Tampa Republic

Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg has announced the indictment of Mauricio Chahine, 52, from Jacksonville, on charges of money laundering and attempted money laundering. Chahine is facing five counts in total and could face up to 20 years in federal prison for each count if convicted. He was arrested following a criminal complaint on November 12, 2024, and remains detained pending trial.

Court documents reveal that starting in March 2024, Chahine met with undercover federal agents posing as drug traffickers. During these meetings, he allegedly offered methods to launder money for them in exchange for a fee. Over four separate transactions, Chahine reportedly accepted over $200,000 in cash from the agents. He then divided the cash and deposited it into various corporate bank accounts before returning the funds—minus his fee—via wire transfers to an account controlled by the agents. These actions were intended to obscure the nature and origin of what Chahine believed were proceeds from drug trafficking activities. The indictment further claims that he attempted another act of money laundering shortly before his arrest.

The indictment serves as a formal accusation of federal criminal law violations; however, it does not imply guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The investigation was conducted by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kelly S. Milliron and Michael J. Coolican.