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Jean M Schwarzkopf 1919 - 1997

Jean M Schwarzkopf of New Port Richey, Pasco County, FL was born on February 11, 1919 in New York, New York United States, and died at age 78 years old on September 19, 1997 in New Port Richey, FL.
Jean M Schwarzkopf
Jean Pipola, Jean M Pelle
New Port Richey, Pasco County, FL 34652
February 11, 1919
New York, New York, United States
September 19, 1997
New Port Richey, Pasco County, Florida, United States
Female
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Jean M Schwarzkopf's History: 1919 - 1997

Uncover new discoveries and connections today by sharing about people & moments from yesterday.
  • Introduction

    Madeleine Maddlena "Jean" (Pipola) Schwarzkopf was born to Victor Pipola (1882 - 1960) and Dora Dalorata Addolorato Leporini (1890 - 1968). Both of her parents had been born in Italy. She had siblings Martha, Michael, Evelyn, Frederick, and Carts. Jean Pipola first married Michael Pelle (1918 - 2011) on March 15, 1938 in New York City, and they had two sons. She then married Hans Heinrich Schwarzkopf in 1948 in New Jersey, and they had one daughter. In January 12, 1994, Jean Pipola married for the final time in Pasco Florida to "Tommy." Jean Schwarzkopf was the subject of an episode of 'Killer Instinct with Chris Hansen', Season 2 Episode 3: 'A Deadly Diamond'. The synopsis: In Gulf Harbors Florida, retiree and 78-year-old widow, Jean Schwarzkopf, was killed in her nightgown by the Chicago mafia for her prized 8 carat diamond ring. She never took the ring off of her finger as it was given to her by her husband in the 1950s. Read about the crime and the details at The Murder of Jean Schwarzkopf. For a March 2021 update on the murder and the disposition of the killers, see Jean Schwarzkopf Murder: .
  • 02/11
    1919

    Birthday

    February 11, 1919
    Birthdate
    New York, New York United States
    Birthplace
  • Ethnicity & Family History

    Jean was Caucasian of Italian heritage. Both of her parents were born in Italy.
  • Nationality & Locations

    A native of New York, New York, Jean was raised in the Bronx and moved to Mount Vernon, New York when she was 19 years old. At the age of 59, Jean moved to Port Richey, Florida. She was murdered at the age of 78 in Gulf Harbors, Florida.
  • Early Life & Education

    Jean complete high school when she was living in Mount Vernon, New York.
  • Professional Career

    Jean was a housewife and was married three times. She had two sons with Michael Pelle (1918 - 2011), and a daughter with Hans Heinrich Schwarzkopf.
  • Personal Life & Family

    Jean married three times, the last time in 1994 in Pasco, Florida. She had three children from her first two marriages. She was murdered in 1997 in her home in Gulf Harbors, Florida.
  • 09/19
    1997

    Death

    September 19, 1997
    Death date
    Murder - suffocated
    Cause of death
    New Port Richey, Pasco County, Florida United States
    Death location
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    Memories
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5 Memories, Stories & Photos about Jean

Jean Schwarzkopf Murder:
Where Are Anthony Carcione and Ottavio Volpe Now?

Article from TheCinemaholic posted on March 27, 2021 and written by Shraman Mitra:

When 78-year-old widow, Jean Schwarzkopf, wanting to live life to the fullest, started getting known in the Florida social scene, she had no idea of the terrible fate that was about to befall her. On September 19, 1997, Jean’s body was found in a closet in her Topsail Trail home. She was beaten, tortured, and killed indiscriminately. A lot of expensive jewelry, including a diamond ring given to Jean by her late husband, was found to be missing. Investigation Discovery’s ‘American Monster: Life in Florida’ portrays the septuagenarian’s horrifying murder and how the criminals were brought to justice. Let us find out more about this crime and where the perpetrators are today, shall we?

How Did Jean Schwarzkopf Die? Jean Schwarzkopf was a 78-year-old widow who lived in her Topsail Trail home in Florida. In her older years, she became a regular fixture in Chicago’s social life. Jean also had some precious and expensive jewelry, especially her 8-karat diamond ring that was given to her by her husband. It was the greed of other people that got her murdered brutally.
On September 19, 1997, Jean’s dead body was discovered in her closet at her home. She was found to have been beaten and wrapped from head to toe in duct tape. A silk flower had been crammed down her throat. The autopsy said her nose was broken, and she had fractures in her cheekbone, neck, and ribs. There were also multiple bruises all over her body. The silk flower in her throat caused hemorrhaging at the base of her tongue, and she suffocated from the bleeding caused by the injuries to her nose and mouth.

