United States v. O'Hara

MEMORANDUM

ADELMAN, District Judge.

Defendant Richard O’Hara, a Chicago-based antiques and art dealer, was charged in a multi-count indictment with participating in a conspiracy to dispose of stolen valuable Renaissance-era astronomical tools — three astrolabes and an armil-lary sphere. Two counts of the indictment charged O’Hara with interstate travel in aid of extortion, in violation of the Travel Act, 18 U.S.C. § 1952.

The government sought jury instructions on these counts under § 1952(a)(2), which authorizes a sentence of up to 20 years per count (and up to life imprisonment if death…