Opinion ID: 795316
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Count II—Mail Fraud

Text: 68 As to Count II, the government was permitted to establish the use of mails element of the crime by proving that the mailing was incident to an essential part of the scheme. Schmuck v. United States, 489 U.S. 705, 710-11, 109 S.Ct. 1443, 103 L.Ed.2d 734 (1989). The statute provides that a defendant must `cause' the use of mails, but `a defendant will be deemed to have `caused' the use of mails ... if the use was the reasonably foreseeable result of his actions.' United States v. Waterman, 704 F.2d 1014 (8th Cir.1983) (quoting United States v. Wrehe, 628 F.2d 1079, 1085 (8th Cir.1980)). 69 Here, Edelmann sought to defraud the lender, BNC, by submitting false financial documents to qualify for a home loan. To obtain the loan, Edelmann had to sign documents at a loan closing, which was overseen by Dianne Cathey at Standard Abstract and Title Company. Cathey testified that during the loan closing, Edelmann reviewed and executed a number of documents, including a settlement sheet. This settlement sheet specifically enumerated a mailing fee of $45 for return of documents to the lender. 70 Because this settlement sheet provided notice to Edelmann that the documents would be mailed from the title company to the lender to complete the loan, we reject Edelmann's argument that the government failed to present any evidence that she knew or should have reasonably foreseen that the closing agent would mail the documents back to the lender.