News Summary
Mauricio Chahine has been sentenced to over four years in prison for his role in a money laundering operation exceeding $250,000. Federal authorities revealed Chahine had been facilitating drug-related financial transactions since 1999. The investigation, prompted by a DEA tip, uncovered a complex scheme involving multiple international transactions and the use of fraudulent invoices. Chahine’s case highlights an ongoing effort by law enforcement to combat organized crime and money laundering, with significant collaboration among federal agencies.
Jacksonville—Mauricio Chahine, a 53-year-old resident of Jacksonville, has been sentenced to four years and two months in federal prison for his involvement in a money laundering scheme exceeding $250,000. U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard presided over the case, which also included an order for Chahine to forfeit $12,000 in proceeds derived from his illegal activities.
Chahine pleaded guilty to the charges on April 30, 2025, following a thorough investigation by federal authorities. The case was initiated when a confidential source alerted the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) about Chahine’s money laundering operations, which reportedly involved transferring funds from the United States to various international locations.
Undercover federal agents made contact with Chahine after the tip was received. In a meeting held in March 2024, Chahine engaged with agents posing as cocaine traffickers who were seeking assistance in moving their illicit profits. During this meeting, Chahine displayed a concerning level of interest in the logistics of the operation, asking about the sum of money involved, its destination, and the urgency required for its delivery.
When questioned about the source of the funds being drug-related, Chahine expressed a deliberate desire to avoid knowing specific details. He revealed that he had been involved in money laundering since 1999, claiming expertise in moving financial assets through several countries, including Brazil, Lebanon, and China.
As part of his money laundering strategy, Chahine disclosed his fee structure, charging 12% for transactions exceeding $200,000 and 15% for smaller sums. He suggested using fraudulent invoices to disguise illegal transactions as legitimate and recommended splitting deposits into smaller increments to evade detection, with an example of depositing $5,000 daily.
The investigation uncovered that over the course of his illicit dealings, Chahine accepted a total of $217,975 in legitimate cash along with an additional $50,000 in counterfeit currency. He proceeded to deposit these illegal funds across seven corporate bank accounts before wiring smaller amounts back to an undercover government account.
Since his arrest on November 12, 2024, Chahine has remained in custody due to concerns regarding his potential flight risk. This case forms part of a broader initiative led by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force, which focuses on dismantling high-level criminal organizations involved in drug trafficking and money laundering.
The investigation marked a collaborative effort between several federal and local agencies, including the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation division, the DEA, and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. Prosecutors Kelly S. Milliron and Michael J. Coolican represented the government in this case, underscoring the seriousness with which federal authorities are addressing financial crimes linked to drug trafficking operations.
Chahine’s sentencing highlights the ongoing efforts by law enforcement to combat money laundering and the broader implications it has on organized crime and drug-related activities. Authorities have emphasized the importance of collaboration across various jurisdictions in order to effectively target and dismantle such criminal enterprises.
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Additional Resources
- First Coast News
- News4Jax
- Hoodline
- Wikipedia: Money laundering
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Money laundering
Author: STAFF HERE JACKSONVILLE WRITER
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