U.S. v. Schnaiderman, No. 76-4282

• Court: United States Courts of Appeals. United States Court of Appeals (5th Circuit)
• Writing for the Court: Before BROWN, Chief Judge, RONEY and HILL; JOHN B. BROWN
• Citation: 568 F.2d 1208
• Parties: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Samuel Meiler SCHNAIDERMAN, Defendant-Appellant. Summary Calendar. *
• Docket Number: No. 76-4282
• Decision Date: 06 March 1978

Page 1208

568 F.2d 1208 UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee,
v.
Samuel Meiler SCHNAIDERMAN, Defendant-Appellant. No. 76-4282 Summary Calendar. ^* United States Court of Appeals,
Fifth Circuit. March 6, 1978.

Page 1209

Max B. Kogen, Geoffrey C. Fleck, Miami, Fla., for defendant-appellant.

Jacob V. Eskenazi, U. S. Atty., Jamie L. Whitten, Asst. U. S. Atty., Miami, Fla., for plaintiff-appellee.

Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida.

Page 1210

Before BROWN, Chief Judge, RONEY and HILL, Circuit Judges.

JOHN B. BROWN, Chief Judge:

Schnaiderman was convicted of making a false statement to a government official in violation of 18 U.S.C.A. § 1001 ¹ (Count I) and of willfully failing to file a report that he was transporting into the United States more than $5,000 required by the Bank Secrecy Act, 31 U.S.C.A. § 1101 ², and 31 C.F.R. §§ 103.23(a), 103.25(b), in violation of 31 U.S.C.A. § 1058 ³ (Count II). For the reasons discussed below, we reverse the conviction on both counts and remand with instructions to enter a judgment of acquittal.

Schnaiderman, a Venezuelan resident, arrived at Miami International Airport from Caracas and entered the customs line. When he attempted to present his customs declaration form (Form 6059-B), Customs Inspector Randall told Schnaiderman that he had to claim all his luggage prior to entering the inspection line. Also noticing that Schnaiderman had neither signed nor completed the customs declaration, Randall informed him that it would be necessary to do so.

When Schnaiderman reappeared in the line, Randall inquired in Spanish if he was carrying more than $5,000. Schnaiderman replied, "No." On completed Form 6059-B which Schnaiderman gave to Randall, "No" was checked in answer to the question (in Spanish) whether he was carrying over $5,000 in cash or negotiable instruments. ⁴ After questioning the traveler about a ring in his possession, Randall passed him on to Customs Officer Deely for a second examination. Deely, observing Schnaiderman's bulging pockets and nervousness, asked that he empty his pockets. The bulge comprised $8,086. At some point Deely asked Schnaiderman if he understood U.S. currency laws. Appellant responded that he was aware of those laws but that he was not going to spend the money in the United States. He was going to Aruba in two days to gamble.

Schnaiderman asserts that there is insufficient evidence as a matter of law to prove an intentional violation of 31 U.S.C.A. §§ 1101 and 1058. He also urges that his negative response to Randall's question falls within the "exculpatory 'no' " exception to 18 U.S.C.A. § 1001. Since we agree with these contentions, we do not reach the other issues raised on this appeal.

Count II

United States v. Granda, 5 Cir., 1978, 565 F.2d 922 (1978) is dispositive of Schnaiderman's appeal from the 31 U.S.C.A. §§ 1101, 1058 conviction. The facts in Granda are strikingly similar to those before

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us now. Mrs. Granda's customs declaration Form 6059-B contained a "No" answer to the question whether she was carrying over $5,000. Examination of her purse revealed a total of $10,000. She claimed to be unaware of the reporting requirements of 31 U.S.C.A. § 1101. ⁵

This Court, following the lead of the Second Circuit, ⁶ held that since 31 U.S.C.A. § 1101 requires "knowing" transportation and since § 1058 ⁷ requires a "willful" violation, there must be proof of the defendant's knowledge of the reporting requirement and his specific intent to commit the crime.

There were two bases for reversal. First, the trial court failed properly to instruct the jury on specific intent and such failure was held to be plainly erroneous. ⁸ Second, as a matter of law, it was impossible to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Mrs. Granda acted with knowledge of the reporting requirements. Responding to the government's argument, also made in the present case, that the question on Form 6059-B put the traveler on notice that he must file the report of Form 4790, the Court stated:

. . . The failure of the government to make known the requirements of the statute is fatal to their case. The isolated act of bringing money in excess of $5,000 into the country is not illegal or even immoral. What is required is merely a filing of the proper form. Proof of the requisite knowledge and willfulness, therefore, is almost impossible unless affirmative steps are taken by the government to make the laws' requirements known. The government argues that the defendant was made aware of the reporting requirement by the question on the customs declaration form asking whether the defendant was carrying more than $5,000. We do not agree. The effect, if any, of this question is merely to cause the traveler to think that it is illegal to carry a large amount of money into the country. The question in no way tells the traveler it is perfectly legal to enter or leave the country with more than $5,000 but that a form reporting this fact must be completed. Nor does the untruthful answer of the question by the defendant prove beyond a reasonable doubt that she knew she was supposed to fill out a form. An untruthful answer could very easily be prompted by the question on the form which might cause the traveler who enters the country with more than $5,000 to think that his or her possession is by itself illegal, and who therefore answers untruthfully in order to attempt to avoid being caught breaking the law. We do not accept the government's contention that the defendant's falsification of her declaration forms proves that she was aware of the separate reporting requirement.

Id. at 926.

While Deely stated on direct that Schnaiderman admitted an awareness of U.S. currency laws, testimony elicited on cross indicates that Schnaiderman was not told specifically of the reporting requirements as mandated by Granda :

Q And when you said he was familiar with the U.S. currency laws, what are the U.S. currency laws?

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A Any person entering or leaving the United States is required to report over $5,000.00 if they are carrying it on themselves.

Q You didn't ask him that question. You just asked him if he understood the U.S. currency laws; is that right? You didn't explain to him what the U.S. currency laws were, did you Officer?

A At that particular time, no, I didn't.

Tr. 59-60.

As pointed out by Judge Fay in Granda, it would be a simple matter for the government to notify travelers, either by way of modification...