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Grand Jury Returns Indictment Charging Two with Money Laundering

On July 25, 2017 the Department of Justice U.S. Attorney's Office Western District of Pennsylvania indicted Nathanael Nyameky by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh, on a charge of money laundering, The one-count indictment, named Nathanael Nyamekye, 34, of Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania as defendant. According to the indictment, on or about June 29, 2016, An alleged accomplice of Nyamekye caused Citizens Bank to reissue a $48,000 official bank check which Nyamekye deposited into his Huntington Bank account, both knowing that the funds were derived from a criminal offense, when in fact the funds were derived from a wire fraud scheme.  The scheme allegedly involved money from a fraudulent real estate sale, where a retired couple from Gaithersburg, Maryland was cheated out of $411,548.06.  According to the criminal complaint and affidavit, the theft of the home sale money was done through a series of faxes and emails and the proceeds were deposited in an alleged accomplice bank account. Officials said Nyameky then obtained eight bank checks with the stolen money, payable to various people and businesses. According to investigators, one of them, in the amount of $48,000, was to Remy Tire Mart owned by Nyamekye.  Officials say Nyamekye deposited the check in his business bank account. Investigators said another check, for $50,000, was made out to Salem’s Market and Grill, were the accomplice was once employed. Officials said that check was ultimately recovered and the money was returned to the victims.

The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not more than 10 years in prison, a fine of not more than $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.   An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.