Inside ICE: Volume 3, Issue 4

Pennsylvania Man Found Guilty of Operating Illegal Money-Transmitting Business

WASHINGTON, D.C.—A Pennsylvania man, Kesetbrhan M. Keleta, who wired over $8.3 million to overseas customers, has been found guilty of operating an illegal money-transmitting business, United States Attorney Kenneth L. Wainstein and Mark McGraw, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the ICE Office of Investigations in Washington, D.C., recently announced.

A federal jury in the District of Columbia found Keleta, 43, of York, Pa., guilty of the charges and he will be sentenced on October 4, 2006, before the Honorable Colleen Kollar-Kotelly. The maximum sentence Mr. Keleta faces is ten years. His likely to serve between 63 to 78 months of incarceration based upon U.S. sentencing guidelines.

The government’s evidence at trial showed that, during 2001 and 2002, the defendant operated a money-transmitting business at the Eritrean Cultural and Civic Center at 600 L Street, NW, Washington, D.C. Patrons of the business, known as Himbol Financial Services, used it to send money primarily to Eritrea, but also to other destinations in East Africa and the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, Libya, and Kenya.

Section 1960 of Title 18 of the United States Code makes it unlawful for any person to manage, supervise, control, or direct a money-transmitting business that is not licensed by a state or the District of Columbia and that has not registered with the Department of the Treasury. Himbol never had a license with the District of Columbia and never registered with the Department of the Treasury. The defendant operated the business despite knowing of these licensing requirements. During 2001 and 2002, he was responsible for wiring approximately $8.3 million to overseas customers.

In announcing the verdict, U.S. Attorney Wainstein and Acting Special Agent-in-Charge McGraw praised the efforts of ICE Special Agents Bryan Brunner, Katarina Gikas, and Steven Austin. They also thanked Paralegal Eugene Lee and Legal Assistants Barya Offer and Tiffany Walker for their excellent assistance in preparing the case for trial. Lastly, they commended Assistant United States Attorney Jay I. Bratt, who prosecuted the case.

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