Opinion ID: 609951
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: The Conversion Offense

Text: 56 Gaines next argues that the evidence was insufficient for the jury to have found him guilty of converting government property under 18 U.S.C. § 641. This count charged Gaines with giving a copy of the out-briefing papers of the NRAC summer study of 1987 to Paisley, at Paisley's request. Gaines argues that he lacked the requisite intent to have converted these documents because he believed that Paisley had the security clearance to see them and because he believed he had the authority to release them to Paisley. 57 The government was required to prove that Gaines conveyed the NRAC study to Paisley, knowing that he did not have the authority to do so. 5 Taking the facts in the light most favorable to the government, we are of opinion that there was sufficient evidence Gaines had the required intent for the jury to have found that he converted these documents. 58 Gaines admitted that he gave a copy of the NRAC summer study to Paisley. Gaines also admitted that he knew Paisley no longer had a Navy security clearance, only clearances through his defense contractor clients. Gaines was moreover aware that the NRAC manual prohibited disclosure of NRAC papers without authorization of the Executive Director. Gaines never received that authorization and admitted that he had not nor had sought it. Finally, when interviewed by government agents, Gaines denied giving any classified documents to Paisley, and told the agent at that time that NRAC studies were not to be disclosed outside of Navy channels. 59 Taken as a whole, there was substantial evidence that Gaines knew that he converted these documents without authority, and accordingly, the jury's verdict is sustained.