William S. Thompson U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia
James E. Monroe Jr., a 59-year-old resident of Daniels, West Virginia, has pleaded guilty to charges of money laundering. The plea was entered in Beckley, W.Va., as announced by United States Attorney Will Thompson.
Court documents reveal that Monroe filed for personal bankruptcy on February 25, 2022. He admitted to selling his collection of over 10,000 sports trading cards after the bankruptcy filing without disclosing this sale or the existence of the collection in his bankruptcy filings. Monroe acknowledged selling the collection online to a friend to convert it into cash and conceal the nature of the proceeds.
Further admissions include failing to disclose several significant assets and transactions. These include the December 2021 sale of his marital home for $525,000 within Glade Springs residential development and a retirement account. Additionally, he did not report two loans secured using equity from his whole-life insurance policy and a rented storage unit containing property belonging to the bankruptcy estate. His financial disclosures falsely stated that his minor daughter lived with him as a dependent.
Monroe's sentencing is scheduled for May 15, 2025. He faces up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and fines reaching $500,000.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted investigative work on this case following a criminal referral by the United States Trustee’s Charleston field office. This office is part of the Department of Justice’s United States Trustee Program aimed at maintaining integrity and efficiency in the bankruptcy system for debtors, creditors, and public stakeholders.
United States Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn presided over Monroe's hearing while Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan T. Storage handles prosecution duties.
Details regarding this case can be accessed via PACER under Case No. 5:24-cr-121 or through related court documents available on the U.S. Attorney’s Office website for Southern District West Virginia.
