Chicago-Kent Law Review Volume 88 Issue 2 The Supreme Court and the American Article 16 Public April 2013 When Does Sleaze Become A Crime? Redefining Honest Services Fraud after Skilling v. United States Teresa M. Becvar Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarship.kentlaw.iit.edu/cklawreview Part of the Business Organizations Law Commons, and the Criminal Law Commons Recommended Citation Teresa M. Becvar, When Does Sleaze Become A Crime? Redefining Honest Services Fraud after Skilling v. United States, 88 Chi.-Kent L. Rev. 593 (2013). Available at: https://scholarship.kentlaw.iit.edu/cklawreview/vol88/iss2/16 This Notes is brought to you for free and open access by Scholarly Commons @ IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law. It has been accepted for inclusion in Chicago-Kent Law Review by an authorized editor of Scholarly Commons @ IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. 33531-ckt_88-2 Sheet No. 162 Side A 05/13/2013 14:40:30 ͳͶǦǦ ǤȋȌ ͷȀ͹ȀʹͲͳ͵ͻǣ͵ͺ ǫ SKILLINGV.UNITEDSTATES Ǥ ͶǡʹͲͳͲǡǯ Ǧ Ǥ Ǧ ǡ Ȅ ǦǤͳ Dz dz Ǧ ǡ Ǥʹ ǡǡ ǫ ǯ Ǧ Ǥ Ǧ ǡ Ǥ͵ ͳͻͶͲǯǡ ǯ 33531-ckt_88-2 Sheet No. 162 Side A 05/13/2013 14:40:30 ǡǤͶ ǡ ǯ ǯ Dz ǡdz Ǥ ͳǤ ǡ Blagojevich Case Tweakedǡ Ǥ Ǥ ȋ Ǥ ͷǡ ʹͲͳͲȌǡ ǣȀȀ Ǥ Ǥ ȀʹͲͳͲǦͲʹǦͲͷȀȀ ǦͳͲͲʹͲͷ ǦǦ ̴ͳ̴ǦǦǦǦǦǦǦ ǦǦǦǤ ʹǤId. ͵Ǥ ǡMailFraudMeetsCriminalTheoryǡ͸͹Ǥ ǤǤǤͳǡͳȋͳͻͻͺȌǤ ͶǤSee,e.g.