United States v. Harry C. Kaufmann

985 F.2d 884, 1993 U.S. App. LEXIS 1616, 1993 WL 20214
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
DecidedFebruary 2, 1993
Docket92-1463
StatusPublished
Cited by64 cases

This text of 985 F.2d 884 (United States v. Harry C. Kaufmann) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Harry C. Kaufmann, 985 F.2d 884, 1993 U.S. App. LEXIS 1616, 1993 WL 20214 (7th Cir. 1993).

Opinion

FAIRCHILD, Senior Circuit Judge.

Harry C. Kaufmann is the owner of Kaufmann Motorcars, Inc. (“Kaufmann Motors”) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. On September 11, 1990, a grand jury indicted Kaufmann on four counts of money laundering in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1956(a)(1)(B), and one count of attempted money laundering in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1956(a)(3)(B). A jury acquitted Kauf-mann on counts one and two, was unable to reach a verdict on counts three and four, and convicted Kaufmann on count five for attempted money laundering. Kaufmann was sentenced on the count of conviction and appealed. Because two counts of the indictment remained unresolved, we held that the judgment was not final and therefore we lacked appellate jurisdiction. United States v. Kaufmann, 951 F.2d 793 (7th Cir.1992). Following dismissal of the appeal, the government moved the district court to dismiss the open counts of the indictment without prejudice, pursuant to Fed.R.Crim.P. 48(a). The district court granted the government’s motion and the defendant filed a notice of appeal from the judgment and sentence on count five. At the request of the parties, we first considered whether we would have jurisdiction where two counts of the five count indictment were dismissed without prejudice. We decided that we do have jurisdiction, United States v. Kaufmann, No. 92-1463 (7th Cir. July 2, 1992) (unpublished order), the substance of which we include in this opinion. The parties then filed supplemental briefs. We affirm.

I. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

Defendant-Appellant Harry C. Kauf-mann owns Kaufmann Motors, an automobile dealership in Milwaukee, Wisconsin that specializes in selling luxury and exotic automobiles such as Excalibur, Zimmer, De Lorean and Mercedes Benz. Through his course of dealings in the automobile business, Kaufmann was friendly with a man by the name of Tom Schafer. Schafer was aware that federal authorities might charge him in connection with the passing of counterfeit money. Schafer agreed to cooperate with law enforcement agents with the hope of receiving consideration with regard to the counterfeiting charges. In particular, he agreed to assist the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) in a “sting” operation directed at Kaufmann by setting up a sale of an automobile to a purported drug dealer. Schafer had a number of conversations with Kaufmann in this regard that were recorded on audiotape. At the trial, Kaufmann and Schafer provided contradictory testimony concerning the number and content of additional unrecorded conversations.

At the IRS agents’ instruction, Schafer told Kaufmann about a “friend” of his, Tom. Ryder — who, unknown to Kaufmann, was IRS Special Agent Greg Myre. According to the pre-arranged story, Schafer told Kaufmann that Ryder was a marijuana dealer from Minneapolis who was interested in purchasing a Porsche 911 automobile. *888 Schafer stated that the purchase had to be in cash and the car titled in someone else’s name. Kaufmann agreed to sell the Porsche under these terms for $40,000. At a later meeting, Schafer provided a letter to Kaufmann, purportedly written by “Ryder” and addressed to Schafer. The letter provided, in pertinent part:

If you can set this up, I’ll make your time worth while, but here’s what I need from your guy. Number one, the whole deal is cash, period. Number two, I want the car titled in a friend’s name. Will I need to have him there? Number three, my name must never come out. Number four, your guy’s cool about my business? PS, make sure your guy understands that the arrangements are more important than the price.

During this meeting, Kaufmann acknowledged that Schafer’s friend was “in an illegitimate business.” Schafer commented, “He’s just a marijuana dealer.... Not high profile. Real low profile.” In response, Kaufmann told Schafer that he had supported himself when he was a kid, “dealing coke and crystal.” Kaufmann also stated that he was willing to title the car in the name of someone else, and that the titleholder need not be present at the dealership.

In February of 1990, Schafer first brought Myre to the dealership, although Kaufmann was not in the store that day. On March 29, 1990, Myre returned to the dealership, along with IRS Special Agent Rich Ahern, posing as Rick Adams (hereinafter referred to by their true names, “Myre” and “Ahern”). Myre carried a briefcase containing approximately $45,000 to $50,000 in cash. During the course of their conversation, Myre informed Kauf-mann that he wished to purchase the Porsche in cash, and directed that title be put in Ahern’s name. Kaufmann agreed, commenting, “[Tjhat’s between you guys” and later stated, “I really don’t even want to know about it.” Kaufmann and Myre also discussed the filing of Form 8300, a form required to be filed with the IRS when a transaction involves more than $10,000 in cash. 1 Myre made it clear that *889 he did not want his name to appear on any of the paperwork involved in the transaction. Kaufmann told the agents that he must file the form, but agreed to complete the form in Ahern’s name. Myre additionally told Kaufmann that he had brought cash in an assortment of denominations, and Kaufmann responded, “That’s most likely what I figured.” Agent Ahern did not actively participate in this discussion and Myre retained possession of the briefcase throughout their meeting.

After the terms were agreed upon, Kauf-mann began to prepare the sales forms. However, before the transaction could be completed, IRS agents entered the office, identified themselves, and purported to “arrest” Myre. Kaufmann was unaware at this time that Myre and Ahern were agents. He told the arresting agents that Myre was in the process of buying an automobile and that he had just begun to fill out the currency report. An arresting agent asked Kaufmann whether it was Myre or Ahern who had brought the money, and Kaufmann responded, “To be honest with you, I can’t tell you.” This was the last contact Kaufmann had with the agents.

On March 31, 1990 — two days after the meeting with Myre and Ahern — Kaufmann asked to meet with Schafer at John Hawk’s Pub. This meeting lasted approximately two hours and was also recorded. During this conversation, Kaufmann told Schafer that he was worried that he was in legal trouble, and stated, “I would take a personal vendetta against somebody that got me involved and I’ve got enough money to cause a guy some hardship.”

At trial, the audiotape of the conversations was played for the jury. As well, Schafer and Myre testified in some detail about the “sting” operation. Kaufmann also testified at trial, although his testimony differed in many respects. According to Kaufmann, Schafer had told him that his friend was coming to Milwaukee to buy and sell real estate. Schafer told him that this friend wanted to purchase a Porsche with cash and title the car in another’s name so that his wife — whom he was divorcing — would not know he had purchased a car.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
985 F.2d 884, 1993 U.S. App. LEXIS 1616, 1993 WL 20214, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-harry-c-kaufmann-ca7-1993.