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Posted on Fri, Jul. 08, 2005
Bulgarian couple charged with illegally transferring money

Associated Press

CHICAGO - Federal authorities have indicted a Bulgarian couple for allegedly operating an unlicensed money-wiring business that sent $3 million to clients in the European country, officials said Friday.

Stefan Dimitrov, 50, and Tatiana Dimitrova, 49, were indicted Thursday on charges of operating an unlicensed money remitting business, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Bureau said.

Authorities said the couple operated their business from a cultural center on the city's northwest side.

If convicted, they face up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. They also would have to forfeit $68,000 in profits they allegedly received from the wire transfers, officials said.

Immigration bureau spokesman Tim Counts said the two were arrested in April. U.S. attorney spokesman Randall Samborn said they were not in federal custody because they had posted bond and were released.

Authorities did not know if the two were represented by attorneys.

A telephone listing for a Stefan Dimitrov in Chicago went unanswered Friday. No telephone numbers were listed for Dimitrova or the cultural center.