Feds: Man accused of money laundering through Hard Rock Casino
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The FBI is searching for a man accused of laundering large amounts of money through Hard Rock Casino in Cincinnati.According to a federal warrant, Ismail Shalash would sell luxury vehicles online to privately owned car dealerships and then never deliver the promised product once he was paid. The agency says he defrauded five victims in four states, totaling $1.7 million. The FBI says Shalash would sometimes work under the alias Armand Brigante of MDDI Inc. and deceive the victims into believing Brigante was a separate person. It says, when the vehicles weren't delivered, the victims failed to get into contact with Shalash or he would not remedy the problem, and they would not receive a refund.Federal documents revealed Shalash made multiple withdrawals with notes indicating it was for Hard Rock Cincinnati almost immediately after he defrauded his victims.According to the federal complaint, Shalash would allegedly cash in large amounts of money into the casino and then cash out the money in credits. He would then allegedly redeem the chips shortly after."When the Currency Transactions Reports were reviewed, it appeared that Shalash was laundering money through Hard Rock Cincinnati by cashing in large amounts of money into the casino and then cashing out the money in credits," the document stated.In the report he FBI states that a "strong indicator of money laundering is when a player converts money into chips and then redeems those chips (or “cashes-out”) within a relatively short period of time."Federal documents state Shalash fled the country shortly after the transactions were made.A federal warrant has been issued for his arrest for wire fraud and money laundering of money instruments. The FBI describes Shalash as 6 feet tall, 215 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. He has dual citizenship from Jordan and Palestine and ties to Cincinnati.Anyone with information about Shalash is asked to contact their local FBI offices or the nearest American Embassy or consulate.
CINCINNATI —The FBI is searching for a man accused of laundering large amounts of money through Hard Rock Casino in Cincinnati.
According to a federal warrant, Ismail Shalash would sell luxury vehicles online to privately owned car dealerships and then never deliver the promised product once he was paid. The agency says he defrauded five victims in four states, totaling $1.7 million.
The FBI says Shalash would sometimes work under the alias Armand Brigante of MDDI Inc. and deceive the victims into believing Brigante was a separate person. It says, when the vehicles weren't delivered, the victims failed to get into contact with Shalash or he would not remedy the problem, and they would not receive a refund.
Federal documents revealed Shalash made multiple withdrawals with notes indicating it was for Hard Rock Cincinnati almost immediately after he defrauded his victims.
According to the federal complaint, Shalash would allegedly cash in large amounts of money into the casino and then cash out the money in credits.
He would then allegedly redeem the chips shortly after.
"When the Currency Transactions Reports were reviewed, it appeared that Shalash was laundering money through Hard Rock Cincinnati by cashing in large amounts of money into the casino and then cashing out the money in credits," the document stated.
In the report he FBI states that a "strong indicator of money laundering is when a player converts money into chips and then redeems those chips (or “cashes-out”) within a relatively short period of time."
Federal documents state Shalash fled the country shortly after the transactions were made.
A federal warrant has been issued for his arrest for wire fraud and money laundering of money instruments.
The FBI describes Shalash as 6 feet tall, 215 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. He has dual citizenship from Jordan and Palestine and ties to Cincinnati.
Anyone with information about Shalash is asked to contact their local FBI offices or the nearest American Embassy or consulate.
