 
    397 A.2d 1352
    , 1358 (Conn.
    1978))).
    Again, viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to the State, no
    rational juror could find beyond a reasonable doubt that Defendant had
    any knowledge of fraud, let alone that it was his intent to perpetrate
    deception. No evidence was presented that Defendant signed or presented
    documents to knowingly certify any information he knew to be fraudulent.
    No evidence was presented that he knowingly witnessed a fraudulent
    document. Moreover, for the same reasons discussed above, the State’s
    additional evidence regarding Defendant’s residence, his name listed as an
    officer for his father’s company, and his recording of several fraudulent
    documents, is not sufficient to establish his knowledge, and therefore, his
    intent to engage in unlawful filing of documents or records against real
    property.
    Grand Theft
    10
    Finally, the three foundational elements for a charge of grand theft 4 are:
    (1) knowingly (2) obtaining or using, or endeavoring to obtain
    or use, property of another (3) with intent to deprive the
    person of a right to the property or a benefit therefrom, or to
    appropriate the property to one’s own use or to the use of any
    person not entitled thereto.
    Pizzo v. State, 
    945 So. 2d 1203
    , 1207 (Fla. 2006) (quoting Donovan v. State,
    
    572 So. 2d 522
    , 526 (Fla. 5th DCA 1990)). For the same reasons as with
    the other counts filed against Defendant, the evidence described above
    does not support a finding that Defendant had the requisite knowledge or
    intent.
    Conclusion
    Accordingly, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the
    State, a rational juror could not have found the existence of the knowledge
    and intent elements of each of the crimes charged against Defendant
    beyond a reasonable doubt. See Bush, 295 So. 3d at 200. We hold that
    the trial court erred in denying Defendant’s motion for judgment of
    acquittal as to all the charges against him, and reverse and remand for the
    trial court to vacate the judgments and sentences entered against
    Defendant and for entry of a judgment of acquittal as to all charges.
    Reversed and remanded for entry of a judgment of acquittal.
    GROSS and MAY, JJ., concur.
    *         *         *
    Not final until disposition of timely filed motion for rehearing.
    4 Defendant was charged with monetary theft, which includes an additional
    element. However, that element is not at issue.
    11