Texas Man and Arkansas Woman Arrested for Running Illegal Money Transmitting Business

Apr 28, 2022 · Sourced to the U.S. Department of Justice

The charges described here are allegations. The defendant(s) are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. This page reflects only what the Department of Justice has publicly announced, and links to the original release.

BOSTON – A Texas man and an Arkansas woman were arrested today in connection with allegedly operating a money transmitting business that laundered the proceeds of online investment fraud schemes.

District

Northern Texas

Announced

Apr 28, 2022

Status

Charged

Defendants

Charles Ochi — age 27 · Grand Prairie, Texas · arrested
Danielle Liggins — age 32 · Little Rock, Arkansas · arrested

Charges

Conspiracy to conduct an unlicensed money transmitting business
Max: 5 years in prison, three years of supervised releaseCharles Ochi· charged
Conspiracy to conduct an unlicensed money transmitting business
Max: 5 years in prison, three years of supervised releaseDanielle Liggins· charged

Financial actions

fine: $250,000 or twice the value of the laundered funds, whichever is greater — Potential fine for conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business
fine: $250,000 or twice the value of the laundered funds, whichever is greater — Potential fine for conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business

Investigating agencies

United States Attorney's OfficeFederal Bureau of InvestigationInternal Revenue Service Criminal InvestigationsU.S. Customs and Border ProtectionCommodity Futures Trading Commission

Case details

Prosecuting office: District of Massachusetts
Assets: BTC

CryptocurrencyInteragency Law Enforcement CollaborationInternational Cooperation And Cross-Border CrimeMoney LaunderingOnline Investment Fraud / Ponzi SchemesUnlicensed Money Transmitting Business

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.