United States v. Paul Kramer , 768 F.3d 766 ( 2014 )

United States Court of Appeals
For the Eighth Circuit
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No. 13-2900
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United States of America
lllllllllllllllllllll Plaintiff - Appellee
v.
Paul Kramer
lllllllllllllllllllll Defendant - Appellant
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Appeal from United States District Court
for the Southern District of Iowa - Des Moines
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Submitted: May 16, 2014
Filed: October 2, 2014
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Before RILEY, Chief Judge, BEAM and SHEPHERD, Circuit Judges.
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BEAM, Circuit Judge.
Paul Kramer appeals his conviction on several counts of conspiracy to commit
bank fraud, bank fraud, and wire fraud, all relating to Kramer's activity in his
mortgage lending and related businesses. We affirm the district court.1
1
The Honorable James E. Gritzner, Chief Judge, United States District Court
for the Southern District of Iowa.
I. BACKGROUND
Three businesses formed, owned, and operated by Kramer are especially
relevant to this bank fraud case: Kramer Mortgage Company, Iowa Closing and
Escrow, and LDF Development. In 1999, Kramer started Kramer Mortgage
Company, a company principally involved in offering intermediary services to
borrowers seeking home loans from banks. These services included finding lenders,
filing applications, and providing supporting documentation to the lenders.
Eventually, Kramer Mortgage began providing construction loans to borrowers and
by 2006 was providing its customers construction financing. In 2004, Kramer and
several other individuals also formed a real estate closing company known as Iowa
Closing and Escrow. By 2008, Kramer began managing the day-to-day operations
of Iowa Closing and Escrow, and Kramer Mortgage used Iowa Closing and Escrow
to close many loans financed by Kramer Mortgage. In 2006, Kramer, Lane Anderson,
Shannon Flickinger, and Dave Mable formed LDF Development. LDF engaged in
the business of flipping houses–i.e., buying homes, renovating them, and selling the
homes for a profit. LDF obtained financing from Kramer Mortgage. LDF also used
Iowa Closing and Escrow to close its home sales.
To provide this financing, in July 2006, Kramer Mortgage entered into a credit
agreement with U.S. Bank whereby U.S. Bank agreed to provide Kramer Mortgage
a revolving line of credit up to $4 million. When Kramer Mortgage loaned money to
a homebuyer, it drew upon its line of credit from U.S. Bank to make the loan. The
homebuyer then gave Kramer Mortgage a mortgage interest in the home, and Kramer
Mortgage assigned that interest to U.S. Bank as collateral on the line of credit. Under
the credit agreement, when a homeowner paid off his or her construction loan from
Kramer Mortgage, Kramer Mortgage was to forward the payment to U.S. Bank to pay
off the line of credit. Once paid in full, Kramer Mortgage and U.S. Bank would
release their mortgage interests, giving the homeowner unencumbered title. If
Kramer Mortgage was paid and released its mortgage without forwarding payment
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to U.S. Bank, U.S. Bank was left unsecured on the line of credit to Kramer Mortgage.
The credit agreement was customized to U.S. Bank's relationship with Kramer
Mortgage, however in some ways it resembled a warehouse line of credit.2
During the infancy of the credit agreement, Kramer Mortgage negotiated terms
of the agreement with U.S. Bank representative Robert Bakker. Each advance on the
line of credit was tied to a specific property that Kramer Mortgage was financing.
Kramer Mortgage soon exhausted its line of credit, and U.S. Bank increased the limit
to $4.25 million. On April 4, 2007, Kramer informed Bakker that two homeowners
had not yet paid off two specific loans, but would soon. In reality, the homeowners
had already paid their loans but Kramer waited nearly two months to forward
payment. Kramer Mortgage collected payments on several properties pledged as
collateral that it either delayed forwarding or did not forward at all. Kramer
Mortgage also double-pledged collateral to obtain additional financing on properties
from other banks. None of the other banks involved knew of U.S. Bank's interest and
vice versa.
By 2008, U.S. Bank had growing concern because several properties that
Kramer Mortgage had pledged to U.S. Bank were not paid off but were approaching
the payoff deadline. Given the growing risk associated with Kramer Mortgage, U.S.