ǡǤǡͳͳ͹ ǤʹͳͳͲǡͳͳͷȋͷǤͳͻͶͳȌǤ ͷͻ͵ 33531-ckt_88-2 Sheet No. 162 Side B 05/13/2013 14:40:30 ͳͶǦǦ ǤȋȌ ͷȀ͹ȀʹͲͳ͵ͻǣ͵ͺ ͷͻͶ CHICAGOǦKENTLAWREVIEW ȏͺͺǣʹ Ǧ Ǥ Ǧ ͳͻͺ͹McNallyv.United States, Ǥͷ ǡ ͳͺǤǤǤȚͳ͵Ͷ͸ǡǡDz ȏȐ ȏ ǤǤ Ȑǡ Ǯ ǯ Ǥdz͸ ʹͲͳͲȄ Ȅ Dz dz Ǥ͹ ǯ Ǧ Ț ͳ͵Ͷ͸ ǯ ǡ Skillingv.UnitedStates,ǡinteraliaǡ ǦǤͺ Skillingǡ ǯ Ǥͻ Ǧ ǤͳͲ ǡ ǤͳͳʹͲͳͲǡ Skilling Ǥ 33531-ckt_88-2 Sheet No. 162 Side B 05/13/2013 14:40:30 ȋ ȌǦ Ǧ Ǥͳʹ Ǧ Ǧǡ ͷǤ Ͷͺ͵ǤǤ͵ͷͲǡ͵͸ͷȋͳͻͺ͹Ȍȋǡ ǤǡȌǤ ͸Ǥ ͳͺǤǤǤȚͳ͵Ͷ͸ȋͳͻͺͺȌǤ ͹Ǥ ǤǡCriminalizingtheDenialofHonestServicesafterǡʹͲͳͳ ǤǤ Ǥʹ͹ǡʹ͹ȋʹͲͳͳȌǤ ͺǤ ͳ͵ͲǤǤʹͺͻ͸ǡʹͻ͵ͳȋʹͲͳͲȌǤ ͻǤId.ʹͻͲͺǤ ͳͲǤ Id.ʹͻʹͷǦʹ͸Ǥ ͳͳǤ Id.ʹͻ͵ͳǤ ͳʹǤ Ǥ͵ͺͷͶǡͳͳͳǤȋʹͲͳͲȌǤ 33531-ckt_88-2 Sheet No. 163 Side A 05/13/2013 14:40:30 ͳͶǦǦ ǤȋȌ ͷȀ͹ȀʹͲͳ͵ͻǣ͵ͺ ʹͲͳ͵Ȑ REDEFININGHONESTSERVICESFRAUD ͷͻͷ Ǥ Ǧ ǡ ǡǦ ǡ ǦSkilling ǡ Ǥ ǡ Ǥ ǡ ͳȌ ǡ ǢʹȌ mensrea Ǣ͵Ȍ Ǥ McNallyv.UnitedStatesǤ Ǧ Skilling v.UnitedStatesǤ Ǧ Ǥ ǡ Ǥ Ǥ 33531-ckt_88-2 Sheet No. 163 Side A 05/13/2013 14:40:30 Ǥͳ͵ Shushan v. United Statesǡ ǤͳͶ ǡͳͻͺ͹ǡ ǡ Ǥͳͷ Ǧ ǡǦ Ǥ ͳ͵Ǥ ǤǡͶͺ͵ǤǤ͵ͷͲǡ͵͸ͶǦ͸ͷȋͳͻͺ͹Ȍȋǡ ǤǡȌǤ ͳͶǤ ͳͳ͹ ǤʹͳͳͲǡͳͳͷȋͷǤͳͻͶͳȌǢseealsoSkillingǡͳ͵ͲǤǤʹͻʹ͹ǢMcNallyǡͶͺ͵ǤǤ ͵͸ͷǤ ͳͷǤ McNallyǡͶͺ͵ǤǤ͵ͷ͸Ǥ 33531-ckt_88-2 Sheet No. 163 Side B 05/13/2013 14:40:30 ͳͶǦǦ ǤȋȌ ͷȀ͹ȀʹͲͳ͵ͻǣ͵ͺ ͷͻ͸ CHICAGOǦKENTLAWREVIEW ȏͺͺǣʹ A. TheMailFraudStatute ǡ ͳͺ͹ʹǡǦ Dz Ǥdzͳ͸ ǯ DzǤǤǤǡǡ Ǧ ǡ Ǥdzͳ͹ ǡ ǡ Ǥͳͺ ǡ Ǥͳͻ ǡͳͻͲͻDz Ǧ ǡǡdz ǤʹͲ ǡDz ǡ orǡdzʹͳ Ǥʹʹ Ǧ ǡ DzǦ ȏȐ Ǥdzʹ͵ Ǥ 33531-ckt_88-2 Sheet No. 163 Side B 05/13/2013 14:40:30 ͳ͸Ǥ Seeid. ͳ͹Ǥ Id.