KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - On Nov. 30, 2015, George Marcus Hall, 45, of Knoxville, Tenn., pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to an information charging him with operating an illegal gambling operation and money laundering. He was released under the supervision of the U.S. Probation office pending his sentencing hearing set for 10:00 a.m., on Apr. 20, 2016.
Hall faces up to twenty years in federal prison as well as supervision by the U.S. Probation office upon his release. Additionally, Hall agreed to forfeit his interest in assets collectively valued at over $9 million, which were involved in and/or products of his illegal gambling operation and money laundering conspiracy. These valuable assets consist of: four vehicles, including his 2014 Porsche Panamera; 18 pieces of real property valued at over $3.3 million; over $415,000 in cash and bank accounts and an agreed monetary judgment of $5 million.
The plea agreement on file with U.S. District Court details Hall’s participation in the illegal gambling and money laundering operation. An Agreed Preliminary Order of Forfeiture is also on file with U.S. District Court and describes the assets listed above in detail.
Bill Killian, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Tennessee, said, “In addition to the potential punishments that Hall is facing, as a further deterrent, the government seized and is seeking forfeiture of numerous valuable assets owned by Hall and others involved in these criminal acts, which are either the proceeds of or were purchased with the profits of this unlawful gambling and money laundering business and/or were involved in these criminal violations." Killian added, “Assets which were retained by Hall and not forfeited were of no value or benefit to the government, including Marc Nelson Denim, LLC."
This investigation was conducted by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Kolman and Anne-Marie Svolto represented the United States.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