Bank's Special Assets Group took over the account. U.S. Bank requested Kramer
Mortgage to provide a list of all properties it had financed, and, subsequently,
conducted a title review of these properties. The review revealed that Kramer
Mortgage had double-pledged properties, released some properties without
forwarding payment, and lost some properties in delinquent tax sales. When
2
U.S. Bank representative Robert Bakker testified at trial that a warehouse line
of credit meant a revolving line of credit that you can borrow on and pay off over
time, with interest only payments, and principal due at maturity.
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confronted, Kramer admitted he had not forwarded payoffs on multiple properties.
U.S. Bank put a hold on Kramer Mortgage's account and issued a default notice.
Even after U.S. Bank sent notice, Kramer Mortgage continued to keep payoff
payments on multiple properties, and neglected to inform U.S. Bank about their
receipt. Kramer used the money for personal expenses and to replenish trust accounts
at Iowa Closing and Escrow that he had previously raided for personal expenses. The
money he had previously taken from the trust accounts constituted sale proceeds
deposited at closings and should have been used to pay off sellers' remaining
mortgages when they sold their homes. As a result, sellers received late payment and
default notices on mortgages that should have been satisfied.
LDF also began having financial difficulties during this time period. By late
2006, LDF was having difficulty selling homes. As a result, LDF was unable to
maintain its loan obligations to Kramer Mortgage. To obtain additional financing,
LDF sold properties to Flickinger–an LDF owner–who obtained loans to buy the
properties. Although Flickinger applied for loans as if he were an actual homebuyer,
he had no intention of living in any of the homes. The only purpose behind the sales
were so LDF could obtain additional capital to service its loans from Kramer
Mortgage. Flickinger's loan applications contained numerous misstatements.
Anderson prepared the applications. Kramer closed the loans at Iowa Closing and
Escrow knowing that the applications and loan documents contained
misrepresentations and directed an employee to notarize false documents.
Eventually, U.S. Bank sued Kramer Mortgage to collect on the outstanding
credit line and obtained a judgment against it for $3,782,091.52. Prior to the
judgment, U.S. Bank sold some of the collateral, reflected in the judgment, and again
sold some of the collateral after the judgment. After the post-judgment sales, Kramer
Mortgage's account resulted in more than $2 million in loss to U.S. Bank.
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On September 28, 2010, the FBI interviewed Kramer. Kramer confirmed the
specifics of the credit agreement and admitted he did not remit payoffs to U.S. Bank
and revealed how he was operating his mortgage business, but claimed he did not
intend to defraud anyone. Kramer and his LDF associates Anderson, Flickinger, and
Mable were charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and Kramer,
Anderson and Mable were charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bank
fraud. Kramer alone was charged with twelve counts of bank fraud (though three of
these counts were dismissed during trial) and seven counts of wire fraud. Anderson
and Kramer proceeded to trial, while the other two defendants accepted a plea
agreement. Before trial, Kramer unsuccessfully moved to sever his trial from
Anderson's. At trial, the district court refused to allow Kramer to introduce evidence
regarding the civil lawsuit U.S. Bank commenced against Kramer. The jury
convicted both Kramer and Anderson on all charged counts. After trial, Kramer
unsuccessfully moved for acquittal and a new trial based on, among other things,
allegedly inflammatory remarks the government made during closing arguments.
Kramer appeals, alleging as error the district court's decisions regarding the
severance, the exclusion of certain evidence, and the closing argument. Kramer also
challenges the district court's loss calculation and restitution amount of
$2,601,885.91.
II. DISCUSSION
A. Severance
Kramer argues that the district court abused its discretion by failing to sever his
trial from co-defendant Anderson's trial. We will reverse a denial of a motion to sever
only if the appellant demonstrates an abuse of discretion resulting in clear prejudice.
United States v. Casteel, 663 F.3d 1013, 1018 (8th Cir. 2011). Kramer complains that
he was prejudiced because he was "double-teamed" by Anderson's counsel and the
government putting blame on Kramer. Kramer presents a list of examples where
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Anderson's counsel attempted to emphasize Kramer's guilt and also agreed with the
government's position on several of Kramer's objections. Kramer also claims he and
Anderson had adverse legal positions, and their counsel were antagonistic toward
each other.
Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 14(a) vests the district court with authority
to order severance if consolidation for trial appears to prejudice the government or
a defendant. Nevertheless, there is a strong presumption against severing trials.
