Opinion ID: 3171512
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Individual Investors

Text: Finally, Bravata singles out the counts naming Makowski and Scherer as victims. He first challenges the variance between the indictment and the proofs for the count dealing with Theresa Makowski. The evidence at trial showed that Ramon Makowski, Theresa’s husband, transferred $22,359 to BBC Equities, but the indictment listed Theresa as the victim. Bravata - 12 - Case Nos. 13-2380, 13-2381, 13-2591, 15-1370, United States v. Bravata now claims that the “[v]ariance in this count denied [him] the Sixth Amendment right of the U.S. Constitution.” To constitute reversible error, an indictment-proof variance must entail “‘a substantial likelihood’ that a defendant may have been ‘convicted of an offense other than that charged by the grand jury.’” United States v. Feinman, 930 F.2d 495, 499 (6th Cir. 1991) (quoting United States v. Beeler, 587 F.2d 340, 342 (6th Cir. 1978)). Bravata must show prejudice to his ability to defend himself at trial. Id. Bravata made no such showing. The evidence at trial showed that the Makowskis jointly invested. Ramon’s application listed Theresa as a co-owner of the retirement account used to purchase BBC Equities shares. Bravata cross-examined Theresa about both the $22,359 investment from the co-owned retirement account and the $3,306 investment from her personal account. Not only did the proof at trial conform to the indictment, but Bravata also suffered no prejudice because he fully cross-examined Theresa. Next, Bravata asserts that he never spoke to investor Kathleen Scherer and therefore never misrepresented anything to her. But this argument is unavailing. Not only did Scherer testify to hearing Bravata’s sales pitch through Todd Kuzma, a BBC Equities employee, she also received lulling communications from Bravata. See Faulkenberry, 614 F.3d at 582–83 (affirming wire-fraud conviction when the defendant sent a post-investment fax to lull the investors into a false sense of security). Trial testimony therefore established each element of wire fraud.