Opinion ID: 1928076
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: First Degree Theft and Credit Card Fraud

Text: We conclude that the evidence was sufficient to convict both Zanders and Harris of the crimes of first degree theft and credit card fraud. D.C.Code § 22-3811(b)(1) and (2) specifies that: (b) A person commits the offense of theft if that person wrongfully obtains or uses the property of another with intent: (1) To deprive the other of a right to the property or a benefit of the property; or (2) To appropriate the property to his or her own use or to the use of a third person. The indictment charged Zanders and Harris with intentionally and wrongfully obtaining and using gold jewelry and sundries from Mr. Nandwani's gift shop. To prove theft the government had to show that Zanders and Harris: (1) wrongfully obtained the property of another; (2) at the time they obtained the property, specifically intended to deprive Mr. Nandwani of a right to the property or a benefit of the property or to take or make use of the property for themselves or for another person, without authority or right; and (3) the property had a value of $250 or more when they obtained it. CRIMINAL JURY INSTRUCTIONS, supra, No. 4.38. [7] Officer Tommie Brooks testified that a gold bracelet was taken from Zanders and two gold chains from Harris at the time of their arrest. Mr. Nandwani testified that the gold bracelet and gold chains came from his gift shop, and identified Zanders and Harris at the show-up identification as the men who purchased the jewelry and toiletries. Dr. Sokolov testified that neither Zanders nor Harris had ever been given permission to use his credit cards. A reasonable jury could infer beyond a reasonable doubt that both men knew they had no authority to use Dr. Sokolov's credit card, and they specifically intended to deprive Mr. Nandwani of the jewelry and sundries from his gift shop. The government, through the testimony of Mr. Nandwani proved that the purchases had a value in excess of $250. Accordingly, the evidence was more than sufficient to convict the two men of first degree theft. District of Columbia Code § 22-3823(b)(1) provides: (b) A person commits the offense of credit card fraud if, with intent to defraud, that person obtains property of another by: (1) knowingly using a credit card, or the number or description thereof, which has been issued to another person without the consent of the person to whom it was issued. To prove credit card fraud the government had to show: (1) That the defendants: without the consent of the person to whom it had been issued, used a credit card, or the number or description of a credit card, which had been issued to another person; (2) that they did so knowingly, meaning consciously and on purpose, not mistakenly, accidentally or inadvertently; (3) that they did so with intent to defraud; (4) that they thereby obtained property of another. CRIMINAL JURY INSTRUCTIONS, supra, No. 4.42. [8] Dr. Sokolov did not consent to Zanders' or Harris' use of his credit card. The jury could reasonably infer that neither man used the credit card by accident or through inadvertence, but that they intended to defraud Mr. Nandwani by cheating him out of his gold jewelry, sweatshirts and toiletries. Evidence showed that the gold jewelry, sweatshirts and toiletries had a value in excess of $250. Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the government, there was proof from which a reasonable juror could infer that Zanders and Harris were guilty of credit card fraud beyond a reasonable doubt.