Spa Owner Guilty of Laundering Money
| U.S. Attorney’s Office October 22, 2013 |
JOHNSTOWN, PA—A resident of Suwanee, Georgia, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of laundering of monetary instruments, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.
Steve Park, 56, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge Kim R. Gibson.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that between January 1, 2010 and December 10, 2010, Park, while the owner of the SunSet Health Spa, located on Pleasant Valley Boulevard, Altoona, Pennsylvania, conducted financial transactions that involved proceeds derived from the unlawful interstate transportation of individuals for illegal sexual activity. By conducting these financial transactions with the illicit proceeds, he intended to engage in conduct constituting a violation of Sections 7201 or 7206 of the Internal Revenue Code.
Judge Gibson scheduled sentencing for February 24, 2014, at 11:00 a.m. The law provides for a total sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of $500,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Haines is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Laurel Highlands Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, and the Pennsylvania State Police conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Park.