When police investigated the crime, witnesses came forward and claimed that Jean’s killer had left the house with a duffel bag that contained Jean’s prized diamond ring along with other expensive jewelry, including a diamond tennis bracelet and a string of pearls. The diamond ring was later found to have been fenced for $22,000.

Who Killed Jean Schwarzkopf? Anthony Carcione was convicted for the murder of Jean Schwarzkopf. However, Anthony did not act independently and was hired by Ottavio Volpe, who was also convicted. Ottavio Volpe owned a bakery close to where Jean lived. Volpe is said to have made Jean’s acquaintance in late 1996 or early 1997. He noticed that she was wealthy and thus formulated a plan to rob her. He attempted once to rob her along with a local co-conspirator, but the plan failed. Undeterred, Volpe contacted Camillo Gigliotti in Chicago and asked him to come to help him rob Jean. Gigliotti refused the offer but proceeded to contact Faris Rafidi and asked him if anyone was available for the job. Rafidi then suggested Anthony Carcione, who flew down to Tampa on September 18, 1997, to help with the crime.

Volpe met Anthony at the airport, and together they bought flowers, gloves, and duct tape for the robbery. On September 19, Volpe dropped Anthony off at Jean’s home. Anthony was in the guise of a flower delivery man. As soon as Jean opened the door, Anthony forced his way inside and punched the aging widow in the face. When Jean refused to give Anthony the combination to the safe, Anthony proceeded to beat the woman up, breaking her nose and fracturing her bones in the process. He then bound her from head to toe with duct tape and killed her by shoving a silk flower down her throat. According to prosecutors, he then left the house with a duffel bag full of jewelry, including the diamond ring.

Later, Anthony confessed to Volpe that he had killed Jean. Volpe then drove Anthony down to Valdosta, Georgia, where they met Gigliotti. According to court documents, Gigliotti then took Anthony back to Chicago and sold the diamond ring to Rafidi for $22,000. The money was divided among the conspirators. Anthony took the lion’s share of $10,000 while Volpe got paid $4000 (Gigliotti kept the rest).

Where Are Anthony Carcione and Ottavio Volpe Now? Once Anthony Carcione and Ottavio Volpe were caught, they were charged for their involvement in Jean’s murder. At first, state prosecutors could not find physical evidence that would link Anthony Carcione to the crime. Hence, he was convicted on a federal charge of illegal interstate commerce and handed a life sentence without chance of parole. Later, when Anthony was put on trial for Jean’s murder, Volpe testified against him, saying that it was never the plan to kill Jean and that Anthony had acted on his own in the murder. The jury found Anthony Carcione guilty on seven charges related to Jean’s murder, and his life sentence was upheld. Anthony Carcione is currently incarcerated in USP Florence ADMAX, a federal prison in Fremont County, Colorado.

Volpe, too was put on trial and tried under a Florida law that says a person who participates in a robbery that ends in homicide is guilty of first-degree felony murder, even if they did not commit the murder in person. Rafidi and Gigliotti testified in his trial and said that Volpe was the one who contacted them about the robbery. Volpe pleaded guilty to federal charges in connection to the murder and was sentenced to life in prison without a chance of parole. Currently, he is incarcerated in FMC Butner in Bahama, North Carolina.
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The Murder of Jean Schwarzkopf
In late 1996 or early 1997, Jean Schwarzkopf met bakery owner Ottavio Volpe who quickly realized she was wealthy and began to plan to rob Mrs. Schwarzkopf. Ottavio tried working with others in Florida but eventually had to enlist the assistance of friends and acquaintances in Chicago to complete the robbery.

In August 1997, Volpe contacted Camillo Gigliotti in Chicago, and attempted to persuade him to come to Florida to rob Mrs. Schwarzkopf.   Gigliotti refused to do so personally, but proceeded to contact Faris Rafidi, a Chicago restaurateur, to inquire who might be willing to travel to Florida to accomplish the robbery.   Rafidi suggested to Gigliotti that he contact Anthony Carcione.

