Court Opinion

ID: 765567
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2012-04-18 07:46:34+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:30:52.266206
License: Public Domain

186 F.3d 928 (9th Cir. 1999)
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff-Appellee,v.THONGSANGOUNE SAYAKHOM, Defendant-Appellant.
No. 97-10197
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT
Argued and Submitted April 14, 1999Decided July 27, 1999Amended December 1, 1999.

NOTE:  ALSO SEE OPINION AT 197 F.3d 959.[Copyrighted Material Omitted][Copyrighted Material Omitted][Copyrighted Material Omitted][Copyrighted Material Omitted]
Daniel J. Broderick, Assistant Federal Defender, Sacramento, California, for the defendant-appellant.
Samuel Wong, Assistant United States Attorney, Sacramento, California, for the plaintiff-appellee.
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California Milton L. Schwartz, District Judge, Presiding. D.C. No. Cr-95-00305-MLS.
Before: Robert R. Beezer and Stephen S. Trott, Circuit Judges, and Samuel P. King, District Judge.1
Opinion by Judge Beezer;
Concurrence by Judge Trott
OPINION
BEEZER, Circuit Judge:

1
Thongsangoune Sayakhom appeals her convictions and  sentence for mail fraud and money laundering. We have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. S 1291 and we affirm.

2
* Sayakhom was indicted by a second superseding indictment ("the indictment") on nineteen counts of mail fraud, 18  U.S.C. S 1341, and eleven counts of money laundering, 18  U.S.C. S 1956(a)(1)(A)(i). According to the second superseding indictment, Sayakhom formed the Asian Assistance Cen- ter ("AAC") to sell life insurance products to low-income  members of the Laotian, Cambodian, Hmong and Mien communities in California. The indictment alleges that Sayakhom  failed to advise her customers that the AAC was not licensed  to sell life insurance products and that the AAC lacked adequate financial reserves to pay potential claims. The indictment charges that Sayakhom engaged in money laundering by  conducting and attempting to conduct financial transactions,  such as paying for office equipment, rent, car payments and  some funeral expenses, to further the mail fraud.

3
Trial began on September 4, 1996. The court granted the  government's motion to dismiss count 18, one of the mail  fraud counts. On October 24, 1996, the jury returned guilty  verdicts on the remaining mail fraud counts and on seven out  of eleven money laundering counts. The jury acquitted Sayakhom on four counts of money laundering. The court sentenced  Sayakhom to concurrent sentences of 41 months of imprisonment on each count. This timely appeal followed.

II

4
Sayakhom appeals the denial of her motion to suppress evidence seized by warrants from her business, residence and  vehicle.2 The Fourth Amendment requires that the government establish probable cause to support a search warrant. See  U.S. Const., amend. IV. The Fourth Amendment further dictates that a search warrant must be sufficiently particular and  not overbroad. See United States v. McGrew, 122 F.3d 847, 849 (9th Cir. 1997).

5
Sayakhom acknowledges the existence of probable cause to  believe that she was engaging in mail fraud. She argues, however, that the warrant directing the search of her business, residence and vehicle was overbroad because it directed the  agents to seize a broad category of personal and business  records. The warrant described fourteen categories of property  to be seized, including any and all insurance files, records,  and billing statements regarding transactions conducted by  Sayakhom involving AAC insurance products, mailing lists of  individuals solicited for insurance by Sayakhom, and cash,  money orders and checks received by AAC for payment of  AAC insurance premiums or membership dues.

6
The warrant was not overbroad. A generalized seizure of  business documents may be justified if the government establishes probable cause to believe that the entire business is  merely a scheme to defraud or that all of the business's  records are likely to evidence criminal activity. See United States v. Kow, 58 F.3d 423, 427 (9th Cir. 1995). The items  described in the warrant were sufficiently connected to the  allegations of mail fraud described in the indictment.

7
Sayakhom next argues that the warrant failed to establish  probable cause to believe that any evidence of mail fraud  would be found in her residence or car. An affidavit is sufficient if the stated facts would reasonably allow the magistrate  to believe that the evidence will be found in the stated location. See United States v. Taylor, 716 F.2d 701, 705 (9th Cir.  1983). The relevant search warrant identified the subjects of  the search as Sayakhom's residence, her person and her automobile. United States Postal Inspector George Kaufman, in an  affidavit incorporated by reference in the warrant, stated his  experience and belief that operators of businesses that involve  paperwork typically maintain and carry business records into  and out of their offices, in their cars and to and from their residences. This affidavit provided sufficient facts to allow the  reasonable conclusion that the evidence described in the warrant would be found in Sayakhom's vehicle and residence.  We affirm the denial of the motion to suppress.

III

8
Sayakhom argues that the court erred in allowing the government to use evidence obtained during plea negotiations.  Statements made in the course of plea discussions with a  United States Attorney are inadmissible pursuant to Federal  Rule of Criminal Procedure 11(e)(6)(D) and Federal Rule of Evidence 410. See United States v. Leon Guerrero , 847 F.2d  1363, 1367 (9th Cir. 1988).

9
On May 26, 1994 -- after the government executed warrants on Sayakhom's residence, business, vehicle and post  office boxes, but before the return of an indictment -- Sayakhom and her former attorney, Danny Brace, attended a meeting with Assistant United States Attorney ("AUSA") Wong.  California Department of Insurance Investigators Julianne  McCoy and Larry Sewell also attended the meeting.

10
Brace testified that he contacted AUSA Wong after learning about the search warrants relating to Sayakhom's operation of the AAC. According to Brace, he sought to discover  "what the charges [were] going to be, what[ ] her exposure  [was], and kind of where [ ] we [were]." Wong represented to  the court that he advised Brace during this conversation that  Sayakhom would be facing mail fraud charges and possibly  money laundering charges "in the event that we were unable  to resolve this."

