United States v. Richard T. Schindler

Appellant seeks to overturn his conviction .on seventeen counts of interstate transportation of funds obtained through fraud, wire fraud, mail fraud, obstruction of justice, conspiracy, and aiding and abetting in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 2314 , 1343, 1341, 1503, 371, and 2. The evidence indicates that appellant operated “investment plans” in which an investor’s high rate of return was provided by distributing the capital of subsequent investors. In accordance with the inexorable logic of such “plans,” payments to investors came to an end; thereafter came investigation, then indictment, and finally conviction.

Appellant contends that his conviction should be overturned because certain statements and a question by the prosecutor prejudiced the jury and deprived him of a fair trial. Specifically, appellant argues that the prosecutor’s opening statement, in which a witness was described as having been “concerned for the safety of her life and her family’s life” if she made records available to the grand jury, and his question to that witness, in which he asked, “Did you ever have a conversation with Mr. Schindler during which the subject of contracts to kill someone arose?,” were so…