On September 18, 1997, Carcione flew from Chicago to Tampa.   Volpe picked him up, and they drove to Volpe’s bakery in New Port Richey. The next morning, after buying flowers, gloves, and duct tape, Carcione approached Mrs. Schwarzkopf’s door posing as a flower delivery man. After the door was opened, Carcione forced himself into Mrs. Schwarzkopf’s home, and hit her in the face. Throughout the ordeal, Carcione broke Mrs. Schwarzkopf’s nose, fractured her cheekbone, neck and rib, and caused multiple bruises throughout the rest of her body.   He then bound Mrs. Schwarzkopf with duct tape from head to toe.   Before he taped her mouth shut, he stuffed a silk flower down her throat, causing hemorrhaging at the base of her tongue.   Mrs. Schwarzkopf suffocated from the bleeding caused by the injuries to her nose and mouth.

After the robbery, Volpe picked up Carcione about one block from Mrs. Schwarzkopf’s home.   Carcione had taken Mrs. Schwarzkopf’s purse, her wallet and its contents, and her jewelry, including a seven and one-half carat diamond ring, a strand of pearls, a diamond and platinum tennis bracelet, and a sapphire tennis bracelet.   Later that same day, Carcione admitted to Volpe that he had killed Mrs. Schwarzkopf, and threatened Volpe not to say anything or he would kill Volpe and his girlfriend.   That evening, Volpe contacted Gigliotti and told him to come to Florida to come pick up Carcione.

Gigliotti agreed to pick up Carcione in Florida, but later called Volpe from Valdosta, Georgia, and told him that he would not drive any further south.   On September 20, 1997, Volpe (along with an unwitting employee of Volpe’s) drove Carcione from New Port Richey, Florida, to Valdosta Georgia, where they met Gigliotti.   Gigliotti then drove Carcione back to Chicago along with the items taken from Mrs. Schwarzkopf in the robbery.

When Gigliotti and Carcione arrived in Chicago, they went to Farris Rafidi’s restaurant and met in his office.   Gigliotti then decided to dispose of all of the jewelry except the diamond ring because he believed the rest of the jewelry was worthless.   The diamond ring was eventually purchased by Rafidi for $22,000.   The money was divided among the co-conspirators.   Carcione's cut was $10,000, Gigliotti’s was $8000, and Volpe’s was $4000.


In Tampa Florida U.S. District Judge Richard Lazzara handed down maximum sentences in the September 1997 murder of Jean. Lazzara sentenced Anthony Carcione and Ottavio Volpe to life, plus 20 years on charges of using interstate commerce to commit robbery, fence the diamond and split the proceeds.
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Jean M Schwarzkopf
Jean M Schwarzkopf
Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.
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Jean M Schwarzkopf
Jean M Schwarzkopf
Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.
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The Murder Trial of Jean M Schwarzkopf by Anthony Carcione
United States Court of Appeals,Eleventh Circuit.

UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Anthony CARCIONE, a.k.a. Tony, Defendant-Appellant.

No. 01-10319.
Decided: November 13, 2001
Before ANDERSON, Chief Judge, and HULL and FAY, Circuit Judges. Thomas H. Ostrander, Bradenton, FL, for Defendant-Appellant. Tamra Phipps, Karen Cox, Tampa, FL, for Plaintiff-Appellee.
I. Introduction

Anthony Carcione (“Appellant”) appeals his criminal convictions and sentences for conspiracy to commit offenses against the United States in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371, (Count one);  traveling in interstate commerce in furtherance of an unlawful activity, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1952(a)(2), (Count two);  conspiring to commit money laundering in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1956(h), (Count three);  money laundering in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1956(a)(1)(A)(i), (Count four);  conspiring to interfere with commerce by robbery in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1951, (“Hobbs Act”) (Count five);  committing interference with commerce by robbery in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1951, (Count six);  and interstate transportation of stolen property, knowing the same to have been stolen, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2314, (Count seven).1  Appellant was sentenced to 60 months as to count one, life as to count two, twenty years as to count three, twenty years as to count four, twenty years as to count five, twenty years as to count six, and ten years as to count seven, all terms to run concurrent with each other.   For the following reasons, we affirm the convictions and sentences in all respects.

