Toolbox

Money-laundering Guyanese couple awaiting US sentence

– allegedly moved money for Roger Khan

Evidence found in the home of a husband and wife who are awaiting sentencing in a US court after pleading guilty to money laundering, could be used against drug accused Roger Khan as it is believed that they laundered money for his drug organisation.

According to court documents, a handwritten “money and drug ledger” found in Arnold and Sabrina Budhram’s New York home referred to individuals who are believed to be Khan’s co-conspirators.

Bank records have indicated that in 2001, a company associated with the Budhrams transferred money to a bank account in the name of Khan’s wife and child and it appeared that Khan was in direct contact with the Budhrams in early 2003.

The Budhrams were arrested and charged with money laundering on April 6, 2004 and their home and work offices were searched by investigators, who gathered a large amount of evidential material. They were granted US$5 million bail each, which was put up in cash and surety by many family members who were present in court when they made their first appearance. They were also placed under electronic monitoring and were not allowed to leave their home without permission except to go to work.

The prosecution revealed how the bank vice-president, Arnold Budhram, and the radiology technician, Sabrina Budhram, used a company they had set up and their connections to launder money for drug traffickers operating in Guyana. Sabrina Budhram is the sister of Peter Morgan, who is now facing drug charges in New York after being extradited from Trinidad. Records showed that in at least one case the couple transferred funds in his name.

Meanwhile, the prosecution served a seizure warrant on JP Morgan Chase bank, for an account held there which listed the principal owner as James Morgan, father of Peter Morgan and Sabrina Budhram. In 2004, when Arnold and Sabrina Budhram were arrested, the court was told, James Morgan was serving a ten-year sentence in the United Kingdom for drug importation.
The Budhrams pleaded guilty to money laundering on September 14, 2005.

Narcotics conspiracy
Presenting his case to the court on the day the couple first appeared, Prosecutor Michael Ramos said while the matter was couched as a money-laundering scheme, at its heart it was a narcotics conspiracy.

“These two defendants were, at the very least, on the money end of a massive money-laundering scheme that was in support of massive amounts of money flowing back and forth from Guyana to the United States, for the purpose of, quite bluntly, laundering it and hiding its origins,” Ramos said.

He said that for many years a location in New York was the central drop-off point for the Guyanese drug trade as funds would be dropped off, laundered through a company and the money eventually returned to Guyana through various means. In court, it was revealed that at least US$10 million was recorded, either entering or leaving the US, over a period of years, laundered by the Budhrams and their front company.

“However, we have reason to believe that there may have been multiples of that, over US$10 million, because those are only the instances where couriers were stopped and reported the money, either in and out of customs,” the prosecutor further disclosed. For every sum laundered, the couple was expected to earn at least 3%.

Ramos described the illegal enterprise as a “family-run organisation” and said ties between the couple and the leaders of the organisation were more than one would see in an ordinary sort of money-laundering scheme. He described Sabrina Budhram’s family, some of whom he said were in Guyana, as “one of the largest, not just laundering, but in fact, they also do cocaine importations in the United States on their own behalf.”
Another seizure warrant was served on Astoria Federal Savings bank, where Arnold Budhram was a vice-president of operations, against another account which was found there. The two accounts had approximately US$400,000 altogether on the day the Budhrams were arrested. The prosecution said those accounts were “just the tip of the iceberg.”
In his attempt to dissuade the judge from granting the two bail, Ramos had argued that two other defendants who were on pretrial release, who interacted with the organisation and the very New York address and had far lesser means than the organisation had absconded.
He said homes were posted in one instance where the defendant had a bracelet, and in the other instance, the other person was on strict curfew, with voice reporting every night to pretrial services.
“Both of those individuals fled. We see no reason, given that track record of people being customers of this organsiation, people intimately involved in this organisation would not have reason to flee,” he had argued.

‘Quintessential American immigrant family’
However, while Ramos attempted to paint a picture of the Budhrams that indicated they would flee to Guyana if they were granted bail, Arnold’s lawyer, David Cohen, painted another picture.

He told the court that the “quintessential American immigrant family” was sitting in the front row of the court. Cohen pointed to Arnold’s mother, who was in court, who he said migrated from Guyana and was a citizen of America. His brothers were also there and not only did they migrate from Guyana and become citizens, they were also educated in that country and had children in schools in the US.

