Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard has sentenced eight individuals for their roles in a money laundering scheme. They were indicted in May 2015.
According to court documents, between May 2012 and January 2013, Michael Rounsville (48, Callahan), Manuel Rodriguez (33, Middleburg), Mollie Bass (33, Jacksonville), Hedar Khlaf (34, Jacksonville), Erik Estrada-Lopez (42, Orange Park), Christian Magliano (27, Miami), Diane Harrison (59, Jacksonville), and Bruce Childs (38, Miami) conspired to launder proceeds gained from the illegal distribution of ecstasy. The scheme involved some of the individuals structuring cash deposits to avoid the filing of a Currency Transaction Report, as required for bank transactions involving more than $10,000 in cash. Two members of the conspiracy sold a Cadillac Escalade, that was traceable to drug proceeds, to an undercover agent for $35,000 cash. They also failed to file the required IRS Form (8300) for cash transactions involving more than $10,000. In addition, three of the individuals conspired to use some of the money from the scheme to purchase 109 pounds of marijuana in California and then transport it to Jacksonville for distribution.
Rounsville, who was an officer with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office at the time, unlawfully accessed law enforcement databases to conduct a criminal history and driver license check on the undercover agent. He was found guilty of this offense in furtherance of the money laundering scheme by a federal jury on November 14, 2016, and sentenced to four years’ probation, to include 140 days at a residential reentry center, and 150 hours of community service.
Rodriguez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering on August 2, 2016, and was sentenced to three years and five months in federal prison.
On October 6, 2016, Bass pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute marijuana. She was sentenced to time served (about 18 months), plus 3 years of supervised release, to include 4 months at a residential reentry center.
Khlaf pleaded guilty on November 2, 2016, to failing to file a Form 8300. He sentenced to a year and a day in federal prison.
On November 14, 2016, a federal jury found Estrada-Lopez guilty of conspiracy to commit money laundering. He was sentenced to three years of supervised release, to include 120 days of home detention, 150 hours of community service, and a $10,000 fine.
Magliano was sentenced to two years of supervised release, to include six months of home detention. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute marijuana on October 31, 2016.
Harrison, who is the mother of Mollie Bass, was sentenced to three years of probation. She pleaded guilty on August 31, 2016, to structuring bank transactions to evade the cash transaction reporting requirements.
Childs pleaded guilty on October 20, 2016, and was sentenced to one year of probation and 50 hours of community service for structuring bank transactions to evade the cash transaction reporting requirements.
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, the U.S. Secret Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, and the Nevada Highway Patrol. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Arnold B. Corsmeier.
--DOJ Middle District of Florida