United States v. Frank M. Long, Steak N' Lobster, Inc., Reagan Joe Baker

Appellants Frank Long, Reagan Joe Baker, and Steak N’ Lobster, Inc., appeal their convictions for conspiracy and theft in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 641 , 642. Frank Long also appeals his conviction for making false declarations to a grand jury in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1623 . We affirm.

I. PERTINENT FACTS

The charges in this case arose out of a scheme to steal raw meat from the Fort Lewis army base in Washington.

Andrew Pruitt was the Chief Supervisor at the Fort Lewis commissary meat department. In 1978, Pruitt, Patrick Weber, and Reagan Joe Baker formed a corporation to operate two restaurants in the state of Washington known as Steak N’ Lobster, Incorporated. Reagan Joe Baker was employed by the corporation to act as the manager of the Steak N’ Lobster restaurant on Pine Street in Tacoma, Washington.

While acting as chief supervisor of the commissary meat department at Fort Lewis, Pruitt and Frank Long, another supervisor at Fort Lewis, diverted meat which had been ordered specifically for Fort Lewis to various locations including Pruitt’s restaurant, Steak N’ Lobster.

The meat was diverted in two ways. The first method involved an arrangement between Pruitt and two…