Meade couple sentenced in money laundering case

A Meade couple has been sentenced to three years of probation after pleading guilty to money laundering in U.S. District Court, officials said.

George Enns, 71, and his wife, Agatha Enns, 69, of Meade pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering conspiracy, U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said in a prepared statement.

George Enns was ordered to pay a money judgment of more than $1.5 million, Beall said. The defendants admitted to trade-based money laundering, in which George Enns received cash and checks during trips to Mexico that he then deposited in an account at Plains State Bank.

The deposits added up to at least $1.6 million in cash and $5.2 million in third-party checks, Beall said. The Ennses knew the money was the result of unlawful activity, though they did not know or do business with the people whose names were on the checks.

George Enns brought the money into the U.S. without reporting the funds at the border, Beall said. Funds in the Plains State Bank account were used to purchase genetically modified corn seed. The seed was then shipped to the border, where the corn was transported into Mexico.

This story was originally published August 17, 2017 at 6:51 PM with the headline "Meade couple sentenced in money laundering case."