United States V. Beddow

SUHRHEINRICH, Circuit Judge. Defendant Stephen Martin Beddow ("defendant" or "Beddow") appeals from a jury verdict finding him guilty of one count of conspiracy to possess and distribute cocaine in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846, three counts of money laundering in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1956(a)(1)(B), 1956(a)(2)(B) and 1957, and one count of income tax evasion in violation of 26 U.S.C. § 7201. Beddow contends on appeal that (1) there was insufficient evidence to support his convictions on two of the money laundering counts; (2) venue in the Western District of Michigan was improper; (3) the prosecutor's comments at closing argument impermissibly shifted the burden of proof; and (4) the district court erred when computing his sentence under the United States Sentencing Guidelines ("U.S.S.G.") by including a Michigan state court conviction in his criminal history. For the reasons stated below, we affirm defendant's conviction and sentence.