Arizona Man And His St. Louis Area Associate Sentenced On Drug And Money Laundering Charges

St. Louis, MO – Both men were sentenced involving their operation of a large marijuana distribution network and laundering the proceeds through a Tucson, Arizona, business to avoid reporting requirements. VAN J. SANDERS, JR., of Tucson, AZ, was sentenced to 24 months incarceration. LEON ROBINSON III, of Florissant, MO, was sentenced to 12 months and 1 day.  Both appeared before United States District Judge E. Richard Webber.

According to court documents, Van J. Sanders maintained an account at Bank of America under the name of Ultimate Trainer, LLC.  He was the signatory for the account.  Leon Robinson III deposited money into Sanders' Ultimate Trainer Bank account at various Bank of America branches in the greater St. Louis area by making cash deposits in amounts under the $10,000 reporting requirement.  These monies are proceeds from their marijuana distribution conspiracy from June 2012 to September 2012. The marijuana was transported via U.S. Postal Express Mail parcels.

Van J. Sanders, Jr. of Tucson, AZ, and Leon Robinson III of Florissant, MO, each pled guilty last October to two felony counts of conspiracy to distribute over fifty (50) kilograms of marijuana and conspiracy to structure currency transactions for the purpose of evading the reporting requirements.  Robinson also pled guilty to three felony counts of structuring currency to evade reporting requirements.

This case was investigated by the St. Louis and Tucson offices of the Postal Inspection Service.  Assistant United States Attorney John T Davis handled the case for the U.S. Attorney's Office.