United States v. Dupre
United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
339 F.Supp. 2d 534 (2004)
Roberta Dupre and Beverly Stambaugh (defendants) allegedly took $1,000 each from investors over several years for purported shares in the frozen family funds of former Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos. The government moved to exclude Dupre's proposed expert evidence, a psychological evaluation stating she suffered from bipolar disorder that, combined with her religious background and rigid thinking, led her to genuinely believe God directed her conduct — while also conceding she was sometimes capable of realistic perception and sound judgment.
Whether the government, to obtain a conviction for fraud, must prove that the defendant knowingly engaged in conduct intended to mislead or deceive another to that person's financial detriment.