“These people all have roots to this country and this community. There is only one family member of my client who lives in Guyana, a sister. Other than that, his entire family resides – we have a foreigner… an uncle who lives in Westchester.

Everyone else basically lives in this district,” the lawyer said. He described them as hard-working, educated citizens in the community adding that his client had strong community ties to remain in the country. He said his client was not a man of means, adding that based on the prosecution’s presentation he should have had no debts, mortgages or job. However, Arnold, his lawyer said, worked two jobs at the time and had done so for some 14 years.
After he left the bank in the afternoon, the lawyer said, he went home to work in his home-improvement business, which saw him going to people’s homes to do repairs and plumbing.

Martin Kane, who appeared in association with John Bergendahl, who incidentally is one of Khan’s listed lawyers, said on behalf of Sabrina that she had worked for nine years as a radiology technician at Middle Village Radiology in Queens County. A lot of her time was also spent taking care of the couple’s two-and-a-half-year-old child.

Kane said while she had relatives in Guyana many resided in the US, and many of the persons she interacted with lived in that country. These people, her husband’s blood relatives, were willing to put up their homes and life savings for her.
He said his client had lived in the US since she was in her early twenties and was a US citizen who had not left the country in six years. “Any prior trips were for significant family occasions, many, many years ago,” he said.

It is not clear when the two will be sentenced.

Comments

About Comments

We thank all readers who have contributed to this site since its relaunch. This section of the website is intended to provide a forum for reasoned and reasonable debate on the newspaper's content and we hope that readers make full use of it as many have already done.

The comments section is an extension of the newspaper and what it has become well known for over its history: accuracy, balance and fairness.
In recent weeks a large proportion of the comments posted have contained attacks on other users, slander, coarse language and profanity. Comments of these types will be deleted.
Comments which contain gratuitous and incendiary references to race and ethnicity will be struck.
We reserve the right to edit/delete comments for length, any libel and taste. We moderate all comments so be patient while your message waits to be approved.
Curious about the little images next to each commenter's name ? Go here and sign up using the same email address you used to register for Stabroeknews.com then upload your image and confirm it.

53 Responses to “Money-laundering Guyanese couple awaiting US sentence”

Andy
on September 28th, 2008 7:20 am

I recall reading several years back of a front company being operated by Guyanese in Queens for money laundering purposes. These defendants’ names sound familiar, and if they are indeed the business operators, they are going down for a long time, unless they cooperate in the Roger Khan case. Some people are of the view that lots of New York-based Guyanese busineses got their start up with drugs money.
In fact, there is speculation that a certain major store purchased by a New York-based Guyanese business conglomerate, with help from Guyanese associates at home, received financial help from drug smugglers looking to launder money. The store in Georgetown was sold with the principal carrying a suit case containing cash as down payment.
Guyana is one sickening country where the spin-offs from these illegal activities pass for developments and progress.

[Reply to this]
MR.WEST BANK
on September 28th, 2008 7:53 am

More drama, smoebody have to make a move, this
is real life story.

Last week fingers were pointing at a former GDF Officer.

Next week it maybe the Guyana Police Force.

And more is still to come.

[Reply to this]
SOESDYKE
In reply to the above comment on September 28th, 2008 2:07 pm:
They can call the movie, the GUYANESE GODFATHER.

[Reply to this]
sheik
on September 28th, 2008 8:43 am

Jail them and break the key in the lock. They are a menace.

[Reply to this]
torbo
on September 28th, 2008 8:45 am

Prosecute mr.budhram and his wife to the fullest extent of the
us laws, they want to get rich quick , they are giving good guyanese/american
citizens a bad name living here in the usa, the us needs to look at alot of real
estate agencies operating in queens new york i say no more.

[Reply to this]
Aptie Sookoo
on September 28th, 2008 8:50 am

Can the aurhorities of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport install a smoke detector in the male washroom of the passanger departure lounge? I have recently returned from Guyana from my annual vacation and while using the facility on September 22, 2008, I observed nicotine deposits on the ceiling tiles located above the handwashing station. I want to suspect that since tobacco smoking is prohibited in the general passanger accommodation area, some passangers who are smokers use the sanitary facilities to smoke.

