Opinion ID: 76624
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Information and Plea Agreement

Text: 8 On September 10, 2001, Defendant Bracciale was charged by information with one count of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1343, 1346, and 2. 2 Section 1343 makes it a federal crime to devise 9 any scheme or artifice to defraud, or for obtaining money or property by means of false or fraudulent pretenses, representations, or promises, transmits or causes to be transmitted by means of wire, radio, or television communication in interstate or foreign commerce, any writings, signs, signals, pictures, or sounds for the purpose of executing such scheme or artifice. 10 18 U.S.C. § 1343. Further, § 1346 states that the term `scheme or artifice to defraud' includes a scheme or artifice to deprive another of the intangible right of honest services. 18 U.S.C. § 1346. In its information, the government alleged that from 1994 to 1997 Bracciale did knowingly and willfully execute and attempt to execute a scheme and artifice to defraud Kraft Foods of money and property and the intangible right of his honest services by means of false and fraudulent pretenses, representations, and promises. 11 On September 18, 2002, pursuant to a written plea agreement, Bracciale pled guilty to wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1343, 1346, and 2. 3 The plea agreement specifically listed the elements of Bracciale's fraud offense as follows: 12 First: That the Defendant knowingly devised or participated in a scheme to defraud, or for obtaining money or property by means of false pretenses, representations or promises; 13 Second: That the defendant did so willfully with an intent to defraud; 14 Third: That the Defendant transmitted or caused to be transmitted by means of wire communication in interstate commerce a writing and signal, for the purpose of executing the scheme to defraud; and 15 Fourth: That the Defendant reasonably foresaw or should have foreseen that his breach of a fiduciary duty to his employer which [sic] might cause an economic harm to that employer.