11
The meeting began with Sayakhom explaining, in English  and without the assistance of an interpreter, her version of the  facts and her belief that what she was doing was not illegal.  Sayakhom answered questions from AUSA Wong. AUSA  Wong, Investigators Sewell and McCoy warned Sayakhom  that selling life insurance without the approval of the State of  California was illegal. They told her to stop selling life insurance products.

12
At the end of the meeting, AUSA Wong advised Sayakhom  that he believed she was guilty of federal charges and that he  planned to proceed with the filing of charges. He suggested  that she consider pleading guilty to mail fraud to avoid any  money laundering counts. Brace indicated that he would send  a letter to AUSA Wong containing a settlement offer. Before  leaving, Sayakhom turned over to the government checks or  money orders.

13
Sayakhom moved to suppress the statements made during  the meeting as inadmissible plea negotiations. The district  court declined to "put a title" on the meeting, concluding that  "[t]here is no magic, anyway, to the term`plea  negotiations.' " The court ruled that Sayakhom's statements  during the meeting were inadmissible against her at trial. The  court stated that it would allow the government to introduce  evidence of warnings given to Sayakhom, followed by a "very  careful cautionary instruction" limiting the use of such warnings to establish notice, but not guilt.3

14
At trial, the government presented the testimony of Investigator McCoy to show that Sayakhom knew that the AAC's  sale of life insurance products was unlawful. McCoy testified  that she, AUSA Wong and Investigator Sewell warned Sayakhom that the unauthorized sale of life insurance was illegal.  McCoy further testified that AUSA Wong and Investigator  Sewell instructed Sayakhom to stop selling unauthorized  insurance products. The court allowed the government to ask  McCoy what Sayakhom said in response to these warnings.  McCoy answered, "She didn't really say anything. She just  nodded her head."

15
Despite the district court's unwillingness to ascribe a  label to the meeting, we conclude that the meeting must be  characterized as a plea negotiation. A statement was made in  the course of plea discussions with a United States Attorney if (1) the suspect exhibited an actual subjective expectation  that she was negotiating a plea at the time of the discussion and (2) her expectation was reasonable given the totality of  the circumstances. See Leon Guerrero, 847 F.2d at 1367.  Sayakhom exhibited an actual and reasonable expectation that  she was negotiating a plea. Sayakhom's counsel arranged the  meeting with the AUSA after learning that his client would be  indicted, and presented his client to explain her version of the  facts and answer the prosecutor's questions. Moreover, the  parties discussed the possibility of Sayakhom pleading guilty  to mail fraud to avoid money laundering charges. This meeting was a plea negotiation. All statements made in the course  of this meeting should have been excluded.

16
Having concluded that the admission of this testimony  was erroneous, we must decide whether the error was harmless. See Fed. R. Crim. Pro. 11(h) ("Any variance from the  procedures required by this rule which does not affect substantial rights shall be disregarded."); see also United States  v. Mezzanatto, 998 F.2d 1452, 1456 (9th Cir. 1993), rev'd on  other grounds by 513 U.S. 196 (1995). An error not of constitutional magnitude may be disregarded if the government  shows that the prejudice resulting from the error was more  probably than not harmless. See United States v. Morales, 108  F.3d 1031, 1040 (9th Cir. 1997) (en banc); see also United  States v. Acosta-Ballardo, 8 F.3d 1532, 1536 (10th Cir. 1996)  (treating violation of Rule 11(e)(6) as error not of constitutional magnitude).

17
The effect of the error was more probably than not  harmless. The government presented compelling evidence of  Sayakhom's guilt. In particular, the government established that Sayakhom had reason to believe that the unauthorized  sale of life insurance products was illegal. The admission of  the plea negotiation statements was harmless and does not  require reversal.

IV

18
Sayakhom argues that the district court erred in excluding  the testimony of her cultural expert witness. Sayakhom proffered the testimony of Andrew K. Phomthavong as an expert  on Laotian culture to testify to "the importance of the burial  rite, the history (in Laos and in the United States) of pooling  money to help others pay for burial related expenses, the difficulty in learning English and English-based concepts such as  insurance, and the lack of education and sophistication by  Laotians in general." In the proffer, Sayakhom stated that  Phomthavong would not be asked to testify in any way about  Sayakhom's mental state or intent. The proffer left open the  possibility that he might have been asked to give his opinion  on Ms. Sayakhom's cultural sophistication in this country.

19
We review the exclusion of expert testimony for an abuse  of discretion, see United States v. Croft, 124 F.3d 1109, 1120  n.3 (9th Cir. 1997), and observe none here. The district court  acted within its discretion in concluding that the testimony  would not have been helpful to the jury in the resolution of  Sayakhom's guilt. See United States v. Hoac, 990 F.2d 1099,  1103 (9th Cir. 1993) (exclusion of testimony by expert on  Chinese culture not abuse of discretion where expert's knowl- edge of defendant was limited and testimony would not have  helped the jury); United States v. Rubio-Villareal, 927 F.2d  1495, 1502 (9th Cir. 1991), amended on other grounds by 967  F.2d 294 (9th Cir. 1992) (denial of defense request to admit  expert testimony on Mexican culture not abuse of discretion).  We affirm the denial of Sayakhom's motion to allow the  expert testimony.

V

20
Sayakhom appeals the denial of her motion to admit an  audio tape and transcript of a December 21, 1993 meeting at  the AAC between Sayakhom andCalifornia Department of  Insurance Investigators Sewell, McCoy and Joe Del'Marmol.  Sayakhom moved to play the entire recording for the jury and  to distribute copies of the transcript, arguing that the recording was relevant to her state of mind. The court denied the  motion on the basis that the recording was inadmissible hearsay. The court left open the possibility that either side could  use the transcript for impeachment or any other purpose that  would independently generate the use of the evidence.

