Evergreen Reporter

The United States has unsealed an indictment in Nashville, Tennessee, charging nine individuals with participating in a multi-state money laundering organization. The group is accused of laundering millions of dollars from internet fraud schemes, including business email compromise.

Court documents name the defendants as Samson A. Omoniyi, also known as Dada; Misha L. Cooper; Robert A. Cooper; Carlesha L. Perry; Whitney D. Bardley; Lauren O. Guidry; Caira Y. Osby; Dazai S. Harris; and Edward D. Peebles. They face charges of conspiracy to engage in money laundering.

The indictment alleges that the organization has been operating since around November 2016 across Tennessee, Texas, and other locations. It reportedly used a structured network where "herders" recruited "money mules" to launder funds obtained through fraudulent activities targeting businesses and individuals both domestically and internationally.

According to the allegations, the conspirators utilized sham companies to disguise their illegal proceeds and agreed to launder over $20 million.

Acting U.S. Attorney Thomas J. Jaworski for the Middle District of Tennessee stated that each defendant could face up to 20 years in federal prison if convicted, with sentencing determined by a federal district court judge based on U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutory factors.

The FBI's Nashville Field Office, Salt Lake City Field Office, Boise Resident Agency are conducting the investigation with support from the FBI’s Forensic Accountant Support Team.

Assistant U.S. Attorney S. Carran Daughtrey for the Middle District of Tennessee alongside Trial Attorneys Kenneth Kaplan and Jasmin Salehi Fashami are prosecuting this case underlining that an indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.