NJ Business Owner Charles Harmon Sentenced
Wednesday, January 25, 2017
PHILADELPHIA PA (January 25, 2017)Charles Harmon (hereinafter Harmon), age 54, was sentenced to 24 months incarceration for violating the currency reporting requirements, stemming from his involvement in a scheme to launder purported drug proceeds. Additionally, Harmon was ordered to pay $9,715 to the IRS. He was also ordered to complete three years of supervised release.
Harmon was the owner and operator of A-Z Auto Services Group located in Hainesport, New Jersey. Harmon conducted financial transactions with United States currency which an undercover agent (UCA) represented to him to be the proceeds of illegal drug trafficking. Specifically, On September 13, 2012, defendant Harmon accepted $45,000 cash from the Undercover Agent, purchased a 2009 GMC Yukon Denali with the cash in the name of A-Z Services Group, then transferred the title to the GMC Yukon Denali to the purported girlfriend of the Undercover Agent. He then structured the $45,000 into A-Z Auto Service Groups bank account to evade and defeat currency transaction reporting requirements and failed to file a Form 8300 as required by law.
In addition, on November 13, 2012 and December 18, 2012, defendant HARMON accepted $50,000 in cash and in return presented a check from the bank account of A-Z Services Group for $47,500 to the Undercover Agent. Defendant HARMON then, over the course of a few days, made structured deposits of under $10,000 into the bank account of A-Z Auto Services Group to evade and defeat currency transaction reporting requirements, and did not file a Form 8300 as required by law.
Harmon said, in open court, “I am filled with shame and remorse.”
The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Wzorek.
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