ȋ Ǥ ǡͶͳǤǡ͵Ǥ͵ͷȋͳͺ͹ͲȌȋǤ ȌȌǤ ͳͺǤ Ǥ ǡ ͷʹͺ Ǥʹ Ͷͻʹǡ Ͷͻͺ ȋͶ Ǥ ͳͻ͹ͷȌ ȋ Ǥ ǡͳ͸ͳǤǤ͵Ͳ͸ǡ͵ͳͶȋͳͺͻ͸ȌȌǤ ͳͻǤ McNallyǡͶͺ͵ǤǤ͵͹Ͷȋǡ ǤǡȌǢseealso ǤǡTheFederalMail Fraud Statute (Part I)ǡ ͳͺ Ǥ Ǥ Ǥ ͹͹ͳǡ ͹͹ʹ ȋͳͻͺͲȌ ȋDzȏȐ ǡ Ǧ Ǧ Ǧ ǤdzȌǤ ʹͲǤ McNallyǡͶͺ͵ǤǤ͵ͷ͹ǦͷͺǤ ʹͳǤ ͳͺ ǤǤǤ Ț ͳ͵Ͷͳ ȋʹͲͲͺȌ ȋ ȌǤ ǡ ǡ Dz ǡǦ ǡ ǡ ǡ ǡ ǡ ǡ ǡ ǡ ǡǡǡ ǡ ǡ ǡ ǡ ǤǤǤdz ʹʹǤ McNallyǡͶͺ͵ǤǤ͵ͷͺǤ ʹ͵Ǥ Id.͵ͷͷǤ 33531-ckt_88-2 Sheet No. 164 Side A 05/13/2013 14:40:30 ͳͶǦǦ ǤȋȌ ͷȀ͹ȀʹͲͳ͵ͻǣ͵ͺ ʹͲͳ͵Ȑ REDEFININGHONESTSERVICESFRAUD ͷͻ͹ B. Shushanv.UnitedStatesandanIntangibleRightsTheoryof Fraud ͳͻͶͳ ʹͶ Ǧ Ǥʹͷ Shushanǡ Ǥʹ͸ Ǧ Ǥʹ͹ Ǧ Ǧ Ǥʹͺ Dz ȏ Ȑ ȏ ȐǤdzʹͻ ǤǦ ǡ ǯǯǡǦǦ Ǥ͵Ͳ ǡ Ǥ͵ͳ ǡ ǯ Ǥ͵ʹShushanǡ Ǧ Ǥ Ǧǡ ǯDz Ǥdz͵͵ 33531-ckt_88-2 Sheet No. 164 Side A 05/13/2013 14:40:30 ʹͶǤ Ǥǡͳͳ͹ ǤʹͳͳͲǡͳͳͶȋͷǤͳͻͶͳȌǤ ʹͷǤ SeeǤǡͳ͵ͲǤǤʹͺͻ͸ǡʹͻʹ͸ȋʹͲͳͲȌǤ ʹ͸Ǥ ͳͳ͹ ǤʹͳͳͶǦͳͷǤ ʹ͹Ǥ Id. ʹͺǤ Id.ͳͳͻǤ ʹͻǤ Id.ͳͳͷǤ ͵ͲǤ Skillingǡͳ͵ͲǤʹͻʹ͸Ǥ ͵ͳǤ Id. ͵ʹǤ Id. ͵͵Ǥ Id.ǢseealsoǤǡͷ͵͸ Ǥʹͳ͵ͺͺǡͳͶͲͲȋʹǤͳͻ͹͸Ȍȋ ǯ ǡDz dzȌǢǤǡͷʹͷ Ǥʹ ͳͳ͹Ͳǡͳͳ͹ͷȋ͹Ǥͳͻ͹ͷȌȋǡ ǡ ǡDz ǤǤǤ ȏȐ ǡ ǡ ȏ Ǧ ȐdzȌǤ 33531-ckt_88-2 Sheet No. 164 Side B 05/13/2013 14:40:30 ͳͶǦǦ ǤȋȌ ͷȀ͹ȀʹͲͳ͵ͻǣ͵ͺ ͷͻͺ CHICAGOǦKENTLAWREVIEW ȏͺͺǣʹ C. McNallyv.UnitedStates:HaltingtheIntangibleRightsTheory ͳͻͺ͹ǡ Ǥ͵Ͷ ǡ McNally v. United Statesǡ Dz ȏ Ȑ Ǧ Ǥdz͵ͷ McNally Ǥ͵͸ Ǧ Dz ǤǤǤ Ǧ ǯ Ǥdz͵͹ ǡ DzǦ Ǥdz Dz ǡ ǡ dz Ǧ Ǥ͵ͺ ǡDzǤǤǤǦ ǡ ǡ ǡ Ǥdz͵ͻ Dz dz or Dz ǡǡdz 33531-ckt_88-2 Sheet No. 164 Side B 05/13/2013 14:40:30 ǤͶͲ Dzdz ǤͶͳ Ǧ ǡ ǦǦ ǡ ͵ͶǤ ǤǡͶͺ͵ǤǤ͵ͷͲǡ͵ͷͺȋͳͻͺ͹ȌǢseealsoSkillingǡͳ͵ͲǤʹͻʹ͹Ǥ ͵ͷǤ McNallyǡͶͺ͵ǤǤ͵͸ͷȋǡ ǤǡȌǤ ͵͸Ǥ Id.