United States V. Howard

Defendants Clifford Howard ("Clifford")*fn1 and Charles Wayne Shelton ("Charles") appeal from their convictions in the United States District Court for the District of Kentucky for conspiracy and mail and wire fraud. The indictment alleged that defendants conspired with Harriet Shelton Howard ("Harriet") (wife of defendant Clifford and sister of defendant Charles) and Johnny Howard ("Johnny") (unrelated to the other Howards) to defraud Grange Mutual Casualty Company by burning the residence of Clifford and Harriet. The indictment alleged that the residence was burned by Charles with the assistance of Johnny. The indictment further charges that the scheme continued after the fire with substantive acts of mail and wire fraud in an attempt to perfect the claim for insurance proceeds on the fire loss.