United States v. Don Stovall and Robert Harlon "Frosty" Winter

825 F.2d 817, 23 Fed. R. Serv. 992, 1987 U.S. App. LEXIS 11428
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
DecidedAugust 12, 1987
Docket86-1453
StatusPublished
Cited by60 cases

This text of 825 F.2d 817 (United States v. Don Stovall and Robert Harlon "Frosty" Winter) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Fifth 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. Don Stovall and Robert Harlon "Frosty" Winter, 825 F.2d 817, 23 Fed. R. Serv. 992, 1987 U.S. App. LEXIS 11428 (5th Cir. 1987).

Opinion

ROBERT MADDEN HILL, Circuit Judge:

In this appeal Robert Winter and Don Stovall challenge their individual sentences arising out of their convictions in a credit association fraud scheme. For the reasons stated below, we affirm Winter’s sentences in part and vacate in part, and we affirm Stovall’s sentence.

I.

Up until January 1984 Robert “Frosty” Winter was the vice-president in charge of the Blacklands Production Credit Association (Blacklands) in Kaufman, Texas. Blacklands is a cooperative financial institution that provides short and intermediate term, agricultural loans to farmers and ranchers. Blacklands is regulated and funded by the Federal Intermediate Credit Bank of Texas (FICB). Both Blacklands and FICB are part of the Farm Credit Administration.

Beginning in 1980 Winter began approving improper loans, for nonagricultural purposes, and in some instances, accepting benefits directly out of the loans or indirectly from loan recipients. Following Winter’s resignation in January 1984, an internal investigation into the Kaufman office’s accounts uncovered Winter’s fraudulent activities. Specifically, the investigation revealed that loan documents listed collateral that did not exist and misstated the purposes of the loans. The investigation also uncovered the fact that Winter personally benefited from several of the loan transactions.

Winter was subsequently indicted on nineteen counts of improperly making, recording, and/or participating in loan transactions, all violations of federal law. Below we briefly outline the pertinent loan transactions that were the basis of Winter’s ultimate conviction on sixteen counts. 1

*819 In March 1981 Winter authorized a $10,-000 loan to Billy R. Abies, a local farmer. On the loan documents Winter listed the reason for the loan as the purchase of “a few more cows.” Abies in fact used the $10,000 to purchase land for Winter on which Winter made monthly mortgage payments and built a home. Several months later Winter used $9,000 of his personal funds to make a payment on Abies’ loan balance at Blacklands. In crediting the $9,000 to Abies’ balance, Winter stated on the loan receipt that the money came from the sale of Abies’ cattle.

Winter was charged with and convicted of three offenses arising out of the Abies transaction: (1) recording a false statement when he made the loan, a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1006 (count one); misapplying funds by loaning money to Abies for non-agricultural purposes, a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 657 (count two); and (3) recording a false statement when he credited Abies’ account with his own funds, a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1006 (count three).

The next improper loan transaction carried out by Winter involved a local framing contractor, Randall Johnson. Johnson was having financial difficulties and needed $20,000 for payroll expenses. Johnson was referred to Winter by Floyd Kirby, a friend and later codefendant of Winter’s. Winter agreed to give Johnson the money. On the loan documents Winter wrote that the loan was for an equipment purchase and that the loan was secured by collateral. In fact, the loan proceeds were used to pay Johnson’s payroll and no collateral existed.

Winter was charged with and convicted of two offenses arising out of the Johnson transaction: (1) recording a false statement when he made the loan, a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1006 (count four), and (2) misapplying funds for nonagricultural purposes, a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 657 (count five).

The third pertinent loan transaction involved Winter, Donald B. Stovall, and a cutting horse “Doc Sunshine.” Stovall was a local construction and carpeting businessman who also dabbled in training cutting horses and raising cattle. In March 1983 Stovall decided to purchase Doc Sunshine from his then owner Don Simpson. Simpson had recently brought Doc Sunshine for $20,000, but Stovall agreed to buy the horse for $200,000 if Simpson insured Doc for the purchase price. To carry out the sale Stovall enlisted Winter’s aid. Winter authorized a $50,000 loan to Stovall. Stovall transferred this money to Simpson along with a promissory note for the balance of the purchase price. The note was executed by both Stovall and Winter. In return Simpson conveyed Doc Sunshine to Stovall and Winter. Doc Sunshine soon died and the insurance proceeds were split between Simpson ($127,000), Stovall ($66,-000), and Winter ($7,000).

Winter was charged with and convicted of one offense arising out of the Stovall transaction: receiving benefits from a loan, a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1006 (count twelve). Stovall was also indicted for and convicted of aiding and abetting Winter’s section 1006 violation.

Winter again made an improper loan in February 1983 to a local businessman Gerald Howell. Howell was a tractor and car salesman who also raised cattle on the side. Howell had previously borrowed over $40,-000 from Blacklands for his ranching business. Winter approached Howell with a real estate speculation venture in late February. The two men agreed to use a Blacklands’ loan to Howell as a mutual down payment on a five-acre tract of land. Winter authorized the loan of $5,000, stating it was “for operating costs.” Title to the tract was conveyed to both Howell and Winter. They later sold the tract at a profit of approximately $1,000 an acre.

Winter was charged with and convicted of two offenses arising out of the Howell transaction: (1) misapplying loan proceeds for nonagricultural purposes, a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 657 (count thirteen), and (2) *820 receiving benefits from a loan, a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1006 (count fourteen). 2

Winter next extended credit to John Wood, a Plano, Texas, fireman who also farmed and ran cattle near Kaufman. Winter authorized a $12,000 loan to Wood, listing as the purpose of the loan “the purchase of cattle.” Wood actually used the loan proceeds to purchase a commercial building for himself and Winter. Title to the building was held by the Straw Boss Corporation, a closely-held concern owned by Wood and Winter. Wood and Winter ultimately sold the building for a profit.

Winter was charged with and convicted of two offenses arising out of the Wood transaction: (1) misapplication of funds for nonagricultural purpose, a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 657 (count fifteen), and (2) receiving benefits from a loan, a violation of 18 U.S.C.

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Bluebook (online)
825 F.2d 817, 23 Fed. R. Serv. 992, 1987 U.S. App. LEXIS 11428, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-don-stovall-and-robert-harlon-frosty-winter-ca5-1987.