Shave and a Haircut · Close Shaves
The Barber's Million-Dollar Drafts
United States v. Salman (2008)
Charge: Passing fictitious financial instruments and corruptly interfering with the tax laws - mailing home-made 'sight drafts' to the IRSCourt: U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (appeal from D. Nev.)Docket: Close Shaves
Were the barber's home-made drafts criminal fake money orders, or obvious nonsense that could fool no one?
The facts
Albert Salman owned a barbershop in Reno, Nevada, and owed the IRS several thousand dollars in back taxes and penalties. In November 1998 the IRS received an estimated-tax voucher from him for $750,000 together with a document headed 'SIGHT DRAFT' that looked much like a check drawn on the United States Treasury. In January 1999 a second voucher arrived, for $250,000, with a near-identical draft. The drafts carried check numbers, a printed 'United States Treasury' block and an 'Authorized Signature' line, but were marked 'NON-NEGOTIABLE.' A bank examiner testified that the Treasury issues no such thing. A friend testified that he and Salman had designed the drafts so they could not be pinned down as any one kind of instrument.
You have the facts the court had. Guilty or not guilty? Call it in the game with your friends, then see what the court actually decided. Wrong call, you drink.
Citation: United States v. Salman, No. 05-10093 (9th Cir. July 7, 2008) (D. Nev. No. CR-03-00197-LRH)
Read more at cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov. The source reveals the outcome.