United States v. Robert Anthony Stozek, United States of America v. Glenn Roberts

783 F.2d 891, 1986 U.S. App. LEXIS 22591
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
DecidedFebruary 25, 1986
Docket84-1351, 84-1354
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 783 F.2d 891 (United States v. Robert Anthony Stozek, United States of America v. Glenn Roberts) 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. Robert Anthony Stozek, United States of America v. Glenn Roberts, 783 F.2d 891, 1986 U.S. App. LEXIS 22591 (9th Cir. 1986).

Opinion

KENNEDY, Circuit Judge:

Appellants Glenn Roberts and Robert Stozek appeal their convictions for misapplication of bank funds, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 656. We affirm.

In July 1982, Roberts was hired as a local branch manager of the Valley Bank of Nevada. Soon after joining Valley Bank, Roberts became acquainted with Stozek, a real estate developer who was seeking financing for certain construction projects in Colorado. Stozek opened a checking account at Valley Bank in September 1982, with a deposit of $500.

Through Roberts, Stozek was introduced to various loan brokers, through whom Stozek hoped to obtain the tens of millions of dollars in loans he needed for his construction projects. Stozek did not obtain a financing commitment, but he drew a total *893 of approximately $414,000 on his Valley Bank checking account between September 1982 and January 1983. To cover his Valley Bank checks, Stozek deposited checks drawn on his accounts at other banks. During the period in question, he deposited twenty-five cheeks, totaling $871,939.16, in the Valley Bank account. Twenty-two of these checks, totaling $870,939.16, were returned because of insufficient funds.

For months, Roberts allowed Stozek to continue doing business through Valley Bank despite a large overdraft and a steady stream of returned checks, some of which were returned more than once. Roberts personally supervised Stozek’s account in such a manner that both his inferiors and superiors at the Bank remained ignorant of its true status. Roberts approved the payment of Stozek’s overdrawn checks, and at least once assured a creditor of Stozek’s that Stozek’s check would clear. In January 1983, when senior officials at Valley Bank discovered that Stozek’s account was several hundred thousand dollars overdrawn, Roberts was fired.

Roberts and Stozek were indicted on charges of misapplying bank funds, 18 U.S.C. § 656, conspiracy, 18 U.S.C. § 371, and two counts of wire fraud, 18 U.S.C. § 1343. After being tried together before a jury, they were both acquitted on the conspiracy and wire fraud charges, but found guilty of misapplying bank funds, Roberts as a principal and Stozek as an aider and abettor. They were sentenced to five years’ probation, conditioned on their making restitution to the Bank and performing two thousand and eighty hours of community service. Both Roberts and Stozek appeal their convictions.

Roberts contends that his conviction cannot stand because there is insufficient evidence of his intent to injure or defraud the Bank. Roberts is correct that 18 U.S.C. § 656 requires an intent to injure or defraud the Bank, United States v. Beat-tie, 594 F.2d 1327, 1329 (9th Cir.1979), or such knowing misappropriation as would constitute a willful violation of the law. The requisite intent under section 656 may be inferred from defendant’s reckless disregard of the Bank’s interests, though reckless disregard is not in itself sufficient to impose criminal liability. United States v. Adamson, 700 F.2d 953, 956-65 (5th Cir.) (en banc) (reviewing cases), cert. denied, 464 U.S. 833, 104 S.Ct. 116, 78 L.Ed.2d 116 (1983); Benchwick v. United States, 297 F.2d 330, 333 n. 5 (9th Cir.1961).

Roberts argues that he did not mean to hurt the Bank, and that at worst he showed poor judgment. Roberts chose, however, to allow Stozek a substantial overdraft, in effect giving Stozek free use of the Bank’s funds, without adequately ensuring that Stozek would be able to cover the checks he was drawing. Roberts continued to allow Stozek to draw on his Valley Bank account even after Stozek’s checks from other banks were returned for insufficient funds. There was evidence, moreover, that Roberts sought to conceal the overdrawn status of Stozek’s account from his superiors at the Bank. Finally, there was evidence that Roberts was interested in keeping Stozek afloat because Roberts was to receive a commission on any loan that Stozek would ultimately obtain. Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the government, a rational jury could find beyond reasonable doubt, see Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319, 99 S.Ct. 2781, 2789, 61 L.Ed.2d 560 (1979), that Roberts acted in reckless disregard of the Bank’s interests, and infer from such conduct an intent to injure or defraud the Bank.

Stozek argues that the evidence is insufficient to convict him as an aider and abettor, and suggests that he is not guilty of a crime even if Roberts is. During the period in question, however, Stozek drew hundreds of thousands of dollars from a bank account into which he deposited virtually nothing but worthless checks. Even after his checks drawn from other banks were returned for insufficient funds, Stozek continued to draw on his Valley Bank account. This is sufficient evidence to support a finding of reckless disregard of the Bank’s interests, from which intent to in *894 jure or defraud may be inferred. See Benchwick, 297 F.2d at 332-33, 333 n. 5 (holding evidence sufficient to support conviction of aider and abettor under 18 U.S.C. § 656); United States v. Anderson, 709 F.2d 563 (9th Cir.1983) (per curiam) (same).

Stozek also challenges the sufficiency of Count I of the indictment, under which both Roberts and Stozek were convicted. Count I reads as follows:

GLENN ROBERTS, defendant herein, between September 28, 1982 and February 9,1983, in the District of Nevada and elsewhere, being an employee, that is Branch Manager of Valley Bank of Nevada, Glendale Branch, Sparks, Nevada, an insured bank, with intent to injure and defraud said bank, wilfully and knowingly did wilfully misapply monies and funds of the said bank in the amount of approximately $413,769.54, and that ROBERT A. STOZEK wilfully and knowingly did aid and abet GLENN ROBERTS; all in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 656 and 2.

Stozek contends that Count I is defective in failing to specify facts regarding his alleged complicity. Count I is sufficient, however, to state an offense under 18 U.S.C. § 656, see United States v. Welliver, 601 F.2d 203

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783 F.2d 891, 1986 U.S. App. LEXIS 22591, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-robert-anthony-stozek-united-states-of-america-v-glenn-ca9-1986.