͵ͷʹǦͷ͵Ǥ ͵͹Ǥ Id.͵ͷ͵Ǥ ͵ͺǤ Id.͵ͷ͸ȋ Ǥ ǡsupraͳ͹ȌǤ ͵ͻǤ Id.͵ͷͺȋ Ǥǡʹ͸ͷǤǤͳͺʹǡͳͺͺȋͳͻʹͶȌȌǤ ͶͲǤ Id.͵ͷͺǤ ͶͳǤ Id. 33531-ckt_88-2 Sheet No. 165 Side A 05/13/2013 14:40:30 ͳͶǦǦ ǤȋȌ ͷȀ͹ȀʹͲͳ͵ͻǣ͵ͺ ʹͲͳ͵Ȑ REDEFININGHONESTSERVICESFRAUD ͷͻͻ ǤͶʹ ǡ ǡ ǡ ǤͶ͵ ǡ Ǧ ǤͶͶ Ǧ ǤͶͷ ǡ ǤͶ͸ Dzdz Dz Ǧ dz ǤͶ͹ ǡ ǡ ǡ Dzdzǯ ǤͶͺ ǡ Ǧ ǤͶͻǡ ǡ ǤͷͲ ǡ ǡ ǡ 33531-ckt_88-2 Sheet No. 165 Side A 05/13/2013 14:40:30 Ǣǡ Ǥͷͳ ǡ Dz ǤǤǤ ǡ ͶʹǤ Id.͵ͷͺǦͷͻǤ Ͷ͵Ǥ Id.͵͸ͲǤ ͶͶǤ Id. ͶͷǤ Id. Ͷ͸Ǥ Id. Ͷ͹Ǥ Id.͵͹͸ȋǡ ǤǡȌǤ ͶͺǤ Id.͵͸ͺǦ͸ͻǤ ͶͻǤ Id.͵͹ͷǤ ͷͲǤ Id.͵͹͵Ǥ ͷͳǤ Id.͵͹ͷǤ 33531-ckt_88-2 Sheet No. 165 Side B 05/13/2013 14:40:30 ͳͶǦǦ ǤȋȌ ͷȀ͹ȀʹͲͳ͵ͻǣ͵ͺ ͸ͲͲ CHICAGOǦKENTLAWREVIEW ȏͺͺǣʹ dz Ǥͷʹ Ǥ ǤǤǤ ǣ SKILLINGV.UNITEDSTATES McNallyǡ ǡDz Ǥdzͷ͵ ǡ Ǧ ǡȚͳ͵Ͷ͸ǡ Dz dz Dz ǤdzͷͶ McNallyǤͷͷ ǡDzȏȐ Ǧ ǡdzDz Ǥdzͷ͸ ǯ ǡ Ț ͳ͵Ͷ͸ Ǧ McNally Ǥ Ǧ ǡȚͳ͵Ͷ͸ McNallyǯ Ǧ Dz Ǥdzͷ͹ ǡ not Ǥͷͺ ʹͲͳͲǡ ǡ ǡSkillingv.UnitedStatesǡBlackv.UnitedStatesǡWeyhrauchv. 33531-ckt_88-2 Sheet No. 165 Side B 05/13/2013 14:40:30 United StatesǤͷͻ Skilling Skilling’s Ǥ Skilling ǡ Ț ͳ͵Ͷ͸ ͷʹǤ Id.͵͸ͺǤ ͷ͵Ǥ Id.͵͸ͲǤ ͷͶǤ ͳͺǤǤǤȚͳ͵Ͷ͸ȋͳͻͺͺȌǤ ͷͷǤ Ǥǡͷ͵ͳǤǤͳʹǡͳͻǦʹͲȋʹͲͲͲȌǤ ͷ͸Ǥ ͳ͵Ͷ ǤǤ͵͵ǡʹͻ͹ȋͳͻͺͺȌȋǤ ǡ ǤȌǤ ͷ͹Ǥ Clevelandǡͷ͵ͳǤǤʹ͸Ǥ ͷͺǤ See id. ʹͲ ȋ Ǧ Dz ǤǤǤȏ Ȑ Ǯǯǯ dzȌǤ ͷͻǤ See Ǥǡͳ͵ͲǤǤʹͻ͸͵ǡʹͻ͸ͺȋʹͲͳͲȌǢǤǡͳ͵ͲǤ Ǥʹͺͻ͸ȋʹͲͳͲȌǢ Ǥǡͳ͵ͲǤǤʹͻ͹ͳǡʹͻ͹ͳȋʹͲͳͲȌȋ ȌǤ 33531-ckt_88-2 Sheet No.