Van J. Sanders, Jr., Marijuana Distribution and Money Laundering, Missouri 2012

St. Louis, MO - A large-scale marijuana distribution network has been dismantled, with two men sentenced for their involvement.

VAN J. SANDERS, JR., of Tucson, AZ, and LEON ROBINSON III, of Florissant, MO, were sentenced in connection with their operation of the network and laundering the proceeds through a Tucson, Arizona, business to avoid reporting requirements.

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.

On September 25, 2012, VAN J. SANDERS, JR. was sentenced to 24 months incarceration. On the same day, LEON ROBINSON III was sentenced to 12 months and 1 day.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edmo/pr/arizona-man-and-his-st-louis-area-associate-sentenced-drug-and-money-laundering-charges