Opinion ID: 381443
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Bohonus Indictment.

Text: 31 An indictment must provide the defendant with a description of the charges against him sufficient to (1) enable him to prepare his defense; (2) ensure him that he is being prosecuted on the basis of facts presented to the grand jury; (3) enable him to plead double jeopardy against a later prosecution; and (4) inform the court of the facts alleged so that it can determine the sufficiency of the charge. Russell v. United States, 369 U.S. 749, 763, 768 n. 15, 771, 82 S.Ct. 1038, 1046, 1049, n. 15, 1051, 8 L.Ed.2d 240 (1962); United States v. Pheaster, 544 F.2d 353, 360 (9th Cir. 1976), cert. den., 429 U.S. 1099, 97 S.Ct. 1118, 51 L.Ed.2d 546 (1977). To satisfy these requirements, the indictment must allege the elements of the offense charged and the facts which inform the defendant of the specific offense with which he is charged. Hamling v. United States, 418 U.S. 87, 94 S.Ct. 2887, 41 L.Ed.2d 590 (1974); United States v. Cecil, 608 F.2d 1294, 1296 (9th Cir. 1979). The indictment here serves each of these functions. A scheme to defraud is alleged and the appellee is charged with devising and intending to devise this scheme to defraud his employer. The indictment charges that the appellee knowingly caused use of the mails in furtherance of the scheme to defraud. A clear charge of mail fraud has been made and the facts inform the accused of the specific offenses with which he is charged. 32