United States v. Walter Trutenko

STEVENS, Circuit Judge.

The principal question presented is whether a reference to the jurors’ pecuniary interests during the prosecutor’s closing argument constitutes reversible error. Although the remark was plainly improper, when it is considered “in rela*679tion to all else that happened” during the trial, we are convinced that it could have “had but very slight effect” upon the jury’s deliberations. See Kotteakos v. United States, 328 U.S. 750, 764-765, 66 S.Ct. 1239, 90 L.Ed. 1557. We therefore affirm.

Defendant, a doctor, was convicted on 10 counts of a 12-count indictment charging that he…