United States v. Lane

We granted certiorari to resolve a conflict among the Circuits as to whether a misjoinder under Rule 8 of the Federal *440Rules of Criminal Procedure is subject to the harmless-error rule,1 and to determine whether there is sufficient evidence in this case to support convictions for mail fraud under 18 U. S. C. § 1341.

I

A

James Lane and three partners opened the El Toro Restaurant in Amarillo, Texas, in the summer of 1978. The business never operated at a profit, however, and sales began to decline that fall. In November, Lane purchased fire insurance covering the building’s contents and…