II. Background

The facts giving rise to this matter arose out of the home invasion, robbery, and murder of a wealthy 78 year old woman, Jean Schwarzkopf, who resided in New Port Richey, Florida.   In late 1996 or early 1997, Ottavio Volpe made the acquaintance of Mrs. Schwarzkopf, who resided in a subdivision located near a bakery that he owned.   Realizing her wealth, he formulated a plan to rob Mrs. Schwarzkopf of her jewelry.   At first, although Volpe was aided by a local co-conspirator, the plan failed.   Volpe then decided to enlist the assistance of friends and acquaintances in Chicago to complete the robbery.

In August 1997, Volpe contacted Camillo Gigliotti in Chicago, and attempted to persuade him to come to Florida to rob Mrs. Schwarzkopf.   Gigliotti refused to do so personally, but proceeded to contact Faris Rafidi, a Chicago restauranteur, to inquire who might be willing to travel to Florida to accomplish the robbery.   Rafidi suggested to Gigliotti that he contact Appellant.

On September 18, 1997, Appellant flew from Chicago to Tampa.   Volpe picked him up, and they drove to Volpe's bakery in New Port Richey.   The next morning, after buying flowers, gloves, and duct tape, Appellant approached Mrs. Schwarzkopf's door posing as a flower delivery man.   After the door was opened, Appellant forced himself into Mrs. Schwarzkopf's home, and hit her in the face.   Throughout the ordeal, Appellant broke Mrs. Schwarzkopf's nose, fractured her cheekbone, neck and rib, and caused multiple bruises throughout the rest of her body.   He then bound Mrs. Schwarzkopf with duct tape from head to toe.   Before he taped her mouth shut, he stuffed a silk flower down her throat, causing hemorrhaging at the base of her tongue.   Mrs. Schwarzkopf suffocated from the bleeding caused by the injuries to her nose and mouth.

After the robbery, Volpe picked up Appellant about one block from Mrs. Schwarzkopf's home.   Appellant had taken Mrs. Schwarzkopf's purse, her wallet and its contents, and her jewelry, including a seven and one-half carat diamond ring, a strand of pearls, a diamond and platinum tennis bracelet, and a sapphire tennis bracelet.   Later that same day, Appellant admitted to Volpe that he had killed Mrs. Schwarzkopf, and threatened Volpe not to say anything or he would kill Volpe and his girlfriend.   That evening, Volpe contacted Gigliotti and told him to come to Florida to come pick up Appellant.

Gigliotti agreed to pick up Appellant in Florida, but later called Volpe from Valdosta, Georgia, and told him that he would not drive any further south.   On September 20, 1997, Volpe (along with an unwitting employee of Volpe's) drove Appellant from New Port Richey, Florida, to Valdosta Georgia, where they met Gigliotti.   Gigliotti then drove Appellant back to Chicago along with the items taken from Mrs. Schwarzkopf in the robbery.

When Gigliotti and Appellant arrived in Chicago, they went to Farris Rafidi's restaurant and met in his office.   Gigliotti then decided to dispose of all of the jewelry except the diamond ring because he believed the rest of the jewelry was worthless.   The diamond ring was eventually purchased by Rafidi for $22,000.   The money was divided among the co-conspirators.   Appellant's cut was $10,000, Gigliotti's was $8000, and Volpe's was $4000.

III. Discussion

There are two issues Appellant advances that warrant discussion.2  We first address Appellant's argument that the government failed to prove the necessary effect on interstate commerce as required by the Hobbs Act, 18 U.S.C. § 1951, (Counts five and six).3  We then address the propriety of Appellant's convictions for conspiracy to commit money laundering under 18 U.S.C.1956(h), (Count three) and money laundering under 18 U.S.C. § 1956(a)(1)(A)(i), (Count 4).4

A. Hobbs Act

We review Appellant's convictions under the Hobbs Act de novo.   See, e.g., United States v. Gray, 260 F.3d 1267, 1271 (11th Cir.2001) (“Whether sufficient evidence was presented at trial to support appellants' convictions is a question of law subject to de novo review.”) (quoting United States v. Diaz, 248 F.3d 1065, 1084 (11th Cir.2001)).   We consider that evidence in the light most favorable to the government, drawing all inferences and credibility choices in favor of the jury's verdict.   See United States v. Guerra, 164 F.3d 1358, 1359 (11th Cir.1999).

