A Florida Man is Found Guilty in a $13.5 International Money Laundering Conspiracy

A Florida man was found guilty on charges related to an international $13.5 million money laundering conspiracy. Rita M. Glavin, Acting Assistant Attorney General, Criminal Division and R. Alexander Acosta, U.S. Attorney of the Southern District of Florida announces the guilty verdict on February 25, 2009 in a press statement.

Brazilian national, Rodrigo Molino, 33, who resided in Miami, was found guilty following a seven day trial. Also charged was Marchos Neto Macchione, 32, a Brazilian national who was residing in Avenura, Florida; who pleaded guilty of conspiracy to launder fraud proceeds of $13.5 million in June, 2008.

Molina and Macchione and 18 individuals in Brazil, including the Doron Mukama, who was the alleged leader of the crime organization in this scheme, were indicted for laundering funds obtained illegally through a telemarketing scheme.

The trial evidence that was presented at the trial showed that the defendants used telemarketing contact victims over the phone. The defendants offered to purchase stock that was nearly worthless from foreign investors. The telemarketers made the scheme enticing by offering the investors more than the stock was worth.

The defendants set up a well designed web site that mislead victims into thinking the Brazilian defendants were legitimate securities brokers. The Brazilian defendants stole identities of actual broker dealers licensed in the United states to carry out the scheme. They also created false government entities that made fictitious brokers look legitimate. The fictitious brokers were located in Brazil and in other countries, but had U.S. phone numbers.

The Brazilian defendants would make generous offers on nearly worthless stock and would then require victims to pay various fees to pay for expenses like escrow payments, taxes and other services. The victims would wire money in bank accounts, usually in Miami. Once the defendants had the fees from the victims, the defendants abandoned the accounts and the victims were out the money. The money was laundered through U.S. bank accounts.

Molina, who was found guilty in a trial by jury, can be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison for money laundering, plus 10 years on additional money laundering accounts and 20 years on conspiracy.

Macchione was sentenced to 70 months imprisonment in February, 200 and ordered to forfeit about $1.8 million of his criminal proceeds in bank accounts.

Resources:

Miami Man Found Built in $13.5 Million International Money Laundering Scheme, PR Newsire, February 26, 2009.

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