United States v. Delpit, 94 F.3d 1134, 1143 (8th Cir. 1996). In Delpit, we addressed
the type of situation Kramer believes is prejudicial and rejected the notion, stating:
[C]o-defendants are often hostile to one another, and one will try
frequently to "point the finger," to shift the blame, or to save himself at
the expense of the other. "Antagonistic" defenses require severance
only when there is a danger that the jury will unjustifiably infer that this
conflict alone demonstrates that both are guilty.
Id. (internal quotation omitted) (second alteration in original).
Here, over the course of a thirteen-day trial, the instances in which Anderson
attempted to pass blame onto Kramer were relatively few. Moreover, nothing is
prejudicial about Anderson's testimony that tended to implicate Kramer. Zafiro v.
United States, 506 U.S. 534, 540 (1993) ("[W]e see no reason why relevant and
competent testimony would be prejudicial merely because the witness is also a
codefendant."). And, as the government points out, much of the antagonism that
existed between defense counsel arose outside of the presence of the jury or had
nothing to do with the merits of the case. Similarly, that Anderson's counsel
disagreed with some of Kramer's counsel's tactics and objections does not establish
prejudice against Kramer. The district court did not abuse its wide discretion in
refusing to sever and even if it did, Kramer has not satisfied the substantial hurdle to
show clear prejudice.
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B. Good-Faith Evidence
Kramer alleges the district court erred in denying his motion for a new trial
based on the court's exclusion of evidence from the civil suit to support Kramer's
good-faith defense in the criminal case. At trial, the district court admitted the basic
fact that U.S. Bank had sued Kramer over the debt but refused to allow, under Federal
Rule of Evidence 403, evidence of the underlying facts of the civil suit. Kramer
sought to introduce evidence that the bank sued him on a revolving note account as
opposed to a warehouse line of credit, which he asserts would have shown that he was
not necessarily required to turn over payment to the bank each time he received a
payoff of a particular property. Kramer further wanted to adduce evidence that the
lawsuit did not include allegations of fraud, and that he and the bank continued to
negotiate until the filing of the lawsuit and during the ensuing litigation.
We review the district court's decision to exclude evidence for a clear and
prejudicial abuse of discretion3 and similarly review the denial of new trial for an
abuse of discretion. Bair v. Callahan, 664 F.3d 1225, 1228, 1230 (8th Cir. 2012).
However, we will not reverse an evidentiary error if the error was harmless. United
States v. Shores, 700 F.3d 366, 373 (8th Cir. 2012), cert. denied, 133 S. Ct. 2780(2013).
First, Kramer's continued negotiations with U.S. Bank had limited probative
value as to his fraud in the criminal case. United States v. Radtke, 415 F.3d 826, 840-
41 (8th Cir. 2005) ("[S]elf-serving exculpatory acts performed substantially after a
defendant's wrongdoing is discovered are of minimal probative value as to his state
of mind at the time of the alleged crime."). And, the district court determined this
3
We decline Kramer's invitation to review this issue de novo because the
district court allegedly denied his constitutional right to present a complete defense.
Our review of the record indicates that Kramer was allowed to and did conduct a
vigorous defense.
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evidence might have injected substantial confusion into the criminal case. See United
States v. Johnson, 463 F.3d 803, 809 (8th Cir. 2006) (recognizing that "we give great
deference to the district court's ruling" under Rule 403).
At first blush, the probative value of the proffered evidence seems appreciable.
However, the government correctly points out that U.S. Bank was not required to
allege fraud in the civil suit to collect an unpaid debt. Further, nothing precluded
Kramer from adducing testimony during his criminal case that revealed the nature of
Kramer's agreement–or Kramer's understanding of the agreement–with U.S. Bank.
In fact, Kramer cross-examined the bank witnesses at length about the nature of the
credit agreement, and the bank witnesses admitted on cross-examination that the
agreement was not a strictly defined warehouse line of credit. Kramer testified about
his understanding of the agreement, and the jury viewed the contract documents.
Through cross-examination and his own testimony, Kramer was able to present
evidence of his negotiations with the bank and his efforts to repay and provide
adequate collateral for the loans. Accordingly, a large portion of evidence that
Kramer sought to admit–the ambiguous nature of the credit agreement, Kramer's
negotiations and efforts to repay the bank–was presented to the jury. Thus, we find
the district court was within its discretion to exclude the possibly confusing and
certainly cumulative evidence, see Federal Rule of Evidence 403 (permitting the
exclusion of relevant evidence when confusion of the issues might result or if the
evidence is cumulative), and that any possible error in refusing to admit the evidence
was harmless.
