Permits or licenses to operate video poker machines in Louisiana do not constitute property within the meaning of the federal mail fraud statute, 18 U.S.C. § 1341. It is not sufficient that the object of the mail fraud may become property in the recipient’s hands. The statute requires that the thing obtained must be property in the hands of the victim. Video poker licenses do not rank as property in the hands of the official licensor. Cleveland’s conviction must be vacated.