United States v. Bajakajian

Respondent Hosep Bajakajian attempted to leave the United States without reporting, as required by federal law, that he was transporting more than $10,000 in currency. Federal law also provides that a person convicted of willfully violating this reporting requirement shall forfeit to the Government “any property . . . involved in such offense.” 18 U. S. C. § 982(a)(1). The question in this case is whether forfeiture of the entire $857,144 that respondent failed to declare would violate the Excessive Fines Clause of the Eighth Amendment. We hold that it would, because full forfeiture of…