United States v. Gregg Smith

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit

United States v. Gregg Smith

Opinion

In the

United States Court of Appeals For the Seventh Circuit ____________________ Nos. 23-2840, 23-2846 & 23-2849 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff-Appellee, v.

GREGG SMITH, MICHAEL NOWAK, and CHRISTOPHER JORDAN, Defendants-Appellants. ____________________

Appeals from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division. Nos. 1:19-CR-00669-1, 2, 4 — Edmond E. Chang, Judge. ____________________

ARGUED SEPTEMBER 5, 2024 — DECIDED AUGUST 20, 2025 ____________________

Before EASTERBROOK, KIRSCH, and KOLAR, Circuit Judges. KIRSCH, Circuit Judge. Gregg Smith, Michael Nowak, and Christopher Jordan were precious metals futures traders who manipulated the market through an unlawful practice called œ™˜˜ę—, meaning they placed deceptive orders they in- tended to cancel to push the market price a certain direction. At trial, they were all convicted of various crimes in connec- tion with this practice. They appeal their convictions on 2 Nos. 23-2840, 23-2846 & 23-2849

multiple grounds. Finding none of their challenges persua- œ’ŸŽǰȱ ŽȱŠĜ›–ȱŠŒ›˜œœȱ‘Žȱ‹˜Š›ǯ I A Gregg Smith, Michael Nowak, and Christopher Jordan once traded precious metals futures contracts on commodities Ž¡Œ‘Š—Žœȱ ˜™Ž›ŠŽȱ ‹¢ȱ ‘Žȱ ‘’ŒŠ˜ȱ Ž›ŒŠ—’•Žȱ ¡Œ‘Š—Žȱ Group (CME). They each employed a fraudulent scheme, ”—˜ —ȱŠœȱœ™˜˜ę—ǰ to game the system and manipulate the prices of the precious metals futures they traded. ™˜˜ę—ȱ’œȱ™˜œœ’‹•Žȱ‹ŽŒŠžœŽȱ˜ȱ‘Žȱ—Šž›Ž of commodities žž›Žœȱ›Š’—ǯȱȱžž›ŽœȱŒ˜—›ŠŒȱ’œȱŠȱ•ސЕ•¢ȱ‹’—’—ȱА›ŽŽȬ –Ž—ȱ˜ȱ‹ž¢ȱ˜›ȱœŽ••ȱŠȱŒ˜––˜’¢ȱŠȱŠ—ȱА›ŽŽ-upon price on an agreed-upon future date. Commodities futures traders use Š—ȱ Ž•ŽŒ›˜—’Œȱ ™•Š˜›–ȱ ”—˜ —ȱ Šœȱ •˜‹Ž¡ȱ ˜ȱ ŠŒŒŽœœȱ - operated exchanges. These traders ™•ŠŒŽȱ‹’œȱ˜ȱ‹ž¢, ˜›ȱ˜ěŽ›œȱ to sell, ŠȱŒŽ›Š’—ȱ—ž–‹Ž›ȱ˜ȱžž›ŽœȱŒ˜—›ŠŒœȱ˜—ȱ •˜‹Ž¡ȱŠȱŠȱ œ™ŽŒ’ꮍȱ™›’ŒŽȱ˜›ȱ•ŽŸŽ•ǯȱ›Š’—ȱ˜—ȱ •˜‹Ž¡ȱ’œȱŠ—˜—¢–˜žœǰȱŠ—ȱ while some traders employ computer algorithms to place or- ders, others enter their orders manually, as Smith, Nowak, and Jordan did. •˜‹Ž¡ȱŠ•œ˜ȱ™Ž›–’œȱ›ŠŽ›œȱ˜ȱŒŠ—ŒŽ•ȱŠ—ȱ˜›Ȭ Ž›ǰȱ˜›ȱŠ—ȱž—ę••Žȱ ™˜›’˜—ȱ˜ȱŠ—ȱ˜›Ž›ǰȱŠ—¢ȱ’–Žȱ‹Ž˜›Žȱ’ȱ’œȱ executed. The price of futures contracts is ŽŽ›–’—Žȱ‹¢ȱœž™™•¢ȱŠ—ȱ demand: the price will increase if there is more demand than supply for a product, and vice versa. But a fundamental as- sumption on CME exchanges is that every order represents a legitimate, ‹˜—Šȱ ꍎȱ ˜›Ž›ȱ ™•ŠŒŽȱ ’‘ȱ ‘Žȱ ’—Ž—ȱ ˜ȱ ›ŠŽ. Each ˜›Ž›ȱŸ’œ’‹•Žȱ˜—ȱ •˜‹Ž¡ȱ‘Ž›Ž˜›Žȱ’–™ŠŒœȱ‘Žȱ–Š›”Žȱ‹¢ȱ conveying an intent to participate in it at a particular price. Nos. 23-2840, 23-2846 & 23-2849 3

Today, •˜‹Ž¡ȱ œ‘˜ œȱ ŽŸŽ›¢ȱ ŠŸŠ’•Š‹•Žȱ ˜›Ž›ǰȱ ‹žȱ ‘Ž—ȱ Smith, Nowak, and Jordan were traders, it displayed only the Ž—ȱ‹Žœȱ‹’œȱŠ—ȱ‘ŽȱŽ—ȱ‹Žœȱ˜ěŽ›œȱŠȱŠny time. —ȱ‹ŽŒŠžœŽȱ •Š›Ž›ȱšžŠ—’¢ȱ˜›Ž›œȱ ’••ȱ‘ŠŸŽȱŠȱ›ŽŠŽ›ȱŽěŽŒȱ˜—ȱ™›’ŒŽȱ‘Š—ȱ smaller orders will, •˜‹Ž¡ȱŠ••˜ s traders ˜ȱ‹›ŽŠ”ȱž™ȱ•Š›Ž›ȱ ˜›Ž›œȱ’—˜ȱŠȱ—ž–‹Ž›ȱ˜ȱœ–Š••Ž›ȱ˜—Žœȱ‹¢ȱ™•ŠŒ’—ȱœ˜-called ice- ‹Ž›ȱ˜›Ž›œǯȱ —ȱ‘’œȱ Š¢ǰȱ’ŒŽ‹Ž›ȱ˜›Ž›œȱŽ—Š‹•Žȱ›ŠŽ›œȱ˜ȱŒ˜—Ȭ ceal the true size of their order. Although these features were designed to mitigate the impact that large orders would have on the market price, they paved the way for fraudulent schemes to manipulate the market—Žœ™ŽŒ’Š••¢ȱœ™˜˜ę—. ȱœ™˜˜ę—ȱ›ŠŽ›ȱ™•ŠŒŽœ large orders that he does not in- tend to execute, driving the price in a –˜›ŽȱŠŸ˜›Š‹•Žȱ’›ŽŒȬ tion ‹¢ȱ Œ˜––ž—’ŒŠ’—ȱ Š•œŽȱ ’—˜›–Š’˜—ȱ ‘Šȱ ŽŒŽ’ŸŽœȱ ‘Žȱ –Š›”Ž™•ŠŒŽȱŠ‹˜žȱŠŒžŠ•ȱœž™™•¢ȱŠ—ȱŽ–Š—ǯȱThis typically involves four steps. First, the trader places an order, often an ’ŒŽ‹Ž›ȱ˜›Ž›ǰȱ‘Šȱhe genuinely intends to trade. Second, the ›ŠŽ›ȱ™•ŠŒŽœȱŠȱŸ’œ’‹•Žȱœ™˜˜ȱ˜›Ž›ȱ˜—ȱ‘Žȱ˜‘Ž›ȱœ’Žȱ˜ȱ‘Žȱ–Š›Ȭ ket. The trader never intends to trade this order; rather, it is designed to push the –Š›”Žȱ™›’ŒŽȱ˜ȱ‘Žȱ‹Ž—Žęȱ˜ȱ‘Žȱ•ސ’’Ȭ mate order. For instance, if a trader wants ˜ȱ‹ž¢ȱŠȱŠȱ™›’ŒŽȱ ‹Ž•˜ ȱ‘Žȱ–Š›”Žǰȱ‘Žȱ ’••ȱ™•ŠŒŽȱŠȱ•Š›ŽȱœŽ••ȱ˜›Ž›ȱŠȱŠȱ•˜ ȱ™›’ŒŽȱ (or a series of smaller sell orders at descending prices) to push the market down. Third, the market reacts to the illusion of –Š›”Žȱ ŠŒ’Ÿ’¢ȱ Ž—Ž›ŠŽȱ ‹¢ȱ ‘Žȱ œ™˜˜ȱ ˜›Ž›ǰȱ Š••˜ ’—ȱ ‘Žȱ trader to execute the genuine order at his desired price. ˜ž›‘ǰȱ ‘Žȱ ›ŠŽ›ȱ ŒŠ—ŒŽ•œȱ ‘Žȱ œ™˜˜ȱ ˜›Ž›ȱ ‹Ž˜›Žȱ ’ȱ ŒŠ—ȱ ‹Žȱ ꕕŽǯ CME rules ‘ŠŸŽȱ •˜—ȱ ™›˜‘’‹’Žȱ œ™˜˜ę—. In particular, ȱ ž•Žȱ ŚřŘȱ ™›˜‘’‹’œȱ ›ŠŽ›œȱ ›˜–ȱ manipulating or at- tempting to manipulate “prices of exchange futures or 4 Nos. 23-2840, 23-2846 & 23-2849

˜™’˜—œȱŒ˜—›ŠŒœȄDzȱŽ–™•˜¢’—ȱ˜›ȱŠĴŽ–™’—ȱ˜ȱŽ–™•˜¢ȱȃŠ—¢ȱ –Š—’™ž•Š’ŸŽȱŽŸ’ŒŽǰȱœŒ‘Ž–Žȱ˜›ȱŠ›’ęŒŽȱ˜ȱŽ›ŠžȄDzȱand pur- Œ‘Šœ’—ȱ ˜›ȱ œŽ••’—ȱ ˜›ȱ ˜ěŽ›’—ȱ ˜ȱ ™ž›Œ‘ŠœŽȱ ˜›ȱ œŽ••ȱ ȃŽ¡Œ‘Š—Žȱ futures or options contracts or any underlying commodities ˜›ȱœŽŒž›’’Žœȱ˜›ȱ‘Žȱ™ž›™˜œŽȱ˜ȱž™œŽĴ’—ȱ‘ŽȱŽšž’•’‹›’ž–ȱ˜ȱ the market or creating a condition in which prices do not or will not rŽĚŽŒȱŠ’›ȱ–Š›”ŽȱŸŠ•žŽœǯȄȱŒŒ˜›’—•¢ǰȱ‘ŽȱŽŽ—Ȭ ants’ employers have ™˜•’Œ’Žœȱ™›˜‘’‹’’—ȱœ™˜˜ę—ǰȱ‹˜‘ȱex- pressly and implicitly as a form of market manipulation. B Nowak and Smith worked at JPMorgan from 2008 to 2016. Nowak was a managing director who ran the precious metals ›Š’—ȱŽœ”ǰȱœ™•’Ĵ’—ȱ‘’œȱ’–Žȱ‹Ž ŽŽ—ȱŽ ȱ˜›”ȱŠ—ȱ˜—Ȭ don. Smith was an executive director and sat next to Nowak ’—ȱ‘ŽȱŽ ȱ˜›”ȱ˜ĜŒŽǯȱHe joined JPMorgan after it acquired Bear Stearns in 2008. Jordan worked as a precious metals ›ŠŽ›ȱ ’—ȱ ‘Žȱ Ž ȱ ˜›”ȱ˜ĜŒŽȱ‹Ž ŽŽ—ȱŘŖŖŜȱŠ—ȱŘŖŖşǯȱAfter JPMorgan terminated him in 2009, he moved to Credit Suisse, where he worked from March to August 2010. On multiple occasions, Smith, Nowak, and Jordan each placed orders –’››˜›’—ȱ‘Žȱ›Š’—ȱ™ŠĴŽ›—ȱ˜ȱœ™˜˜ę—. That conduct eventually led the government to indict them for var- ’˜žœȱ œ™˜˜ę—-related crimes. Smith and Nowak were each Œ‘Š›Žȱ ’‘ȱ ŠĴŽ–™Žȱ ™›’ŒŽȱ –Š—’™ž•Š’˜—ǰȱ ŝȱ ǯǯǯȱ § 13(a)(2); wire fraud, 18 U.S.C. § 1343; commodities fraud, 18 U.S.C. § 1348(1); and violating the anti-œ™˜˜ę—ȱ™›˜Ÿ’œ’˜—ȱ˜ȱ the Dodd-Frank Actǰȱŝȱǯǯǯȱȗȗ 6c(a)(5)(C) & 13(a)(2). Jordan was charged with wire fraud, 18 U.S.C. § 1343. All three were charged with conspiracyǰȱ‹žȱ—˜—Žȱ Ž›ŽȱŒ˜—Ÿ’ŒŽ. Nos. 23-2840, 23-2846 & 23-2849 5

