Opinion ID: 2976177
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Besser

Text: Besser argues that the evidence was insufficient to sustain his conviction because it did not show that he participated in many of the overt acts in furtherance of the mail fraud and the conspiracy and that, while he was a signatory on several bank accounts used in the fraudulent scheme, he did not know that the proceeds were from 19 unlawful activity. Besser’s arguments are not well taken. As to mail fraud, the “government is not required to prove that each defendant was a mastermind of the scheme to defraud; proof of a defendant’s willful participation in a scheme with knowledge of its fraudulent elements is sufficient.” United States v. Stull, 743 F.2d 439, 442 (6th Cir. 1984) (citations omitted). “Nor is a defendant exonerated by the fact that he may have participated in the scheme to a lesser extent than others.” Id. (citations omitted). The evidence showed that Besser had direct involvement in many of the activities of Access directed at securing and processing funds from investors. He was a joint signatory with other defendants in some of the church-named accounts used to shuffle investors’ funds; he prepared and signed many of the forms sent to investors, which listed him as “Trustee” and gave his phone number; and he signed some of the fake “profit” checks sent to early investors in the scheme. Further, Besser dealt directly with some of the investors, who testified to statements and promises he made to them. Further, Besser withdrew approximately $1 million from investors’ funds, wiring some of it to Nigeria. He filed a false affidavit in an action brought by authorities in Texas in relation to another fraudulent investment scheme in which he claimed that seized funds were his personal assets when, in fact, they were monies obtained from Access investors. Besser also was notified by one bank that one of the church-named 20 accounts appeared to be a fraudulent tax shelter. That bank later closed the account. Finally, when faced with the grand jury subpoena, Besser fled to Mexico. This and other evidence was sufficient to support the jury’s conviction of Besser on all counts charged.