The Hobbs Act provides that “[w]hoever in any way or degree obstructs, delays, or affects commerce or the movement of any article or commodity in commerce, by robbery or extortion or attempts or conspires so to do ․ shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more that twenty years, or both.”  18 U.S.C. § 1951(a).   The Act broadly defines “commerce” as being “commerce within the District of Columbia, or any Territory or Possession of the United States;  all commerce between any point in a State, Territory, Possession or the District of Columbia and any point outside thereof;  all commerce between points within the same State through any place outside such State;  and all other commerce over which the United States has jurisdiction.”   Id. § 1951(b)(3).   The Act is expansive in scope and does not “lend [itself] to a restrictive interpretation.”  United States v. Culbert, 435 U.S. 371, 373 98 S.Ct. 1112, 1113, 55 L.Ed.2d 349 (1978);  see also Stirone v. United States, 361 U.S. 212, 215, 80 S.Ct. 270, 272, 4 L.Ed.2d 252 (1960) (“[The Hobbs Act] speaks in broad language, manifesting a purpose to use all the constitutional power Congress has to punish interference with interstate commerce by extortion, robbery, or physical violence.”)

 In addressing Appellant's argument, we stress that under this Circuit's binding precedent, a conviction for Hobbs Act robbery may be sustained if there is proof that the defendant's conduct had even a minimal effect on interstate commerce.5  See, e.g., United States v. Rodriguez, 218 F.3d 1243, 1244 (11th Cir.2000) (“The government needs only to establish a minimal effect on interstate commerce to support a violation of the Hobbs Act.”) (citing Guerra, 164 F.3d at 1360, and United States v. Castleberry, 116 F.3d 1384, 1387 (11th Cir.1997)).6  Furthermore, the effect on commerce need not be adverse.   See United States v. Kaplan, 171 F.3d 1351, 1357 (11th Cir.1999).

 Operating under the rule that the Hobbs Act only requires a minimal effect on interstate commerce to support a conviction, we now consider whether the government's evidence was sufficient in this case.   At the outset, we note the travel of Appellant across state lines both before and after the robbery occurred.   In anticipation of the robbery, Appellant flew from Illinois to Florida to meet up with Volpe.   Then, after the robbery was completed, Appellant drove to Georgia with Volpe, where he was met by Gigliotti, who proceeded to drive with Appellant back to Illinois.   This travel clearly demonstrates an effect on interstate commerce.   See id. at 1355-56 (extortion plot affected interstate commerce because it included conspirator's travel from Florida to Panama).

 Moreover, the communication necessary to coordinate the robbery also affected interstate commerce.   The record demonstrates numerous interstate phone calls between Appellant, Volpe, and Gigliotti before and after the robbery.   When “the use of interstate ․ transportation and communication facilities [are used] to carry out a scheme of robbery or extortion [they] may constitute-in conjunction with other facts-a sufficient effect upon commerce for a Hobbs Act conviction ․” Id. at 1356;  United States v. Le, 256 F.3d 1229, 1234 (11th Cir.2001);  see also United States v. Atcheson, 94 F.3d 1237, 1243 (9th Cir.1996) (stating that defendants' placement of out-of-state phone calls created a further connection with interstate commerce);  see also United States v. Lee, 818 F.2d 302, 305 (4th Cir.1987) (upholding district court's instruction to jury which stated that interstate phone call by bank manager in Maryland to VISA authorization center in North Carolina was in and of itself sufficient to meet the interstate component under 18 U.S.C. § 1029).

Additionally, interstate commerce was affected when Appellant took the jewelry he robbed from Mrs. Schwarzkopf across state lines to Illinois, where Rafidi was waiting to inspect and then purchase the diamond ring.   See Atcheson, 94 F.3d at 1243 (transportation of stolen jewelry taken by robbery from victim across state lines directly affected interstate commerce);  see also Kaplan, 171 F.3d at 1355 (close nexus between extortion and interstate commerce existed because the plan would have served no purpose if the money from Panama was not ultimately received by the defendant in Florida);  United States v. Eaves, 877 F.2d 943, 946 (11th Cir.1989) (the movement of extortion payments in interstate commerce was sufficient as a jurisdictional prerequisite).

Therefore, based on the evidence presented, we conclude that there is a sufficient effect on interstate commerce to sustain Appellant's convictions under the Hobbs Act.

