Rahim A. Bariek, of Herndon, plead guilty to operating an illegal money transmittal business on May 20 in U.S. District Court in Alexandria, according to U.S. Attorney Paul J. McNulty.
Bariek, 46, was charged with operating an illegal money transmittal business that had wired millions of dollars to overseas locations, including Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan between 2001 and 2003, according to McNulty's press release.
"We are cracking down on illegal financial systems that could be used to supply money to terrorists," according to McNulty.
Bariek, the owner of Bariek Money Transfer, operated his transmittal business without a money transmitting license from the Virginia State Corporation Commission, according to McNulty. Bariek and his business received at least $4.9 million in funds from individuals wishing to transfer money out of the United States from Nov. 1, 2001 until Aug. 8, 2003. Funds were deposited in five bank accounts controlled by Bariek, according to McNulty.
Bariek "caused approximately $4.9 million to be transferred to individuals in various Middle Eastern nations, including Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran, without a money transmitting license…as required by law," according to the release.
Bariek faces up to five years in prison. He is scheduled to be sentenced this summer in U.S. District Court.