Opinion ID: 722560
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: 6 Defendant challenges the sufficiency of the evidence to support his money laundering convictions under 18 U.S.C. § 1956(a)(1)(A)(i) on two bases. He contends that (1) the money laundering statute does not apply in the context of criminal offenses that do not involve narcotics; and (2) the trial evidence did not establish the elements of money laundering. We address each argument in turn. 7
8 Defendant's first argument is that the federal money laundering statute under which he was convicted, 18 U.S.C. § 1956(a)(1)(A), was intended to reach money laundering of proceeds of narcotics transactions, not nondrug-related transactions. Because defendant's activities did not involve narcotics, he argues that his convictions under that statute were improper. The District Court rejected defendant's argument based on the clear language of the statute. Reviewing the District Court's decision concerning the question of statutory interpretation de novo, Nixon v. Kent County, 76 F.3d 1381, 1386 (6th Cir.1996) (en banc), we too find defendant's argument to be without merit. Section 1956(a) provides in relevant part: 9 (a)(1) Whoever, knowing that the property involved in a financial transaction represents the proceeds of some form of unlawful activity, conducts or attempts to conduct such a financial transaction which in fact involves the proceeds of specified unlawful activity-- 10 (A)(i) with the intent to promote the carrying on of specified unlawful activity 11 ... 12