Opinion ID: 453009
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Telexes in support of wire fraud counts.

Text: 49 Philip Weinstein and Wilhelmina Harich Weinstein argue that a purported telex in support of Count V (wire fraud) was improperly admitted because there was no evidence that the telex was actually transmitted. 50 Identification and admissibility of evidence is within the discretion of the trial court. Bury v. Marietta Dodge, 692 F.2d 1335, 1338 (11th Cir.1982); Meadows and Walker Drilling Co. v. Phillips Petroleum Co., 417 F.2d 378, 382 (5th Cir.1969). Moreover, letters and presumably telegrams are prima facie authentic if their content is responsive to prior properly admitted communications. 3 Wharton's Criminal Evidence Sec. 525 (1973); 5 J. Weinstein and Burger, Weinstein's Evidence paragraphs 901(b)(4) and (1983). 51 The telexes in question were responsive to a June 9, 1977 letter from Solomon Richman to Philip Weinstein. The admission of the June 9 letter is not disputed. The evidence is therefore sufficient to support a finding that the telex in question is what the government claims it to be. Fed.R.Evid. 901(a). Additionally, we hold that the content of the telexes evidence use of interstate communications facilities. See United States v. Goss, 650 F.2d 1336, 1343 (5th Cir. Unit A 1981). 52