Thread: Man pleads guilty to illegally cashing checks

I.C.E. News Release

May 28, 2010

Man pleads guilty to illegally cashing checks for local construction company

OCALA, Fla. - Andrew D. Lemine, 54, of Paisley, Fla., pled guilty on May 27 to one count of operating an unlicensed money transmitting business, following an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

He faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison.

Lemine is the owner of Sorrento Grocery in Sorrento, Fla. Although he did not have a license from the State of Florida to operate as a money transmitter, Lemine cashed approximately $4 million in checks at his store between Jan. 1, 2004, and Dec. 31, 2008, from employees of a local construction company, John Trubenbach Construction (JTC).

He cashed these checks in exchange for a fee of between 1 and 1.5 percent and did so with the knowledge that the owners of the construction company were attempting to conceal their employment of illegal aliens, avoid paying workers' compensation and employment taxes, and hide income from state and federal tax officials.

Lemine agreed to forfeit to the United States $690,068.13 that agents had seized from a bank account he controlled.

"This successful investigation was the result of the cooperation and partnerships with state and local law enforcement," said Sue McCormick, special agent in charge of the ICE Office of Investigations in Tampa.

The construction company was investigated by the state. Its owner has pleaded guilty to state charges of workers' compensation fraud, and the company is now bankrupt.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel W. Eckhart.

-- ICE --

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security.

ICE comprises four integrated divisions that form a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities. For more information, visit www.ICE.gov. To report suspicious activity, call 1-866-347-2423.

Last Modified: Friday, May 28, 2010
U.S. Department of Homeland Security

http://www.ice.gov/pi/nr/1005/100528ocala.htm

Lemine is the owner of Sorrento Grocery in Sorrento, Fla. Although he did not have a license from the State of Florida to operate as a money transmitter, Lemine cashed approximately $4 million in checks at his store between Jan. 1, 2004, and Dec. 31, 2008, from employees of a local construction company, John Trubenbach Construction (JTC).


So did JT construction get fined?


HMMM

Originally Posted by TakingBackSoCal

Lemine is the owner of Sorrento Grocery in Sorrento, Fla. Although he did not have a license from the State of Florida to operate as a money transmitter, Lemine cashed approximately $4 million in checks at his store between Jan. 1, 2004, and Dec. 31, 2008, from employees of a local construction company, John Trubenbach Construction (JTC).

So did JT construction get fined? HMMM

The construction company was investigated by the state. Its owner has pleaded guilty to state charges of workers' compensation fraud, and the company is now bankrupt.

Thanks JD2

Its owner has pleaded guilty to state charges of workers' compensation fraud, and the company is now bankrupt.

Ah but is the owner also bankrupt? He damn well should be!

Originally Posted by Ratbstard

Its owner has pleaded guilty to state charges of workers' compensation fraud, and the company is now bankrupt.

Ah but is the owner also bankrupt? He damn well should be!

Hell no he ain't bankrupted...he is laughing all the way to the bank and will re-open a new construction company after he finds a new local grocery store to cash the pay checks of newly hired illegal aliens.