[Reply to this]
amen-ra
In reply to the above comment on September 28th, 2008 10:53 am:
this is the wrong forum tor that my friend

[Reply to this]
amen-ra
on September 28th, 2008 8:51 am

Wow, this is getting sweeter and sweeter, i can’t wait anylonger let the trial of roger khan begin.

[Reply to this]
michael tannassee
on September 28th, 2008 9:11 am

ehh ! whats up ,, druggies ? looks like the bottom of the “living Large ” is about to drop out ,,

Racine’s,, thoughts on crime ! “small crimes always precede great ones,, never have we seen timid innocence pass suddenly to extreme licentiousness ” !……

go figure !…….

[Reply to this]
GERMAN
on September 28th, 2008 10:03 am

Another blow against the empire of Roger Khan and his associates.

Didn’t ‘Gangster’ once picket for his release from incarceration in the USA? Clearly the poor man was ‘misguided’ in his loyalty. Why doesn’t he go out there as a character witness?

Still the question remains how could all of this be happening right under the nose of this government and not a single minister know anything at all???

And what about certain people’s US visa problems?

[Reply to this]
owenon123
on September 28th, 2008 10:24 am

Roger is a gonna bye bye RK. Have a nice life in your brand new home, see ya don’t want to be ya!

[Reply to this]
John Crow
on September 28th, 2008 10:34 am

what a embrassment to the GPF… with all this criminal activities it is a shame non of this info came from the GPF..

i think the GOVT is to be blame for his roger knan’s activites in GY because…they turn the GPF eyes offf of the real criminals in GY…this is what u call organise crime…

Thank u uncle sam….continue to probe the conspiracy

[Reply to this]
Fineman cousin
on September 28th, 2008 10:54 am

so thats how these successful business people in little berbice got their money nice to know,please let me know more as it will make me better understand how to make it in guyana

[Reply to this]
drumup_change
In reply to the above comment on September 28th, 2008 12:56 pm:
……………..with this brewing ……and more to come………america have a way in following the money………let us see what’s next ……….liberty ave is in queens county, new york!!…….let us sit back and enjoy the ride…..oh!!…….i forget!!…. the over night business men!!………..the over night unregulated high rise……. out of control business mushrooming!!!………..oh!….. baby….burn!……..burn baby!….burn! ……watch the ride coming through……..…..hold on people……..

[Reply to this]
SOESDYKE
In reply to the above comment on September 28th, 2008 1:58 pm:
These are the ones with education. That let the little man do there DIRTY WORK for them. If found guilty jail them for a long time.

[Reply to this]
Kaieteur Gold
on September 28th, 2008 12:05 pm

Dis looks like a case for de FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) , de DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency), de CIA (Central Intelligence Agency, MI5&6 (the British Military Intelligence Home and foreign) , duh DHS (Department of Homeland Security) Naval Intelligence et al. From all appearances dem bannus (folks) just got - ICED (Immigration and Customs Enforcement - ICE) caught in the “END GAME”.

[Reply to this]
Kaieteur Gold
In reply to the above comment on September 28th, 2008 2:17 pm:
All ah dis mek ya wanda what de Guyanese intelligence services de doing; and, maybe dat is why Desmond Roberts (just outa Sandhurst College) and de rest ah he boys had fu hustle to de New Riva Triangle in dem Burnham times (they must be de nodding then) but when de Suriname gun-boats chase de oil explorers outs de Corentyne Riva de must be de sleeping; besides, all de defensive capabilities dat they did have during de Burnham Administration time they did not have it anymore; and, ah now wanda wha happen to all dem bruking down East Germany trucks dat used to be by Camp Stevenson a lang, lang time ago. They must be end up in India and China and don get melt a lang, lang time. Now dat Fineman and Skinny dead it might not be too lang before dem second-hand helicopters share de same fate. Wide open borders/pasture they say. Dis is all fu now. Bye.

[Reply to this]
birds
on September 28th, 2008 1:28 pm

No wonder Guyana has been identify as one of the most corrupted country.
One by one will expose and thank god for that the US has taken this matter in their hands.
And even so look what happened with the Lawyer that Roger Khan had.

We must not forget how powerful Roger was and the power that was given to him to pay curtain employers, to recruited Ex Police to work for him and were paid by Roger Khan.

