Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/boundvolumes/524bv.pdf
Page Number: 370.0

524US2

Unit: $U89

[09-11-00 13:24:46] PAGES PGT: OPIN

Cite as: 524 U. S. 321 (1998)

325

Opinion of the Court

that his wife had another $7,000, but that the family had no
additional currency to declare. A search of their carry-on
bags, purse, and wallet revealed more cash; in all, customs
inspectors found $357,144. The currency was seized and
respondent was taken into custody.

A federal grand jury indicted respondent on three counts.
Count One charged him with failing to report, as required
by 31 U. S. C. § 5316(a)(1)(A),1 that he was transporting more
than $10,000 outside the United States, and with doing so
“willfully,” in violation of § 5322(a).2 Count Two charged
him with making a false material statement to the United
States Customs Service, in violation of 18 U. S. C. § 1001.
Count Three sought forfeiture of the $357,144 pursuant to 18
U. S. C. § 982(a)(1), which provides:

“The court, in imposing sentence on a person convicted
of an offense in violation of section . . . 5316, . . . shall
order that the person forfeit to the United States any
property, real or personal, involved in such offense, or
any property traceable to such property.”
18 U. S. C.
§ 982(a)(1).

Respondent pleaded guilty to the failure to report in
Count One; the Government agreed to dismiss the false
statement charge in Count Two; and respondent elected to
have a bench trial on the forfeiture in Count Three. After
the bench trial, the District Court found that the entire
$357,144 was subject to forfeiture because it was “involved

1 The statutory reporting requirement provides:
“[A] person or an agent or bailee of the person shall ﬁle a report . . .

when the person, agent, or bailee knowingly––

“(1) transports, is about to transport, or has transported, monetary

instruments of more than $10,000 at one time––

“(A) from a place in the United States to or through a place outside the

United States . . . .”

31 U. S. C. § 5316(a).

2 Section 5322(a) provides: “A person willfully violating this subchapter
. . . shall be ﬁned not more than $250,000, or imprisoned for not more than
ﬁve years, or both.”