United States v. Tanner
Opinion of the Court
MEMORANDUM
The wire and mail fraud counts and the related conspiracy counts did indeed state an offense, so the judge did not err by denying the motion to dismiss those counts. Under 18 U.S.C. § 1346, “honest services” fraud is not limited to public officials.
The district court did not err in denying the motion for a new trial based on the jury foreman’s responses to questions, because none of the questions called upon the jury foreman to disclose that he had nearly been sucked into a Cayman Island reinsurance fraud.
The district court did not abuse its discretion in denying Tanner’s motion to sever the tax counts from the securities counts, because Tanner did not provide specific testimony that he would present about the tax counts and he did not explain why he could not testify as to the securities counts.
There were no improper remarks during closing argument. The prosecutor’s comments about “lies” referred to the instances that the prosecutor had previously identified where Tanner had lied in furtherance of the fraud. The comment that Tanner was a “con artist” referred to Tanner’s lawyer’s likening of Tanner’s role in the fraud to an “artist” who asks an art broker or dealer to locate a buyer for a painting. The statements were not impermissible vouching.
There was sufficient evidence to convict Tanner on all counts at issue. The jury could conclude that Tanner knew of the boiler room and pump-and-dump operation, and made the wire transfer kickbacks to the boiler room brokers. The jury could believe Ruggiero’s testimony. The jury could also conclude that Delta Financial Resources Corporation, Inc. was a sham corporation created for “illegitimate purposes” by Tanner.
The district court did not abuse its discretion in formulating the jury instructions. Considered in context with all the other instructions,
Because the Supreme Court’s decision in United States v. Booker
AFFIRMED IN PART AND REMANDED.
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and may not be cited to or by the courts of this circuit except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3.
. United States v. Frega, 179 F.3d 793, 802 (9th Cir. 1999) (holding that 18 U.S.C. § 1346 reinstated the intangible rights doctrine that existed prior to McNally v. United States, 483 U.S. 350, 107 S.Ct. 2875, 97 L.Ed.2d 292 (1987)).
. McDonough Power Equip., Inc. v. Greenwood, 464 U.S. 548, 556, 104 S.Ct. 845, 78 L.Ed.2d 663 (1984).
. Id.
. United States v. Hanley, 190 F.3d 1017, 1031 (9th Cir. 1999).
. United States v. DiCesare, 765 F.2d 890, 898 (9th Cir. 1985).
. United States v. Garcia-Guizar, 160 F.3d 511, 520 (9th Cir. 1998).
. See Griffin v. California, 380 U.S. 609, 615, 85 S.Ct. 1229, 14 L.Ed.2d 106 (1965).
. United States v. Castillo, 866 F.2d 1071, 1083 (9th Cir. 1988).
. Kleinsasser v. United States, 707 F.2d 1024, 1027 (9th Cir. 1983).
. Cupp v. Naughten, 414 U.S. 141, 146-47, 94 S.Ct. 396, 38 L.Ed.2d 368 (1973).
. United States v. Booker, 543 U.S.-, 125 S.Ct. 738, 160 L.Ed.2d 621, 2005 WL 50108 (2005) (Nos.04 — 104, 04-105).
Reference
- Full Case Name
- United States v. Max Clark TANNER, Defendant-Appellant United States of America v. Max Clark Tanner
- Cited By
- 1 case
- Status
- Published