Punch and Jurists

U.S. v. Betancourt, No. 03-41590 (5th Cir.) (422 F.3d 240) (August 17, 2005) (Judge Edith Brown Clement) by This case is a potent reminder of the all-inclusive forfeiture power of Big Brother. On December 11, 2002, Jose Luis Betancourt, purchased a Texas lottery ticket that became worth more than $5 …

U.S. v. Barajas, No. 5:01 CR 1211 H(2) (E.D.N.C.) (200 F.Supp.2d 575) (April 3, 2002) (Judge Macolm J. Howard) by In this case, at the close of the Government's evidence in a drug case, the defendant moved for a judgment of acquittal on one of the counts in which the …

U.S. v. Prince, No. 98-6361 (6th Cir.) (214 F.3d 740) (June 1, 2000) (Judge Sandra S. Beckwith) by In this case the Sixth Circuit held that a fraud scheme, in which victims wired funds to third parties who later transferred the funds to the defendants, was punishable under a federal …

U.S. v. Simmons, No. 97-4025 (8th Cir.) (154 F.3d 765) (August 17, 1998) (Judge Richard S. Arnold) by Here the Court wrote: "At the heart of Simmons's and Fisher's argument is a disagreement with the District Court and the government over what is meant by the term "proceeds" for purposes …

U.S. v. Wisniewski, No. 96-1348, No. 1051 (2nd Cir.) (121 F.3d 54) (July 30, 1997) (Per Curiam) by Case held that Guidelines' enhancement applies if the defendant knows that any portion of the funds he is responsible for laundering were the proceeds of illegal drug trafficking. At sentencing in this …

U.S. v. Saccoccia, No. Crim.A. No. 91-115-T (D.R.I.) (823 F.Supp. 994) (June 4, 1993) (Judge Ernest C. Torres) by Case held that "proceeds" within meaning of RICO forfeiture provision meant entire amount realized from racketeering activity and not just profits made by defendant.