Multimillion-dollar unlicensed money transmitter sent to prison

2025-10-16 · Press release

Mentions 1960

Summary: A 56-year-old Iraqi citizen who resided in Richmond has been sentenced following his conviction of unlicensed money remitting

Editor's Note:
This matter occurred on date indicated, but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.

HOUSTON – A 56-year-old Iraqi citizen who resided in Richmond has been sentenced following his conviction of unlicensed money remitting, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

A federal jury deliberated for approximately two hours before convicting Sameer Sami Rasheed Al Salman April 23 following a two-day trial.

U.S. District Judge Sim Lake has now ordered Salman to serve 54 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. At the hearing, the court heard how Salman provided money services to criminal organizations in the tens of thousands of dollars and that he refused to tell FBI where $300,000 cash was located when they searched his house.

During trial, the jury heard evidence about Salman’s money transmitting business, which he operated at his residence in Richmond. Since 2020, Salman transferred and wired millions of dollars from U.S. bank accounts to ones all over the world, including in China, Indonesia and India.

Additional testimony revealed that Salman offered his services locally and conducted informal hawala transactions-a method of transferring money without using the banking system. He carried out these transfers, often amounting to thousands of dollars, from his driveway and required individuals to show their identification. Many transfers originated from Iraq with some up to $40,000.

Authorities identified Salman’s illegal money transmitting operation after extensive surveillance and conducted a search of his residence. At that time, they discovered over $282,000 in cash stored within the house, which Salman will forfeit.

At the time of the trial, the defense attempted to convince the jury Salman had lawful authority to operate a money transfer business in Iraq. The jury did not believe those claims and found him guilty as charged.

Salman remains in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Heather Winter and Steven Schammel prosecuted the case.

district_office: Southern District of Texas
usa_name: Nicholas J. Ganjei
event_type: sentencing
judge_name: Sim Lake
judge_title: U.S. District Judge
case_number
max_penalty_text
sentence_summary: 54 months in federal prison
money_amounts: $300,000, $282,000, $40,000
crypto_assets
statutes_json: [null]
timeline_json: {"conviction_date": "2025-04-23"}
press_release_url: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdtx/pr/multimillion-dollar-unlicensed-money-transmitter-sent-prison
extras_json

participant_id	name	role	title	organization	location	age	nationality	status
3823	Nicholas J. Ganjei	prosecutor	U.S. Attorney	U.S. Attorney's Office	Houston
3824	Sameer Sami Rasheed Al Salman	defendant			Richmond	56	Iraqi	sentenced
3825	Sim Lake	judge	U.S. District Judge	U.S. District Court	Houston
3826	Heather Winter	prosecutor	Assistant U.S. Attorney	U.S. Attorney's Office	Houston
3827	Steven Schammel	prosecutor	Assistant U.S. Attorney	U.S. Attorney's Office	Houston

agency_id	agency_name	abbreviation	role	office_location	agents_mentioned	contribution
2390	Federal Bureau of Investigation	FBI	investigation			Conducted the investigation and searched the defendant's residence.
2391	United States Department of Justice	DOJ	prosecution	Houston	Heather Winter, Steven Schammel	Prosecuted 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
2131	Unlicensed money remitting				$282,000	Sameer Sami Rasheed Al Salman	convicted				0		enrichment

fin_id	action_type	amount	currency	description	asset_type	defendant	status
1754	forfeiture	$282,000	USD	cash stored within the house	cash	Sameer Sami Rasheed Al Salman	ordered

victim_id	victim_type	description	number_affected	loss_amount	geographic_scope	vulnerability_factors	impact_description
1045	financial institution	U.S. bank accounts		millions of dollars	United States		Transferred and wired millions of dollars to accounts all over the world
1046	individual	individuals		thousands of dollars	Richmond		Conducted informal hawala transactions

quote_id	quote_text	speaker_name	speaker_title	speaker_organization	quote_type	context	significance
3181	Salman provided money services to criminal organizations in the tens of thousands of dollars and that he refused to tell FBI where $300,000 cash was located when they searched his house.				statement	During the sentencing hearing	Describes the defendant's involvement with criminal organizations and his refusal to cooperate with the FBI.
3182	Salman had lawful authority to operate a money transfer business in Iraq.				statement	During the trial	Defense's argument to justify Salman's actions.

theme_id	theme_name	description	significance	related_statutes	geographic_scope	temporal_aspects	stakeholders
2828	Unlicensed Money Transmitting	The defendant, Sameer Sami Rasheed Al Salman, was convicted of operating an unlicensed money transmitting business from his residence in Richmond.	This theme is central to the case as it involves the illegal operation of a money transmitting business without proper licensing.	18 U.S.C. § 1960	National	Recent development	Law enforcement, Defendant, U.S. Attorney's Office
2829	Money Laundering	Evidence presented during the trial showed that Salman provided money services to criminal organizations, transferring tens of thousands of dollars.	This theme is significant as it indicates the defendant's involvement in facilitating financial transactions for criminal activities.	18 U.S.C. § 1956, 18 U.S.C. § 1957	International	Recent development	Law enforcement, Criminal organizations, Defendant
2830	Hawala Transactions	Salman conducted informal hawala transactions, a method of transferring money without using the banking system, often amounting to thousands of dollars.	This theme is important as it highlights the use of informal financial systems to evade regulatory oversight.	18 U.S.C. § 1960	International	Recent development	Law enforcement, Defendant, Financial regulators
2831	International Money Transfers	Salman transferred and wired millions of dollars from U.S. bank accounts to ones all over the world, including in China, Indonesia, and India.	This theme is crucial as it involves the cross-border movement of funds, which can have implications for international financial regulations and law enforcement cooperation.	18 U.S.C. § 1960	International	Recent development	Law enforcement, Financial institutions, International regulatory bodies
2832	Evidence and Forfeiture	Authorities discovered over $282,000 in cash stored within Salman's house, which he will forfeit as part of the sentencing.	This theme is important as it demonstrates the seizure of illicit funds and the enforcement of forfeiture laws.	18 U.S.C. § 982	Local	Recent development	Law enforcement, Defendant, U.S. Attorney's Office
2833	Legal Defense and Trial	The defense attempted to argue that Salman had lawful authority to operate a money transfer business in Iraq, but the jury found him guilty.	This theme is significant as it highlights the legal strategies and outcomes of the trial.	null	National	Recent development	Defense attorneys, Prosecutors, Jury
2834	Immigration and Removal Proceedings	As a non-U.S. citizen, Salman is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment.	This theme is important as it involves the potential deportation of a convicted individual.	8 U.S.C. § 1227	International	Future	Immigration authorities, Defendant

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