Opinion ID: 269176
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence under count iii.

Text: 80 Appellant next argues that there was insufficient evidence to support his conviction under Count III which alleged a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2314. The violation alleged was that appellant caused to be transported from Memphis, Tennessee, to Oran, Missouri, a $6,000 check which he knew was stolen, converted and taken by fraud from Federal. Appellant does not deny that the check in question was in fact transported from Tennessee to Missouri and he does not deny, for the purpose of this appeal, that there was adequate proof that he caused the transportation. However, appellant argues that there was no proof that the check in question had been stolen or converted, and hence it was error for the trial court to deny appellant's motion for judgment of acquittal made at the conclusion of the Government's case and of the whole case. 81 In summary, appellant rests its contention that the check was not stolen on two arguments: (1) He had such blanket authority in handling the affairs of Federal that the order to issue this check could not exceed the scope of this authority; and (2) Federal owed him $66,000 in commissions under his consultant contract, and hence he was entitled to this check. The Government contends, and we agree, that in light of all the evidence there was at least a factual issue created as to whether or not appellant was authorized to order the issuance of the check in question for the particular purpose shown by the evidence. If such a factual issue was created, and we think it was, then the trial court did not err in overruling the motion for a directed verdict of acquittal. Once such an issue was created, it was the duty of the jury to determine whether or not the check was stolen within the meaning of 18 U.S.C. § 2314. 82 In the case at bar, we have viewed the evidence in the light most favorable to the Government, Koolish v. United States, 340 F.2d 513, 514 (8th Cir. 1965). It would serve no useful purpose to discuss the evidence in this regard which both appellant and the Government have thoroughly argued in their respective briefs. Suffice it to say that we are compelled to conclude that there is substantial evidence in the record from which the jury could have found that the check in question had been stolen, and, therefore, it was not error for the trial court to deny appellant's motions for judgment of acquittal under this count. 83 Finally, appellant contends that even if his conviction should not be reversed, his sentence should be vacated and the case should be remanded for resentencing. The sentence imposed on appellant was a general sentence of ten years and a fine in the sum of $10,000 on Count I and Count III of the indictment. Appellant argues that he should have been sentenced on each count and relies on Benson v. United States, 332 F.2d 288 (5th Cir. 1964), in which the court disapproved the use of a general sentence and vacated it. 84 Both Counts I and III allege a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2314. The maximum punishment under both is therefore identical — a fine up to $10,000 and a term of imprisonment up to ten years. 85 In Benson, supra, the defendant received an aggregate sentence of 15 years, which exceeded the maximum on any one particular count. The problem there, the court said, was that no one — accused, [or the] reviewing Court    knows what the real sentence is. But here that problem is not involved. The sentence did not exceed that which could have been imposed on either count. 86 This court has previously sustained general sentences. Phillips v. United States, 212 F.2d 327 (8th Cir. 1954); Barnes v. United States, 197 F.2d 271 (8th Cir. 1952). This contention is therefore without merit.