Inside ICE: Volume 2, Issue 12

Maui Man Gets Two Years for Smuggling, Money Laundering

HONOLULU, Hawaii – A Maui man who ran an elaborate multi-million dollar marijuana smuggling scheme was sentenced May 26 to two years in prison for money laundering and filing false income tax returns. In addition, Michael Keith Ritter, 56, forfeited $1 million in cash proceeds from his illegal ventures.

Ritter’s sentencing follows an investigation by ICE and the Internal Revenue Service that revealed he was responsible for importing massive loads of marijuana from Thailand into the United States from the late 1970s through the mid-1980s.

Ritter pleaded guilty last year to money laundering, criminal forfeiture, fraud and making false statements in connection with those activities. Although the drug offenses occurred many years ago, Ritter continued to actively manage his foreign offshore trust fund accounts.

“ICE will continue working with our law enforcement partners to disrupt the trafficking of narcotics and dismantle the criminal enterprises responsible for this activity,” said Hawaii ICE Special Agent-in-Charge Wayne Wills.

Court documents reveal that Ritter participated in at least a dozen ventures using boats to smuggle multi-ton loads of Thai marijuana to the West Coast -- including a 1986 three-ton shipment which grossed more than $5 million. Ritter concealed these funds in foreign offshore trust fund accounts in Hong Kong and in the Isle of Man, filed U.S. tax returns without reporting all income, and failed to file reports for the foreign offshore trust funds he owned and controlled.

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ICE Returns Antiquities to Afghanistan

ICE Arrests California Man for Arranging Sex with Fla. Juvenile

Woman Who Enslaved Child Returned to U.S.

ICE Deports Mexican Man Wanted for Cop Killing

ICE Officers Deport Men With Terrorist Links to Pakistan

Maui Man Gets Two Years for Smuggling, Money Laundering

ICE Senior Agent Francischelli Lauded for Arms Investigation

Freedom and Heritage

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Inside ICE is an e-newsletter produced by the ICE Office of Public Affairs to inform the public about the mission, operations and activities of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Please send comments and contributions to Russ Bergeron, Editor.

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Russ Bergeron, Editor
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