 " The major problems faced by federal prosecutors in applying [ the mail and wire fraud statutes ] to political schemes is establishing that the defendant intentionally attempted to defraud the victims of something of value within the meaning of the States . " The salary and benefits of an elected public employee are not " property " for the purposes of the mail and wire fraud statutes , but the salary and benefits of an unelected public employee are . One intangible form of property recognized under the mail and wire fraud statutes is the right to control the disposition of government funds . 
