 "The major problems faced by federal prosecutors in applying [the mail and wire fraud statutes] to political schemes is establishing that the defendant intentionally attempted to defraud the victims of something of value within the meaning of the States." The salary and benefits of an elected public employee are not "property" for the purposes of the mail and wire fraud statutes, but the salary and benefits of an unelected public employee are. One intangible form of property recognized under the mail and wire fraud statutes is the right to control the disposition of government funds.
