Hand reasoned that conspiracy to commit mail fraud required a higher "mens rea" -- purpose instead of reasonable foreseeabilitythan the substantive crime of mail fraud.
He read this chain of cross-references to explicitly permit criminal forfeiture for "general" mail fraud, not just for mail fraud against financial institutions.
Each defendent faces charges for conspiracy to commit computer fraud, copyright infringement, wire fraud, mail fraud, identity theft and theft of trade secrets.
The investigation ended with six of the accused pleading guilty to conspiracy and mail fraud, while the other two pleaded guilty to misprision of felony.