Opinion ID: 629120
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Deprivation of Money or Property on Mail Fraud Counts V and VI

Text: 40 Appellant argues that his conduct relating to Counts V and VI, which concern the Kearney transactions, did not deprive Albany County citizens of money or property. The government concedes that at the time of the alleged conduct, the mail fraud statute reached only the deprivation of money or property interests. See McNally v. United States, 483 U.S. 350, 107 S.Ct. 2875, 97 L.Ed.2d 292 (1987); 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1346 (1988) (adding scheme or artifice to deprive another of the intangible right of honest services). However, the evidence was sufficient to show a deprivation of money or property. 41 With regard to the purchase of the Mercury Sable, the jury was entitled to conclude that Coyne's detailed specifications for the car, and the tip to Bud Kearney, Inc., regarding those specifications, were intended to rig the bidding and caused the County to pay more for the car. The County accepted the Bud Kearney, Inc. bid even though it was $788 higher because the lower bid did not meet the rigged specifications for, inter alia, color, tire size, and rearview mirrors. With regard to the funding of the dive team, the jury could have easily concluded that the County was defrauded of $5,000 to outfit a new and duplicative dive team. 42