Ohio Businessman Pleads Guilty to Federal Money Laundering Charge

BUFFALO, NY—Thomas Cimicato, 42, of Columbus, Ohio, pled guilty today to money laundering, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Ellen Kresse said that from November 2005 until January 2006, Cimicato operated Integrated Check Technologies, a Columbus, Ohio business which he used to launder the proceeds of telemarketing fraud. In the money laundering scheme, victims' money was deposited into bank accounts controlled by Integrated Check Technologies. The money was then transferred back to telemarketers in Canada and the United States. One of the companies involved in the money laundering scheme was Eclipse Processing, Inc. of Williamsville, New York. Eclipse's owner, Ralph S. Guastaferro, Jr., pled guilty in November 2009 for his role in the scheme.

Mr. Cimicato admitted that he laundered approximately $3.9 million during this period. As part of the plea, Mr. Cimicato has turned over approximately $2.9 million to the government and agreed to its forfeiture.

Sentencing is scheduled for June 7, 2010.

The guilty plea was the result of an investigation by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Department of Homeland Security, under the direction of Lev Kubiak, Special Agent in Charge; and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James H. Robertson.