Opinion ID: 706022
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Adjustment to Sec. 1956 conviction for laundering over $2 million

Text: 54 The district court found that the money laundered in violation of Sec. 1956 totalled more than $2 million and therefore increased the base offense level for the Sec. 1956 convictions by 6 levels. [ST 57] See U.S.S.G. Sec. 2S1.1(b)(2)(G). Savage argues that total disbursement from the Royal Trust Bank accounts totalled $1,968,965, under $2 million, and therefore the base offense level should have been increased by 5 rather than 6. See U.S.S.G. Sec. 2S1.1(b)(2)(F). Savage's argument fails. The figure Savage cites is not the total disbursement from Royal Trust Bank. Rather, the figure is the total amount deposited into Savage's MacGregor account at the Bank of America, Napa, California. [19 RT 2895, 2907] These deposits came from several sources. [19 RT 2896, 2898, 2900-2903] Thus, Savage provides no support for his claim that total disbursements from the Royal Trust Bank account were under $2 million. 55 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1956(a)(2) prohibits the transfer of funds either out of or into the United States, if done to promote fraud or conceal the proceeds of unlawful activity. The sentencing adjustment for the value of funds transferred is based on all acts and omissions that were part of the same course of conduct or common scheme or plan as the offense of conviction. U.S.S.G. Sec. 1B1.3(a)(2). Such acts can include uncharged acts. United States v. Rose, 20 F.3d 367, 371 (9th Cir.1994). The United States Attorney asserts that evidence introduced at trial establishes transfers out of the United States totalling over $3 million and Savage does not dispute that figure. The record indicates that $1,230,000 was transferred out of the U.S. from the W.I.N. account, $240,000 from the Aguilar account, and at least $615,000 from the F & M bank, for a total of $2,085,000. [19 RT 2857, 2873, 20 RT 3034] The six level increase was appropriate. 56