Opinion ID: 787247
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: ) Conducting a Monetary Transaction with Proceeds of an Illegal Activity

Text: 41 Diamond's final argument is that there was insufficient evidence to support the conviction for conducting a monetary transaction with the proceeds of an illegal activity. In order to find Diamond guilty of this offense, the government needed to prove that she derived property from a specified unlawful activity and that [s]he engaged in a monetary transaction involving that property. United States v. Seward, 272 F.3d 831, 836 (7th Cir.2001); accord 18 U.S.C. § 1957. 42 As we noted above, the evidence clearly supports a finding that Diamond knew that Omega was a scam. Therefore, Diamond knew that the money from Omega was derived from an unlawful activity. The unlawful action falls within those specified by 18 U.S.C. § 1957 — a point which Diamond does not argue. 43 The evidence also supports a finding that Diamond engaged in the monetary transaction. Bank records show that Diamond purchased a $30,000 cashier's check using her New Hope Trust account funds. This money was ultimately deposited in the Miller Hardwoods account. Hood testified that he told Diamond about Miller Hardwoods and that Omega money was being used for the sawmill. Under this demanding standard of review, we find that a reasonable jury could have found Diamond guilty as charged.