Owner Of Mussari Motors, Inc. Sentenced To Two Years In Prison For Failing To Report That He Received $719,000 In Cash From A Drug Trafficker

SAN DIEGO – John Frank Mussari Jr, owner of Mussari Motors Inc., a luxury car dealership in San Diego, was sentenced in federal court today to 24 months in prison for conspiring with a drug trafficker to evade laws requiring disclosure of cash transactions exceeding $10,000.

According to his plea agreement, Mussari admitted that he failed to report receiving $719,000 in cash from the drug trafficker, who purchased several high-end vehicles including a Ferrari and Porsche during a four-month period.

Under federal law, each person engaged in an automobile dealership, who in the course of that business, receives more than $10,000 in cash in one transaction or in two or more related transactions, must file “Report of Cash Payments Over $10,000 in Trade or Business” with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FINCEN) within 15 days. Mussari admitted that he and the trafficker, who was identified in the plea agreement only as J.B., intentionally and willfully conspired with each other to avoid filing any of the required forms.

During his guilty plea in September 2014, Mussari admitted that he received $132,000 in cash for a Ferrari, $115,000 in cash for a Lamborghini, $147,000 in cash for a Porsche, and $205,000 for another Lamborghini. Mussari also admitted that he received $80,000, $60,000, and $31,000 in cash from the drug trafficker.

According to court documents, Mussari was initially detained attempting to leave in a Lamborghini at the time federal and state agents searched the residence of the drug trafficker’s home in Fallbrook, California. Agents found about $205,000 cash in Mussari’s Lamborghini. The money was forfeited to the United States.

U.S. District Judge Gonzalo P. Curiel ordered Mussari to report to prison on June 5, 2015. Mussari has been free on bond.

DEFENDANT		Case Number:
John Frank Mussari, Jr.	Age: 48	San Diego, California
CHARGES
Conspiracy to Evade Reporting Requirements Received in Business, in violation of Title 18, U.S.C., Section 371. Maximum penalty: Five years in prison and $250,000 fine.
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Internal Revenue Service Drug Enforcement Administration