EDWARDSVILLE – Two New York City men were charged with money laundering after a traffic stop revealed $250,000 hidden under carpeting in the vehicle.
A 40-year-old man from Staten Island and a 37-year-old man from Brooklyn, both in New York City, were each charged with two counts of money laundering, all Class 1 felonies.
According to court documents, on June 25, the two were allegedly found to be transporting $250,000 hidden under the carpeting of a vehicle that was pulled over for a traffic violation.
According to petitions to deny pre-trial release filed by the Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office, an Illinois State Trooper stopped the two on a highway in Madison County, and a police K9 indicated the presence of contraband. During a search, police allegedly found approximately $250,000 in cash hidden under the vehicle carpet in a void. One of the suspects claimed he received the money from a friend, but could not identify the friend or the source of the money.
Both were ordered remanded to jail.
The Metropolitan Enforcement Group of Southwestern Illinois presented the cases.