Opinion ID: 4217301
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Uttering Fraudulent Securities

Text: Allen was convicted of six counts of uttering fraudulent securities, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 513(a) (“§ 513”). Section 513(a) criminalizes the uttering of counterfeited securities “of an organization . . . .” 18 U.S.C. § 513(a). “[T]he term ‘organization’ means a legal entity, 13 No. 15-5525, United States v. Allen other than a government, established or organized for any purpose, and includes a corporation, company, association, firm, partnership, . . . or any other association of persons which operates in or the activities of which affect interstate or foreign commerce . . . .” 18 U.S.C. § 513(c)(4). Allen argues that the evidence is insufficient as a matter of law to support her § 513(a) convictions because Benchmark was a fictitious entity and, therefore, could not constitute an “organization” operating in interstate commerce. Allen cites our previous decision in United States v. Wade, in which the defendant was convicted of passing checks that bore the names of fictitious, non-existent entities but contained the legitimate account numbers of legal entities. United States v. Wade, 266 F.3d 574, 577-78 (6th Cir. 2001). There, we stated that “fictitious entities are not organizations under 18 U.S.C. § 513(a).” Id. at 581. As support, Allen also cites United States v. Barone, a Ninth Circuit case holding that non-existent shell companies could not qualify as “organizations” because they “did not affect interstate commerce.” United States v. Barone, 71 F.3d 1442, 1443-44 (9th Cir. 1995). Here, in contrast, Benchmark had offices, active bank accounts, and employees. There was also evidence that Benchmark solicited interstate business through a website, conducted business through interstate mail and electronic mail, and made payments through checks and wire transfers. Accordingly, we find that Benchmark qualified as an “organization” that affected interstate commerce, in accordance with § 513(a). 14 No. 15-5525, United States v. Allen