United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

CAR DEALER PLEADS GUILTY TO FEDERAL STRUCTURING CHARGE

Nora R. Dannehy, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOSEPH E. BROWN, SR., 61, of Moss Road, Monroe, waived his right to indictment and pleaded guilty today before United States District Judge Christopher F. Droney in Hartford to one count of structuring a currency transaction.

Under federal law, a business that is not a financial institution must report a currency transaction of more than $10,000 to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network on an IRS Form 8300 within 15 days of the transaction.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on December 12, 2007, BROWN’s car dealership, Platinum Motors of Ansonia, sold a 2005 Chevrolet Silverado to an undercover special agent of the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division for $38,000 in cash.  The agent told BROWN that he did not want any forms to be filed.  BROWN told the undercover agent that the transaction would be recorded in Platinum Motors’ books to make it appear that the cost of the Silverado was to be paid over time, rather than upon delivery of the car.  BROWN never filed the Form 8300.

When he is sentenced, BROWN faces a maximum term of imprisonment of five years and a fine of up to $250,000.

The case was investigated by Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Calvin B. Kurimai.  

CONTACT:

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
thomas.carson@usdoj.gov