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Southwest Kansas Couple Pleads Guilty to Money Laundering
A shocking case of financial deceit has come to light as George Enns, 70, and his wife Agatha Enns, 68, both of Meade, Kan., pleaded guilty Monday to a federal money laundering charge, U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said.
According to officials, the defendants admitted to using a joint account at Plains State Bank in Plains, Kan., to launder approximately $1.6 million in cash and $5.2 million in third-party checks.
The funds, which the defendants knew were the proceeds of unlawful activity, were not used for their own business and personal transactions. Instead, they were transferred out of state to purchase genetically modified corn seed, which was then shipped to Mexico at the direction of George Enns.
This process, known as trade-based money laundering, is a complex scheme that involves concealing the proceeds of crime using seemingly legitimate financial transactions.
George Enns, a frequent traveler to Mexico, would often carry cash into the United States without reporting the funds at the border. This cash was then deposited into the joint account at Plains State Bank, where it was commingled with other funds.
Sentencing for the couple is set for February 27, with the government recommending three years of probation and a money judgment to be determined by the judge.
U.S. Attorney Tom Beall commended the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Internal Revenue Service, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Debra Barnett for their work on the case.
Key Facts
- State: Kansas
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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