Riverton Man Pleads Guilty To Operating Unlicensed Money Transmitting Business
2020-09-01 · Press release
Summary: Riverton Man Pleads Guilty To Operating Unlicensed Money Transmitting Business
SALT LAKE CITY – Justin Peck, 47, of Riverton, entered a plea of guilty to one count of operating an unlicensed money transmitting business in federal court in Utah recently, admitting that he owned several companies that were operating as unlicensed money transmitting businesses from as early as 2012 through sometime in 2019.
As a part of a plea agreement reached with federal prosecutors, Peck stipulated that his companies that did not comply with federal law and regulations for money transmitting business registration requirements.
Specifically, Peck admitted he received checks from general contractors for drywall labor. He cashed those checks and deliver the money to subcontractors or other individuals who were responsible for paying the laborers. For his services, Peck would keep a fee of 6-10% of the contractor’s check. From 2012 through 2019, Peck transmitted at least $58,248,103.38.
Investigators believe the purpose of the business was to avoid employment taxes and higher workers compensation premiums.
Peck waived indictment and was charged in a Felony Information filed in July 2020.
Peck earned significant income through his business and failed to report it on his personal taxes. As a part of his plea agreement, Peck agreed to file accurate and complete personal tax returns for the tax years 2012-2017. He also agreed to forfeit his interest in property.
He faces up to five years in prison when he sentenced Nov. 5, 2020, by U.S. District Judge Howard C. Nielson, Jr.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys in the Utah U.S. Attorney’s Office are prosecuting the case. Special agents with IRS-Criminal Investigation are investigating the case.
- district_office
- usa_name
- event_type
- judge_name
- judge_title
- case_number
- max_penalty_text
- sentence_summary
- money_amounts
- crypto_assets
- statutes_json
- timeline_json
- press_release_url
- https://www.justice.gov/usao-ut/pr/riverton-man-pleads-guilty-operating-unlicensed-money-transmitting-business
- extras_json
| participant_id | name | role | title | organization | location | age | nationality | status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2067 | Justin Peck | defendant | Riverton, Utah | 47 | pleaded guilty | |||
| 2068 | Howard C. Nielson, Jr. | judge | U.S. District Judge | U.S. District Court | Utah |
| agency_id | agency_name | abbreviation | role | office_location | agents_mentioned | contribution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1268 | Utah U.S. Attorney’s Office | prosecution | Utah | prosecuting the case | ||
| 1269 | Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation | IRS-CI | investigation | investigating the case |
| charge_id | charge_description | statute | severity | max_penalty | fine_amount | defendant | status | participant_id | cl_docket_id | count_num | is_1960 | verified_1960 | source | updated_at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1063 | Operating an unlicensed money transmitting business | felony | five years in prison | Justin Peck | pleaded guilty | 1 | enrichment | 2026-09-16T19:45:58+00:00 | ||||||
| 2977 | operating an unlicensed money transmitting business in federal court in Utah recently, admitting that he owned several companies th | 1 | press | 2026-09-16T19:45:58+00:00 | ||||||||||
| 2978 | operating an unlicensed money transmitting business in federal court in Utah recently, admitting that he owned several com | 1 | press | 2026-09-16T19:45:58+00:00 | ||||||||||
| 2979 | unlicensed money transmitting business in federal court in Utah recently, admi | 1 | press | 2026-09-16T19:45:58+00:00 | ||||||||||
| 2980 | unlicensed money transmitting businesses from as early as 2012 through sometim | 1 | press | 2026-09-16T19:45:58+00:00 |
| fin_id | action_type | amount | currency | description | asset_type | defendant | status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 408 | forfeiture | interest in property | property | Justin Peck | ordered |
| victim_id | victim_type | description | number_affected | loss_amount | geographic_scope | vulnerability_factors | impact_description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 287 | government | U.S. Government | Federal (United States) | Loss of tax revenue due to unreported income |
| quote_id | quote_text | speaker_name | speaker_title | speaker_organization | quote_type | context | significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1409 | Peck stipulated that his companies that did not comply with federal law and regulations for money transmitting business registration requirements. | Justin Peck | statement | Plea agreement | Admission of non-compliance with federal regulations |
| theme_id | theme_name | description | significance | related_statutes | geographic_scope | temporal_aspects | stakeholders |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1359 | Operating Unlicensed Money Transmitting Business | Peck operated several unlicensed money transmitting businesses from 2012 to 2019, handling contractor checks and distributing funds to subcontractors while retaining fees. | Central to the criminal charges, leading to his guilty plea. | 18 U.S.C. § 1960 | National | 2012 through 2019 | Law enforcement, Financial institutions, Subcontractors/Laborers |
| 1360 | Tax Evasion | Peck failed to report income from his business on personal tax returns for 2012-2017. | Key aspect of financial misconduct, requiring him to file corrected returns. | 26 U.S.C. § 7201 | National | 2012-2017 (tax years) | IRS, Tax authorities, Government |
| 1361 | Avoidance of Employment Taxes and Workers' Compensation | The business was structured to avoid paying employment taxes and reduce workers' compensation premiums. | Indicates intent to evade legal obligations, impacting labor regulations. | National | 2012 through 2019 | Employers, Workers, Insurance companies | |
| 1362 | Asset Forfeiture | Peck agreed to forfeit his interest in property as part of the plea agreement. | A punitive measure to recover benefits from illegal activities. | 18 U.S.C. § 981, 18 U.S.C. § 982 | National | 2020 (plea agreement) | Government, Defendant |
| 1363 | Federal Prosecution and Sentencing | The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, leading to a guilty plea and potential prison sentence. | Highlights the legal process and consequences faced by Peck. | 18 U.S.C. § 1960, 26 U.S.C. § 7201 | National | 2020 (plea and sentencing) | U.S. Attorney’s Office, Courts, Defendant |
CourtListener / RECAP
No linked CourtListener docket yet.