Legal Definitions - omnibus count

An omnibus count refers to a single charge within a legal document, such as an indictment or complaint, that encompasses multiple distinct but related acts, events, or individuals. Instead of listing each specific instance as a separate count, an omnibus count groups them together under one broad accusation. This approach is often used for efficiency, particularly when the alleged conduct involves a series of similar actions over time or a group of defendants involved in a common scheme.

• Example 1 (Conspiracy): A grand jury indicts five individuals for a large-scale drug trafficking operation. Instead of charging each individual separately for every single drug transaction they were involved in, the indictment includes one omnibus count for "Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances." This single count alleges that all five defendants conspired together over a specific period to distribute various illegal drugs, encompassing numerous individual acts of planning, transportation, and sale.

  Explanation: This illustrates an omnibus count because a single charge (conspiracy) covers the collective actions of multiple defendants and numerous underlying criminal acts (individual drug transactions, planning, etc.) that are all part of the same overarching scheme.

• Example 2 (Fraud): A prosecutor charges a financial advisor with investment fraud. Over several years, the advisor allegedly defrauded dozens of clients by misrepresenting investment risks and diverting funds. Rather than filing hundreds of separate counts for each fraudulent transaction involving each client, the indictment contains an omnibus count for "Scheme to Defraud," which broadly covers the advisor's pattern of deceptive practices against multiple victims over the entire period.

  Explanation: Here, the omnibus count consolidates a multitude of individual fraudulent acts against numerous victims into one comprehensive charge, reflecting a continuous course of conduct rather than isolated incidents.

• Example 3 (Environmental Violation): A manufacturing company is accused of illegally dumping various hazardous waste materials into a local river over several months. The regulatory agency files a complaint that includes an omnibus count for "Violation of Environmental Protection Laws." This single count covers the multiple instances of dumping different types of pollutants on various dates, treating them as a continuous violation of environmental regulations.

  Explanation: This example demonstrates an omnibus count by grouping together multiple distinct acts of illegal dumping (different materials, different dates) under one broad charge, recognizing them as part of a sustained pattern of environmental non-compliance.