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Ellisor: Christmas Show Fraud Punished by 87 months

By Tim Cone

In U.S. v. Ellisor, No. 05-14459 (April 7, 2008), the Court affirmed the mail fraud convictions and 87-month sentence of a defendant convicted of defrauding schools and children?s parents of money paid for tickets for a non-existent "Christmas Around the World Show."The Court rejected Ellisor?s claim that the district court violated Fed. R. Evid. 404(b) when it admitted evidence of two prior incidents, a fraudulent "Washington D.C. on Tour" show, and his non-payment of his $ 1,657 charges at Coconut Grove?s Doubletree Hotel. The first incident showed Ellisor?s "intent to defraud by promoting an illusory show," while the evidence of the unpaid hotel bill was intertwined with the proof of the government?s fraud case, occurring as it did in the weeks leading up to the dates advertised for the show...continue to full post

Full post as published by Defense Newsletter Blog on April 10, 2008 (boomark / email).