Opinion ID: 62915
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Mail Fraud Offense

Text: Conner alleges that there was insufficient evidence for his mail fraud conviction. His first argument is that the Government did not show a scheme to defraud, an element of the mail fraud offense, see 18 U.S.C. § 1341, because the Government failed to show that he engaged in the access-device conspiracy. We disagree with Conner's argument because there was sufficient evidence of the access-device conspiracy, as discussed above. Conner also argues that the Government's evidence was insufficient because during summation it abandoned its claim that the scheme to defraud employed false material representations, another element of the mail fraud offense. See id. This argument is without merit because during summation the Government said the scheme involved fraudulently obtaining items using unauthorized access devices and that Conner offered the stolen tools as his to sell and averred that he was a legitimate seller, all false representations. Finally, Conner argues that the Government failed to establish the provenance of the drill kit that was mailed to Agent Dooher; specifically, that it was one of the tool kits Hester obtained by fraud during his trip with Conner to Florida. In fact, there was overwhelming evidence that tied the drill kit sold to Agent Dooher as an item obtained by Conner and Hester during the Florida trip. The evidence came from Hester's testimony, as well as corroboration from the owner of the place from where the drill kit was shipped.