21
We review the exclusion of evidence under the hearsay  rules for abuse of discretion. See United States v. MattaBallesteros, 71 F.3d 754, 767 (9th Cir. 1995), as amended by  98 F.3d 1100 (9th Cir. 1996), cert. denied, 519 U.S. 1118  (1997). Hearsay is an out of court statement offered to prove  the truth of the matter asserted. See Fed. R. Evid. 801(c).  Sayakhom sought to introduce the recording to show her knowledge in order to refute the intent requirement of the  crimes charged.4 Sayakhom thus proffered the tape to prove  the truth of her statements to the investigators. The recording  is hearsay.

22
Contrary to Sayakhom's argument, the recording does not  fall within the hearsay exception of Federal Rule of Evidence  803(3). Rule 803(3) creates an exception to the hearsay rule  for a statement of the declarant's "then existing state of mind,  emotion, sensation or physical condition (such as intent, plan,  motive design, mental feeling or bodily health), but not  including a statement of memory or belief to prove the fact  remembered or believed unless it relates to the execution,  identification, or terms of declarant's will." Fed. R. Evid.  803(3). Sayakhom's attempt to introduce statements of her  belief (that she was not violating the law) to prove the fact  believed (that she was acting in good-faith) is improper.

23
The district court correctly denied Sayakhom's motion to  play the recording and admit the transcript.

VI

24
Sayakhom contends that the district court erred in allowing  the government to introduce evidence of misconduct not  charged in the indictment. "Evidence of other crimes, wrongs,  or acts is not admissible to prove the character of a person in  order to show action in conformity therewith." Fed. R. Evid.  404(b). Whether evidence admitted at trial is directly relevant  to the crime charged or relevant only to "other crimes" is a  question of law reviewed de novo. See United States v.  Ripinsky, 109 F.3d 1436, 1442 (9th Cir.), as amended by 129  F.3d 518 (9th Cir. 1997), cert. denied, 118 S.Ct. 870 (1998),  overruled on other grounds see United States v. Sablan, 114  F.3d 913, 916 (9th Cir. 1997); United States v. Jackson, 84  F.3d 1154, 1158 (9th Cir. 1996).

25
* Sayakhom challenges the introduction of evidence regarding her Mutual Assistance Planning Services Program  ("MAPS"). Sayakhom began operating MAPS after the government effectively shut down the AAC's operation. Sayakhom now admits that the MAPS program involved the illegal  sale of life insurance products.

26
The MAPS evidence is not subject to exclusion under Rule 404(b) because it is inextricably intertwined with the indicted  crimes. "Evidence should not be treatedas `other crimes' evidence when `the evidence concerning the [other ] act and the  evidence concerning the crime charged are inextricably  intertwined.' " United States v. Soliman , 813 F.2d 277, 279  (9th Cir. 1987) (citing United States v. Aleman , 592 F.2d 881,  885 (5th Cir. 1979)); see also Ripinsky, 109 F.3d at 1442  (uncharged crimes were "direct evidence of the ongoing conspiracy charged in the indictment"); United States v.  Vizcarra-Martinez, 66 F.3d 1006, 1012 (9th Cir. 1995)  ("when it is clear that particular acts of the defendant are part  of, and thus inextricably intertwined with, a single criminal  transaction," admission of evidence of those acts does not violate Rule 404(b)).

27
The government presented testimony that Sayakhom began  operating MAPS after the closure of the AAC in order to continue the unlawful sale of life insurance products. The government presented evidence that Sayakhom attempted to recruit  former AAC employees to sell products for MAPS. The government introduced testimony that Sayakhom attempted to  convert AAC clients to the MAPS program. This evidence  tends to show that Sayakhom continued her fraudulent  scheme through the operation of MAPS.

28
The government's documentary evidence provides compelling evidence of the direct connection between the AAC and  MAPS. The government produced a MAPS registration  packet that uses the "AAC" and "MAPS" names interchangeably. The government presented an Agreement Statement, signed by Sayakhom and bearing the names of the AAC and  MAPS. The Statement is addressed "Dear Member " and  begins, "Welcome! You are now a member of the Mutual  Assistance Planning Service Center." The government introduced a January 12, 1995, letter from Sayakhom to AAC  members on AAC letterhead with a bank deposit stamp for  MAPS' First National Bank account. The letter informs "all  members" that beginning January 1, 1995, the AAC "has  presently re-opened" and directs all members to continue their  payments immediately. A January 29, 1995 letter to "all  members" from Sayakhom verifies the "permanent office  location" of "AAC or MAPSC". The letter directs members,  "do not use" the Sacramento post office box "at all." (Emphasis in original.)

29
This evidence establishes that AAC and MAPS were part  of an ongoing scheme to defraud. MAPS was simply a disguise for Sayakhom's continued sale of unauthorized insurance products after the government shut down the AAC. The  MAPS evidence illuminates Sayakhom's state of mind and  shows that she was not deterred by the rule of law. The evidence of Sayakhom's continued sale of insurance after being  warned of its illegality generates the inference that she was  indifferent to the law regarding the sale of insurance products.  If she did not care about the illegality of her actions after  being warned, it is fair to assume that she had known the program was unlawful and did not care. We detect no abuse of  discretion in the admission of the MAPS evidence as direct  evidence of the charges in the indictment.

B.

30
We summarily reject Sayakhom's remaining contentions  that the court erred in allowing the government to introduce  evidence of other uncharged acts during its case in chief.

31
First, the court correctly overruled Sayakhom's relevancebased objection to the government's presentation of testimony  as to alleged welfare fraud. An AAC client testified that he  told Sayakhom that he received welfare benefits and thus  would have to report to the welfare authorities any check he  received from the AAC. According to the witness, Sayakhom  told him that if he wrote the check for AAC payments directly  to her, then she would pay his benefits in cash. Evidence that  Sayakhom encouraged her clients to write their checks to her,  rather than to the AAC, is probative of the fraudulentscheme  alleged in the indictment. The district court acted within its  discretion in admitting this evidence.