B. Money Laundering

 Appellant contends that the evidence is insufficient to support his convictions for both the substantive money laundering charge and the money laundering conspiracy charge.   To obtain a conviction on a substantive Section 1956(a)(1)(A)(i) promotional money laundering charge, the government bears the burden of proving beyond a reasonable doubt that:  (1) the defendant conducted or attempted to conduct a financial transaction;  (2) the defendant knew the property involved in the transaction represented the proceeds of unlawful activity;  (3) the property involved was in fact the proceeds of the specified unlawful activity;  and (4) the defendant conducted the financial transaction “with the intent to promote the carrying on of [the] specified unlawful activity.”  18 U.S.C. § 1956(a)(1)(A)(i).7  We find that all of these required elements have been satisfied.8

 A “financial transaction” means a transaction which in any way or degree affects interstate or foreign commerce involving the movement of funds by wire or other means.  18 U.S.C. § 1956(c)(4)(A)(i).   When the diamond was sold to Rafidi, funds were exchanged, and, as stated previously, the movement of this diamond from Florida to Illinois affected interstate commerce.   See supra, Part III, subsection A. Clearly the diamond represented the proceeds of the robbery, and Appellant knew the circumstances to be such.

 Finally, turning to the “gravamen” of a § 1956(a)(1)(A)(i) violation, Appellant must have had the intent to promote the carrying on of the specified unlawful activity.  United States v. Adams, 74 F.3d 1093, 1100 (11th Cir.1996) (quoting United States v. Miller, 22 F.3d 1075, 1080 (11th Cir.1994)).   The term “specified unlawful activity” means any act or activity constituting an offense listed in 18 U.S.C. § 1961(1).9  18 U.S.C. § 1956(c)(7)(A).   Included within the definition of “racketeering activity” under 18 U.S.C. § 1961(1) is 18 U.S.C. § 1951, the Hobbs Act. Hence, conspiring to affect commerce by robbery, a violation of § 1951(a), is a proper predicate for the “specified unlawful activity” that is required for a conviction under 18 U.S.C. § 1956.

 Therefore, we agree with the government's argument that the promotion prong of 18 U.S.C. § 1956 is satisfied when analyzed in the context of a conspiracy to commit a Hobbs Act violation.   A financial transaction can promote a scheme that is ongoing.   See Adams, 74 F.3d at 1100.   Here, the conspiracy to commit the robbery was ongoing at the time of the money laundering.   From the beginning stages of conspiring to rob Mrs. Schwarzkopf, to planning out the remaining steps leading up to the fencing of the diamond, it is clear to us that this scheme was an ongoing process.   The sale of the diamond was simply one further step in the ongoing Hobbs Act conspiracy.   This sale was designed to promote the Hobbs Act conspiracy by turning jewelry into cash-the ultimate objective of the conspiracy.   Thus, the financial transaction was an act in furtherance of the ongoing conspiracy offense.10  Therefore, we uphold Appellant's convictions under 18 U.S.C. § 1956.

IV. Conclusion

For the foregoing reasons, we affirm Appellant's convictions and sentences in their entirety.

AFFIRMED.

FOOTNOTES

1.  Appellant also appeals the district court's order that he be required to make restitution in the amount of $162,500 pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3612.   Reviewing the district court's determination under a clearly erroneous standard, we find no justification to disturb the court's findings.   See United States v. Bourne, 130 F.3d 1444, 1446 (11th Cir.1997).

2.  Appellant's other challenges are all based on the sufficiency of the evidence adduced at trial.   We have reviewed the record and believe they have no merit and do not warrant further discussion.

3.  Embodied within his challenge to the evidence and the effect of interstate commerce as applied to the Hobbs Act, Appellant incorporates by reference a challenge to count two of his conviction under the Travel Act, 18 U.S.C.1952(a)(2).   Because both matters contain an element of interstate commerce, any discussion of interstate commerce herein is applicable to counts two, five, and six.   See, e.g., United States v. Kaplan, 171 F.3d 1351, 1356 (11th Cir1999) (stating that the same conduct may violate more than one statute).

4.  Similarly, our discussion below of money laundering under 18 U.S.C.1956(a)(1)(A)(i) is applicable to Appellant's conviction under the Travel Act, 18 U.S.C. § 1952(a)(2), (Count two).   Necessary for a conviction under § 1952(a)(2) is the intent to “commit any crime of violence to further any unlawful activity,” and thereafter performing it or attempting to perform it.  18 U.S.C. § 1952(a)(2).   The “unlawful activity” used for the conviction in this case is money laundering under 18 U.S.C. § 1956(a)(1)(A)(i).

