A major money laundering operation spanning across several U.S. states has come to light, with nine individuals charged in a wide-ranging conspiracy. These individuals allegedly worked together to wash millions of dollars gained from internet fraud, including business email compromise schemes. The arrests were made as part of a coordinated effort across three different jurisdictions. The Justice Department recently unsealed the indictment, revealing the details of this complex criminal operation.
The people involved are accused of running a money laundering organization for several years, with their actions impacting businesses and individuals in the United States and abroad. According to the court documents, the defendants allegedly used various tricks to hide their illegal activities. They created fake companies to disguise the criminal money they were moving around, making it look as if it were from legitimate business dealings.
The Details of Money Laundering Charges
The nine defendants who have been arrested include individuals from different states across the country. The charges against them are serious, with each defendant facing up to 20 years in prison if convicted. The individuals named in the indictment are:
- Samson A. Omoniyi, 43, from Houston, Texas
- Misha L. Cooper, 50, from Murfreesboro, Tennessee
- Robert A. Cooper, 66, from Murfreesboro, Tennessee
- Carlesha L. Perry, 36, from Houston, Texas
- Whitney D. Bardley, 30, from Florissant, Missouri
- Lauren O. Guidry, 32, from Houston, Texas
- Caira Y. Osby, 44, from Houston, Texas
- Dazai S. Harris, 34, from Murfreesboro, Tennessee
- Edward D. Peebles, 35, from Murfreesboro, Tennessee
These individuals are accused of working together in a network that recruited people to act as “money mules” — people who moved stolen money around, often without knowing they were involved in illegal activities. This system was built to hide the money gained from fraud by making it look like it came from legal business ventures.
Business Email Compromise Scam: $3.5 Million Seized by U.S. Authorities
The indictment states that the group’s money laundering activities were in operation as early as November 2016, and they were able to move over $20 million in illegal proceeds. They used fake companies, known as “sham” companies, to help disguise where the money came from. The conspirators would recruit individuals to set up these companies or use existing businesses to act as fronts for their operation, helping them to conceal the fraud.
The Investigation and Arrests
The arrests of the nine individuals were carried out as part of a well-organized operation by multiple law enforcement agencies. The FBI’s Nashville and Salt Lake City offices played a key role in investigating the conspiracy. They worked closely with the FBI’s Forensic Accountant Support Team, who helped trace the movement of the money and uncover the methods used by the criminals.
The Justice Department made an official announcement detailing the charges. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, who heads the Criminal Division, emphasized the seriousness of the case. Acting U.S. Attorney Thomas J. Jaworski for the Middle District of Tennessee also spoke about the impact these fraud schemes have had on individuals and businesses across the country. Chad Yarbrough, Assistant Director of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, also highlighted how organized crime groups like this one often have far-reaching consequences.
Each defendant faces the possibility of spending up to 20 years in federal prison if convicted. A federal judge will decide their sentences after considering factors like the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which help determine how severe the punishment should be based on the specific details of the crime.
Prosecuting the Case
The case is being handled by experienced prosecutors from the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section. Trial attorneys Kenneth Kaplan and Jasmin Salehi Fashami are leading the prosecution, with assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorney S. Carran Daughtrey of the Middle District of Tennessee. Their job will be to prove the charges in court, and they have been working on this case alongside law enforcement to build a strong argument.
It is important to note that, as in all legal cases, the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The indictment is only an allegation, meaning that the individuals will have their day in court to defend themselves. The case is ongoing, and the legal proceedings will decide whether the accused are convicted or acquitted.
