United States v. Cusack, 66 F. Supp. 2d 493 (S.D.N.Y. 1999)

Detwiler, a forensic document specialist, testified that Nichols’ signatures on checks and documents related to two loans against his life insurance policies were fraudulent. “They’re definitively not genuine,” Detwiler told the court...

United States v. Cusack, 66 F. Supp. 2d 493 (S.D.N.Y. 1999)

COTE, District Judge.

After a jury trial, defendant Lawrence X. Cusack (“Cusack”) was convicted on April 30, 1999, of thirteen counts of wire and mail fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1341, 1343 for his role in a fraudulent scheme involving the sale of a number of documents that he claimed contained the handwriting of President John F. Kennedy and other prominent figures. On May 26, 1999, the Government gave notice of several sentencing adjustments and departures. Subsequently, on June 28, 1999, the Court also gave notice of several possible adjustments and departures and set a schedule for the briefing of those issues by the parties. In particular, the Court required the parties to address a possible adjustment for abuse of trust, a possible criminal history category departure based on the defendant’s conduct, and the appropriateness of any adjustment or departure based on the defendant’s wearing of a military uniform. At a conference with the parties on July 12, 1999, the Court indicated that the conduct cited as a basis for a criminal history departure would also be considered as a basis for a departure under Section 5K2.0 of the Sentencing Guidelines.