{"argument_date":"2008-02-25T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2008-02-25T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2007","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1456.pdf","paragraphs":["Ms. Schertler argued the statute does not demand proof that proceeds will be cleansed after crossing the border.","Mr. Beard argued the statute requires intent to minimize the criminal taint of unlawful proceeds.","Justice Stevens asked for clarification on what constitutes a method of transportation in this context.","Justice Breyer questioned whether a literal reading of the statute supports the side that brought the case's interpretation."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 41-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1456.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 41-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1456.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1456.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1456.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 49-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1456.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 27-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1456.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 47-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1456.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 31-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1456.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 39-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1456.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 17-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1456.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 3-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1456.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 29-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 41-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1456.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 41-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 51-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1456.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 51-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1456.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 29-41"}]}],"caption":"Regalado Cuellar v. United States","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:27.329131Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The dispute centers on whether transporting cash from a drug deal constitutes money laundering under federal law.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 41-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1456.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 41-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1456.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-41"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2008-02-25T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2007","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/06-1456.html","primary_docket":"06-1456","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T21:38:30.430277Z","maturity":"official_transcript","revision_number":1},{"correction_note":"Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.","created_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z","maturity":"official_transcript","revision_number":2}],"schema_version":"1.1","sections":[{"heading":"What this case is about","paragraphs":["Regalado Cuellar moved cash from a drug transaction across a border. The government convicted him of money laundering. Cuellar argues the law requires intent to hide the money's criminal origin. The government argues the law targets hiding the money itself."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 41-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1456.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 41-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1456.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-41"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on February 25, 2008."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1456.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["Cuellar wants the conviction overturned because he did not intend to hide the money's criminal origin.","The United States wants the conviction to stand because the law targets hiding the money itself."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 41-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1456.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 41-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1456.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-41"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["Cuellar argues the statute requires intent to minimize the criminal taint of proceeds, not just conceal existence.","The United States argues the statute contains no requirement to prove the money will be cleansed later."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 41-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1456.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 41-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1456.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-41"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Ginsburg asked what crime exists if possessing money is criminal but not laundering.","Chief Justice Roberts asked why transporting money does not conceal ownership or location."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1456.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 49-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1456.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 27-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1456.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 47-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1456.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 31-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1456.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 39-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1456.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 17-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1456.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 3-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1456.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 29-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 41-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1456.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 41-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 51-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1456.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 51-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1456.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 29-41"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the scope of federal money laundering laws. It determines whether simple transport of drug proceeds triggers criminal liability. The outcome shapes how prosecutors charge financial crimes involving illegal proceeds."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 41-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1456.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 41-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1456.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-41"}]},{"heading":"What happens next","paragraphs":["This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1456.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1456.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 49-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1456.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 27-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1456.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 47-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1456.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 31-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1456.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 39-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1456.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 17-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1456.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 3-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1456.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 29-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 41-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1456.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 41-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 51-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1456.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 51-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1456.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 29-41"}]}],"slug":"2007-06-1456-regalado-cuellar-v-united-states","term":"2007","title":"Does moving drug money across a border count as laundering?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 41-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1456.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 41-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1456.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-41"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}