1 Smith and Nowak were tried together. They did not mean- ingfully contest that their trading activity ›ŽœŽ–‹•Žȱ‘Žȱ˜ž›- œŽ™ȱ™ŠĴŽ›—ȱ˜ȱœ™˜˜ę—ǯȱŠ‘Ž›ǰȱ‘Ž¢ȱŠ›žŽȱ‘Šȱ‘Ž’›ȱ›ŠȬ ’—ȱ Šœȱž••¢ȱŒ˜—œ’œŽ—ȱ ’‘ȱ’——˜ŒŽ—ȱ‹Ž‘ŠŸ’˜›ȱŠ—ȱ‘Šȱ‘Žȱ government could not prove the requisite intent. During a three-week trial, t‘Žȱ ˜ŸŽ›—–Ž—ȱ ™›ŽœŽ—Žȱ œž‹œŠ—’Š•ȱ ŽŸ’Ȭ dence to the contrary. Below, we summarize the evidence rel- evant to this appeal. Kumar Venkataraman, Šȱ ꗊ—ŒŽȱ Ž¡™Ž›ǰ explained how Smith’s and Nowak’s ›Š’—ȱ™ŠĴŽ›—œȱŠ—ȱ›Žœž•Š—ȱꕕȱ›Š’˜œȱ Š•’—Žȱ ’‘ȱ‘Žȱ¢™’ŒŠ•ȱœ™˜˜ę—ȱ™ŠĴŽ›—ǯ In a set of 100 trad- ing episodes ’Ž—’ꮍǰȱ–’‘Ȃœȱœ™˜˜ȱ˜›Ž›œȱ‘ŠȱŠȱꕕȱ›Š’˜ȱ (meaning ‘Žȱ ™Ž›ŒŽ—ŠŽȱ ˜ȱ Œ˜—›ŠŒœȱ ꕕŽǼȱ ˜ȱ ŖǯŗŞƖǰȱ Œ˜–Ȭ ™Š›Žȱ˜ȱŠȱŝşǯŗŗƖȱꕕȱ›Š’˜ȱ˜›ȱ‘’œȱŽ—ž’—Žȱ˜›Ž›œǯȱ˜ Š”Ȃœȱꕕȱ ›Š’˜œȱ Ž›Žȱœ’–’•Š›DZȱŖǯŘŘƖȱ˜›ȱ‘’œȱœ™˜˜ȱ˜›Ž›œȱŠ—ȱşŖǯŗŗƖȱ˜›ȱ his genuine orders. ‘ŽȱŽŽ—Š—œȂȱ‹›˜ŠŽ›ȱ›Š’—ȱœ‘˜ Žȱ ‘’œȱ™ŠĴŽ›—, as well. Deœ™’ŽȱŠ—ȱŠ‹¢œ–Š•ȱꕕȱ›Š’˜ȱ˜—ȱthe spoof orders, Ž—”ŠŠ›Š–Š—ȱ Žœ’ꮍȱ ‘Šȱ Smith and Nowak used this strategy “again and again.” He concluded that Smith and Nowak’s trading strategy was “inconsistent with a design” to ꕕȱthe genuine orders and was instead “designed” to “push the price” of the market and execute the order on the other side. There was no “economically rational” reason for their ™ŠĴŽ—ȱ ’ȱ ‘Ž¢ȱ ’—Ž—Žȱ ˜ȱ ›ŠŽȱ ‘Žȱ œ™˜˜ȱ ˜›Ž›œ, Venkata- raman said. žȱ‹ŽŒŠžœŽȱ‘Žȱ–Š›”Žȱ™Ž›ŒŽ’ŸŽȱ‘Žȱ˜›Ž›œȱŠœȱ genuine, they achieved the intended “shock to the market” and successfully moved the price on the other side. The government also presented the testimony of CME in- vestigator Brian Wika and three of Nowak and Smith’s former coworkers who Š–’ĴŽȱ ˜ȱ œ™˜˜ę—ȱ Š—ȱ Œ˜˜™Ž›ŠŽȱ ’‘ȱ 6 Nos. 23-2840, 23-2846 & 23-2849

authorities. John Edmonds sat next to Smith and Nowak at ˜›Š—Ȃœȱ Ž ȱ ˜›”ȱ ˜ĜŒŽǯȱ Žȱ Žœ’ꮍȱ ‘Šȱ ‘Žȱ ’—ŽœœŽȱ Smith and Nowak spoof regularly, at least several times per day, and that they in fact taught him how to spoof. According ˜ȱ–˜—œǰȱ–’‘ȱ˜—ŒŽȱ˜•ȱ‘’–ȱ‘Šȱ‘Ž¢ȱœ™˜˜Žȱ‹ŽŒŠžœŽȱ “size moves the market” and would complain “[t]hey’re fuck- ’—ȱ‘’Ĵ’—ȱ–ŽȄȱ ‘Ž—ȱœ™˜˜ȱ˜›Ž›œ he placed with the intent to cancel were executed. After a meeting where JPMorgan Œ˜–™•’Š—ŒŽȱ˜ĜŒ’Š•œȱ Š›—Žȱ›ŠŽ›œȱ˜ȱœ˜™ȱœ™˜˜ę—ȱ‹ŽŒŠžœŽȱ regulators were looking into it, Edmonds heard Smith say to another coworkerǰȱȃ‘Ž›Žȱ˜Žœȱ‘Žȱ‹žœ’—ŽœœǯȄȱEdmonds also ›ŽŸ’Ž Žȱ‘Žȱ›Š’—ȱŽ™’œ˜Žœȱ˜ěŽ›Žȱ‹¢ȱ‘Žȱ˜ŸŽ›—–Ž—ȱŠ—ȱ Œ˜—ę›–Žȱ‘Šȱthey –ŠŒ‘Žȱ‘’œȱ˜ —ȱœ™˜˜ę—ȱ™ŠĴŽ›—ǯȱŠœŽȱ on his own experience at JPMorgan, he was unaware of any legitimate non-œ™˜˜ę—ȱŽ¡™•Š—Š’˜—ȱ˜›ȱ‘’œȱ›Š’—ǯ ‘›’œ’Š—ȱ›ž—£ȱ ˜›”Žȱȃœ’Žȱ‹¢ȱœ’ŽȄȱ ’‘ȱ–’‘ǰȱ ‘˜m ‘ŽȱŽœŒ›’‹ŽȱŠœȱ‘’œȱ–Ž—˜›ǯȱ›ž—£ȱŠ–’ĴŽȱ‘Šȱ‘ŽȱŽ—ŠŽȱ ’—ȱœ™˜˜ę—ȱ˜ȱdeceive other market participants. ŽȱŽœ’ꮍȱ that he witnessed Smith spoof “all the time” using the same strategy. Trunz sent a chat to another JPMorgan salesperson ‘Šȱ–’‘ȱ Šœȱȃ‹’’—ȱž™ȱ˜—ȱ‘Žȱžž›Žœȱ›¢’—ȱ˜ȱŽȱœ˜–Žȱ ˜ěǰȄȱ Š—ȱ ˜—ŒŽȱ œŠ ȱ –’‘ȱ ‹ŽŒ˜–Žȱ ȃŠ—›¢Ȅȱ Š—ȱ ȃ‘›˜ ȱ ‘’œȱ glasses against the screen” when his spoof order was exe- cuted. Žȱ ž›‘Ž›ȱ Žœ’ꮍȱ that Nowak spoofed while they ˜›”Žȱ ȃ‹ŠŒ”ȱ ˜ȱ ‹ŠŒ”Ȅȱ Šȱ ˜›Š—ǯȱ And while coaching Trunz ahead of a compliance review, Nowak once warned, ȃŽ–Ž–‹Ž›ǰȱŽŸŽ›¢ȱ˜›Ž›ȱ Žȱ™•ŠŒŽǰȱ Žȱ’—Ž—Žȱ˜ȱ›ŠŽǯȄ Corey Flaum sat alongœ’Žȱ–’‘ȱŠȱŽŠ›ȱŽŠ›—œȱ‹Ž˜›Žȱ’ȱ ŠœȱŠŒšž’›Žȱ‹¢ȱ ˜›Š—ȱ’—ȱŘŖŖŞǯ Flaum also confessed to œ™˜˜ę— Š—ȱŽœ’ꮍȱthat he saw Smith spoof at least several Nos. 23-2840, 23-2846 & 23-2849 ŝ

times per week. •Šž–ȱŽœ’ꮍȱ‘Šȱ–’‘Ȃœȱ›Š’—ȱŽ™’œ˜Žœȱ Ž›ŽȱȃŒŠ›‹˜—ȱŒ˜™’ŽœȄȱ˜ȱ‘’œȱ˜ —ȱœ™˜˜ę—ȱ™ŠĴŽ›—ǯ At various points, Edmonds, Trunz, and Flaum each de- ꗎȱ œ™˜˜ę—ȱ ’—ȱ ‹›˜Šȱ œ›˜”Žœ and ŽœŒ›’‹Žȱ ’œȱ ™ž›™˜œŽœȱ and impact on the market to explain why they spoofed. They Ž›Žȱ Š•œ˜ȱ œ‘˜ —ȱ Œ‘Š›œȱ Ž™’Œ’—ȱ œ™ŽŒ’ęŒȱ ›Š’—ȱ Ž™’œ˜Žœ and opined that Smith and Nowak lacked an intent to trade Š—ȱ‘Šȱ‹ŽŽ—ȱœ™˜˜ę—ȱ’—ȱ‘˜œŽȱ’—œŠ—ŒŽœ. The district court ˜ěŽ›Žȱ˜ȱ’ŸŽȱŠȱ“ž›¢ȱ’—œ›žŒ’˜—ȱ‘Šȱ‘Žȱ ’—ŽœœŽœȱ ˜ž•ȱ‹Žȱ œŽ›Ÿ’—ȱ’—ȱŠȱžŠ•ȱ›˜•ŽǰȱŠȱ’–Žœȱ˜ěŽ›’—ȱŠ—ȱ˜™’—’˜—ȱ›Š‘Ž›ȱ‘Š—ȱ ‘Ž’›ȱ ™Ž›œ˜—Š•ȱ ˜‹œŽ›ŸŠ’˜—œȱ Š‹˜žȱ Šȱ ™Š›’Œž•Š›ȱ ˜›Ž›. Smith and Nowak declined the instruction. The government also œž‹–’ĴŽȱ ŸŠ›’˜žœȱ Œ‘Šœȱ ‹Ž ŽŽ—ȱ ‘Žȱ ŽŽ—Š—œȱ Š—ȱ ˜‘Ž›ȱ coworkers discussing the legitimate orders they sought to ex- ecute, ŠŒŒ˜–™Š—’Žȱ ‹¢ȱ ŠŠȱ showing that they simultane- ously placed and quickly canceled large orders on the other side of the market. ȱ’—ŸŽœ’Š˜›ȱ’”ŠȱŽ¡™•Š’—Žȱ ‘Šȱœ™˜˜ę—ȱ’œǰȱ‘˜ ȱ traders typically achieve it, how CME investigators identify ’ǰȱŠ—ȱ ‘¢ȱȱ›ž•Žœȱ™›˜‘’‹’ȱ’ǯȱ‘Ž—ȱŠœ”ŽȱŠ‹˜žȱ‘’œȱŒ›ŽȬ dentials, Wika stated that he had worked in CME’s investiga- tions group for 14 yearœȱŠ—ȱ‘Šȱ‹ŽŽ—ȱŠȱ–ЗАޛȱ˜›ȱ‘›ŽŽȱ˜›ȱ ˜ž›ǯȱ’”ŠȱŽœ’ꮍȱ‘Šȱ‘Žȱȱ‹ŽŠ—ȱ’—ŸŽœ’Š’—ȱ–’‘ȱ after it received a complaint from a market participant. When discussing the results of his investigation, Wika said that Smith’s high cancellation rates were ȃ’—’ŒŠ’ŸŽȱ ˜ȱ œ™˜˜ę—ȱ activity—indicative of lack of intent to trade those orders.” He prepared an investigative report concluding that Smith had œ™˜˜Žȱ Š—ȱ ’Ž—’¢’—ȱ œ™ŽŒ’ęŒȱ ›Š’—ȱ Ž™’œ˜Žœȱ Šœȱ ›Ž™›ŽȬ œŽ—Š’ŸŽȱޡЖ™•Žœȱ˜ȱ–’‘Ȃœȱœ™˜˜ę—ȱ‹Ž‘ŠŸ’˜›ǯȱOver the de- Ž—Š—œȂȱ ˜‹“ŽŒ’˜—ǰȱ ‘Žȱ Œ˜ž›ȱ Š–’ĴŽȱ ‘Žȱ ›Ž™˜›ȱ ’—˜ȱ 8 Nos. 23-2840, 23-2846 & 23-2849

