Verdict . News

Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals

1w ago•4 min read

4th Circuit Vacates Identity Theft Conviction in McDonald Fraud Case

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals vacated Jennifer McDonald's aggravated identity theft conviction while affirming her 30 fraud-related convictions. The court ruled the identity theft did not occur 'during and in relation to' predicate offenses under Supreme Court precedent.

•Fourth Circuit vacated aggravated identity theft conviction but affirmed 30 fraud-related convictions

•Court applied Supreme Court's Dubin v. United States precedent requiring identity theft occur 'during and in relation to' predicate offenses

Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals

4th Circuit Affirms Wire Fraud Conviction in Heggins Case

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed Daniel Frank Heggins' conviction for aiding and abetting wire fraud, upholding his 24-month prison sentence and $6,029 restitution order. The unpublished per curiam decision rejected Heggins' appeal challenging both his conviction and restitution requirements.

•Fourth Circuit unanimously affirmed Heggins' wire fraud conviction and 24-month sentence

•Court rejected challenges to conviction and $6,029 restitution order to settlement company

Third Circuit Court of Appeals

3rd Circuit Upholds Fraud Conviction of Clean Energy CEO Who Called Himself 'Modern Icarus'

The Third Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the 48-count conviction of James P. Abrams, a clean energy startup founder who defrauded investors using forged documents and false financial statements. Abrams, who compared himself to the mythological figure Icarus, received a 72-month prison sentence and must pay $1.2 million in restitution.

•Third Circuit affirmed 48-count conviction including wire fraud, money laundering, and obstruction charges

•Abrams used forged documents and false financial statements to deceive clean energy startup investors

First Circuit Court of Appeals

First Circuit Affirms Attorney Conviction in Romance Scam Case

The First Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the conviction of Hassan Abbas, a disbarred attorney who facilitated romance scams and business email compromises that defrauded victims of millions of dollars. The court rejected Abbas's appeal in a case highlighting sophisticated online fraud schemes targeting vulnerable individuals.

•Hassan Abbas, a former attorney, was convicted for facilitating romance scams and business email compromises worth millions

•Abbas used his legal credentials to open fraudulent bank accounts for fake companies to process victim payments

Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals

5th Circuit Affirms Denial of Coram Nobis Petition in Wire Fraud Case

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the denial of Eugene J. Lockhart Jr.'s petition for writ of coram nobis, an extraordinary legal remedy seeking to overturn his conviction for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud. The brief ruling represents the latest development in a case that originated in 2009 in the Northern District of Texas.

•Fifth Circuit affirmed denial of coram nobis petition without detailed explanation

•Lockhart originally pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges involving wire fraud and bank fraud

3w ago•4 min read

•Two Housing Authority of South Bend leaders convicted of orchestrating kickback scheme with fake maintenance contracts

7th Circuit Affirms Wire Fraud Convictions in Housing Authority Kickback Scheme

The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed wire fraud convictions against two former Housing Authority of South Bend leaders who orchestrated a kickback scheme involving fake maintenance contracts. The court reversed bank fraud charges while upholding convictions related to the misuse of federal housing funds.

•Seventh Circuit affirmed wire fraud convictions but reversed bank fraud charges on technical grounds

3w ago•5 min read

•Seventh Circuit affirmed wire fraud convictions but reversed bank fraud convictions for Housing Authority officials

7th Circuit Upholds Wire Fraud Convictions for Housing Officials

The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals upheld wire fraud convictions but reversed bank fraud convictions for two Housing Authority of South Bend leaders who orchestrated a kickback scheme involving fictional maintenance contracts. The scheme diverted federal funds intended for affordable housing.

•Robinson and Smith orchestrated kickback scheme involving fictional maintenance contracts on federal housing properties

3w ago•4 min read

•Seventh Circuit affirmed wire fraud convictions but reversed bank fraud charges against Housing Authority officials

7th Circuit Upholds Wire Fraud in Housing Authority Kickback Case

The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed wire fraud convictions against two Housing Authority of South Bend officials who orchestrated a kickback scheme involving fictional maintenance contracts, while reversing their bank fraud convictions due to insufficient evidence.

•Robinson and Smith orchestrated kickback scheme involving fictional maintenance contracts at South Bend housing properties

3w ago•4 min read

•Seventh Circuit affirmed wire fraud convictions for kickback scheme involving fictional maintenance contracts at Housing Authority of South Bend

7th Circuit Upholds Wire Fraud, Reverses Bank Fraud in Housing Scheme

The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals upheld wire fraud convictions but reversed bank fraud convictions against two Housing Authority of South Bend officials who orchestrated a kickback scheme involving fictional maintenance contracts. Tonya Robinson and Albert Smith used their leadership positions to enrich themselves by hiring contractors for non-existent work and taking cuts of the payments.

•Court reversed bank fraud convictions due to government's failure to prove false statements were made to a bank