SAN FRANCISCO - Tailiang Li was sentenced today to twelve months in prison for unlawfully structuring cash transactions, United States Attorney Melinda Haag and Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge José M. Martinez announced.
Li, 63, of San Francisco, pleaded guilty on August 6, 2013. According to the plea, Li knowingly structured financial transactions at a domestic financial institution with the purpose of avoiding the currency reporting requirements. Between Feb. 14, 2008 and May 1, 2009, Li purchased, with cash, 174 - $1,000 money orders ($174,000) from the United States Postal Service. He purchased money orders from the following post offices: Millbrae Main Station, Chinatown Station, Sunset Station, Irving Station, Golden Gate Station, Steiner Station, and Geary Station. He typically purchased money orders from at least two or more post offices in one day. However, if he did purchase money orders from the same post office on the same day, he took particular care not to purchase from the same window clerk.
Li was charged on Feb. 12, 2013 with 20 counts of structuring transactions to evade reporting requirements. He pleaded guilty to 2 counts. Li was also ordered to forfeit $174,000. This sum represents the funds that were involved in the structuring violations.
Thomas Moore is the Assistant United States Attorney who is prosecuting the case. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation.
( )
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
