Opinion ID: 151911
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: Mitchell argues that the evidence presented at trial was insufficient to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he conspired to violate the money laundering statute. Specifically, he alleges that the government failed to show that he knew the transactions were designed to conceal the source of funds. We review de novo the denial of a motion for judgment of acquittal. United States v. Hodge, 594 F.3d 614, 617 (8th Cir.), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 130 S.Ct. 3401, 177 L.Ed.2d 314 (2010). When considering a challenge to a conspiracy conviction based upon sufficiency of the evidence, we will affirm if the record, viewed most favorably to the government, contains substantial evidence supporting the jury's verdict, which means evidence sufficient to prove the elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. Id. (internal punctuation omitted). We conclude that the evidence was sufficient to convict Mitchell of money laundering. The indictment alleged that Mitchell conspired to violate 18 U.S.C. § 1956(a)(1)(A)(i), also known as the promotion prong of § 1956. The jury instruction stated that Mitchell was accused of violating § 1956(a)(1)(A)(i) by promoting unlawful activity. The jury was not instructed to consider whether Mitchell cashed the money orders to conceal or disguise the source of the funds in violation of § 1956(a)(1)(B)(i), also known as the concealment prong of § 1956. Accordingly, Mitchell's argument about whether there was sufficient evidence of an intent to conceal is misplaced. When considered in the light most favorable to the jury's verdict, there was substantial evidence that Mitchell had violated the promotion prong of § 1956. Thus, the district court did not err in denying Mitchell's motion for acquittal.