Opinion ID: 766081
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: 42 Shipsey asserts that the evidence against him was not sufficient in various respects. Although we reverse Shipsey's theft and money laundering convictions, we reach this claim because if the evidence is insufficient on any count, the Double Jeopardy Clause would bar retrial on that count. See United States v. Aguilar, 80 F.3d 329, 334 (9th Cir. 1996) (en banc). Sufficient evidence exists to support a conviction if, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. See United States v. Bancalari, 110 F.3d 1425, 1428 (9th Cir. 1997). 43 Counts eighteen and nineteen pertain to draw requests made by Shipsey for money to pay International Windows (IW), a subcontractor on Stonefield, purportedly for items for Stonefield. Shipsey argues that the government did not show that First Cal and the pension funds relinquished the money in these transactions in reliance on any of the false statements alleged in the indictment. The evidence fully established that First Cal and the pension funds relinquished money in these transactions because of misrepresentations made by Shipsey. 44 Count twenty alleges that Shipsey stole approximately $125,000 from First Cal on or about October 27, 1989. Counts twenty three and twenty four charge that on November 3, 1989, and November 2, 1989, Shipsey engaged in money laundering of $100,000 and $25,000 respectively in connection with the transaction in count twenty. These counts pertain to a draw request Shipsey made to reimburse Golden State Lumber (GSL), another subcontractor, for a lumberorder. Shipsey argues that the government's proof does not demonstrate that he stole $125,000 from First Cal on the GSL disbursal because GSL provided nearly $125,000 in materials and services to Stonefield. We disagree. The evidence shows that Shipsey requested reimbursement from First Cal, ostensibly for materials supplied by GSL. He actually planned to use the money either for personal purposes or to secure a loan to repay GSL a debt for work done at both Stonefield and Obertz. Thus, the evidence shows that he obtained $125,000 from First Cal on the basis of false pretenses. Shipsey contends that he only obtained the $125,000 because GSL made an independent decision to part with it, which eliminates the basis for a finding that he took the money from First Cal. Whether GSL made an independent decision to part with the money, however, is irrelevant to whether Shipsey lied to obtain the money from First Cal in the first place. 45 Shipsey also argues that the government did not prove the allegations in certain theft counts because the government did not meet its obligation to show that the pension funds incurred loss. We are not persuaded. Takings, not losses, from four separate pension funds were the subject of these four separate counts. Shipsey completed his crime when he obtained the money through false pretenses. It is irrelevant whether the subcontractors eventually received less money than the full value of their work at Stonefield. See United States v. Olson, 925 F.2d 1170, 1175 (9th Cir. 1991).