Opinion ID: 411342
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Furtherance of the Scheme to Defraud

Text: 4 Cusino argues first that the contents of the six wire transmissions alleged in the indictment were not proved because there was no evidence showing that the drawers of the checks wired to Nevada were defrauded, or that any of the money in question was ever transferred to Cusino for his own benefit. Although Cusino is correct in his assertion that the Government had to prove the contents of the six transmissions in order to show that the wires were used in furtherance of the scheme to defraud, such contents can be proved by circumstantial evidence. United States v. Garner, 663 F.2d 834, 838 (9th Cir.1981), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 102 S.Ct. 1750, 72 L.Ed.2d 161 (1982). Here, the Government established that all Multi-Power funds came from investors, either through loans or purchases of shares, and that nearly three-quarters of those funds were paid directly to Cusino. Such evidence was sufficient. 5 Cusino next contends that the alleged transmissions somehow thwarted his scheme. This contention has no merit. Whether or not the Nevada location of Multi-Power's bank account was a matter of Cusino's choosing, that location made the wires useful to him in obtaining funds from the corporation. Usefulness to the perpetrator is sufficient under section 1343. Cf. United States v. Bohonus, 628 F.2d 1167, 1173 (9th Cir.) (construed 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1341 and held that mailings need not be essential to scheme to defraud, but must be made for purpose of executing scheme), cert. denied, 447 U.S. 928, 100 S.Ct. 3026, 65 L.Ed.2d 1122 (1980). 1