Opinion ID: 1026252
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: to conceal or disguise the

Text: nature, the location, the source, the ownership, or the control of the proceeds of specified unlawful activity 18 U.S.C. § 1956(a)(1)(B)(i). In short, to be convicted of money laundering, a defendant must first know that the property involved in the financial transaction represents the proceeds of some specified unlawful activity. Although McGlon maintains he was not aware that the funds he received were laundered fraud proceeds, the evidence that he was aware of and participated in the fraud contradict this assertion. Moreover, McGlon‘s multiple companies with multiple offices and his employment of West, as well as his efforts to send and receive mail at several locations, such as the Mailboxes, Etc.10 and Edward Jones Investment,11 indicate an attempt to divert attention from who was receiving the funds. DeBellonia testified that when he 10 McGlon would receive mail addressed to both him personally and Villei International at a Mailboxes, Etc. in Dalton, GA. 11 McGlon had an account with Edward Jones Investment in Calhoun, GA. In 1997, he met with investment representative Frances Burton Cochran (―Cochran‖). (J.A. 500-01.) He told Cochran that he was receiving money from some bonds and wanted to invest it with her company. (J.A. 502.) He asked her to prepare and sign a letter on Edward Jones‘ letterhead, stating that Edward Jones had received twenty-four Japanese bonds from Dean Witter Reynolds. (J.A. 511-15.) He also asked Cochran if he could receive a package at that address and subsequently have it picked up and sent by Fed-Ex. (J.A. 503-09.) 10 first began working with Villei International Trust and McGlon, ―Mr. West wanted me to be very clear that all fees that would be paid would be paid by my clients to Villei International Trust [and] would be going to his trust account. . . .‖ (J.A. 231.) Because the record demonstrates that the use of West‘s attorney trust account and the wiring of funds to several separate recipients was an attempt ―to conceal or disguise the nature, the location, the source, the ownership, or the control of the proceeds of specified unlawful activity,‖ we affirm the district court‘s denial of McGlon‘s motion for a judgment of acquittal with respect to his money laundering convictions.