32
Second, the court properly allowed the introduction of testimony regarding bad checks issued by the AAC. The government offered the testimony of a former AAC employee that  the bank refused to honor two paychecks from the AAC for  insufficient funds. In addition, the government introduced the  testimony of an AAC client that the bank refused to honor a  $2000 check for insufficient funds. This evidence tends to  show that the AAC was not solvent. It is relevant to the allegations in the indictment that Sayakhom concealed the AAC's lack of financial reserves.

33
Third, the court correctly allowed the government to introduce evidence of a lapse in the renewal of Sayakhom's license  to sell insurance. Admission of this evidence was proper  because it is relevant to the allegations of unlawful sales of  insurance during the period identified in the indictment and to  Sayakhom's knowledge of the illegality.

34
Fourth, the court properly allowed the government to introduce Sayakhom's representation to her car insurance company that her automobile would only be used for personal  purposes. The district court acted within its discretion in  allowing this evidence because it was relevant to prove that  Sayakhom misused AAC funds by paying the insurance premiums for the vehicle from the AAC account.

VII

35
Sayakhom challenges the jury instructions with respect to  her defense of good faith and the elements of money laundering.

36
* Sayakhom appeals the denial of her request to instruct the  jury on the defense theory of reliance on public authority.  Sayakhom presented the testimony of her daughter, Dawnie  Sayakhom, to support her defense. According to Dawnie, she and Sayakhom went to City Hall, spoke with clerks at the  desk and explained that they were operating the AAC as a  nonprofit organization to hold money for funeral expenses.  Dawnie testified that none of the clerks informed them that  they needed approval of the Department of Insurance to operate the AAC.

37
Sayakhom proposed the following instruction:

38
Defendant asserts that she did not knowingly vio late the law because authorized governmental offi cials told her that her conduct was legal and she believed these officials. In order to establish this defense the defendant must introduce evidence that she relied upon the statement or statements of gov ernmental officials and that this reliance was reason able in that a person trying to obey the law would have accepted the information as true and would not have been put on notice to make further inquiries.

39
If you find that the defendant has introduced such evidence, then the burden is on the government to disprove this evidence beyond a reasonable doubt.

40
The court refused Sayakhom's proposed public authority  defense. The court concluded that Sayakhom's public authority defense was covered by the good faith instruction. The  court stated that it would allow defense counsel to argue reliance on public authority in summation.

41
Although the failure of a trial judge to instruct the jury on  a theory of the defense may constitute reversible error, a  judge may reject a defendant's proposed instruction if the  other instructions, viewed in their entirety, adequately cover  that theory. See United States v. Govan, 152 F.3d 1088, 1093  (9th Cir. 1998). We review de novo the question whether  other jury instructions adequately cover the defense theory in  a proposed instruction. See United States v. Gomez-Osorio,  957 F.2d 636, 642 (9th Cir. 1992). Here, the court instructed  the jury with respect to good faith as follows:

42
[Instruction Number] 12, good faith is a complete defense to the charges in the indictment since good faith on the part of the defendant is inconsistent with knowingly intending to defraud, which is an essen tial part of the charges. The burden of proof is not on the defendant to prove her good faith, of course, since she has no burden to prove anything.

43
The United States must establish beyond a reason able doubt that the defendant acted with specific intent to defraud as charged in the indictment. One who expresses an opinion honestly held by her or belief honestly entertained by her is not chargeable with fraudulent intent even though her opinion is erroneous or her belief is mistaken. And similarly, evidence which establishes only that a person made a mistake in judgment or an error in management or  was careless does not establish fraudulent intent.

44
While the term "good faith" has no precise defini tion, it means among other things a belief or opinion honestly held with an absence of malice or ill will and intention of taking unfair advantage of another.

45
The good faith jury instruction explained that a person lacks  criminal intent in expressing an opinion or belief honestly,  although erroneously, held. The court's good faith instruction  adequately instructed the jury as to Sayakhom's defense.

46
We affirm the denial of the public authority instruction  because the good faith instruction adequately covered the  defense theory.

B

47
Sayakhom argues that the court erred in its instructions on  money laundering. We review de novo the purely legal question whether a jury instruction misstates elements of a statutory crime. See United States v. English, 92 F.3d 909, 914  (9th Cir. 1996).

48
The indictment charges Sayakhom with money laundering,  in violation of 18 U.S.C. S 1956(a)(1)(A)(i). The court  instructed the jury as follows:

49
. . . . In order for the defendant to be found guilty of  that charge, the government must prove each of the following elements beyond a reasonable doubt:

50
First, the defendant conducted a financial transac tion involving property that represented the proceeds of mail fraud activities as described in the indict ment.

51
Second, the defendant knew that the property rep resented the proceeds of mail fraud activities as described in the indictment.

52
Third, the defendant acted with the intent to pro mote the carrying on of mail fraud activity as described in the indictment. A financial transaction is a transaction involving the use of a financial insti tution which is engaged in or the activities of which effect interstate or foreign commerce in any way.

53
This instruction follows the elements set forth in the money  laundering statute, 18 U.S.C. S 1956(a)(1)(A),5 and the Ninth  Circuit's Model Jury Instruction for alleged violations of  S 1956(a)(1)(A), see Ninth Cir. Model Crim. Instructions,  8.33.1.