The spy equipment that was used by Roger Khan where is it? Where is the Computer that was used by Roger Khan?
Who in the Government or the Ministry of Home Affairs have knowledge of Roger Khan association with the special group working for he Roger Khan especially ex police officers?

The bigger question is would the Guyanese people get the same results of Roger Khan’s case if it was in Guyana Court of law instead of the US court?

[Reply to this]
MR.WEST BANK
In reply to the above comment on September 28th, 2008 7:07 pm:
The man with all the info is somewhere in INDIA
My friend birds.

[Reply to this]
Fulano de Tal 174.151.104.68 not found
In reply to the above comment on September 29th, 2008 10:08 am:
I guess if Mr. Hutson is ever held (& I doubt it but, just wishful thinking), we might have a few more episodes to add to the soap opera that’s blooming before our eyes.

[Reply to this]
evileyes
on September 28th, 2008 3:03 pm

When all is said and done..RK was charged for conspiring to import drugs in the US.Try the man on what he was charged for….Give him life in prison or gas and let it be done with…The most poweful nation on earth cant stop drugs from entering or just dont want it stop…….They have a hungry apetite for illicit drugs.Who could charge them for not protecting their own borders? Same corrupt officials they have maning their ports……

[Reply to this]
SOESDYKE
In reply to the above comment on September 28th, 2008 4:24 pm:
I want to know every dirty little detail,before they jail him. To kill a tree you have to get to it’s ROOTS. So my friend not so fast, let him talk, till he cant talk no more AMEN. This is not about the USA it;s about Guyana and the CROOKS IN HIGH PLACES.

[Reply to this]
jamar
In reply to the above comment on September 28th, 2008 4:27 pm:
hang them high the get rich syndrome result in just that. greed greed greed.

[Reply to this]
tyronemiller
In reply to the above comment on September 29th, 2008 12:27 am:
we want every thing out of him EVILEYES ……we want to hear names…….we want to find bodies that haven’t been given account for…….we want some more big fishes……..we want to know what happen to the aircraft that was stolen off of CJIA ……WE WANT TO KNOW WHO OWN THE ILEGAL AIRSTRIP AT KOW ISLAND……..and the list goes on …..there r alot of mothers still want to see their love ones who disappear n never to be seen again……give us every thing dnt worry with EVILEYES HE IS NOT ON UR SIDE WE R ON UR SIDE

[Reply to this]
tyronemiller
In reply to the above comment on September 29th, 2008 12:31 am:
PLZ SING FOR US WE HAVE AN IDEA HOW TO DANCE TO UR MUSIC

evileyes
In reply to the above comment on September 29th, 2008 2:56 pm:
ehehehe Troy dont fall over dancing when he start calling names…dont cry holler and bawl fuh murder when the names he calls does not fit your tune…stay tuned and tuned up your dancin feet ehehehehe…..

drumup_change
In reply to the above comment on September 29th, 2008 11:45 am:
……. america has plug hole on laundering a big one……….after picking up some of the big fishes in this game……as we continue to follow the money through america …we now understand the process of washing the money or the laundry process or for how it was laundered…….with all this money floting around the players in this had to have some form of military service protection…..

[Reply to this]
sheik deen
on September 28th, 2008 4:23 pm

jail them and throw away the key. they are a total disgrace to guyanese here and in guyana. seems like nobody want to make a comment when you own people mess up.

[Reply to this]
torbo
In reply to the above comment on September 28th, 2008 9:43 pm:
you are so right my guyanese bro, you are so right where are all the regular
bloggers?? no more fine man to talk about no more linking fineman to
pnc now is the phantom turn , i am calling all ppp supporters to join the
chat lets talk about the regent street guns and ammo finds..///

