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United States v. Williams

United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
705 F.2d 603 (1983)

Written by Sharon Feldman, JD

Facts

Harrison Williams (defendant) was a United States senator from New Jersey. Alexander Feinberg (defendant) was an attorney and close friend of Williams. Williams and Feinberg owned interests in a titanium-mining venture. Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted a sting operation in which undercover Arab sheiks offered to make a $100 million loan to the mining venture and another group offered to purchase the mining venture for a hefty profit to all owners. Williams received what were worthless shares of stock in three corporations purportedly organized for the mining venture, in exchange for his promise to use his position as a United States senator to help obtain government contracts for the purchase of titanium. Williams and Feinberg were convicted of bribery and related charges. On appeal, Williams and Feinberg argued that because the stock Williams received had no commercial value, the district court erred in instructing the jury that the stock could be seen as a thing of value.

Rule of Law

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Issue

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Holding and Reasoning (Newman, J.)

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A "yes" or "no" answer to the question framed in the issue section;
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