54
Sayakhom argues that our holding in United States v.  Savage, 67 F.3d 1435, 1441 (9th Cir. 1995), requires the government to prove, as an element of the offense of money laundering, that the laundered money was obtained from prior,  separate criminal activity. Sayakhom misconstrues Savage. In  Savage, the defendant defrauded investors by claiming that if they sent him $5000 he could obtain foreign loans and pay  each investor $10 million. See 67 F.3d at 1437. The money  was deposited into an American bank, transferred to another  account at the same bank, sent to accounts in Austria and  finally returned to Savage's personal account in the United  States, or to pay his bills. See id. at 1438. Savage challenged  whether the monetary transfers involved "proceeds of specified unlawful activity." Id. at 1441. Savage argued that,  because the predicate acts of wire and mail fraud were not  complete until the money (obtained by fraud) was transferred  overseas and then back to Savage's personal account in the  United States, the transferred money was not "proceeds" of  wire and mail fraud charged in the indictment. See id. at  1441-42. We rejected this argument and concluded that the  fraud offenses were complete before the money was transferred, when Savage mailed newsletters and membership  applications to promote his operation. See id.  at 1442.

55
We did not create in Savage an additional element of proof  for the crime of money laundering. Rather, our "prior, separate criminal activity" language in Savage refers to the differentiation between money laundering and the predicate acts of  mail fraud. See United States v. Anthony, 169 F.3d 798, 809  n.12 (3rd Cir. 1999) (describing Savage as "involv[ing] the  temporal question whether, at the time the alleged money  laundering transaction occurred, the money involved in the  transaction was proceeds"). Savage does not require the court  to instruct the jury that the government must prove that the  proceeds of the money laundering were derived from prior,  separate criminal activity.

56
The court properly instructed the jury with respect to the  elements of the offense of money laundering.

VIII

57
Sayakhom next challenges the sufficiency of the evidence  to support the money laundering and mail fraud convictions.6  We decide, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable  to the prosecution, whether any rational trier of fact could  have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. See United States v. Ross, 123 F.3d 1181, 1184  (9th Cir. 1997), cert. denied, 118 S.Ct. 733 (1998).

58
* The evidence was sufficient to support the mail fraud convictions. The essential elements of mail fraud under 18 U.S.C. S 1341 are (1) the existence of a scheme to defraud and (2)  using or causing the use of the mail to execute the scheme.  See United States v. Serang, 156 F.3d 910, 914 (9th Cir.),  cert. denied, 119 S.Ct. 627 (1998). To prove a fraudulent  scheme, the government must demonstrate specific intent to defraud. See United States v. Beecroft, 608 F.2d 753, 757 (9th  Cir. 1979). Intent need not be established by direct evidence,  but may be inferred from the defendant's statements and conduct. See id. "Deceitful statements of half truths or the concealment of material facts is actual fraud under the mail fraud  statute." Id.

59
Sayakhom concedes that there is sufficient proof of mailing. At issue is whether the government proved that Sayakhom acted with intent to defraud by concealing from AAC  customers that the AAC was not licensed to sell insurance  products and misrepresenting the AAC's ability to paydeath  benefits in light of the organization's inadequate financial  reserves.

60
* The government proved that Sayakhom knowingly concealed that the AAC was not authorized to sell life insurance  products. "One who acts with reckless indifference to whether  a representation is true or false is chargeable with knowledge  of its falsity." Id. After immigrating to the United States from  Laos, Sayakhom studied English as a second language, taught  English to refugee women and worked as an interpreter for  medical staff. She completed 59 units at a junior college and  obtained a certificate in Social Work/Human Services. She  performed clerical work from 1984 to 1988 at Fireman's Fund  Insurance Company. From 1988 to May 1989, she worked as  an administrator at Experience Insurance Services. On May 4, 1989, Sayakhom passed the Fire and Casualty solicitor exam  and became a licensed fire and casualty insurance broker/  agent. Sayakhom began working as an insurance agent for  ITT Life Insurance through Coordinated Concepts.

61
Richard Gooch, a former partner of Coordinated Concepts,  testified on behalf of the government at trial. He testified that  in October 1993 he told Sayakhom that she needed to obtain  approval of the California Department of Insurance to sell life  insurance products, warned her against using the ITT insurance company logo on any AAC literature and explained the  necessity of financial reserves.7

62
Viewed in a light most favorable to the government, the  evidence demonstrates that Sayakhom knew at all times  charged in the indictment that the AAC was engaged in the  unauthorized sale of life insurance products. The jury reasonably could have concluded that Sayakhom made fraudulent  misrepresentations regarding her sale of the AAC's insurance  policies.

2

63
We reject Sayakhom's contention that the government  failed to prove that the AAC lacked adequate financial  reserves. At trial, the government carefully showed that the  AAC's primary bank account was consistently underfunded.  This evidence established that the AAC would have been  unable to pay potential claims at the point of each of the mail- ings charged in the indictment. Moreover, the government  introduced testimony that before starting the AAC, Sayakhom  operated a post-death benefit program. That program crumbled when three members died at the same time. On this  record, a rational trier of fact could have found that the government proved that Sayakhom misrepresented the AAC's  ability to pay death benefits at each point alleged in the indictment.

64
Viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to the government, we are persuaded that a rational trier of fact could  have concluded beyond a reasonable doubt that Sayakhom  was guilty of mail fraud. We affirm the mail fraud convic- tions.

B

65
The evidence is sufficient to support Sayakhom's money  laundering convictions. The money laundering statute  requires the government to prove that Sayakhom conducted  financial transactions involving the proceeds of the mail fraud  offenses charged in the indictment, knowing that the money  represented theproceeds of the mail fraud, with the intent to  promote the fraud. See 18 U.S.C. S 1956(a)(1).

66
Sayakhom argues that the government failed to prove that  the money that was laundered resulted from "prior, separate  criminal activity." We disagree. The acts of mail fraud were  complete when Sayakhom mailed the application materials to  potential AAC customers. See, e.g., Savage, 67 F.3d at 1442  (predicate offenses of domestic mail fraud and wire fraud  were complete "at the point at which Savage . . . mailed the  promotional information or wired the money in the United  States"). The money Sayakhom received in response to these  mailings was "proceeds" within the meaning of the money  laundering statute.

