Businessman Guilty of Illegal Wire Transfer
"A Virginia man who defended small money exchange businesses in
testimony to Congress has pleaded guilty to illegally wiring millions of dollars to Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan, federal authorities said Monday. The plea by Rahim Bariek comes as Homeland Security authorities announced the results of an ongoing nationwide sting on unlicensed money transfer businesses, netting 138 criminal indictments and seizing $25.5 million since October 2001," the Washington Post reports. "U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which investigated the cases, 'targets these illegal operations because we know that terrorist and other criminal organizations can use these underground businesses to move illicit funds anywhere in the world with no questions asked,' said Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Michael Garcia."
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