ŽŸ’Ž—ŒŽȱŠœȱŠȱ‹žœ’—Žœœȱ›ŽŒ˜›ȱž—Ž›ȱŽŽ›Š•ȱž•Žȱ˜ȱŸ’Ž—ŒŽȱ 803(6). Ž›ȱŽ•’‹Ž›Š’—ȱ˜›ȱŠȱ ŽŽ”ǰȱ‘Žȱ“ž›¢ȱŠ——˜ž—ŒŽȱ‘Šȱ’ȱ was deadlocked. Although the defendants sought a mistrial, the court granted the government’s request for the standard supplemental jury instruction under United States v. Silvern, ŚŞŚȱǯ؍ȱŞŝşȱǻŝ‘ȱ’›ǯȱŗşŝřǼȱǻŽ—ȱ‹Š—ŒǼǯȱ˜—œ’œŽ—ȱ ’‘ȱ‘ŠȱŽȬ Œ’œ’˜—ȱŠ—ȱ‘ŽȱŽŸŽ—‘ȱ’›Œž’ȱ™ŠĴŽ›—ȱ’—œ›žŒ’˜—œǰȱ‘ŽȱŒ˜ž›ȱ ’—œ›žŒŽȱ‘Žȱ“ž›˜›œȱ˜ȱȃ–Š”ŽȱŽŸŽ›¢ȱ›ŽŠœ˜—Š‹•ŽȱŽě˜›ȱ˜ȱ›ŽŠŒ‘ȱ a verdict” and discuss their “’ěŽ›Ž—ŒŽœȱ ’‘ȱŠ—ȱ˜™Ž—ȱ–’—ǰȄȱ ‹žȱ ŒŠž’˜—Žȱ ‘Ž–ȱ —˜ȱ ˜ȱ ȃœž››Ž—Ž›ȱ ǽ‘Ž’›Ǿȱ ‘˜—Žœȱ ‹Ž•’Žœȱ Š‹˜žȱ‘Žȱ Ž’‘ȱ˜›ȱŽěŽŒȱof evidence.” The next day, the jury œŽ—ȱŠȱ—˜ŽȱŽ¡™›Žœœ’—ȱȃŒ˜—ŒŽ›—œȱ˜ŸŽ›ȱŒ˜––Ž—œȱ–ŠŽȱ‹¢ȱŠȱ juror” that suggested that the juror had “made early decisions ›ŽŠ›’—ȱ‘ŽȱŸŽ›’Œȱ˜›ȱ‘ŽȱŽŽ—Š—œȄȱ‹ŠœŽȱ˜—ȱ‘Žȱ›’Š•Ȃœȱ opening statements and “saw everything through that lense [sic].” The government asked the court to dismiss the juror. Instead, the court reminded the jury “that the lawyers’ state- ments and arguments are not evidence. If what a lawyer said ’œȱ ’ěŽ›Ž—ȱ ›˜–ȱ ‘Žȱ ŽŸ’Ž—ŒŽȱ Šœȱ ¢˜žȱ ›Ž–Ž–‹Ž›ȱ ’ǰȱ ‘Žȱ ŽŸ’Ȭ dence is what counts.” The next day, the jury found Smith and ˜ Š”ȱž’•¢ȱ˜—ȱŠ••ȱœž‹œŠ—’ŸŽȱŒ˜ž—œȱ‹žȱŠŒšž’ĴŽȱthem of the conspiracy charges. ŠŒ‘ȱ –˜ŸŽȱ ˜›ȱ ŠŒšž’ĴŠ•ȱ ˜›ȱ Šȱ —Ž ȱ ›’Š•ǰȱ‹žȱ‘ŽȱŒ˜ž›ȱŽ—’Žȱ‘˜œŽȱ–˜’˜—œ. 2 The government tried Jordan separately and, following Smith and Nowak’s trial, dropped the conspiracy counts against him. ˜›Š—ǰȱ ˜›ȱ ‘’œȱ ™Š›ǰȱ ˜™Ž—•¢ȱ Š–’Ĵed that he spoofed. Instead, his defense was that he spoofed without the criminal intent necessary to support a conviction for wire ›ŠžȱŠěŽŒ’—ȱŠȱꗊ—Œ’Š•ȱ’—œ’ž’˜—ǯ Nos. 23-2840, 23-2846 & 23-2849 9

FBI AŽ—ȱ ˜—Š‘Š—ȱ žŒŠȱ Žœ’ꮍȱ ˜›ȱ ‘Žȱ ˜ŸŽ›—–Ž—ǯȱ Agent Luca had investigated Jordan and interviewed him in ŘŖŗŞǯȱž›’—ȱ‘Žȱ’—Ž›Ÿ’Ž ǰȱ ˜›Š—ȱŠ–’ĴŽȱ‘Š as a trader ‘Žȱ‘Šȱ™•ŠŒŽȱȃœ–Š••ȱ’ŒŽ‹Ž›ȱ˜›Ž›œȱ˜—ȱ˜—Žȱœ’Žȱ˜ȱ‘Žȱ–Š›”Žȱ and larger non-’ŒŽ‹Ž›ȱ˜›Ž›œȱ˜—ȱ‘Žȱ˜‘Ž›ȱœ’Žȱ˜ȱ‘Žȱ–Š›”Žȱ in which he intended to cancel” and acknowledged that this ™ŠĴŽ›—ȱ Šœȱ Œ˜—œ’œŽ—ȱ ’‘ȱ œ™˜˜ę—ǯ He explained that he spoofed “to mislead the market, to outperform the algo- rithms, and to make—and Žȱ ‘Žȱ ‹Žœȱ ™˜œœ’‹le ꕕs for his ‹˜œœǯȄȱThe government characterized this interview as a con- fession. However, Jordan also told Agent Luca that he “did not think what he was doing was wrong.” Jordan sought to admit this statement under a hearsay exception commonly ”—˜ —ȱŠœȱ‘Žȱ›ž•Žȱ˜ȱŒ˜–™•ŽŽ—ŽœœǰȱŽǯȱǯȱŸ’ǯȱŗŖŜǰȱ‹žȱ‘Žȱ court denied his motion. To demonstrate Jordan’s state of mind, the government in- troduced œŠŽ–Ž—œȱ‘Žȱ–ŠŽȱž›’—ȱŠȱŘŖŗŖȱŽ™˜œ’’˜—ȱ‹Ž˜›Žȱ the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. In stark con- trast to his interview with Agent Luca, Jordan swore during the deposition that he never placed an order that he didn’t intend to execute, and “would only cancel something if [he] changed [his] mind or if it was put in error.” He further stated ‘Šȱ‘Žȱ—ŽŸŽ›ȱŽ—ŠŽȱ’—ȱ›Š’—ȱȃ˜›ȱ‘Žȱ™ž›™˜œŽȱ˜ȱ’—ĚžŽ—ŒȬ ing the price” of the commodity exchange. ‘Žȱ’›ŽŒ˜›ȱŠ—ȱ•˜‹Š•ȱ‘ŽŠȱ˜ȱȂœȱ›ž•ŽœȱŠ—ȱ›Žž•ŠȬ ˜›¢ȱ ˜ž›ŽŠŒ‘ȱ ›˜ž™ǰȱ›’—ȱ’•Ž˜—ǰȱ Š•œ˜ȱŽœ’ꮍ. Middle- ton said ‘Šȱȱ›ž•Žœȱ›Žšž’›ŽȱŽŸŽ›¢ȱ˜›Ž›ȱ˜ȱ‹Žȱ‹˜—Šȱꍎ— meaning they must ȃ›Ž™›ŽœŽ—ȱŠȱ›žŽȱ’—Ž—ȱ˜ȱ‹ž¢ȱ˜›ȱœŽ••ȱŠȱ particular price or quantity”—to maintain the integrity of their markets. She acknowledged, however, that the word œ™˜˜ę—ȱ˜Žœȱ—˜ȱŠ™™ŽŠ›ȱ’—ȱ‘ŽȱŽ¡ȱ˜ȱȱž•ŽȱŚřŘ and that 10 Nos. 23-2840, 23-2846 & 23-2849

such language would have Œ•Š›’ꮍ that the rule ™›˜‘’‹’Žȱ œ™˜˜ę—. Representatives from JPMorgan and Credit Suisse œ’–’•Š›•¢ȱŽœ’ꮍȱ‘Šȱœ™˜˜ę—ȱ ˜ž•ȱ‘ŠŸŽȱŸ’˜•ŠŽȱ‘Žȱ™˜•Ȭ ’Œ’Žœȱ’—ȱ™•ŠŒŽȱ ‘Ž—ȱ ˜›Š—ȱ ˜›”ŽȱŠȱ‘Ž’›ȱ‹Š—”œǰȱŽŸŽ—ȱ‘˜ž‘ȱ ‘Ž¢ȱ’ȱ—˜ȱŽ¡™•’Œ’•¢ȱ–Ž—’˜—ȱœ™˜˜ę— either. Jordan sought to challenge these statements with post-2010 compliance pol- icies and CME documents that, unlike the policies in place ‘Ž—ȱ‘Žȱ ŠœȱŠ—ȱŽ–™•˜¢ŽŽǰȱŽ¡™›Žœœ•¢ȱ’Ž—’ęed œ™˜˜ę—ȱŠœȱŠȱ ™›˜‘’‹’Žȱ ›Š’—ȱ ™˜•’Œ¢ǯ The district court excluded these Ž¡‘’‹’œȱž—Ž›ȱŽŽ›Š•ȱž•Žȱ˜ȱŸ’Ž—ŒŽȱŚŖřǰȱ‘˜ž‘ǰȱꗍ’—ȱ that they posed a risk of confusing the jury and erroneously injecting a mistake of law defense into the case. The court also rejected Jordan’s request for a jury instruc- ’˜—ȱ˜—ȱ˜˜ȱŠ’‘ǯȱ™ŽŒ’ęŒŠ••¢ǰȱ‘Žȱœ˜ž‘ȱŠ—ȱ’—œ›žŒ’˜—ȱ‘Šȱ if he acted in good faith, “then he lacked the intent to defraud ›Žšž’›Žȱ˜ȱ™›˜ŸŽȱ‘Žȱ˜ěŽ—œŽȱ˜ȱ ’›Žȱ›ŠžǯȄȱ‘ŽȱŒ˜ž›ȱ˜ž—ȱ ‘’œȱ’—œ›žŒ’˜—ȱž——ŽŒŽœœŠ›¢ȱ‹ŽŒŠžœŽȱ ˜›Š—ȱŒ˜ž•ȱŠ• Š¢œȱŠ›Ȭ gue that he lacked an intent to defraud and the instruction posed a similar risk of misleading the jurors into thinking that –’œŠ”Žȱ˜ȱ•Š ȱ ŠœȱŠȱŸ’Š‹•ŽȱŽŽ—œŽǯȱ The court did, however, instruct the jury on the mental state necessary to show an intent to defraud. The jury was in- structed that Jordan must have acted knowingly, which the Œ˜ž›ȱŽę—Žȱ’—ȱ™Š›ȱŠœȱ‹Ž’— “aware of the nature of his con- žŒǯȄȱ ž›’—ȱ Ž•’‹Ž›Š’˜—œǰȱ ‘Žȱ “ž›¢ȱ ›ŽšžŽœŽȱ Œ•Š›’ęŒŠ’˜—ȱ ˜—ȱ‘’œȱŽę—’’˜—ǰȱŠ—ȱ‘ŽȱŒ˜ž›ȱ›Žœ™˜—Žȱ‘Šȱȃ‘ŽȱŽę—’Ȭ tion of ‘knowingly’ … does not mean that the defendant must ‹Žȱ Š Š›Žȱ ˜ȱ ‘Ž‘Ž›ȱ ‘’œȱ Š••ŽŽȱ Œ˜—žŒȱ Ÿ’˜•ŠŽȱ ŽŽ›Š•ȱ law.” The jury returned a guilty verdict, and the court denied Jordan’s –˜’˜—œȱ˜›ȱŠŒšž’ĴŠ•ȱŠ—ȱŠȱ—Ž ȱ›’Š•. Nos. 23-2840, 23-2846 & 23-2849 11

