United States v. Michael Kranovich

Former Lander County Sheriff Krano-vich appeals from his judgment of conviction and sentence for theft involving a federally funded program, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 666 (a)(1), and theft of government property, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 641 . He attacks his section 666 conviction by arguing that there was insufficient evidence that there was a connection between the wrongfully expended funds and either the expenditure of federal funds or the integrity of federal programs, and that Lander County received a federal benefit in excess of $10,000. He challenges his section 641 conviction by contending there was insufficient evidence that the embezzled funds were property of the United States. The district court had jurisdiction pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3231 . We have jurisdiction over this timely appeal pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1291 and 3742, and we affirm the judgment of conviction.

I.

While Kranovich was the elected Sheriff of Lander County (County), Nevada, the Sheriffs Department entered into a Federal Equitable Sharing Agreement (Agreement) with the federal government. The Agreement enrolled the Sheriffs Department in a federal equitable sharing program (Program) — a…