United States v. Forcelle
United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
86 F.3d 838 (1996)
- Written by Kyli Cotten, JD
Facts
Dennis Forcelle (defendant) was the president and cofounder of RMS Company. Forcelle was charged in federal court with mail fraud and interstate use of funds obtained by fraud. The government’s (plaintiff) claims centered around Forcelle’s use of false invoices to obtain company money in order to pay for frames for his drag-racing cars and a personal beach-front property. At trial, the government also offered evidence that Forcelle stole platinum scrap metal from the company in order to bribe executives of other companies. Evidence was also produced that Forcelle had made home improvements for himself and two other employees with company funds. Over Forcelle’s objection, the trial-court judge admitted the other-acts as res gestae evidence. Forcelle was ultimately convicted. On appeal, Forcelle argued that the evidence of his other crimes was inadmissible under Federal Rule of Evidence 404(b) and requested a new trial.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Gibson, J.)
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