United States v. James Dee Francis Sheker

James Sheker challenges his conviction for impersonating an agent of the Internal Revenue Service to obtain “a thing of value”, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 912. The “thing of value” sought was the whereabouts of a witness against Sheker in a state prosecution. Sheker raises three claims in this appeal: (1) That the information sought was not a “thing of value” under 18 U.S.C. § 912; (2) that his counsel failed to provide him with effective assistance at trial; and (3) that the prejudicial effect of witness Stone’s testimony outweighed its probative value and should not have been received. We…