United States v. Ernie Parr-Pla

Appellant was convicted of causing the interstate transportation of American Express Travelers Cheques with knowledge the checks contained counterfeit signatures and were stolen, and with possession of the checks with knowledge they were stolen.

1. Appellant challenges the sufficiency of the evidence that he knew the checks were stolen.

A government witness testified appellant telephoned him in Las Vegas and asked the witness to meet appellant’s flight from San Francisco to Las Vegas. The witness agreed. When appellant disembarked he was carrying a black briefcase which he eventually left with the witness, who turned it over to the police. The briefcase contained approximately $22,000 worth of stolen American Express Travelers Che-ques. The traveler’s checks were unsigned, although at the time such checks are purchased they must be signed on the top line by the purchaser in the presence of the seller.

Other evidence established that appellant had obtained his plane ticket under a false name. Appellant later attempted to cash ten $20 traveler’s checks. The cashier testified that when he told appellant he was going to verify the traveler’s checks by telephone, appellant…