II Smith, Nowak, and Jordan all appeal the denial of their motions ˜›ȱŠŒšž’ĴŠ•ȱŠ— a new trial. They also challenge sev- eral of the district judge’s rulings at trial. We take their argu- ments in turn. A All three defendants argue that their fraud convictions cannot œŠ—ȱ‹ŽŒŠžœŽȱœ™˜˜ę—ȱ˜Žœȱ—˜ involve a misrepre- œŽ—Š’˜—ȱŠ‹˜ž an essential element ˜ȱ‘Žȱ‹Š›Š’—ȱ˜›ȱžž›Žœȱ contracts. We review this threshold legal challenge de novo. United States v. Riversǰȱ ŗŖŞȱ ǯŚ‘ȱ şŝřǰȱ şŝŞȱ ǻŝ‘ȱ ’›ǯȱ ŘŖŘŚǼȱ ǻde novo review applies to “legal questions wrapped up in chal- •Ž—Žœȱ ˜ȱ ‘Žȱ œžĜŒ’Ž—Œ¢ȱ ˜ȱ ‘Žȱ ŽŸ’Ž—ŒŽȄǼǯ Their argument fails for several reasons. Both wire and commodities fraud require as an element “a scheme ˜›ȱ Š›’ęŒŽȱ to defraud.” 18 U.S.C. §§ 1343 & 1348(1). ‘Žȱž™›Ž–Žȱ˜ž›ȱ‘Šœȱ’—Ž›™›ŽŽȱ‘’œȱޕޖޗȱ˜ȱ™›˜‘’‹’ȱ only deceptive schemes where “money or property was an ˜‹“ŽŒ” of the fraud. Ciminelli v. United States, 598 U.S. 306, 312 ǻŘŖŘřǼȱǻšž˜Š’˜—ȱ˜–’ĴŽǼǯȱBuilding on this, some circuits pre- viously drew ȃŠȱꗎȱ•’—Žȱ‹Ž ŽŽ—ȱœŒ‘Ž–Žœȱ‘Šȱ˜ȱ—˜ȱ–˜›Žȱ than cause their victims to enter into transactions they would otherwise avoid” and “schemes that depend for their comple- ’˜—ȱ˜—ȱŠȱ–’œ›Ž™›ŽœŽ—Š’˜—ȱ˜ȱŠ—ȱŽœœŽ—’Š•ȱޕޖޗȱ˜ȱ‘Žȱ‹Š›Ȭ gain.” United States v. ShellefǰȱśŖŝȱǯřȱŞŘǰȱŗŖŞȱǻ؍ȱ’›ǯȱŘŖŖŝǼǯȱIn ‘ŽœŽȱŒ’›Œž’œǰȱ˜—•¢ȱ‘Žȱ•ŠĴŽ›ȱŒ˜—œ’žŽd a scheme to defraud that violated the fraud statutes. Id.; United States v. Takhalov, ŞŘŝȱǯřȱŗřŖŝǰȱŗř13–14 (11th Cir. 2016); United States v. Guer- tinǰȱŜŝȱǯŚ‘ȱŚŚśǰȱŚśŗ–52 (D.C. Cir. 2023); United States v. Bruch- hausenǰȱ şŝŝȱ ǯ؍ȱ ŚŜŚǰȱ ŚŜŝ–69 (9th Cir. 1992). A scheme to 12 Nos. 23-2840, 23-2846 & 23-2849

defraud, they reasoned, requires Šȱ•’ŽȱŠ‹˜ž the “nature of the ‹Š›Š’—ȱ’œŽ•ǰȄȱœžŒ‘ȱŠœ one concerning “price” or “character- istics of the good,” TakhalovǰȱŞŘŝȱǯřȱŠȱŗřŗř–14, or some “ex- ™•’Œ’ȱ™›˜–’œŽǽǾȄȱ‘Šȱ‘Šȱ‹ŽŽ—ȱ–ŠŽǰȱUnitŽȱŠŽœȱŸǯȱŒ‘ Š›ĵ, 924 F.2d 410, 420 (2d Cir. 1991). The defendants ask us to apply the essential element of the ‹Š›Š’—ȱ ›Žšž’›Ž–Ž—ȱ here. ŽŒŠžœŽȱ œ™˜˜ę—ȱ –’œ›Ž™›ŽœŽ—œȱ market supply and demand, rather than the price or another characteristic of the futures contract itself, they contend that the other parties to the transaction “received exactly what they paid for.” TakhalovǰȱŞŘŝȱǯřȱŠȱŗřŗŚ ǻšž˜Š’˜—ȱ˜–’ĴŽǼ. They liken œ™˜˜ę—ȱ˜ȱ–’œ›Ž™›ŽœŽ—Š’˜—œȱŠ‹˜žȱȃ—ސ˜’Š’—ȱ positions” in arm’s length transactions, which are not fraud. United States v. WeimertǰȱŞŗşȱǯřȱřśŗǰȱřśŝȱǻŝ‘ȱ’›ǯȱŘŖŗŜǼǯȱ—Ȭ Ž›ȱ‘’œȱ‘Ž˜›¢ǰȱœ™˜˜ę—ȱœ’–™•¢ȱ˜Žœ not amount to a scheme to defraud within the scope of the fraud statutes, even if the parties would not have otherwise executed the transaction. ž›ȱŠœ”ȱ’œȱ–ŠŽȱŽŠœ¢ȱ‹¢ȱ‘Žȱž™›Ž–Žȱ˜ž›ȂœȱŽŒ’œ’˜—ȱ’—ȱ Kousisis v. United States, 145 S. Ct. 1382 (2025), which came down after oral argument in this case. There, the defendant had secured contracts with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to paint two projects in Philadelphia. Id. at 1388–89. He represented that he would acquire painting sup- ™•’Žœȱ ›˜–ȱ ȃŠȱ ™›ŽšžŠ•’ꮍȱ ’œŠŸŠ—ŠŽȱ ‹žœ’—Žœœ,” ‹ž in ŠŒȱžœŽȱ‘Žȱ™›ŽšžŠ•’ꮍȱ’œŠŸŠ—ŠŽȱ‹žœ’—ŽœœȱŠœȱŠȱ–Ž›Žȱ pass-through entity to funnel payments. Id. at 1389. The Court ŠĜ›–Žȱthe defendant’s wire fraud convictions and directly Š‹›˜ŠŽȱ‘Žȱ•’—Žȱ˜ȱŒŠœŽœȱ‘Šȱthe defendants in this case in- voke. Id. at 1390–92, 1398; see also United States v. Runner, 143 F.4th 146, 154–śśȱǻ؍ȱ’›ǯȱŘŖŘśǼȱǻ›ŽŒ˜—’£’—ȱŠ‹›˜Š’˜—Ǽǯȱ‘Žȱ wire fraud statute, the Court explainedǰȱ ȃ’œȱ А—˜œ’Œȱ Š‹˜žȱ Nos. 23-2840, 23-2846 & 23-2849 13

economic loss.” Kousisis, 145 S. Ct. at 1392. Rather, a fraud conviction can stand if the defendant did no more than “use[] a material misstatement to trick a victim into a contract that requires handing over her money or property.” Id. at 1388, 1391. Because Kousisis forecloses the defendants’ essential ele- –Ž—ȱ˜ȱ‘Žȱ‹Š›Š’—ȱŠ›ž–Ž—ǰ ŽȱŽŠœ’•¢ȱŒ˜—Œ•žŽȱ‹ŠœŽȱ˜—ȱ well-ŽœŠ‹•’œ‘Žȱ™›ŽŒŽŽ—ȱ‘Šȱœ™˜˜ę—ȱŒ˜—œ’žŽœȱŠȱœŒ‘Ž–Žȱ to defraud within the meaning of the wire and commodities fraud statutes. United States v. Pacilioǰȱ Şśȱ ǯŚ‘ȱ ŚśŖǰȱ ŚŜŖȱ ǻŝ‘ȱ Cir. 2023); United States v. Chanu, 40 F.4th 528, 541 ǻŝ‘ȱ ’›ǯȱ 2022); United States v. Coscia, 866 F.3d ŝŞŘǰ ŝşŝ ǻŝ‘ȱ’›ǯȱŘŖŗŝǼ. ȱ‹ŽŠ›œȱ—˜’—ȱ‘Šȱthe defendants’ argument would fail even without Kousisis. Unlike the transactions in Kousisis or Weimert, where the defendants directly lied to the purported victimsǰȱ‘ŽȱŽŒŽ™’˜—ȱ›˜–ȱœ™˜˜ę—ȱ’œȱꕝŽ›Žȱ‘›˜ž‘ȱ‘’›ȱ parties and the market as a whole. ™˜˜ę—ȱŠŸŠ—ŒŽœȱŠ—ȱ’–Ȭ ™•’Žȱ –’œ›Ž™›ŽœŽ—Š’˜—ȱ ‘Šȱ ‘Žȱ ›Šžȱ œŠžŽœȱ ™›˜‘’‹’— ȃ—Š–Ž•¢ȱ‘Žȱ™ž‹•’Œȱ™Ž›ŒŽ™’˜—ȱ˜ȱ‘Žȱ’—Ž—ȱ˜ȱ›ŠŽȱŠ—ȱ‘Žȱ private intent to cancel.” Pacilio, 85 F.4th at 460. In this way, œ™˜˜ę—ȱ ’œȱ –˜›Žȱ Š”’—ȱ ˜ȱ ‘Ž˜›’Žœȱ ˜ȱ œŽŒž›’’Žœȱ ›Šžd and fraud-on-the-market, ‘’Œ‘ȱ ™›Ž’ŒŠŽȱ •’Š‹’•’¢ȱ ˜—ȱ –’œ›Ž™›ŽȬ sentations that undermine the integrity of the marketplace. See United States v. GilbertsonǰȱşŝŖȱǯřȱş39ǰȱşŚŝ (8th Cir. 2020) (in the context of securities fraud, the “gravamen of manipu- •Š’˜—ȱ ’œȱ ŽŒŽ™’˜—ȱ ˜ȱ ’—ŸŽœ˜›œȱ ’—˜ȱ ‹Ž•’ŽŸ’—ȱ ‘Šȱ ™›’ŒŽœȱ Šȱ ‘’Œ‘ȱ‘Ž¢ȱ™ž›Œ‘ŠœŽȱŠ—ȱœŽ••ȱœŽŒž›’’ŽœȱŠ›ŽȱŽŽ›–’—Žȱ‹¢ȱ‘Žȱ —Šž›Š•ȱ’—Ž›™•Š¢ȱ˜ȱœž™™•¢ȱŠ—ȱŽ–Š—ǰȱ—˜ȱ›’Žȱ‹¢ȱ–ŠȬ nipulators”) (qu˜Š’˜—ȱ˜–’ĴŽǼ. The defendants also claim the fraud statutes are unconsti- tutionally vague as applied to their conduct. We have already 14 Nos. 23-2840, 23-2846 & 23-2849

