United States v. Vernon J. Shaw

97 F.3d 1463 NOTICE: Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3 provides that dispositions other than opinions or orders designated for publication are not precedential and should not be cited except when relevant under the doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, or collateral estoppel. UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Vernon J. SHAW, Defendant-Appellant. No. 95-30405. United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit. Submitted Sept. 17, 1996. * Decided Sept. 23, 1996. Before: WRIGHT, SCHROEDER and KLEINFELD, Circuit Judges. 1 MEMORANDUM ** 2 Vernon J. Shaw appeals his jury conviction for mail fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1341 . Shaw contends that the government failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he used the mails in furtherance of his fraudulent scheme. We review the evidence in the light most favorable to the government to determine whether "any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt." United States v. Shirley, 884 F.2d 1130, 1134 (9th Cir.1989) (quoting Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319 (1979)). We affirm. 3 The district court relied on the May 17, 1993 letter to the Phairs in denying Shaw's…