A federal grand jury in Florence, South Carolina, has returned an indictment charging Nasir Ullah, 28, Naim Ullah, 32, both from Sumter, South Carolina, and Puquan Huang, 49, of Buford, Georgia. They face charges of conspiring to launder money derived from drug trafficking.
"As alleged in the indictment, the defendants laundered tens of millions of dollars in drug proceeds from the United States through China and the Middle East, enabling a continuous flow of fentanyl and other dangerous drugs into our country from Mexico," said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. He emphasized the importance of dismantling transnational criminal organizations and Chinese Money Laundering Organizations. "Alongside DEA and our local law enforcement partners, we will continue to prosecute the financial networks that fuel illegal drug trade and profit from the sale of deadly substances."
Acting U.S. Attorney Brook B. Andrews for the District of South Carolina commented on the operation: "We are committed to dismantling criminal organizations that seek to profit through the distribution of dangerous drugs like cocaine and fentanyl across South Carolina and beyond." Andrews highlighted the international ties of this $30 million money laundering operation conducted in multiple communities in South Carolina. "We will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to trace these illicit funds, disrupt these networks, and hold those involved accountable for the harm they present."
Jae W. Chung, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division, expressed the importance of partnerships in combating such crimes. "The volume of dangerous drugs, including deadly fentanyl, impacts our communities beyond comprehension. This investigation and subsequent arrests demonstrate DEA’s commitment to protecting our community by destroying these drug trafficking and money laundering organizations."
Court documents unsealed recently alleged that Ullah, Ullah, and Huang were part of a money laundering organization. This group reportedly laundered at least $30 million in proceeds related to illegal drugs, including cocaine and fentanyl. The illegal substances were said to be imported primarily through Mexico. The defendants allegedly traveled throughout the United States to collect drug proceeds and communicated with co-conspirators in China to facilitate the laundering process. The methods included transactions designed to disguise the illegal origin of funds, such as moving money through electronic goods shipped to China and the Middle East.
Ullah, Ullah, and Huang face charges of conspiracy to commit money laundering. If convicted, each could receive a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
The DEA’s Charleston, South Carolina Resident Office led the investigation, with extensive support from various DEA divisions and local law enforcement agencies. This includes the DEA offices in Columbia, South Carolina, and Atlanta, Georgia, the FBI offices in Charleston and Columbia, South Carolina, and several other state and local bodies.
Trial Attorneys Mary K. Daly and Jasmin Salehi Fashami of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, along with Assistant U.S. Attorney Everett E. McMillian for the District of South Carolina, are overseeing the prosecution.
Assistance was also provided by the Third and Fifth Judicial Circuit Solicitor’s Offices of South Carolina.
It is important to note that an indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