rejected this argument, Pacilio, 85 F.4th at 460–61, and decline ˜ȱ›ŽŸ’œ’ȱ‘ŠȱŒ˜—Œ•žœ’˜—ǯȱ—ŒŽȱАВ—ǰȱ ŽȱŒ˜—ę›–ȱ‘Šȱœ™˜˜Ȭ ing violates the federal wire and commodities fraud statutes, 18 U.S.C. §§ 1343 & 1348(1). B –’‘ȱŠ—ȱ˜ Š”ȱŠ›žŽȱ‘ŠȱŽŸŽ—ȱ’ȱœ™˜˜ę—ȱŠ–˜ž—œȱ˜ȱ wire and commodities fraud (it does), the evidence cannot sustain their convictions ‹ŽŒŠžœŽȱ‘Ž¢ȱ’ȱ—˜ȱŽ—ŠŽȱ’—ȱ‘Žȱ practice. They Œ•Š’–ȱ‘Šȱœ™˜˜ę—ȱ›Žšž’›ŽœȱŠ—ȱž—Œ˜—’’˜—Š•ȱ intent to cancel a ‹’ȱ˜›ȱ˜ěŽ›ȱ‹Ž˜›ŽȱŽ¡ŽŒž’˜—ǰȱ ‘Ž›ŽŠœȱ‘Žȱ ŽŸ’Ž—ŒŽȱ Šȱ ›’Š•ȱ ŽœŠ‹•’œ‘Žǰȱ Šȱ ‹Žœǰ a conditional intent to cancel the orders ’ȱ ‘Žȱ ˜›Ž›ȱ ˜—ȱ ‘Žȱ ˜‘Ž›ȱ œ’Žȱ Šœȱ ꕕŽ. Smith and Nowak concede, as they must, that each of their convictions is predicated on the œŠ–Žȱ œ™˜˜ę—ȱ Œ˜—žŒǰȱ meaning the convictions all stand or fall with the govern- –Ž—Ȃœȱ Š‹’•’¢ȱ ˜ȱ ŽœŠ‹•’œ‘ȱ ‘Šȱ ‘Ž¢ȱ œ™˜˜Ž. ™˜˜ę—ȱ —˜ȱ ˜—•¢ȱŸ’˜•ŠŽœȱ‘ŽȱŽŽ›Š•ȱ›ŠžȱœŠžŽœǰȱŠœȱ’œŒžœœŽǰȱ‹žȱ‘Žȱ Dodd-Frank Act provides that any person who knowingly vi- olates its anti-œ™˜˜ę—ȱ ™›˜Ÿ’œ’˜—ǰȱ ŝȱ ǯǯǯȱ ȗ 6c(a)(5)(C), is ž’•¢ȱ ˜ȱ ŠĴŽ–™Žȱ ™›’ŒŽȱ –Š—’™ž•Š’˜—ȱ ž—Ž›ȱ ŝȱ ǯǯǯȱ § 13(a)(2). According to Smith and Nowak, since the govern- ment cannot prove that they placed trade orders with the req- ž’œ’Žȱ’—Ž—ȱ˜›ȱŠȱœ™˜˜ę—ȱŒ˜—Ÿ’Œ’˜—ǰȱ‘Ž¢ȱare entitled to a “ž–Ž—ȱ˜ȱŠŒšž’ĴŠ•ȱŠŒ›˜œœȱ‘Žȱ‹˜Š›ǯȱThough formally we ›ŽŸ’Ž ȱ Šȱ “ž–Ž—ȱ Ž—¢’—ȱ ŠŒšž’ĴŠ•ȱ Žȱ —˜Ÿ˜ǰȱ ȃ™›ŠŒ’ŒŠ••¢ȱ œ™ŽŠ”’—Ȅȱ ˜ž›ȱ ȃœŠ—Š›ȱ ˜ȱ ›ŽŸ’Ž ȱ ’œȱ ‘Šȱ ˜›ȱ œžĜŒ’Ž—Œ¢ȱ ˜ȱ the evidence.” United States v. Peterson, 823 F.3d 1113, 1120 ǻŝ‘ȱ’›ǯȱŘŖŗŜǼ; see also RiversǰȱŗŖŞȱǯŚ‘ȱŠȱşŝŞȱǻŽȱ—˜Ÿ˜ȱ›ŽŸ’Ž ȱ for threshold legal questions). ‘Žȱ™Š›’Žœȱœ™Ž—ȱŒ˜—œ’Ž›Š‹•Žȱ’–ŽȱŠ—ȱŽ—Ž›¢ȱŽ‹Š’—ȱ the standard for intent and, frankly, we struggle to Nos. 23-2840, 23-2846 & 23-2849 15

understand why. –’‘ȱŠ—ȱ˜ Š”ȱ ˜—ȱ‘’œȱ‹ŠĴ•Žȱ’—ȱ‘Žȱ’œȬ ›’ŒȱŒ˜ž›ǯȱ‘ŽȱŒ˜ž›ȱ’—œ›žŒŽȱ‘Žȱ“ž›¢ȱ‘Šȱœ™˜˜ę—ȱ›Žšž’›Žœȱ an unconditional purpose to cancel the Ž—’›Žȱ‹’ȱ˜›ȱ˜ěŽ›. The jury thus considered—and rejected—Smith and Nowak’s ar- gument that the evidence does not show such unconditional intent. We measure intent at the moment the order was placed. CosciaǰȱŞŜŜȱǯřȱŠȱŝşśȱǻŠȱŒ˜—Ÿ’Œ’˜—ȱ˜›ȱœ™˜˜ę—ȱ›ŽȬ quires proving that ‘ŽȱŽŽ—Š—ȱȃ”—˜ ’—•¢ȱŽ—Ž›Žȱ‹’ds or ˜ěŽ›œȱ ’‘ȱ‘Žȱ™›ŽœŽ—ȱ’—Ž—ȱ˜ȱŒŠ—ŒŽ•ȱ‘Žȱ‹’ȱ˜›ȱ˜ěŽ›ȱ™›’˜›ȱ˜ȱ execution”). If a party possesses a conditional intent to trade, he necessarily lacks an intent to cancel at the time the order is placed. The word unconditional is redundant and unneces- sary. The key question ’—ȱœ™˜˜ę—ȱŒŠœŽœȱis whether an order is placed on the opposite side of the commodities market with ‘Žȱ ’—Ž—ȱ ˜ȱ ŒŠ—ŒŽ•ȱ ‹Ž˜›ŽȱŽ¡ŽŒž’˜—ȱ’—ȱ˜›Ž›ȱ˜ȱ–Š—’™ž•ŠŽȱ the market. Chanu, 40 F.4th at 540. Even if Smith and Nowak waited to cancel the spoof orders until the legitimate trade was executed, what counts is that the trades “were designed œ™ŽŒ’ęŒŠ••¢ȱ ˜ȱ ŠŸ˜’ȱ ‹Ž’—ȱ ꕕŽǯȄȱ Cosciaǰȱ ŞŜŜȱ ǯřȱ Šȱ ŝŞşǯȱ It –Š”ŽœȱœŽ—œŽȱ‘ŠȱŠȱœ™˜˜ę—ȱ›ŠŽ›ȱ ˜ž•ȱ Š’ to cancel until his •ސ’’–ŠŽȱ ˜›Ž›ȱ Šœȱ ꕕŽ—that’s the whole point of œ™˜˜ę—ǯ Cf. id. (defendant’s software program canceled œ™˜˜ȱ˜›Ž›œȱȃ’—ȱ‘›ŽŽȱ™Š›’Œž•Š›ȱŒ’›Œž–œŠ—ŒŽœDZȱǻŗǼȱ‹ŠœŽȱ˜—ȱ the passage of time dzDzȱǻŘǼȱ‘Žȱ™Š›’Š•ȱꕕ’—ȱ˜ȱ‘Žȱ•Š›Žȱ˜›Ž›œDzȱ or (3) Œ˜–™•ŽŽȱꕕ’—ȱ˜ȱ‘Žȱœ–Š••ȱ˜›Ž›œ”) (emphasis added). The “unconditional” semantics aside, the question is whether Smith’s and Nowak’s “purpose was not to trade on those or- Ž›œǰȱ‹žȱ›Š‘Ž›ȱ˜ȱžœŽȱ‘Ž–ȱ˜ȱœ‘’ȱ‘Žȱ–Š›”Žȱž™ȱ˜›ȱ˜ —ǯȄȱ Id. Šȱŝşśȱǭȱ—ǯŚśǯ 16 Nos. 23-2840, 23-2846 & 23-2849

More importantly, all that –ŠĴŽ›œ is whether a rational trier of fact could have come to that conclusion. Peterson, 823 F.3d at 1120 (“We consider the evidence in the light most fa- Ÿ˜›Š‹•Žȱ˜ȱ‘Žȱ˜ŸŽ›—–Ž—ȱŠ—ȱŠĜ›–ȱ‘ŽȱŒ˜—Ÿ’Œ’˜—ȱ’ȱŠ—¢ȱ›ŠȬ ’˜—Š•ȱ›’Ž›ȱ˜ȱŠŒȱŒ˜ž•ȱꗍȱ‘ŽȱŽŽ—Š—ȱž’•¢ȱ‹Ž¢˜—ȱŠȱ ›ŽŠœ˜—Š‹•Žȱ˜ž‹ǯȄǼǯ ‘’œȱ‘ž›•Žȱ’œȱȃ—ŽŠ›•¢ȱ’—œž›–˜ž—Š‹•Ž.” United States v. Sorensenǰȱ ŗřŚȱ ǯŚ‘ȱ Śşřǰȱ ŚşŞȱ ǻŝ‘ȱ ’›ǯȱ ŘŖŘśǼ ǻšž˜Š’˜—ȱ˜–’ĴŽǼ. In particular, Smith and Nowak’s focus ˜—ȱ’—Ž—ȱ–Š”Žœȱ˜ž›ȱȃ“˜‹ȱ›Ž•Š’ŸŽ•¢ȱŽŠœ¢ǰȄȱ˜›ȱȃ˜—ŒŽȱŠȱ“ž›¢ȱ‘Šœȱ Ž’‘Žȱ ‘Žȱ ŽŸ’Ž—ŒŽȱŠ—ȱ ˜ž—ȱ ž’•ȱ ‹Ž¢˜—ȱ Šȱ ›ŽŠœ˜—Š‹•Žȱ ˜ž‹ǰȱŠȱŒ‘Š••Ž—Žȱ˜ȱ‘ŽȱœžĜŒ’Ž—Œ¢ȱ˜ȱ‘ŽȱŽŸ’Ž—ŒŽȱ™›˜Ÿ’—ȱ ’—Ž—ȱ’œȱŽ¡ŒŽŽ’—•¢ȱ’ĜŒž•ȱ˜ȱ ’—ǯȄȱPacilio, 85 F.4th at 463 (cleaned up). Ž›ȱ›ŽŸ’Ž ’—ȱ‘ŽȱŽŸ’Ž—ŒŽǰȱ ŽȱŠ›ŽȱŒ˜—ꍮ—ȱ‘ŠȱŠȱ“ž›¢ȱ could have found Smith and Nowak placed spoof orders with the requisite intent to cancel. ‘Žȱ˜ŸŽ›—–Ž—ȱ™›ŽœŽ—Žȱœž‹Ȭ stantial data evidence depicting the scheme, and the jury heard extensive testimony from cooperating witnesses, ꗊ—Ȭ cial experts, and investigators supporting an inference of guilt. This evidence Šœȱ‹˜•œŽ›Žȱ‹¢ȱŒ˜—Ž–™˜›Š—Ž˜žœȱŒ‘Šȱ messages showing that Smith and Nowak placed (and then canceled) orders on the opposite side of the market from the legitimate orders that they intended to execute. Smith and Nowak argue that this evidence is all circumstantial, as the ˜ŸŽ›—–Ž—ȱ ’Ž—’ꮍȱ —˜ȱ ’›ŽŒȱ ŽŸ’Ž—ŒŽȱ ˜ȱ ‘Ž’›ȱ œŠŽȱ ˜ȱ mind. Even so, “direct evidence of intent ’œȱ˜Ž—ȱž—ŠĴŠ’—Š‹•Žǰȱ Š—ȱœ™ŽŒ’ęŒȱ’—Ž—ȱ˜ȱŽ›Šžȱ–Š¢ȱ‹ŽȱŽœŠ‹•’œ‘Žȱ‹¢ȱŒ’›Œž–Ȭ œŠ—’Š•ȱ ŽŸ’Ž—ŒŽȱ Š—ȱ ‹¢ȱ ’—Ž›Ž—ŒŽœȱ ›Š —ȱ ›˜–ȱ ޡЖ’—’—ȱ the scheme itself.” Id. ŠȱŚŜŚȱǻšž˜Š’˜—ȱ˜–’ĴŽǼǯȱ—ŽŽ››Žǰȱ Smith and Nowak counter that the circumstantial evidence cannot support ‘Ž’›ȱ Œ˜—Ÿ’Œ’˜—œȱ ‹ŽŒŠžœŽȱ ’ȱ ’œȱ ŽšžŠ••¢ȱ Œ˜—Ȭ sistent with their innocence. But Smith and Nowak were free Nos. 23-2840, 23-2846 & 23-2849 ŗŝ

