United States v. Bill Lawrence

189 F.3d 838, 52 Fed. R. Serv. 1498, 99 Cal. Daily Op. Serv. 7341, 99 Daily Journal DAR 9405, 1999 U.S. App. LEXIS 21325, 1999 WL 688449
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
DecidedSeptember 7, 1999
Docket97-10107
StatusPublished
Cited by92 cases

This text of 189 F.3d 838 (United States v. Bill Lawrence) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Bill Lawrence, 189 F.3d 838, 52 Fed. R. Serv. 1498, 99 Cal. Daily Op. Serv. 7341, 99 Daily Journal DAR 9405, 1999 U.S. App. LEXIS 21325, 1999 WL 688449 (9th Cir. 1999).

Opinions

Opinion by Judge T.G. NELSON; Partial Concurrence and Partial Dissent by Judge KLEINFELD.

T.G. NELSON, Circuit Judge:

Defendant Bill Lawrence appeals both his convictions and his sentence for violations of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1341 and 152(1), (3). We have jurisdiction over this timely filed appeal pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291 and 18 U.S.C. § 3742. We reverse Lawrence’s mail fraud conviction from the first trial, affirm his convictions following the second trial, and remand for resentencing.

I. FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

Bill Lawrence was an Anchorage attorney and businessman, involved with numerous ventures in Alaska and throughout the northwestern United States. He declared bankruptcy in January 1991. On December 14, 1994, a nine-count felony indictment was returned against him, charging Lawrence with one count of mail fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1341, and eight counts of bankruptcy fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 152(1) and (3). A three-count superceding information was later filed, consolidating the seven false-statement claims under § 152(3) into a single count. Accordingly, the superceding information charged Lawrence with three counts: (1) mail fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1341 (“count one”); (2) false-statements bankruptcy fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 152(3) (“count two”); and (3) concealment-of-assets bankruptcy fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 152(1) (“count three”).

Lawrence was married to Jody Watkins, a Delta Airlines flight attendant. Their union was one of convenience — she gained tax benefits, and he got to fly for free on her airline as well as receive estate planning benefits. The couple lived apart, rarely saw one another, and dated other people.

Throughout the trial, the Government elicited testimony, over Lawrence’s objections, which emphasized the unconventional nature of his relationship with Watkins. Lawrence’s failure to disclose his married [842]*842status to other women with whom he was romantically involved was addressed in the Government’s closing argument. The Government referred to this as “the big lie,” asking the jury whether they could “think of a worse lie offhand. How many worse lies or more cruelty than letting a woman think that you are available , to her to become involved in her life when in fact you’re married to a woman that you rarely see for other reasons? That’s a pretty significant lie.” Lawrence also objected to the Government’s admission of testimony concerning Lawrence’s planned lifestyle following bankruptcy, as well as his access to large amounts of money within three months of bankruptcy. These objections were overruled.

On May 24, 1995, the jury returned general guilty verdicts on counts one and two; it was unable to reach a verdict on count three. Lawrence then moved for a new trial. Pursuant to Supreme Court authority handed down in June 1995, United States v. Gaudin, 515 U.S. 506, 115 S.Ct. 2310, 132 L.Ed.2d 444 (1995), Lawrence argued that the materiality issue with respect to count two should have been decided by the jury. The district court agreed and granted a new trial on count two.

Prior to the second jury trial on counts two and three, Lawrence made a motion in limine seeking to prevent the Government from introducing evidence of his personal lifestyle. The district court held that while evidence of Lawrence’s marriage was relevant as it related to property matters — “assets, liabilities, transfers of assets, things like that” — evidence concerning witnesses’ knowledge of Lawrence’s marital status and the circumstances surrounding it “sounds like [the Government was] throwing a little dirt in” and is not “a fair shot.” With respect to the evidence regarding Lawrence’s post-bankruptcy financial status, the court held that the “availability of cash subsequent to the bankruptcy is relevant ... what he was doing with money and property following the bankruptcy is relevant.”

The second jury convicted Lawrence on counts two and three. As to count two, the jury found him guilty of making a false declaration by failing to set forth the existence of a bank account in the name of a former business, L’lmage, Ltd., in his bankruptcy petition. The jury found him not guilty for allegedly making a false declaration that he owed a former partner $85,000 on a promissory note. The jury could not decide as to the remaining five alleged false declarations. As to count three, the jury found Lawrence guilty of concealing his ownership of Alaska Investment Group, but not guilty as to concealing an antique desk or his interest in Korlyn Broadcasting, Inc. The jury could not decide on the remaining three alleged concealments, which included shares in Photo Express Image Centers, Inc., a partnership interest in 60 Minute Photo Express and Investors Realty Trust, an account allegedly created as a trust for his children. Lawrence moved for judgment of acquittal challenging the sufficiency of the jury’s verdict as to the concealment of Alaska Investment Group and Investors Realty Trust. The district court denied Lawrence’s motion.

At the sentencing hearing, following briefing by the parties regarding relevant conduct and how it should be determined, the court valuated the loss at $574,700, without the assistance of an evidentiary hearing because it concluded that the evidence adduced at the trial was sufficient. Lawrence’s motion for reconsideration was denied. Accordingly, the court sentenced him to fifty-one months in prison followed by a one-year supervised release. In addition, Lawrence was ordered to pay restitution of $574,700 as well as a $150 special assessment. Lawrence then brought this timely appeal.

II. ANALYSIS

A. Evidence of Lawrence’s Marriage During the First Trial

Evidentiary rulings are reviewed for an abuse of discretion. See EEOC v. [843]*843Pape Lift, Inc., 115 F.3d 676, 680 (9th Cir.1997). Evidence is inadmissible if it is not relevant, Fed.R.Evid. 401, or “if its probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice,” Fed.R.Evid. 403.

The testimony elicited by the Government regarding Lawrence’s marriage and the circumstances of that relationship was not probative of Lawrence’s guilt or innocence of the crimes with which he was charged.

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189 F.3d 838, 52 Fed. R. Serv. 1498, 99 Cal. Daily Op. Serv. 7341, 99 Daily Journal DAR 9405, 1999 U.S. App. LEXIS 21325, 1999 WL 688449, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-bill-lawrence-ca9-1999.