Rhode Island

RI Man Accused of Laundering More Than $35M in Fraud Schemes

Federal prosecutors allege that the man opened about 80 bank accounts purportedly on behalf of 65 different companies

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NBC Connecticut

A Rhode Island man has been charged with using his accounting and consulting businesses as a front to launder more than $35 million in internet fraud schemes.

The 73-year-old man from Cranston is accused of founding dozens of shell companies in the United States and using them to open business bank accounts in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, the U.S. attorney's office said in a news release Thursday. He allegedly laundered the criminal proceeds for his clients in exchange for fees.

Prosecutors alleged that he opened about 80 bank accounts purportedly on behalf of 65 different companies.

In addition to his arrest, seizure warrants were executed on bank accounts holding several hundred thousand dollars of alleged money laundering proceeds and a Mercedes-Benz sport utility vehicle he bought, prosecutors said.

The man was scheduled to appear in federal court in Boston on Thursday afternoon on charges of conspiracy to commit money laundering and obstruction of justice. A message seeking comment was left with his attorney.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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