Opinion ID: 762110
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: 12 Appellant raises two substantive challenges to his convictions. First, Fore argues that the district court's jury instruction regarding an element of mail fraud was plainly erroneous. Second, appellant contends that we must reverse his conviction because the government did not adequately prove that Fore knew or reasonably could have foreseen that his physician would use the mail to send reports relating to his fraudulent workers compensation claim to Aetna. Neither contention has merit. 13 Appellant concedes that the plain error standard of review applies because he did not object during trial to the trial court's instruction regarding knowing use of the mails. See Johnson v. United States, 520 U.S. 461, 117 S.Ct. 1544, 1549, 137 L.Ed.2d 718 (1997). The district court utilized a pattern jury instruction to define knowing use of the mails, and the instruction accurately reflects the current law in this circuit. No plain error is present in these circumstances. 14 With respect to appellant's claim of insufficient evidence for conviction, we review the evidence in the light most favorable to the government and draw all possible inferences in favor of conviction. See United States v. Scarpa, 913 F.2d 993, 1004 (2d Cir.1990). We must determine whether the jury after drawing reasonable inferences from the evidence could have fairly and logically decided that defendant was guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. See id. 15 In order to obtain a conviction for mail fraud, the government had to prove that Fore caused the mailing and that it was in furtherance of a fraudulent scheme. United States v. Tocco, 135 F.3d 116, 124 (2d Cir.), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 118 S.Ct. 1581, 140 L.Ed.2d 795 (1998). The government could prove this element by showing that Fore acted with knowledge that use of the mail would follow in the ordinary course of business or that Fore could reasonably have foreseen use of the mail, even if he did not actually intend that a mailing take place. Id. (quotations and citation omitted). We find that the jury fairly and logically could decide beyond a reasonable doubt that Fore knew or could reasonably have foreseen that his fraudulent claim for workers compensation would involve use of the mail. Documentary evidence at trial demonstrated that Fore completed forms and applications indicating that insurers required written verification of his disability claims. The Aetna employee familiar with Fore's claim testified that the insurance company ordinarily received claims and medical reports through the mail, thus establishing an ordinary business practice. Moreover, the jury reasonably could infer that because the doctor and insurance company were located in different places, Fore knew or could reasonably have foreseen that the doctor would use the mail in the ordinary course of business to send the required information to Aetna. The government thus presented sufficient evidence of Fore's knowledge of the use of the mails in connection with his fraud.