67
We reject Sayakhom's assertion that the evidence of intent  is insufficient to support the money laundering convictions.  To prove the requisite intent, the government must show that  the defendant knew the property involved in the transaction  represented the proceeds of some form of unlawful activity.  See 18 U.S.C. S 1956(a)(1). Sayakhom admits to knowing she  was using funds from the AAC to engage in the financial  transactions described in the indictment. She insists that the  government failed to establish that she knew the AAC's  financial transactions were illegal. We disagree. On the basis  of the evidence produced at trial, a reasonable juror could  have concluded that Sayakhom knew she was engaging in  unlawful activity in selling the unauthorized insurance  products.8

68
We affirm Sayakhom's money laundering convictions  because a rational trier of fact could have found the essential  elements of money laundering beyond a reasonable doubt.

IX

69
Sayakhom seeks reversal of her convictions on the basis of  alleged prosecutorial misconduct. Reversal on this basis is  justified only if it appears more probable than not that prosecutorial misconduct materially affected the fairness of the  trial. See United States v. Polizzi, 801 F.2d 1543, 1558 (9th  Cir. 1986).

70
Sayakhom argues that the prosecutor violated the advocatewitness rule and engaged in improper vouching by presenting  the statements of AUSA Wong through the testimony of a  government witness. As the basis for both allegations, she  points to Investigator McCoy's testimony that AUSA Wong warned Sayakhom to cease the unauthorized sale of insurance  products.

71
The advocate-witness rule prohibits an attorney from  appearing as both a witness and an advocate in the same litigation. See United States v. Prantil, 764 F.2d 548, 552-53  (9th Cir. 1985). The policies underlying this rule "are related  to the concern that jurors will be unduly influenced by the  prestige and prominence of the prosecutor's office and will  base their credibility determinations on improper factors."  United States v. Edwards, 154 F.3d 915, 921 (9th Cir. 1998).

72
Although AUSA Wong did not testify as a witness, we  consider whether the presentation of Wong's warnings to Sayakhom through the testimony of Investigator McCoy violated the advocate-witness rule. See id. at 922 (applying  advocate-witness rule to prosecutor's "implicit testimony"  through government's case agent); Prantil, 764 F.2d at 551  ("[A]lthough he nevertook the stand, [the prosecutor] was a  witness to, and indeed a participant in, some aspect of all of  the events alleged in the indictment."). We conclude that the  prosecutor did not violate the advocate-witness rule.

73
In Edwards, we reversed the appellant's conviction of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute on the basis of prosecutorial misconduct. 154 F.3d at 917. During trial, the  Assistant United States Attorney personally found a critical  piece of physical evidence, previously unknown to the parties,  tying the defendant to the cocaine. Id. at 917. The circumstances surrounding the prosecutor's discovery became the  subject of contention at trial. Id. We concluded that the prosecutor's continued representation of the government at trial  violated the advocate-witness rule. Id. at 922. We explained,  "Once the members of the jury learned that the prosecutor  found the [evidence] it is almost certain that they attributed  the authority of the prosecutor's office to the receipt's  discovery." Id.

74
In the instant case, Investigator McCoy testified to her  first-hand knowledge regarding a meeting she attended with  Sayakhom, Sayakhom's attorney, AUSA Wong, Inspector  Kaufman and Investigator Sewell. Unlike the situation in  Edwards, id. at 918, involving testimony about evidence discovered by the prosecutor and two police officers in the defendant's absence, McCoy testified to warnings made to  Sayakhom during a meeting Sayakhom attended. The subject  of this testimony was not disputed.9 The evidence of the warnings was not offered for its truth; rather it was offered to  prove Sayakhom's knowledge that her actions were unlawful.

75
Finally, we are persuaded that McCoy's testimony  about the warnings did not result in any unfairness to Sayakhom. McCoy was subject to cross-examination by defense  counsel, and defense counsel specifically asked McCoy about  the meeting. In addition, the court stated that it would permit  the defense to call AUSA Wong as a witness to test the accuracy of McCoy's testimony. Cf. Edwards 154 F.3d at 922  ("Because the prosecutor was not subject to crossexamination, defense counsel did not have a fair opportunity  to cast doubt on the circumstances under which the[evidence]  was found."). Sayakhom could have challenged McCoy's  account through the testimony of one of the other individuals,10  including Sayakhom herself or her former attorney, who  attended the meeting. Cf. United States v. Watson, 87 F.3d  927, (7th Cir. 1996) ("The correct procedure[for an AUSA to  follow] is to avoid interviewing a suspect except in the presence of a third person so that the third person can testify about  the interview."). The presentation of McCoy's testimony  regarding the prosecutor's uncontested statements made to  Sayakhom in the presence of third parties did not violate the  advocate-witness rule.

76
Nor did the prosecutor engage in improper vouching. A  prosecutor may not impart to the jury his belief that a government witness is credible. See United States v. Edwards, 154  F.3d 915, 921 (9th Cir. 1998). The prosecutor did not, through  his questioning of McCoy as to uncontested matters, impart  to the jury a belief that McCoy is credible. The presentation of this testimony does not amount to improper vouching.

77
Sayakhom next argues that the government violated Federal Rule of Evidence 408 by introducing evidence relating to  compromise negotiations. The court ruled before trial that the  government could show that policy holders demanded payment and that the defendant did not pay immediately. The court stated that such evidence could be admitted without reference to the existence of a lawsuit or settlement. At trial, the  government introduced the testimony of two claimants, and  argued to the jury that Sayakhom promised to pay on two  death claims. Sayakhom failed to object to these statements at  trial. When there is no objection to the prosecutor's comments, we review only for plain error. See United States v.  Etsitty, 130 F.3d 420, 424 (9th Cir. 1997), as amended by 140  F.3d 1274 (9th Cir. 1998), cert. denied, 119 S.Ct. 515 (1998).  We detect no such error here. Nothing in the portions of the  transcript cited by Sayakhom indicates that the prosecutor  exceeded the bounds of the court's in limine ruling.

