Opinion ID: 537466
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Defendant Scott

Text: 54
55 Defendant Scott contends the admission into evidence of two checks written by Anders Construction Company to Scott and a 1983 check registry from Anders Construction Company was improper because the evidence was irrelevant, prejudicial, and constituted inadmissible evidence of other crimes and bad acts. Fed.R.Evid. 404(b). At trial, defendant contended the check evidence was inadmissible because the checks were not issued within the time period charged in the indictment and because the checks and the check registry suggested the inference that she was involved in other arson fires for which she was not charged. Defense counsel also contended that the evidence was used to suggest guilt by association. 56 The government contends that the relevance of the two checks was to show that defendant Scott was not just Migdaleck's secretary, as was claimed, but was paid commissions for bringing business to Anders Construction Company, as were other programmers, and the check registry was introduced to show the relationship between the various parties to the fraudulent scheme. 57 The trial court held the checks were relevant and their probative value was not outweighed by their prejudicial effect. 58 A trial court does not err in admitting evidence that has a tendency to make more or less probable a material proposition for which it is offered, unless it is shown that the probative value of the evidence is substantially outweighed by its prejudicial effect. Fed.R.Evid. 401, 403. 59 We conclude this evidence was relevant and its probative value was not substantially outweighed by its prejudicial effect. There was strong circumstantial evidence, specifically the testimony of Meredith, Sr. and Hassan, that Scott was a principal in the scheme to burn down the premises on Lauder Avenue on March 15, 1983. The essence of Scott's defense was that she was merely a secretary at Anders Construction and was not involved in the arson for profit scheme. The court admitted the challenged checks upon the government's argument that the checks were admissible as proof that Scott was more than just a secretary, but was a programmer being paid commission for bringing arson repair business to Migdaleck, just as other programmers were. The check register for 1983 was admitted in order to show that commission checks were written to Meredith, Sr., and Jr., Weems, Hassan, Scott, and other defendants in the case at or near the time of the fire to which each was connected in the testimony, and to show the relationship between the various defendants during 1983. An additional reason the check register was offered and admitted is that the government had possession of some, but not all, of the checks relevant to the arson schemes, and wished to prove, by introduction of the check register, the pattern of issuance of checks related to arson schemes. 60 We think both the two checks and the 1983 check register were shown to be relevant and were therefore admissible. Moreover, the defendant Scott has failed to demonstrate that the relevance of the three exhibits was substantially outweighed by the possible prejudicial effect of suggesting Scott's involvement in a still wider scheme of arson for profit than the March 15, 1983 Lauder Avenue fire, a point never argued by the government. We conclude the trial court did not err in admitting the challenged exhibits. 61
62 Defendant Scott's second issue on appeal is tied to her first. She contends there was insufficient evidence to convict her of mail fraud because the government failed to prove she entered into a scheme with Migdaleck to defraud on the dates charged in the indictment. Scott contends the government's case rested on the two challenged checks and the testimony of immunized convicted arsonists, whose credibility was highly questioned. She notes that defendant Migdaleck was acquitted of the charges on which she was convicted. 63 In order to convict a defendant of mail fraud, the prosecution must prove a scheme to defraud and use of the mails to execute or further the scheme. United States v. Schilling, 561 F.2d 659, 661 (6th Cir.1977). Defendant Scott does not contest the sufficiency of the evidence on the use of the mails element of the mail fraud charge. 64 This court reviews a sufficiency of the evidence claim by determining whether, in viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to the prosecution, a rationale trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime proved beyond a reasonable doubt. Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319 (1979), reh. denied, 444 U.S. 890 (1979). 65 Al Meredith, Sr. testified that he spoke with defendant Scott about the March 15, 1983 fire at Joyce Manns' house before it occurred. Scott introduced Manns as a customer. During the conversation between Meredith, Sr., Manns and Scott, Meredith, Sr. checked Manns' insurance policy and discussed Manns' potential recovery from the fire and where Manns would stay while repairs were being made. 66 Adar Hassan testified that Meredith, Sr. asked him to meet Scott at Manns' home and set the fire. Hassan met Scott at Manns' home on the day of the fire, went in and, while Scott and the occupants remained downstairs, went upstairs and set the fire. 67 The two checks were admitted to show defendant Scott was paid commissions by defendant Migdaleck. 68 The evidence, taken in a light most favorable to the prosecution, establishes defendant Scott was a participant in the scheme to defraud the insurance company and is sufficient to convict her of two counts of mail fraud, 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1341. 69