United States v. J. L. Patterson, Jr.

J. L. Patterson, Jr., appeals from his conviction and sentence on three counts of violating 18 U.S.C., § 1343, fraud by wire. He assigns five separate errors on appeal. As will be discussed herein, none warrant reversal of his conviction.

This case involves the use of an electronic device commonly referred to as a “blue box”. The device enables a person to by-pass the regular electronic circuitry used by the telephone companies for recording and billing calls for which a toll is charged. By use of a “blue box”, a person can call virtually any telephone number in the world and not be charged…