5.  Where conspiracy is charged under the Hobbs Act, the interstate nexus may be demonstrated by evidence of potential impact on interstate commerce, or by evidence of actual de minimis impact.   See United States v. Farrell, 877 F.2d 870, 875 (11th Cir.1989).   A substantive violation of the Hobbs Act requires an actual, de minimis affect on commerce.   See United States v. Jackson, 748 F.2d 1535, 1537 (11th Cir.1984).   Hence, our findings below of an actual, de minimis impact on interstate commerce are sufficient to sustain both Appellant's conspiracy and substantive violations of the Hobbs Act.

6.  At oral argument, Appellant's attorney argued that because Appellant robbed an individual, not a business, the government was required to prove one of the three elements we recited in United States v. Diaz, 248 F.3d 1065, 1085 (11th Cir.2001) ((1) the crime depleted the assets of an individual who is directly engaged in interstate commerce;  (2) the crime causes the individual to deplete the assets of an entity engaged in intestate commerce;  or (3) the number of individuals victimized or the sums involved are so large that there will be a cumulative impact on interstate commerce).   We disagree.   While this test is an effective barometer for measuring a defendant's actions and their effect on interstate commerce, we have repeatedly held that “in determining whether there is a minimal effect on commerce, each case must be decided on its own facts.”  Rodriguez, 218 F.3d at 1245;  Diaz, 248 F.3d at 1087;  Kaplan, 171 F.3d at 1358.   Likewise, “the words of the Hobbs Act ‘do not lend themselves to restrictive interpretation.’ ”  United States v. Gray, 260 F.3d 1267, 1272 (11th Cir.2001) (quoting United States v. Culbert, 435 U.S. 371, 373, 98 S.Ct. 1112, 1113, 55 L.Ed.2d 349 (1978)).

7.  With respect to Appellant's conspiracy to commit money laundering charge, (Count three) 18 U.S.C. § 1956(h) reads:  “Any person who conspires to commit any offense defined in this section or section 1957 shall be subject to the same penalties as those prescribed for the offense the commission of which was the object of the conspiracy.”  “In order to be convicted of a conspiracy one must have knowledge of such conspiracy and must intend to join or associate with the objective of the conspiracy.”   United States v. Calderon, 169 F.3d 718, 723 (11th Cir.1999) (quoting United States v. Jordan, 627 F.2d 683, 686 (5th Cir.1980)).   A defendant “must be aware of the essential nature and scope of the enterprise and intend to participate.”  Id. Based on the facts before us, we clearly find sufficient evidence that Appellant, with knowledge and awareness, “agreed to conduct a financial transaction with the intent to promote the carrying on of the specified unlawful activity ․” Calderon, 169 F.3d at 723.

8.  In his brief, Appellant takes issue with the sufficiency of the evidence with respect to whether the financial transaction was conducted with the intent to conceal the nature or source of the proceeds.   However, the intent to conceal or disguise the nature or source of the proceeds was not a required element of the offense for which Appellant was charged.   The relevant portion of § 1956(a)(1) defines two different money laundering offenses:  those committed with the “intent to promote the carrying on of a specified unlawful activity,” 18 U.S.C. § 1956(a)(1)(A)(i);  and those committed with the intent “to conceal or disguise the nature, the location, the source, the ownership, or the control of the proceeds of specified unlawful activity,” 18 U.S.C. § 1956(a)(1)(B)(i).   See United States v. Montoya, 945 F.2d 1068, 1076 (9th Cir.1991) (stating that subsections (A)(i) and (B)(i) are set forth in the disjunctive, and “are aimed at different activities.”) (quoting United States v. Jackson, 935 F.2d 832, 842 (7th Cir.1991)).

9.  Excluded from this definition of “specified unlawful activity” is any act which is indictable under subchapter II of chapter 53 of title 31.   This exclusion is irrelevant for our purposes here.

10.  Because of the ongoing Hobbs Act conspiracy, we need not address the issue of whether a “promotion” under 18 U.S.C. § 1956 includes both past and future unlawful conduct, or future unlawful conduct only.   See, e.g., Adams, 74 F.3d at 1100;  Calderon, 169 F.3d at 722 n. 5.

FAY, Circuit Judge:
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Jean Schwarzkopf's Family Tree & Friends

Jean Schwarzkopf's Family Tree

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Jean's Friends

Friends of Jean Friends can be as close as family. Add Jean's family friends, and her friends from childhood through adulthood.
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