United States v. Ronald Salado

MEMORANDUM

Ronald Salado appeals his jury convictions for money laundering and his sen tence for conspiracy to commit mail fraud and bank fraud, two counts of mail fraud, nine counts of bank fraud, and two counts of money laundering, resulting from a conspiracy to defraud almond growers and processors. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291 , and we affirm.

Salado moved for acquittal “on all the allegations.” However, the only bases for his motion were the credibility of two -witnesses and the sufficiency of the evidence proving his theft of almonds. Salado did not raise the sufficiency of the evidence to support his money laundering convictions. Plain error review of this claim is therefore appropriate. See United States v. Graf, 610 F.3d 1148, 1166 (9th Cir.2010).

However, regardless of the standard of review, there simply was no error here. A rational jury could have found all of the elements of money laundering beyond a reasonable doubt. See United States v. Chhun, 744 F.3d 1110, 1117 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, — U.S.-, 135 S.Ct. 131 , 190 L.Ed.2d 100 (2014). First, there was sufficient direct and circumstantial evidence that Salado violated 18 U.S.C. § 1957 . See…