Justices Push Government on Role of Economic Harm in Fraud Cases

The US Supreme Court heard argument on Monday in a case asking whether the federal government can bring wire or mail fraud charges in cases where there was no intent to harm a traditional property interest, pressing the parties on the contours of the interests the laws protect.

If someone gets the full economic value of what they paid for, it’s not mail or wire fraud, petitioners Stamatios Kousisis and Alpha Painting and Construction Co., Inc. told the justices. Kousisis and his company were convicted of defrauding the US and Pennsylvania transportation departments by lying about their use of a ...