Safe Havens



 
 

§ 7.86 (G)

 
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(G)  Other Grounds.  A RICO offense carrying a potential sentence of one year also is an aggravated felony, under a separate section.[692]  Counsel should make sure that a money laundering or financial transaction offense is not a RICO offense, or avoiding the $10,000 limit will not prevent the conviction from being an aggravated felony.  Note that money laundering now constitutes a conduct-based ground of inadmissibility, where the government has reason to believe the noncitizen has engaged, or will engage in an offense described in 18 U.S.C. § § 1956 or 1957.  This ground of inadmissibility does not require a conviction.

 

            A money laundering conviction might also be considered a drug trafficking crime under some circumstances.[693]


[692] See INA § 101(a)(43)(J), 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(43)(J), and discussion infra.

[693] Lara-Chacon v. Ashcroft, 345 F.3d 1148 (9th Cir. October 10, 2003) (BIA improperly relied upon presentence report in finding conviction for conspiracy to commit money laundering in violation of Ariz. Rev. Stat. § § 13-1003, 12-2317(A)(1), (C) was a drug trafficking crime where presentence report indicated respondent was a drug dealer and the offense involved 15 pounds of marijuana).

 

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