Two Foreign Nationals Charged with Money Laundering

BOSTON - Two men were charged yesterday in federal court in Boston with money laundering in connection with an overseas undercover investigation.

Essam Sakkal, 39, a/k/a Issam Sakkal, a/k/a Esam Bzoul, a national of Cyprus, who is in U.S. custody, and his brother, Nabeel Sakkal, 24, a/k/a Traycho Marinov Mitchov, a/k/a Nabil Cieckal, a/k/a Nabil Imadein Bazul Siggal, a dual national of Cyprus and Jordan, who is a fugitive, were charged in an indictment unsealed yesterday with conspiracy to commit money laundering and money laundering. 

According to court documents, on numerous occasions between 2009 and 2014, the Sakkals met with a United States undercover law enforcement agent posing as a member of a drug organization whose role it was to launder money from drug sales.  It is alleged that the Sakkals laundered money given to them by the undercover agent, believing the money to be proceeds from drug sales.  

The charge of conspiracy to commit money laundering and money laundering provides for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting United States William D. Weinreb; Michael J. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New England Division; Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; and Joel P. Garland, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service's Criminal Investigations in Boston; made the announcement.  Assistant U.S. Attorney John A. Capin of Weinreb’s Criminal Division is prosecuting the case. 

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations.  The defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.