to argue to the jury that there were legitimate explanations for their trading ™ŠĴŽ›—œȱand to cross-examine the witnesses on ‘Ž’›ȱŒ˜—Œ•žœ’˜—œȱŠ—ȱŒ›Ž’‹’•’¢—indeed, that was the heart ˜ȱ‘Ž’›ȱŽ—’›ŽȱŽŽ—œŽȱŠȱ›’Š•ǯȱœȱ Žȱ‘ŠŸŽȱ˜Ž—ȱ˜‹œŽ›ŸŽǰȱȃ‘Žȱ ŠŒȱ‘Šȱ‘Ž›ŽȱŽ¡’œŽȱ˜‘Ž›ȱ™˜œœ’‹•ŽȱŽ¡™•Š—Š’˜—œ … that were ž••¢ȱŒ˜—œ’œŽ—ȱ ’‘ȱ’——˜ŒŽ—ŒŽȱ’ȱ—˜ȱ›Žšž’›ŽȱŠȱ“ž›¢ȱ˜ȱ‹ŽȬ lieve them.” United States v. Maxwell, 143 F.4th 844, 858 ǻŝ‘ȱ ’›ǯȱ ŘŖŘśǼȱ ǻšž˜Š’˜—ȱ˜–’ĴŽǼǯȱ Žȱꗍȱ–˜›Žȱ‘Š—ȱœžĜŒ’Ž—ȱ evidence to justify the jury’s conclusions. ›’ŽĚ¢ǰȱ–’‘ȱŠ—ȱ˜ Š”ȱalso challenge the anti-œ™˜˜ę—ȱ statuteǰȱŝȱǯǯǯȱȗ 6c(a)(5)(C), as void for vagueness. As with fraud, our precedent squarely forecloses this argument. Coscia, 866 F.3d at ŝşř–95. The œ™˜˜ę— statute is not uncon- stitutionally vague, and ample evidence supported Smith’s and Nowak’s convictions under it. —ȱ œ‘˜›ǰȱ –’‘ȱ Š—ȱ ˜ Š”Ȃœȱ œžĜŒ’Ž—Œ¢ȱ ˜ȱ ‘Žȱ ŽŸ’Ž—ŒŽȱ challenge fails as to all convictions. There was more than suf- ꌒŽ—ȱŽŸ’Ž—ŒŽȱ‘Šȱ–’‘ȱŠ—ȱ˜ Š”ȱŽ—ŠŽȱ’—ȱœ™˜˜ę—ȱ ’—ȱ Ÿ’˜•Š’˜—ȱ ˜ȱ ŝȱ ǯǯǯȱ ȗ 6c(a)(5)(C). And ‹ŽŒŠžœŽȱ œ™˜˜ę—ȱ constitutes a scheme to defraud under the wire and commod- ities fraud statutes, 18 U.S.C. §§ 1343 & 1348(1), and amounts to ŠĴŽ–™Žȱ™›’ŒŽȱ–Š—’™ž•Š’˜—ǰȱŝȱǯǯǯȱȗ 13(a)(2), there was œžĜŒ’Ž—ȱŽŸ’Ž—ŒŽȱ‘Šȱ‘Ž¢ȱŒ˜––’ĴŽȱ‘˜œŽȱŒ›’–ŽœȱŠœȱ Ž••. Because the jury’s verdict is œž™™˜›Žȱ ‹¢ȱ œž‹œŠ—’Š•ȱ ŽŸ’Ȭ dence on all charges, they are not entitled to a new trial on these grounds either. Peterson, 823 F.3d at 1122; United States v. ConleyǰȱŞŝśȱ.3d 391, 399–400 ǻŝ‘ȱ’›ǯȱŘŖŗŝǼȱǻwhen motions ˜›ȱŠŒšž’ĴŠ•ȱŠ—ȱ˜›ȱŠȱ—Ž ȱ›’Š•ȱŠ›Žȱ‹ŠœŽȱ˜—ȱ‘ŽȱœŠ–ŽȱŒ•Š’–ȱ that the government failed to prove the elements of the of- Ž—œŽœȱ‹Ž¢˜—ȱŠȱ›ŽŠœ˜—Š‹•Žȱ˜ž‹ǰȱ Žȱ ’••ȱŠĜ›–ȱ‹˜‘ȱ’ȱœžȬ ꌒŽ—ȱŽŸ’Ž—ŒŽȱœž™™˜›œȱ‘Žȱž’•¢ȱŸŽ›’ŒǼǯ 18 Nos. 23-2840, 23-2846 & 23-2849

C Smith and Nowak next ž›—ȱ‘Ž’›ȱŠĴŽ—’˜—ȱ˜ȱ‘Žȱ’œ›’Œȱ court’s decision to admit much of the evidence discussed Š‹˜ŸŽ. They claim the court’s rulings were erroneous and ask ˜›ȱŠȱ“ž–Ž—ȱ˜ȱŠŒšž’ĴŠ•ȱ˜›ȱŠȱ—Ž ȱ›’Š•ȱ’—ȱ‘ŽȱŠ•Ž›—Š’ŸŽǯȱWe ›ŽŸ’Ž ȱ‘Žȱ’œ›’ŒȱŒ˜ž›ȂœȱŽŸ’Ž—’Š›¢ȱ›ž•’—œȱ˜›ȱŠ—ȱŠ‹žœŽȱ˜ȱ discretion. Pacilio, 85 F.4th at 464. We will only reverse if we Š›Žȱȃ•Žȱ ’‘ȱ‘ŽȱŽę—’ŽȱŠ—ȱꛖȱŒ˜—Ÿ’Œ’˜—ȱ‘ŠȱŠȱ–’œŠ”Žȱ ‘Šœȱ ‹ŽŽ—ȱ Œ˜––’ĴŽǯȄȱ Id. ǻšž˜Š’˜—ȱ ˜–’ĴŽǼǯȱ Smith and Nowak assert that the ’œ›’ŒȱŒ˜ž›ȱŠ‹žœŽȱ’œȱ’œŒ›Ž’˜—ȱ‹¢ȱ Š–’Ĵ’—DZȱǻŗǼȱ•Š¢ȱ˜™’—’˜—ȱŽœ’–˜—¢ȱ›˜–ȱ‘Žȱ‘›ŽŽȱŒ˜˜™Ž›ŠȬ ing witnesses, (2) Wika’s lay opinion testimony, and (3) Wika’s investigative report. ˜ȱ‹Ž’—ǰȱ Ž Œ˜—ę›–ȱ‘Šȱ˜ Š”ȱ–Š¢ȱŠ•œ˜ȱŒ‘Š••Ž—Žȱ‘Žȱ •ŠĴŽ›ȱ  ˜ȱ rulings. Although the report and some of Wika’s Žœ’–˜—¢ȱ™Ž›Š’—Žȱœ™ŽŒ’ęŒŠ••¢ȱ˜ȱ–’‘ǰȱ’”ŠȱŠ•œ˜ȱŽœ’ꮍȱ Š‹˜žȱœ™˜˜ę—ȱŠ—ȱȱ™˜•’Œ’Žœȱ–˜›Žȱ‹›˜Š•¢ǯȱŠ›’Œž•Š›•¢ȱ in light of the joint conspiracy charge, even though this evi- dence focused on Smith, the jury could consider it against Nowak as relevant and in accordance with any limiting in- structions. See United States v. LopezǰȱŜȱǯřȱŗŘŞŗǰȱŗŘŞŜȱǻŝ‘ȱ’›ǯȱ 1993) (in joint trials, juries will “sort through the evidence” and “follow instructions from the court” Š‹˜ž separate con- œ’Ž›Š’˜—ȱ ˜ȱ ŽŸ’Ž—ŒŽǼǯȱ ˜ Š”ȱ “˜’—Žȱ –’‘ȇœȱ ˜‹“ŽŒ’˜—œȱ ˜ȱ Wika's testimony and report and, importantly, did not receive or request a limiting instruction that the jury could only con- sider them against Smith. Turning to the merits, none of these decisions was an Š‹žœŽȱ˜ȱ’œŒ›Ž’˜—ǯȱŽŽ›Š•ȱž•Žȱ˜ȱŸ’Ž—ŒŽȱŝŖŗȱ™Ž›–’œȱ•Š¢ȱ witnesses to testify as to “their opinions and inferences, even Š‹˜žȱž•’–ŠŽȱ’œœžŽœȱ’—ȱ‘ŽȱŒŠœŽǯȄȱUnited States v. Locke, 643 Nos. 23-2840, 23-2846 & 23-2849 19

F.řȱŘřśǰȱŘřşȱǻŝ‘ȱ’›ǯȱŘŖŗŗǼǯȱ‘Ž¢ȱ–Š¢ȱŽŸŽ—ȱŽœ’¢ȱŠ‹˜žȱŠ—Ȭ other person’s mental state, so long as the testimony is helpful to the jury ž—Ž›ȱž•ŽȱŝŖŗȱand appropriate under Rule 403’s ‹Š•Š—Œ’—ȱ Žœǯȱ Id. at 239–40. Though lay witnesses may not ˜ěŽ›ȱ•ސЕȱŒ˜—Œ•žœ’˜—œȱ˜›ȱ˜™’—Žȱ˜—ȱ‘ŽȱŠ™™•’ŒŠ’˜—ȱ˜ȱœŠž˜›¢ȱ elements, United States v. Noelǰȱ śŞŗȱ ǯřȱ ŚşŖǰȱ ŚşŜȱ ǻŝ‘ȱ ’›ǯȱ 2009), they can use words “in a colloquial sense” that “em- ™•˜¢ǽǾȱ ‘Žȱ ŸŽ›—ŠŒž•Š›ȱ ˜ȱ ‘Ž’›ȱ ꗊ—Œ’Š•ȱ ™›˜Žœœ’˜—œǰȄȱ ŽŸŽ—ȱ ’ȱ those words mirror legal standards, Locke, 643 F.3d at 241–42 (approving of lay witnesses’ use of the words fraud and mis- representation). The lay testimony was proper under this standard. Smith and Nowak take issue with the witnesses’ use of the word œ™˜˜ę—ȱ˜ȱŽœŒ›’‹Žȱ‘Ž’›ȱ›Š’—ȱŠŒ’Ÿ’¢ǰ argue that they im- ™›˜™Ž›•¢ȱŒ‘Š›ŠŒŽ›’£Žȱœ™˜˜ę—ȱŠœȱ›ŠžȱŠ—ȱ™›’ŒŽȱ–Š—’™žȬ lation, and claim that the witnesses inappropriately opined on Smith’s and Nowak’s intent ‹ŠœŽȱ ˜—ȱ ŽŒ‘—’ŒŠ•ȱ ”—˜ •ŽŽ. But the witnesses’ žœŽȱ ˜ȱ ‘Žȱ ˜›ȱ œ™˜˜ę—ȱ Šœȱ Œ˜—œ’œŽ—ȱ with the colloquial vernacular of the trading industry, id. at 242ǰȱ Š—ȱ Š—¢ȱ Žœ’–˜—¢ȱ Š‹˜žȱ –’‘’s and Nowak’s mental states was properly framed as an opinion drawn from the trading data in light of the witnesses’ own experience, see United States v. Winbush, 580 F.řȱśŖřǰȱśŗŘȱǻŝ‘ȱ’›ǯȱŘŖŖşǼǯȱœȱ for the claim that the testimony improperly equated œ™˜˜ę—ȱ with fraud and price manipulation, the witnesses were simply explaining why they spoofed, what they had pled guilty to, ˜›ȱ ǻ’—ȱ ’”ŠȂœȱ ŒŠœŽǼȱ ‘¢ȱ ‘Žȱ ȱ ™›˜‘’‹’œȱ œ™˜˜ę—ǯȱ That Smith and Nowak declined a jury instruction that the wit- —ŽœœŽœȱ Ž›ŽȱœŽ›Ÿ’—ȱ’—ȱŠȱžŠ•ȱ›˜•Žȱ˜—•¢ȱœ˜•’’ęŽœȱ˜ž›ȱŒ˜—Œ•žȬ œ’˜—ȱ‘Šȱ—˜ȱŠ‹žœŽȱ˜ȱ’œŒ›Ž’˜—ȱ˜ŒŒž››Žǯ 20 Nos. 23-2840, 23-2846 & 23-2849

