United States v. McCormick

72 F.3d 1404, 95 Daily Journal DAR 17156, 95 Cal. Daily Op. Serv. 9863, 1995 U.S. App. LEXIS 36634, 1995 WL 758830
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
DecidedDecember 27, 1995
DocketNos. 94-10429, 94-10430
StatusPublished
Cited by38 cases

This text of 72 F.3d 1404 (United States v. McCormick) 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. McCormick, 72 F.3d 1404, 95 Daily Journal DAR 17156, 95 Cal. Daily Op. Serv. 9863, 1995 U.S. App. LEXIS 36634, 1995 WL 758830 (9th Cir. 1995).

Opinion

DAVID R. THOMPSON, Circuit Judge:

Thomas Michael McCormick and Tracy L. McCormick appeal their convictions for a number of offenses arising out of the creation and use of the identity “Michael Parris Boner”. A jury convicted both of the McCor-micks of bankruptcy fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 152. Thomas alone was convicted of: (1) fraudulent use of a social security number, in violation of 42 U.S.C. § 408(g)(1); (2) use of a false identification document, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1028(a)(4); (3) access device fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1029(a)(1); (4) false statement to a bank, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1014; and (5) making a false statement in a passport application, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1542.

We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We affirm all the convictions of Thomas Michael McCormick, and we reverse the conviction of Tracy L. McCormick.

I

THOMAS MICHAEL McCORMICK

A. Bankruptcy Fraud

Thomas Michael McCormick challenges his conviction for bankruptcy fraud on the ground that the evidence was insufficient to establish beyond a reasonable doubt that he fraudulently concealed a checking account in the name of “Michael Boner” at the Valley Bank.

Evidence is sufficient to support a conviction if, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319, 99 S.Ct. 2781, 2789, 61 L.Ed.2d 560 (1979); United States v. Vgeri, 51 F.3d 876, 879 (9th Cir.1995).

To support a conviction for bankruptcy fraud under 18 U.S.C. § 152, the prosecution is required to establish beyond a reasonable doubt (1) the existence of bankruptcy proceedings; (2) that Thomas made a statement in the bankruptcy proceedings under penalty of perjury (3) which was a false statement (4) as to a material fact; and (5) that the statement was knowingly and fraudulently made. United States v. Lindholm, 24 F.3d 1078, 1082-83 (9th Cir.1994).

The prosecution established beyond a reasonable doubt that Thomas created the “Michael Parris Boner” identity, opened the account at Valley Bank in the Boner name, participated in the preparation of the McCor-micks’ bankruptcy petition and schedules, failed to list the Valley bank account in the Boner name, and signed declarations under penalty of perjury that the information disclosed in his petition and schedules was true and correct. This evidence provided sufficient circumstantial evidence from which the jury could find the fraudulent intent required for a conviction under 18 U.S.C. § 152. The evidence was sufficient to support Thomas’s conviction.

B. Fraudulent Use of a Social Security Number

The jury convicted Thomas of fraudulent use of a social security number in violation of 42 U.S.C. § 408(g)(1) (1993). Section 408(g)(1) provides in pertinent part:

‘Whoever ... for the purpose of obtaining anything of value from any person or for any other purpose—willfully, knowingly, and with intent to deceive uses a social security account number, assigned by the Commissioner of Social Security ... on the basis of false information furnished ... by him” is guilty of a felony.

42 U.S.C. § 408(g)(1) (1993). Subsection (g) was redesignated subsection (a)(7) of 42 U.S.C. § 408 by Pub.L. 101-508, § 5121(b)(3).

Thomas presents two arguments challenging his conviction for this offense. First, he contends that, as a matter of law, the statement that his name was Michael Parris Boner is not false information. Because the common law allows a person to freely change his name without legal processes, Thomas’s [1407]*1407adoption of the Boner name was legally permissible and thus cannot be deemed false information within the meaning of 42 U.S.C. § 408(g)(1). Second, Thomas contends that, as a matter of fact, the government failed to prove he used a social security account number, assigned by the Commissioner of Social Security on the basis of false information furnished by Thomas. These arguments distill down to the assertion that there is insufficient evidence from which a rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of a violation of 42 U.S.C. § 408(g)(1) beyond a reasonable doubt.

We have carefully reviewed the evidence and conclude there is sufficient evidence from which the jury could have found Thomas guilty of violating 42 U.S.C. § 408(g)(1). The evidence established that Thomas applied for a social security account number in the name of Michael Parris Boner. On this application he stated he had never been issued a social security number before. This was false. He had previously been issued a social security number in the name of Thomas Michael McCormick. The evidence also showed he sought the Boner social security account number for the purpose of obtaining a passport in the Boner name.

We affirm Thomas’s conviction for violating 42 U.S.C. § 408(g)(1).

C. Use of a False Identification Document

The jury convicted Thomas of violating 18 U.S.C. § 1028(a)(4). Section 1028(a)(4) provides that:

Whoever ... knowingly possesses an identification document (other than one issued lawfully for the use of the possessor) or a false identification document, with the intent such document be used to defraud the United States commits an offense.

18 U.S.C.

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72 F.3d 1404, 95 Daily Journal DAR 17156, 95 Cal. Daily Op. Serv. 9863, 1995 U.S. App. LEXIS 36634, 1995 WL 758830, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-mccormick-ca9-1995.