Sanchez

Alfredo Sanchez, Hector Sanchez and Maria Sanchez appeal from the judgments (orders granting probation) entered upon their convictions by jury of contriving, preparing, setting up, proposing or operating an endless chain scheme. (Pen. Code, § 327.) They contend (1) that the trial court erred in failing to instruct the jury that participation in an endless chain is not a violation of Penal Code section 327; (2) that the trial court erred in refusing to dismiss the case or to instruct the jury on concealment of evidence by the prosecution and the victims, as a sanction for discovery violations; (3) that the trial court abused its discretion in denying their motion for new trial on the ground of juror misconduct; and (4) that the evidence was insufficient to support the convictions.

Facts

Viewed in accordance with the usual rules on appeal (People v. Ochoa (1993) 6 Cal.4th 1199, 1206 [ 26 Cal.Rptr.2d 23 , 864 P.2d 103 ]), the evidence established that in 1995 an endless chain scheme known as “Friends Helping Friends” (hereinafter FHF) was in existence in the Los Angeles area. Blanca Leticia Cervantes, Graciela Cazares, Rosa Santana, Milena Sandoval, Silvia Contreras,…