Smith and Nowak also argue that Wika should have testi- ꎍȱŠœȱŠ—ȱŽ¡™Ž›ǰȱ›Š‘Ž›ȱ‘Š—ȱŠȱ•Š¢ȱ ’—ŽœœǯȱInvestigators such as Wika can Žœ’¢ȱ Š‹˜žȱ ‘Ž’›ȱ ›˜•Žȱ ’—ȱ Š—ȱ ’—ŸŽœ’Š’˜—ȱ Š—ȱ provide their impressions of the case without crossing into ex- pert territory. United States v. Rollins, 544 F.3d 820, 832–řřȱǻŝ‘ȱ ’›ǯȱŘŖŖŞǼǯȱ‘’œȱ’œȱ™Ž›–’œœ’‹•ŽȱŽŸŽ—ȱ’ȱŠ—ȱ’—ŸŽœ’Š˜›Ȃœȱ“spe- cialized knowledge informed his mental state.” United States v. OriedoǰȱŚşŞȱǯřȱśşřǰȱŜŖŘȱǻŝ‘ȱ’›ǯȱŘŖŖŝǼǯȱ‘’•Žȱ’—˜›–Žȱ‹¢ȱ ‘’œȱ‹ŠŒ”›˜ž—ȱexperience, Wika’s testimony was limited to his investigation and what it revealed to him. Even if it argu- Š‹•¢ “approaches the line dividing lay opinion testimony from expert opinion testimony,” this testimony remained ad- –’œœ’‹•ŽǰȱŠ—ȱ‘Žȱ’œ›’ŒȱŒ˜ž›ȱ’ȱ—˜ȱŠ‹žœŽȱ’œȱ’œŒ›Ž’˜—ȱ’—ȱ allowing it. Rollins, 544 F.3d at 833. At the very worst, the gov- ernment’s other evidence of Smith’s and Nowak’s guilt was so extensive that even if Wika’s testimony “had crossed the •’—ŽȄȱ’ȱ ˜ž•ȱ‘ŠŸŽȱ‹ŽŽ—ȱ‘Š›–•ŽœœȱŽ››˜›ǯȱId. Nor was it erro- neous to admit Wika’s investigative report: investigative re- ports may come in as ™ž‹•’Œȱ ›ŽŒ˜›œȱ ž—Ž›ȱ ŽŽ›Š•ȱ ž•Žȱ ˜ȱ Evidence 803(6) if ‘ŽȱŠž‘˜›’—ȱ˜ĜŒŽ›ȱ˜›ȱ’—ŸŽœ’Š˜›ȱŽœ’ęŽœȱ at trial, as Wika did. United States v. KingǰȱŜŗřȱǯ؍ȱŜŝŖǰȱŜŝŘ– ŝřȱǻŝ‘ȱ’›ǯȱŗşŞŖǼDzȱUnited States v. BlackburnǰȱşşŘȱǯ؍ȱŜŜŜǰȱŜŝŘȱ ǻŝ‘ȱ’›ǯȱŗşşřǼȱǻȃ˜ȱ•˜—ȱŠœȱ‘Žȱ–Дޛȱ˜ȱ‘Žȱ›Ž™˜›ȱ’œȱŠŸŠ’•Š‹•Žȱ for cross-examination, dzȱ Š–’Ĵ’—ȱ ‘Žȱ ›Ž™˜›œȱ ‘Ž–œŽ•ŸŽœȱ does not contravene Rule 803(8).”). D ˜›ȱ‘Ž’›ȱꗊ•ȱŒ‘Š••Ž—Žǰȱ–’‘ȱŠ—ȱ˜ Š”ȱŠ›žŽȱ‘Šȱthe district court’s supplemental instructions to the jury were er- ›˜—Ž˜žœȱ Š—ȱ ’–™Ž›–’œœ’‹•¢ȱ Œ˜Ž›Œ’ŸŽǯȱ Žȱ ›ŽŸ’Ž ȱ ‘Žȱ ’œ›’Œȱ court’s decision to provide supplemental jury instructions, in- cluding its decision to read (or reread) a Silvern instruction, Nos. 23-2840, 23-2846 & 23-2849 21

˜›ȱŠ‹žœŽȱ˜ȱ’œŒ›Ž’˜—ǯȱUnited States v. Cardena, 842 F.3d 959, şŝŚȱǻŝ‘ȱ’›ǯȱŘŖŗŜǼȱ(Silvern instruction); United States v. Sims, řŘşȱ ǯřȱ şřŝǰȱ şŚŘȱ ǻŝ‘ȱ ’›ǯȱ ŘŖŖřǼȱ ǻœž™™•Ž–Ž—Š•ȱ ’—œ›žŒ’˜—œȱ generally). It was appropriate for the district court to reread the Sil- vern instruction. Silvern instructions are “perfectly content- —Žž›Š•ȱ Š—ȱ ŒŠ››ǽ¢Ǿȱ —˜ȱ ™•Šžœ’‹•Žȱ ™˜Ž—’Š•ȱ ˜›ȱ Œ˜Ž›Œ’—ȱ ‘Žȱ jury.” United States v. Beverlyǰȱşŗřȱǯ؍ȱřřŝǰȱřśŘȱǻŝ‘ȱ’›ǯȱŗşşŖǼ ǻšž˜Š’˜—ȱ ˜–’ĴŽǼ. Rather, the district court followed our Œ•ŽŠ›ǰȱŽœŠ‹•’œ‘Žȱ™›˜ŒŽž›ŽȱŠ—ȱ™›˜Ÿ’Žȱ‘Žȱ–˜Ž•ȱinstruc- tion to a deadlocked jury. United States v. Collins, 223 F.3d 502, 508–Ŗşȱǻŝ‘ȱ’›ǯȱŘŖŖŖǼǯ It was similarly within the court’s discretion to remind the jury that lawyers’ statements are arguments, not evidence. ‘ŽȱŒ˜ž›ȱ™ž••Žȱ‘Žȱ•Š—žŠŽȱ›˜–ȱŠȱ™ŠĴŽ›—ȱ’—œ›žŒ’˜—ȱŠ—ǰȱ despite Smith and Nowak’s arguments to the contrary, crafted it carefully to avoid singling out the ™›˜‹•Ž–Š’Œ juror. The court also refused to ask the jury whether it remained deadlockedǰȱ™›ŽŒ’œŽ•¢ȱ˜ȱŠŸ˜’ȱŠ—¢ȱ’—›žœ’˜—ȱ˜—ȱ‘Ž’›ȱŽ•’‹Ž›Ȭ ations. Under the circumstances, the court proceeded thoughtfully and exercised its discretion wisely. Nowak and Smith may not like the verdict the jury reached after receiving ‘ŽœŽȱ’—œ›žŒ’˜—œǰȱ‹žȱ‘Šȱ˜Žœ not mean they were issued in error. III Recall that Jordan was convicted of only wire fraud under 18 U.S.C. § 1343. Jordan challenges various aspects of his sep- Š›ŠŽȱ›’Š•ǯȱŽ˜›Žȱž›—’—ȱ˜ȱ‘Ž–ǰȱ Žȱꛜȱ’œ™Ž—œŽȱ ’‘ȱ‘’œȱ ˜ —ȱ œžĜŒ’Ž—Œ¢ȱ ˜ȱ ‘Žȱ ŽŸ’Ž—ŒŽȱ claim. Jordan joined Smith Š—ȱ˜ Š”ȂœȱŠ›ž–Ž—ȱ‘Šȱœ™˜˜ę—ȱŒŠ——˜ȱœžœŠ’—ȱŠȱ›Šžȱ 22 Nos. 23-2840, 23-2846 & 23-2849

Œ˜—Ÿ’Œ’˜—ȱ‹ŽŒŠžœŽȱ’ȱ•ŠŒ”œȱŠȱ–’œ›Ž™›ŽœŽ—Š’˜—ȱŠ‹˜žȱŠ—ȱŽœȬ œŽ—’Š•ȱޕޖޗȱ˜ȱ‘Žȱ‹Š›Š’—ǯȱŽŒŠžœŽȱ ˜›Š—ȱŒ˜—ŒŽŽœȱ‘Šȱ he spoofed, his argument hinges entirely on that theory. Since we rejected that argument in Section II.Aǰȱ ˜›Š—ȂœȱœžĜŒ’Ž—Œ¢ȱ of the evidence challenge is a nonstarter. A Jordan’s primary remaining argument concerns the dis- trict court’s decision to exclude his statement to Agent Luca that he “did not think what he was doing was wrong.” Jordan sought to admit that statement under Federal Rule of Evi- dence 106, often referred to as the rule of completeness. Rule 106 provides that “[i]f a party introduces all or part of a state- ment, an adverse party may require the introduction, at that time, of any other part—or any other statement—that in fair- —Žœœȱ˜ž‘ȱ˜ȱ‹ŽȱŒ˜—œ’Ž›ŽȱŠȱ‘ŽȱœŠ–Žȱ’–ŽǯȄȱ‘Ž¢ȱȃ–Š¢ȱ˜ȱ s˜ȱ˜ŸŽ›ȱŠȱ‘ŽŠ›œŠ¢ȱ˜‹“ŽŒ’˜—ǯȄȱŽǯȱǯȱŸ’ǯȱŗŖŜǯ Rule 106 requires a complete statement “˜ȱ ‹Žȱ ›ŽŠȱ ˜›ȱ ‘ŽŠ›ȱ ‘Ž—ȱ’ȱ’œȱ—ŽŒŽœœŠ›¢ȱ˜ȱǻŗǼȱŽ¡™•Š’—ȱ‘ŽȱŠ–’ĴŽȱ™˜›’˜—ǰȱ ǻŘǼȱ™•ŠŒŽȱ‘ŽȱŠ–’ĴŽȱ™˜›’˜—ȱ’—ȱŒ˜—Ž¡ǰȱǻřǼȱŠŸ˜’ȱ–’œ•ŽŠ’—ȱ the trier of fact, or (4) insure a fair and impartial understand- ing.” United States v. LewisǰȱŜŚŗȱǯřȱŝŝřǰȱŝŞśȱǻŝ‘ȱ’›ǯȱŘŖŗŗǼȱ ǻšž˜Š’˜—ȱ˜–’ĴŽǼǯȱIn United States v. Haddad, 10 F.3d 1252 ǻŝ‘ȱ ’›ǯȱ ŗşşřǼǰȱ ˜›ȱ ’—œŠ—ŒŽǰȱ ‘Žȱ Œ˜ž›ȱ Š–’ĴŽȱ ‘Žȱ ŽŽ—Ȭ Š—ȂœȱœŠŽ–Ž—ǰȱȃŽœǰȱ ȱ”—e ȱ˜ȱ‘Žȱ–Š›’“žŠ—ŠȄȱ‹žȱŽ¡Œ•žŽȱ the remainder that said, ȃ‹žȱ ȱ‘Šȱ—˜ȱ”—˜ •ŽŽȱ˜ȱ‘Žȱž—ǯȄȱ Id. at 1259. The gun was located right next to the marijuana, œ˜ȱ‘ŽȱŠ–’ĴŽȱœŠŽ–Ž—ȱœžŽœŽȱ‘Šȱ‘ŽȱŽŽ—Š—ȱ”—Ž ȱ Š‹˜žȱ‘Žȱž—ȱŠœȱ Ž••ǯȱId. We concluded that Rule 106 required the admission of the exculpatory statement, in part to avoid any misleading inference. Id. “The completeness doctrine does not, however, require introduction of portions of a Nos. 23-2840, 23-2846 & 23-2849 23

