Anthony McMillan appeals from the trial court’s denial of his amended motion for new trial following his conviction by a jury of violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, OCGA § 16-14-1 et seq. Counts 1 and 2, misdemeanor theft by taking Count 4, forgery Count 9, false statements Counts 28 and 30, and practicing dentistry without a license Counts 22, 25, and 27.1 1. In his fourth enumeration, McMillan challenges the legal sufficiency of the evidence as to Counts 4 theft by taking, 25 and 27 practicing dentistry without a license, and 28 and 30 false statements, and we consider this enumeration first. On appeal from a criminal conviction, the evidence is viewed in the light most favorable to the verdict. We do not weigh the evidence or determine witness credibility but only determine whether the evidence is sufficient under Jackson v. Virginia , 443 U. S. 307 99 SC 2781, 61 LE2d 560 1979. The verdict must be upheld if any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. Walker v. State , 258 Ga. App. 333 574 SE2d 400 2002.
So viewed, the evidence was that McMillan met Helen Jackson in New York in 1995. He introduced himself to her as a dentist, telling Jackson he had a practice in Atlanta. Jackson and McMillan began dating and, eventually, McMillan asked Jackson to loan him money to begin a business venture, making dental crowns to be exported to France. Jackson loaned him $6,000 for this purpose. In 1997, Jackson formed a corporation called The Helmac Group, Inc., which was to be used for McMillan’s dental practice. Ms. Jackson was not a dentist, but a school administrator. It was agreed that the money made from the dental practice was to be paid to Helmac. Jackson traveled back and forth between her home in New Jersey and Georgia and assisted with the financial and managerial duties of Helmac from 1997 until she quit participating in 1998. Jackson found out McMillan was not a dentist in October or November 1998. She had observed him performing dental work on patient Nichols in 1997. Jackson was never repaid her $6,000.
