October Term 2022 · Docket 21-1170
Does wire fraud require proof of actual economic loss?
The dispute centers on whether prosecutors must prove a victim suffered a financial loss to convict someone of wire fraud.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official Court opinion was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
Mr. Feigin argued the right-to-control doctrine fits within property fraud scope.
Mr. Dreeben stated the Second Circuit applied an invalid theory for decades.
Mr. Dreeben argued the government cannot claim the theory is invalid and seek a new trial.
Mr. Feigin noted the government could have brought the case under another theory.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 15-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 39-49 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 39-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 19-29 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 19-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 45-21 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 45-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 13-1 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 13-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-13 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 23-9 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 23-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 9-27 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 9-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 39-31 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 39-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 37-13 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 37-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 47-53 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 47-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 45-7 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 45-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 41-1 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 41-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 37-7 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 37-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 27-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 37-7 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 37-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 51-11 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 51-11
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the legal definition of property fraud. the side that brought the case argues the law requires proof of economic loss. The government argues the law only requires proof of a scheme to control property.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 13-1 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 13-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 23-9 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 23-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 37-7 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 37-7
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 28, 2022.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 39-31 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 39-31
What each side wants
the side that brought the case wants the conviction dismissed because the jury instructions were legally wrong.
The government wants a new trial under a different legal theory.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 13-1 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 13-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 23-9 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 23-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 37-7 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 37-7
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues the right-to-control doctrine is invalid and requires proof of economic loss.
The government argues the indictment was valid and the case can proceed under a new theory.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 13-1 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 13-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 23-9 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 23-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 37-7 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 37-7
What the justices asked
Justice Alito questioned whether the indictment was constructively amended.
Justice Jackson asked if the indictment was defective despite the specific theory used at trial.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 15-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 39-49 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 39-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 19-29 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 19-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 45-21 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 45-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-13 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 9-27 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 9-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 39-31 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 39-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 37-13 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 37-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 47-53 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 47-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 45-7 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 45-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 41-1 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 41-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 37-7 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 37-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 27-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 51-11 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 51-11
Why it matters
This case defines the scope of federal property fraud laws. It determines whether prosecutors must prove a victim lost money. It affects how courts interpret wire fraud statutes nationwide.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 13-1 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 13-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 23-9 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 23-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 37-7 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 37-7
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 15-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 39-49 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 39-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 19-29 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 19-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 45-21 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 45-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-13 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 9-27 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 9-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 39-31 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 39-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 37-13 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 37-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 47-53 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 47-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 45-7 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 45-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 41-1 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 41-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 37-7 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 37-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 27-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 51-11 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 51-11
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Verified official opinions and orders
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 13-1 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 13-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 23-9 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 23-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 37-7 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 37-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 13-1 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 13-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 23-9 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 23-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 37-7 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 37-7
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.