statement that are neither explanatory of nor relevant to the Š–’ĴŽȱ ™ŠœœŠŽœǯȄȱ Lewisǰȱ ŜŚŗȱ ǯřȱ Šȱ ŝŞśȱ ǻquoting United States v. MarinǰȱŜŜşȱǯ؍ȱŝřǰȱŞŚȱǻ؍ȱ’›ǯȱŗşŞŘǼ). The district court was correct that Rule 106 did not compel it to admit Jordan’s statement. Jordan’s claim that he did not think he was doing anything wrong does not change the fac- žŠ•ȱ—Šž›Žȱ˜ȱ‘ŽȱœŠŽ–Ž—ȱ‘Šȱ‘Žȱ™•ŠŒŽȱ‹’œȱ ’‘ȱ‘Žȱ’—Ž—ȱ to cancel for the purpose of misleading the market. Nor does ’ȱŒ˜››ŽŒȱ˜›ȱŒ•Š›’¢ȱŠ—¢ȱ–’œ•ŽŠ’—ȱ’–™›Žœœ’˜—ȱŠ‹˜žȱ‘ŽȱŠȬ –’ĴŽȱ œŠŽ–Ž—DZȱ –’œŠ”Žȱ ˜ȱ •Š ȱ ’œȱ —˜ȱ Šȱ ŽŽ—œŽȱ ˜ȱ ’›Žȱ ›ŠžǰȱŠ—ȱ’ȱ’œȱ’››Ž•ŽŸŠ—ȱ ‘Ž‘Ž›ȱ ˜›Š—ȱ”—Ž ȱ‘Šȱœ™˜˜ę—ȱ was illegal or, as he put it, wrong. United States v. Blagojevich, ŝşŚȱ ǯřȱ ŝŘşǰȱ ŝřşȱ ǻŝ‘ȱ ’›ǯȱ ŘŖŗśǼǯȱ Rather, the court rightly noted that Jordan was free to take the stand and testify that he did not think he was doing anything wrong. United States v. FarukiǰȱŞŖřȱǯřȱŞŚŝǰȱŞśŝȱǻŝ‘ȱ’›ǯȱŘŖŗśǼȱǻА›ŽŽ’—ȱ ’‘ȱ‘Žȱ’œȬ trict court that “the appropriate vehicle for the introduction of œžŒ‘ȱŽŸ’Ž—ŒŽȱ ˜ž•ȱ‘ŠŸŽȱ‹ŽŽ—ȱ˜›ȱǽ‘ŽȱŽŽ—Š—Ǿȱ‘’–œŽ•ȱ˜ȱ have taken the stand,” rather than Rule 106). Defendants often try to justify their actions when speaking with FBI agents and ˜‘Ž›ȱ•Š ȱŽ—˜›ŒŽ–Ž—ȱ˜ĜŒ’Š•œȱ‹¢ȱ’œŒ•Š’–’—ȱŒ›’–’—Š•ȱ’—Ž—. Such an exculpatory statement has nothing to do with Rule 106. B Next, Jordan claims ‘Šȱ‘Žȱ’œ›’ŒȱŒ˜ž›ȱŠ‹žœŽȱ’œȱ’œȬ Œ›Ž’˜—ȱ‹¢ȱexcluding ŒŽ›Š’—ȱŽ¡‘’‹’œȱhe sought to use for im- peachment. The trial concerned Jordan’s trading when he worked at JPMorgan and then Credit Suisse until August 2010. Although the policies in place at the time did not explic- ’•¢ȱ–Ž—’˜—ȱœ™˜˜ę—ǰȱ˜ŸŽ›—–Ž—ȱ ’—ŽœœŽœȱŽœ’ꮍȱ‘Šȱthe practice Šœȱ —˜—Ž‘Ž•Žœœȱ ™›˜‘’‹’Žȱ ‹¢ȱ ‘Ž’›ȱ Ž›–œǯ To 24 Nos. 23-2840, 23-2846 & 23-2849

controvert this testimony, Jordan moved to admit post-2010 Œ˜–™•’Š—ŒŽȱ ™˜•’Œ’Žœȱ Š—ȱ ȱ ˜Œž–Ž—œȱ ‘Šȱ ‘Šȱ ‹ŽŽ—ȱ ›ŽȬ Ÿ’œŽȱ˜ȱŽ¡™›Žœœ•¢ȱ˜›‹’ȱœ™˜˜ę—ǯȱHowever, the district court excluded this evidence under Rule 403. The policies were re- Ÿ’œŽȱ ˜ȱ ›ŽĚŽŒȱ ‘Žȱ ˜-Frank Wall Street and Consumer ›˜ŽŒ’˜—ȱŒǰȱž‹. L. No. 111-ŘŖřǰȱŗŘŚȱŠǯȱŗřŝŜǰȱ ‘’Œ‘ȱ˜—Ȭ ›Žœœȱ™ŠœœŽȱ’—ȱ ž•¢ȱŘŖŗŖǯȱ‘˜ž‘ȱœ™˜˜ę—ȱŠ•›ŽŠ¢ȱŸ’˜•ŠŽȱ the general wire fraud statutes, the Dodd-Frank Act amended ‘Žȱ˜––˜’¢ȱ¡Œ‘Š—ŽȱŒȱ˜ȱŽ¡™•’Œ’•¢ȱ›ŽŒ˜—’£Žȱœ™˜˜ę—ȱ as an unlawful disruptive practice amounting to price manip- ž•Š’˜—ǯȱŝȱǯǯǯȱȗȗ 6c(a)(5)(CǼȱǻŽę—’—ȱœ™˜˜ę—ȱŠœȱ™›ŠŒ’ŒŽȱ ȃŒ˜––˜—•¢ȱ”—˜ —ȱ˜ȱ‘Žȱ›ŠŽȄȱ˜ȱȃ‹’’—ȱ˜›ȱ˜ěŽ›’—ȱ ’‘ȱ ‘Žȱ ’—Ž—ȱ ˜ȱ ŒŠ—ŒŽ•ȱ ‘Žȱ ‹’ȱ ˜›ȱ ˜ěŽ›ȱ ‹Ž˜›Žȱ Ž¡ŽŒž’˜—ȄǼȱ ǭȱ ŗřǻŠǼǻŘǼǯȱ ’ŸŽ—ȱ‘’œȱ‹ŠŒ”›˜ž—ǰȱ‘Žȱ’œ›’ŒȱŒ˜ž›ȱ‘˜ž‘ȱ‘Žȱ ˜ěŽ›ŽȱŽŸ’Ž—ŒŽȱ™˜œŽȱŠȱ›’œ”ȱ˜ȱŒ˜—žœ’—g the jury and erro- neously injecting a mistake of law defense into the case and excluded it. ˜›Š—ȱ Š›žŽœȱ ‘Šȱ ‘ŽœŽȱ Ž¡‘’‹’œȱ Ž›Žȱ ‘’‘•¢ȱ ™›˜‹Š’ŸŽȱ and directly responsive to the witnesses’ testimony, making the district court’s decision to exclude them under Rule 403 Š—ȱŠ‹žœŽȱ˜ȱ’œŒ›Ž’˜—ǯȱWe disagree. Jordan conducted exten- sive cross-examination of the witnesses, which elicited clear testimony that the pre-2010 documents did not mention œ™˜˜ę—ȱŽŸŽ—ȱ‘˜ž‘ȱ‘Ž¢ȱŒ˜ž•ȱǻŠ—ȱ™˜œœ’‹•¢ȱœ‘˜ž•Ǽȱ‘ŠŸŽǯȱ The actual documents themselves were thus of limited addi- ’˜—Š•ȱ ™›˜‹Š’ŸŽȱ ŸŠ•žŽǯȱAnd as the district court noted, evi- dence of the after-the-fact, post-Dodd-Frank policies could have led the jury to think that the wire fraud statutes were not œžĜŒ’Ž—ȱ˜ȱŒ›’–’—Š•’£Žȱœ™˜˜ę—ǯ ‘ŽȱŒ˜ž›ȱ Šœȱ“žœ’ꮍȱ ’—ȱ this concern—defendants in other cases have made this same ǻŠ•‹Ž’ȱ’—Œ˜››ŽŒǼ argument. See Chanu, 40 F.4th at 534. Nos. 23-2840, 23-2846 & 23-2849 25

ŽŒŠžœŽȱȃǽǾ‘Žȱ‹Š•Š—Œ’—ȱ˜ȱ™›˜‹Š’ŸŽȱŸŠ•žŽȱŠ—ȱ™›Ž“ž’ŒŽȱ is a highly discretionary assessment,” we give “great defer- ence” to a district court’s decision to exclude evidence under Rule 403 and “˜—•¢ȱ’œž›‹ǽǾȱ’ȱ’ȱ—˜ȱ›ŽŠœ˜—Š‹•Žȱ™Ž›œ˜—ȱŒ˜ž•ȱ agree with the ruling.” Pacilio, 85 F.4th at 465 (quotation omit- ted). ’ŸŽ—ȱ‘Žȱ•’–’Žȱ™›˜‹Š’ŸŽȱŸŠ•žŽȱ˜ȱ‘Žȱ˜Œž–Ž—œȱŠ—ȱ valid concerns of jury confusion, Jordan does not overcome this extremely deferential standard. C Last, Jordan says the district court erred in declining to ad- minister a so-called good faith instructionǯȱ™ŽŒ’ęŒŠ••¢ǰȱ ˜›Š—ȱ sought an instruction that if he acted in good faith “then he •ŠŒ”Žȱ‘Žȱ’—Ž—ȱ˜ȱŽ›Šžȱ›Žšž’›Žȱ˜ȱ™›˜ŸŽȱ‘Žȱ˜ěŽ—œŽȱ˜ȱ wire fraud.” Though we review challenges to jury instruc- tions de novo, ȃ‘Žȱ’œ›’ŒȱŒ˜ž›ȱ’œȱŠě˜›Žȱœž‹œŠ—’Š•ȱ’œȬ cretion with respect to the precise wording of instructions so long Šœȱ‘Žȱꗊ•ȱ›Žœž•ǰȱ›ŽŠȱŠœȱŠȱ ‘˜•ŽǰȱŒ˜–™•ŽŽ•¢ȱŠ—ȱŒ˜›Ȭ rectly states the law.” Chanu, 40 F.4th at 542 (cleaned up). We already addressed and rejected this same argument in Chanu. As the district court noted, a good faith instruction is ž——ŽŒŽœœŠ›¢ȱ’—ȱ ’›Žȱ›ŠžȱŒŠœŽœȱ‹ŽŒŠžœŽȱŠȱ•ŠŒ”ȱ˜ȱ˜˜ȱŠ’‘ȱ is a part of the charge. Id. ŠȱśŚřǯȱ˜ȱ‹Žȱœž›Žǰȱ’œ›’ŒȱŒ˜ž›œȱŠ›Žȱ free to provide one if they wish. But “the rule is clear” that defendants such as Jordan cannot demonstrate that “the fail- ure to include the good faith instruction denied [them] a fair trial.” Id. (cleaned up). ˜›Š—ȱŠ–’ĴŽȱ‘Žȱœ™˜˜ŽǰȱŠ—ȱŠȱ“ž›¢ȱ convicted him of wire fraud after a fair, properly conducted trial. AFFIRMED

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