Multimillion-dollar unlicensed money transmitter convicted
Apr 23, 2024 · Sourced to the U.S. Department of Justice
A federal jury has returned a guilty verdict against an Iraqi citizen who resided in Richmond for operating a money transmitting business without a license
Defendants
- Sameer Sami Rasheed Al Salman — age 55 · Richmond · convicted
Charges
Operating an unlicensed money transmitting business
Max: five years in federal prisonSameer Sami Rasheed Al Salman· convicted
Financial actions
- seizure: $282,000 — Cash discovered stored within the residence during search
- fine: $250,000 — Possible maximum fine faced at sentencing
From the announcement
“Money flowed from Iraq through Houston thanks to Rasheed Al Salman's illegal money transmitting business, a business he conducted from his home's driveway and without a license”
“Hawala operators like Salman pose a real threat to banking systems because they undermine the oversight and regulation of significant money transfers - transfers that when unregulated, often end up in the coffers of international criminal organizations.”
Investigating agencies
Case details
- Prosecuting office
- Southern District of Texas
- Judge
- Sim Lake, U.S. District Judge
Primary source
Every fact above is drawn from the Department of Justice's own announcement — a public-domain government record.
Read the original DOJ release →This is a research and reference page compiled from public DOJ announcements, not legal advice. Details reflect the government's statements as of its release date and may not capture later developments such as appeals, dismissals, or overturned convictions. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.