THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

INTRODUCED BY CREIGHTON, DENLINGER, EVERETT, GEIST, METZGAR, MURT, SIPTROTH AND SWANGER, JUNE 17, 2009

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, JUNE 17, 2009  

AN ACT

Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania

Consolidated Statutes, further providing for dealing in

proceeds of unlawful activities.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Section 5111(a) and (b) of Title 18 of the

Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes are amended to read:

§ 5111.  Dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities.

(a)  Offense defined.--

(1)  A person commits a felony of the first degree if the

person conducts a financial transaction under any of the

following circumstances:

[(1)] (i)  With knowledge that the property involved

represents the proceeds of unlawful activity, the person

acts with the intent to promote the carrying on of the

unlawful activity.

[(2)] (ii)  With knowledge that the property involved

represents the proceeds of unlawful activity and that the

transaction is designed in whole or in part to conceal or

disguise the nature, location, source, ownership or

control of the proceeds of unlawful activity.

[(3)  To] (2)  A person commits a felony of the third

degree if the person knowingly conducts a financial

transaction to avoid a transaction reporting requirement

under State or Federal law.

(b)  Penalty.--

(1)  Upon conviction of a violation under subsection (a)

(1), a person shall be sentenced to a fine of the greater of

$100,000 or twice the value of the property involved in the

transaction or to imprisonment for not more than 20 years, or

both.

(2)  Upon conviction of a violation under subsection 

(a)(2), a person shall be sentenced to a fine of the greater

of $25,000 or twice the value of the property involved in the

transaction or to imprisonment for not more than seven years,

or both.

* * *

Section 2.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.