78
Sayakhom contends that the government's witnesses were  improperly coached. Sayakhom points to the testimony of a  witness for the government, who asked in response to a question from defense counsel, "How do you want me to answer  that?" The government argues that the witness was simply  confused by multiple questions on cross-examination from  defense counsel. Cross-examination and argument are the primary tools for addressing improper witness coaching. See  Gerders v. United States, 425 U.S. 80, 89-90 (1976)  ("opposing counsel in the adversary system is not without  weapons to cope with `coached' witnesses"). Defense counsel  was free to address the witness' credibility on crossexamination or in closing argument. Sayakhom has not shown  that this exchange materially affected the fairness of the trial.

79
Sayakhom contends that the prosecutor engaged in miscon- duct by discrediting defense counsel. In an attempt during  opening statement to highlight the differences between Lao  and English, defense counsel informed the jury that Lao does  not use punctuation signs. A witness for the government, who  testified to knowing how to read and write Lao and to teaching other people to read and write Lao, testified that Lao does  use punctuation. Defense counsel objected to the testimony  and asked to read into evidence a letter from an interpreter to  support defense counsel's statement. The prosecutor stipulated to counsel reading the letter. Sayakhom has not established that any unfairness resulted from the prosecutor's  actions. This allegation of prosecutorial misconduct does not  require reversal.

80
Sayakhom argues that she is entitled to a new trial because  the prosecutor misstated testimony to the jury. For example,  Sayakhom insists that the prosecutor engaged in misconduct  by suggesting that Sayakhom had no difficulty communicating with English-speaking people because the evidence shows  that she was unable to communicate effectively in English.  Sayakhom's familiarity with English was relevant to the issue  of intent, a matter for the jury to decide. Although Sayakhom  disagrees with the prosecutor's account of disputed facts,  Sayakhom has not shown that his comments materially  affected the fairness of the trial.

81
Sayakhom contends that the prosecutor engaged in misconduct by posing unsupported hypothetical questions to government witnesses. Sayakhom first cites the prosecutor's  question to Jeff Bangeter, "If [Sayakhom] were saying that ITT Life Insurance Company was backing up the [AAC],  would you have known?" Defense counsel objected to the  question and the court sustained the objection. Sayakhom next cites the prosecutor's asking Scott O'Briant whether Sayakhom paid for her husband's apartment with AAC funds.  O'Briant answered affirmatively; the court sustained defense  counsel's objection and directed the jury to disregard the  question and answer. This allegation of prosecutorial misconduct does not require reversal.

82
Sayakhom argues that the prosecutor engaged in misconduct in its discussion of a statement in AAC materials that  participation in the AAC would not affect welfare or disability income unless the recipient reported the receipt. The prosecutor asked, "Why does she include a statement like that?  Was she trying to help her clients defraud the government?"  In response to defense counsel's objection, the court  instructed the jury that the attorneys' statements were not evidence and that Sayakhom was on trial only for the charges in  the indictment. The statements, followed by the court's  instruction, did not materially affect the fairness of the trial.

83
Sayakhom contends that the prosecutor engaged in misconduct by failing to obey court orders. For example, Sayakhom  directs our attention to the prosecutor's introduction of an  exhibit containing evidence that had been excluded. This allegation of misconduct does not warrant reversal. The prosecutor apologized to counsel and to the court for forgetting about  the ruling. The prosecutor's unintentional error did not mate- rially affect the fairness of the proceedings.

X

84
Sayakhom contends that the court erred in calculating loss  at sentencing. We review de novo the district court's interpretation of the Sentencing Guidelines. See United States v.  Bailey, 139 F.3d 667, 667 (9th Cir. 1998). We review the  court's application of the Sentencing Guidelines to the facts  of a particular case for abuse of discretion. See United States  v. Aguilar-Ayala, 120 F.3d 176, 177-78 (9th Cir. 1997) (citing  Koon v. United States, 518 U.S. 81, 99 (1996)). We review  for clear error the factual findings underlying the court's sentencing decision. See United States v. Barnes , 125 F.3d 1287,  1290 (9th Cir. 1997).

85
The Sentencing Guidelines provide a base offense level for  fraud, with incremental increases based on the amount of  monetary loss caused by the fraud. See U.S.S.G. S 2F1.1(a),  (b)(1); Barnes, 125 F.2d at 1290. Under the Sentencing  Guidelines, loss is "the value of money, property, or services  unlawfully taken." U.S.S.G. S 2F1.1, cmt. 7. Here, the district  court adopted the probation officer's calculation of $397,744  as the amount Sayakhom received from clients of the AAC  including premiums, membership fees and deposits. The court  subtracted $21,000 in refunds or death benefits paid to clients,  to reach a total loss of $376,744.

86
Sayakhom contends that her actual or intended gain is the proper measure of loss. "For the purposes of subsection  (b)(1), the loss need not be determined with precision. The  court need only make a reasonable estimate of the loss, given  the available information." U.S.S.G. S 2F1.1, cmt. 8. The loss  estimate may be based on the offender's gain; however this is  "an alternative estimate that ordinarily will underestimate the  loss." Id. The court was not obligated to estimate the loss on  the basis of Sayakhom's gain. The court properly calculated  loss as the value of money unlawfully taken.

87
Sayakhom next argues that the value of money lawfully  received as membership or deposit fees should be excluded  from the loss calculation. We have recognized that "value  may be rendered even amid fraudulent conduct," and that in  calculating loss, the district court should give credit for any  legitimate services rendered to the victims. United States v.  Blitz, 151 F.3d 1002, 1012 (9th Cir. 1998) (citing Barnes, 125  F.3d at 1291 & n.1)), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ____, 119  S.Ct. 567 (1998).  However, if the "value" to the victim is merely a part of the  fraudulent scheme, the defendant is not entitled to a credit.  See id. (holding defendants not entitled to credit for recoveries  that "enabled [defendants] to continue their scheme for a longer period by staving off detection"). The district court  declined to credit Sayakhom with any of the expenses of operating the AAC on the grounds that the AAC was permeated  with fraud. In the absence of clear error, we defer to the  court's factual finding. Sayakhom is not entitled to a credit for  the value of membership fees or deposits. We affirm Sayakhom's sentence.

