People v. Lee

11 Cal. App. 5th 344, 217 Cal. Rptr. 3d 392, 2017 Cal. App. LEXIS 417
California Court of Appeal·Decided April 4, 2017·No. A145038·Published·Cited by 6 cases

Opinion

Opinion

JONES, P.

Ajury convicted Lewis Erving Lee of 77 felonies, including multiple counts of grand theft (Pen. Code, § 487, subd. (a)), elder theft (Pen. Code, § 368, subd. (d)(1)), identity theft (Pen. Code, § 530.5, subd. (a)), and money laundering (Pen. Code, § 186.10). 1 The court sentenced Lee to 15 years in state prison and ordered him to pay over $1.3 million in victim restitution (§ 1202.4).

Lee appeals. He contends there was insufficient evidence to support the money laundering convictions, the identity theft convictions, and two elder theft convictions. Lee argues we should reverse all but one of the grand theft convictions against each victim or set of victims. Also, Lee asserts we should modify the restitution order and amend the judgment.

We affirm in part and reverse in part. In the published parts of the opinion, we reverse four of the money laundering convictions based on insufficient evidence, and we reverse the identity theft convictions because there is no evidence Lee used his victims’ personal identifying information for an unlawful purpose without their consent. In the unpublished parts of the *347 opinion, we reverse two elder theft convictions because the Attorney General concedes there was insufficient evidence to support them. We also conclude Lee is not required to pay restitution to one set of victims. The trial court shall amend the judgment to correct the amounts of certain fees. In all other respects, we affirm.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

We provide a brief overview of the facts here, and additional factual and procedural details in the discussion of Lee’s specific claims. The People charged Lee with 78 felonies: one count of first degree burglary (§ 460, subd. (a)), 22 counts of grand theft (§ 487, subd. (a)), six counts of elder theft (§ 368, subd. (d)(1)), 20 counts of identity theft (§ 530.5, subd. (a)), 11 counts of money laundering (§ 186.10), 17 counts of fraudulent sale of a security (Corp. Code, § 25401), and one count of securities fraud (Corp. Code, § 25541).

Lee, who has a degree in business administration, began a tax consulting business in 1974. Starting in the 1990’s, Lee convinced many of his tax clients to invest significant amounts of money with him, telling them their funds would either be part of an “investment club” or used to purchase shares in a company called China EC Net. Instead, Lee used the money for personal needs, including payment of mortgage obligations, living expenses, and his daughter’s medical costs. When a San Mateo police officer arrested Lee in 2012, Lee said “you have no idea how big this is” and admitted “I know I was wrong for what I’ve done.”

A. China EC Net

Lee became involved with China EC Net through one of his tax clients, who was the company’s corporate secretary from 1998 to 2001 and its chief executive officer around 2001. China EC Net fisted Lee as its chief financial officer in 2000, but a company founder testified he did not believe Lee spent a lot of time working for the company. Lee’s financial problems derived from “bet[ting] the farm” on China EC Net going public, which never occurred.

In February 2000, China EC Net granted Lee options to purchase 10,000 shares of common stock. In August 2006, Lee exercised the options and purchased the shares for $650. Those were the only shares Lee ever purchased. In April 2008, Lee received another 50,000 shares as a gift. China EC Net issued Lee stock certificates documenting his ownership of 60,000 shares.

Lee testified that, in February 2000, the company awarded him an additional 500,000 options, and that he exercised them, but there is no stock *348 certificate showing Lee’s purported ownership of these shares. A company founder testified the grant could not have occurred without his knowledge. Lee stated he was granted and exercised another 250,000 ophons in 2007, but Lee received no documentation regarding this purported exercise of options.

China EC Net’s stock options were not transferable, except by will or the law of descent, and only the option holder could exercise them. Anyone who wanted to transfer shares had to give notice to the company, which had the right of first refusal to purchase the shares. Lee understood China EC Net had a right of first refusal. Lee devised a plan to hold the shares in trust for his clients to avoid this problem. Lee never gave the company notice of his intent to sell his shares.

Lee claimed he owned 810,000 shares, and his records indicate he “sold” 733,000 option shares. China EC Net does not recognize as shareholders any of the persons to whom Lee purportedly sold shares.

B. The Investment Clubs

In addition to selling shares in China EC Net, Lee admitted taking money from many of his tax clients, but not investing it as promised. Lee started an investment club in May 1991. The concept was that club members would invest funds that Lee would pool and use to buy stocks. Lee set up a portfolio based on the money provided and created reports for his clients showing their returns, but he used the money for personal needs. Lee convinced tax clients to join three different investment clubs. If clients wished to withdraw funds, Lee often used money obtained from other investors to cover the withdrawals.

C. Verdict and Sentence

The prosecution dismissed one count of elder theft, and a jury convicted Lee of 77 counts consishng of the following: one count of burglary (§ 460, subd. (a)), 22 counts of grand theft (§ 487, subd. (a)), five counts of elder theft (§ 368, subd. (d)(1)), 20 counts of identity theft (§ 530.5, subd. (a)), 17 counts of fraudulent sale of a security (Corp. Code, § 25401), 11 counts of money laundering (Pen. Code, § 186.10), and one count of securities fraud (Corp. Code, § 25541). The court sentenced Lee to 15 years in state prison, and ordered him to pay $1,345,274.67 in restitution.

*349 DISCUSSION

I.

There Was Sufficient Evidence To Support Seven of the Money Laundering Convictions, but Insufficient Evidence To Support Four of Them

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People v. Lee, 11 Cal. App. 5th 344, 217 Cal. Rptr. 3d 392, 2017 Cal. App. LEXIS 417 (Cal. Ct. App. 2017).

11 Cal. App. 5th 344 (People v. Lee) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

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