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News
Release [printer-friendly
version] Money Launderer Sentenced to More than 4 Years in Prison for Laundering Over $1.6 Million Dollars OCT 22-- PHOENIX – Elizabeth W. Kempshall, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s Phoenix Field Division joined Dennis K. Burke, U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona, to announce the sentencing of Rastislav Halcin, aka Pawel Okawa, 28, a citizen of Slovakia, to 52 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Neil V. Wake. Halcin was sentenced for his role in laundering $1.629 million dollars. Halcin pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering. Halcin admitted to laundering $390,000 but the court found that in actuality he had laundered more than $1.629 million dollars. The government’s evidence showed that Halcin received the funds from bank accounts throughout Europe for the purpose of providing it to other members of the organization to purchase cocaine in Arizona. He attempted to avoid detection by using several different banks in the Phoenix area to move the funds. The cocaine was then shipped from Arizona to the Chicago area. The drugs were either sold in Chicago or smuggled to Europe for distribution. Money would then be sent to Arizona to continue the illegal cycle. Four kilograms of cocaine, vehicles and approximately $20,000 cash were seized as part of the investigation. The sentencing occurred on October 19, 2009. The investigation in this case was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division and the Scottsdale Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Brian Larson and Jane McLaughlin, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix. # # #
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