Opinion ID: 3171512
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Interstate Wires

Text: Bravata next argues that investors who handed checks to him or BBC Equities representatives never used interstate wires. At trial, however, Bravata stipulated “that the wire transfers charged in Counts 2 through 15 . . . were made in interstate commerce,” so this argument lacks merit. Bravata’s stipulation still put the government to its proof that Bravata caused the interstate wire transfers, and Bravata argues that the government did not carry this burden. But this argument finds no support in the record. Each victim testified to investing, i.e., causing a wire transfer, after Bravata, Antonio, or BBC Equities sales agents encouraged them to do so. And the testimony matches the interstate wire transfers to which FBI Special Agent Suess testified and Bravata stipulated. Sufficient evidence supports the interstate-commerce prong of the fourteen convictions. - 11 - Case Nos. 13-2380, 13-2381, 13-2591, 15-1370, United States v. Bravata