88
For the reasons set forth in this opinion, Sayakhom's convictions and sentence are

89
AFFIRMED.

Notes:

1
 The Honorable Samuel P. King, United States District Judge for the  District of Hawaii, sitting by designation.

2
 In February and March, 1994, the government obtained and executed  warrants to search Sayakhom's business office, residence, vehicle and post  office boxes. Sayakhom does not challenge the warrants authorizing the  search of her post office boxes.

3
 In reaching this conclusion, the district court analogized the situation  to a civil case in which settlement negotiations are introduced to show  something other than liability. This analogy is improper. Evidence of attempts to compromise a disputed civil claim "is not admissible to prove  liability for or invalidity of the claim or its amount." Fed. R. Evid. 408.  Such evidence is admissible "when the evidence is offered for another  purpose, such as proving bias or prejudice of a witness . . . ." Fed. R. Evid.  408. Neither Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 11 nor Federal Rule of  Evidence 410 contain such language. With only two exceptions, neither of  which is applicable here, the Rules require exclusion of "any statement"  made in the course of plea negotiations. See Fed. R. Crim. Pro. 11(e)(6);  Fed. R. Evid. 410.

4
 Sayakhom also argues that the recording was not offered to  prove its truth but instead to show her language fluency. Although she initially raised this argument before the district court, she did not object to the district court's ruling , despite being afforded the opportunity to do so.  CR136, p. 129.  When no objection is made, we review for plain error, but may reverse only if the defendant persuades us that the error was prejudicial in that it "affected the outcome of the district court proceeding."  United States  v. Tisor, 96 F. 3d 370, 376 (9th Cir. 1996) (citation omitted). Given the abundance of evidence regarding Saykhom's proficiency in the English language, see Section VIII A 1, we are not persuaded that the exclusion of the recording affected the outcome of the trial.

5
 Section 1956(a)(1) provides in relevant part:
(a)(1) Whoever, knowing that the property involved in a financial transaction represents the proceeds of some form of unlawful activity, conducts or attempts to conduct such a financial transac tion which in fact involves the proceeds of specified unlawful activity - (A)(i) with the intent to promote the carrying on of specified unlawful activity . . . .
shall be sentenced to a fine of not more than $500,000 or twice  the value of the property involved in the transaction, whichever is greater, or imprisonment for not more than twenty years, or both.
18 U.S.C. S 1956(a)(1).

6
 Sayakhom renewed her motion for judgment of acquittal after the close  of evidence. Consequently, she preserved the right to test the sufficiency  of the evidence on appeal. See United States v. Bancalari, 110 F.3d 1425,  1428 (9th Cir. 1997).

7
 Sayakhom concedes that if Gooch's testimony was the only evidence  in this case, then a reasonable juror could find sufficient knowledge for all  subsequent mailings. Sayakhom argues that if the jury had heard the tape  recording of the meeting between Sayakhom and the Department of Insurance investigators, no reasonable juror could find an intent to defraud. The  tape recording was not evidence. In reviewing Sayakhom's challenge to  the sufficiency of the evidence, we look at the evidence actually presented  at trial. On the basis of this evidence, we hold that a rational trier of fact  reasonably could have concluded that Sayakhom acted with intent to  defraud.

8
 Sayakhom's reliance on United States v. Heaps, 39 F.3d 479 (4th Cir.  1994), is unavailing. Sayakhom bases her argument on the Fourth Circuit's statement in Heaps that a defendant "may not be convicted on just  what he should have known." Id. at 484. The court continues: "However,  both direct and circumstantial evidence can be used to establish knowledge and are given the same weight." Id.; see also United States v.  Rasheed, 663 F.2d 843, 848 (9th Cir. 1981) ("Fraudulent intent may, and  often must, be proven by circumstantial evidence."). The government produced compelling circumstantial evidence of Sayakhom's fraudulent  intent.

9
 During the hearing on Sayakhom's motion to suppress the warnings as  plea negotiations, AUSA Wong proffered to the court his version of the  events. Defense counsel accepted the prosecutor's factual representations  and declined to cross-examine the prosecutor at that time.

10
 Inspector Kaufman testified at trial, but he was not asked about AUSA  Wong's warnings to Sayakhom. Investigator Sewell also testified for the  government. When the prosecutor asked Sewell whether any warnings  were made to Sayakhom at the meeting, defense counsel objected to the  testimony as "cumulative." Defense counsel did not cross-examine Sewell  about the meeting.

90
TROTT, Circuit Judge, concurring in the results:

91
The advocate-witness rule would have barred the prosecutor in this case from taking the stand at trial and testifying that  he warned Sayakhom that her business was illegal and  advised her to cease her illegal operation. See United States  v. Prantil, 801 F.2d 1543, 1558 (9th Cir. 1986); United States  v. Edwards, 154 F.3d 915, 921 (9th Cir. 1998). Instead,  AUSA Wong called an investigator who testified that he,  Wong, told the defendant that what she was doing "was a  crime," that she should stop, and that if she didn't do so, she  could be "charged with the additional crimes."

92
In my view, AUSA Wong should not have been permitted  to do through a surrogate what he could not have done himself. Moreover, through this surrogate testimony, he vouched  for the legal validity of his case.

93
Nevertheless, this error was demonstrably harmless given  the rest of the evidence on the issue, and I otherwise concur  in Judge Beezer's comprehensive opinion.