People v. Butler
Opinion
Lead Opinion
Ikola, J.
A jury was asked to decide whether defendant Jeffrey Gordon Butler was guilty of securities fraud and related offenses or, conversely, if he *408 was merely a failed businessman who did nothing meriting criminal punishment. Believing the former to be true beyond a reasonable doubt as to the majority of counts alleged, the jury convicted defendant of 288 counts of fraud in the offer or sale of a security (Corp. Code, § 25401), 1 240 counts of offering an unqualified security (§ 25110), four counts of engaging in fraudulent securities schemes (§ 25541), 147 counts of theft from an elder (Pen. Code, § 368, subd. (d)), three counts of filing a false tax return (Rev. & Tax. Code, § 19705, subd. (a)(1)), and one count of aiding in the preparation of a false tax return (Rev. & Tax. Code, § 19705, subd. (a)). Among other enhancement findings, the jury found true allegations that defendant intentionally took property valued in excess of $2.5 million. (Pen. Code, § 12022.6, subd. (a).) The court sentenced defendant to 90 years eight months in prison. Defendant raises numerous issues on appeal, but we affirm the judgment in all respects.