C. Closing Arguments
Next, Kramer asserts that the district court erred in refusing to grant a mistrial
on the basis that the prosecutor made improper remarks during closing arguments.
Specifically, during closing arguments, the government described Kramer's business
scheme as "Robbing Peter to pay Paul" and placed the statement on a PowerPoint
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slide. Kramer argues that the statement insinuates violence (robbery) and has added
force in the present context because Kramer's first name is Paul. "The district court
enjoys broad discretion in controlling closing arguments. We will overturn a
conviction only for a clear abuse of that discretion." United States v. Beaman, 361
F.3d 1061, 1064 (8th Cir. 2004).
As the district court recognized, the phrase "Robbing Peter to pay Paul" is a
figure of speech that has no specific ties to violence in this case. Moreover, after
Kramer's counsel objected to the PowerPoint, the government explained the nature
of the phrase, that this case involved no violence, and that it was merely happenstance
that Kramer's first name was also Paul. When viewed in context, the district court did
not abuse its discretion in allowing the government to use the common phrase, and
Kramer cannot establish that he was prejudiced by use of the words. See United
States v. Jumping Eagle, 515 F.3d 794, 806 (8th Cir. 2008) ("To obtain a reversal, the
defendant must show that (1) the prosecutor's remarks were improper, and (2) the
remarks prejudiced the defendant's rights in obtaining a fair trial.").
D. Restitution
Kramer also disagrees with the district court's loss calculation for the
restitution order. At the restitution hearing, the government provided the district
court a chart of 30 properties which U.S. Bank sold. To arrive at a total loss amount,
the district court merely took the amount of debt less the proceeds of the property
sales and insurance recovery. The district court ordered restitution of $2,601,885.91.
Kramer claims the district court erred in relying on the government's chart because
24 of the 30 properties are not identified in the indictment, and there is no evidence
linking the properties to Kramer's fraud. "We review the district court's decision to
award restitution for an abuse of discretion and the district court's finding as to the
amount of loss for clear error." United States v. Frazier, 651 F.3d 899, 903 (8th Cir.
2011).
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In the context of real estate fraud, we have held that restitution may be
calculated by "subtracting the price paid at a sheriff's sale or short sale of the property
. . . from . . . the amount the victim was entitled to collect." United States v.
Engelmann, 720 F.3d 1005, 1015 (8th Cir. 2013). And, although we require a
connection between the fraud and restitution, our cases do not require the type of
connection Kramer demands. For example, in United States v. Spencer, a defendant
involved in a mortgage fraud scheme, like here, argued that the government did not
prove that specific properties used to calculate loss were tied to fraud because they
were not alleged in the indictment. 700 F.3d 317, 324 (8th Cir. 2012). We
highlighted that "[w]here an offense has as an element a scheme, conspiracy, or
pattern of criminal activity, restitution may include losses that are directly caused by
the defendant's conduct as part of the scheme, conspiracy, or pattern." Id. Thus, we
rejected the defendant's argument, noting that the government presented evidence that
loans on the properties "were secured as part of the scheme that was charged in the
indictment." Id.Here, the evidence at trial established Kramer's overall fraudulent scheme
charged in the indictment. At the restitution hearing, the government presented
evidence of 30 properties that were part of Kramer Mortgage's portfolio and forced
into foreclosure sales–(the government did not even list properties that constituted a
total loss because Kramer double-pledged the property or it had become a nuisance
property). Like Spencer, although there is not evidence tying each property to a
specific act of fraud, by its very nature, Kramer's overall fraudulent scheme
encapsulated each property. Cf. United States v. DeRosier, 501 F.3d 888, 897 (8th
Cir. 2007) ("We have consistently held that restitution may be ordered for criminal
conduct that is part of a broad scheme to defraud, even if the defendant is not
convicted for each fraudulent act in the scheme."). Therefore, the district court did
not err in its restitution calculation.
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E. Cumulative Error
Finally, Kramer argues that although each individual error may not warrant
reversal, when viewed together, all combined errors require reversal. "Because we
have not found multiple errors, harmless or otherwise, we must also reject this
contention." United States v. Wilkens, 742 F.3d 354, 364 (8th Cir.), cert. denied, 134
S. Ct. 2744 (2014).
III. CONCLUSION
We affirm the district court in all respects.
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