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031127P.pdf   04/20/2004  USA  v.  James L. Parker
   U.S. Court of Appeals Case No:  03-1127
   Western District of Missouri   
Criminal Case - criminal law. Mail fraud convictions are affirmed relating to defendant's fraudulent sales of distributorships of automotive parts. District court did not abuse its discretion in admitting expert testimony from FTC lawyer regarding franchise requirements because it showed an intent to deceive and cautionary instruction limited the use of the testimony for that purpose. Evidence was sufficient to sustain the conviction; because statements were not ambiguous or subject to reasonable interpretations, district court did not err in failing to instruct the jury on the legal effect of an interpretation of the statements making them true. District court did not abuse its discretion in submitting willful blindness instruction. Convictions for money laundering were supported by the evidence. Erroneous jury instruction regarding interstate commerce component of money laundering charges was harmless. [PUBLISHED] [Melloy, Author]