[Reply to this]
drumup_change
In reply to the above comment on September 29th, 2008 12:10 pm:
……hold on for the ride……its a ruff one… torbo.!!….we heading up stream…the october get together is due soon begin…..i know some men home who had choose not to take on education….but cut cane and run hire can…to my surrise an over night spread of property and a contractor ………he new where the berbice bridge was going before anybody else……..
jamar
on September 28th, 2008 4:24 pm

how story getting sweeter each day that y i love guyana but hate the sin perpetuated by these special somes on the faitfull good guyanese. i walked the town and hear this same story spoken years before it got to court in the usa about this guyanese drug enter prise that has money to open big businness in gt and new york. look guyanese always have an insight to corruption that have been and is taking place if you are a man on the go you are fed so much information lo and behold the all come to pass. so these big business that sprung up from no where you know all will be reveal after all it development for the poor country so who cares.
these people give bad name to honest business owner but they are getting support from the big one you know who i am mean.
there are numerous allegation about certain business and poeple in authority that i am convince is true many as reveal themselves and there are many on way of exposing these professional criminal in suites.
some lost respected so call business peop[le meet some unexpected and unexplained death and ppl want to know y these hard working rich having this happen to them .well if the other life they live can be reveal then some of us will not be left wondering about their demise

[Reply to this]
Ankoko
on September 28th, 2008 4:45 pm

What a story!!
This thing seems to have never ending links!

[Reply to this]
LoveGT4Real
on September 28th, 2008 6:46 pm

Take a walk along regent street, look right then look left, and what do you see?………as some in our beloved administration love to put it “signs of investor confidence”.
It’s all in a days work you know,just sell a few bags of rice, a few head of cattle and WALLA!! you make enough money to build those monstrosities. (At least that is what some influential folks would want us to believe.)

[Reply to this]
berry
on September 28th, 2008 6:48 pm

Jail them and throw the key in the atlantic ocean.

[Reply to this]
Faceboy
on September 28th, 2008 6:55 pm

Dear Editor, I wrote today, to ask the US authorities to use these individuals in their investigations so as to ascertain whether there is any evidence of the involvement of government officials in THE DRUG TRADE that ran between 2001 & 2006. We all want to know if the administration knew of this and did nothing to stop it. . It is here where we’ll find out who killed some of the Cartels, if it was the Phantom {R Khan} or the Police ???.

[Reply to this]
FINE MAN
In reply to the above comment on September 29th, 2008 6:45 pm:
I am sure that they would have already made deals with the DA which is why they are still out of jail on to now.

[Reply to this]
quibian
on September 28th, 2008 10:30 pm

it is time to pay the piper

[Reply to this]
bing
on September 29th, 2008 12:06 am

The budhrams and roger khan better start talking. They might bring down lots of govt officials and businessmen.

[Reply to this]
Vatican
on September 29th, 2008 9:30 am

Lots of good coming out of taking alleged criminals alive, then trying them in court where they sing like kiskadees. The Budrams, husband and wife sang like playback singers. Richard James and Mallay sang like Mohamed Rafi and Kishore Kumar.
It make a stronger case for catching crooks in Guyana live. All the more reason why fineman should have been caught alive, and if not fineman, at least some of his liutenants. It makes me wonder if there is not a conspiracy to have these WANTED men DEAD rather than live. That way dead men tell no tales about the missing weapons and who helped them steal them and where these weapons still are; about their spies in the security forces, and particularly about the people who goad them on politically and make them into heroes and freedom fighters.

[Reply to this]
gt_hopeful
on September 29th, 2008 9:40 am

its sickening to hear the defense attorney say these people are not a flight risk and the evidence of that is that their family is willing ot put up their life savings and houses as surety. of course they will put it up, it probably all came to them as a result of the l activities of the other 2.

[Reply to this]
gt_hopeful
on September 29th, 2008 9:59 am

could the reason why people like the budram’s hold 2 jobs be because they are keeping up appearances, they have to show a reason where there houses, cars and money is coming from ….dah!!!!!!!!!!

[Reply to this]
Fulano de Tal 174.151.104.68 not found
on September 29th, 2008 10:17 am

The movie will either be called The Young & the Reckless or Showdown in Little Georgetown, whatever the name I want to see the premier & have the DVD for my children, their children & their future generations to show what not to do when in power. Corruption, drug smuggling, gun & ammunition runnings, extrajudicial killings & money laundering giving legitimate businessmen a time of their lives to make ends meet while sitting in high offices enjoying the spoils of criminal activities. Turning a blind eye while ‘criminals’ help build their houses, provide them with “gifts” then defend them as law-biding citizens & “embattled BUSINESSMEN” How pathetic!!!

[Reply to this]
popeoplefedup
on September 29th, 2008 10:44 am

It is my hope that SN would publish pictures of these people just as it does with RK and it did with the two watchmen who stole from their employer.

[Reply to this]
urboss
on September 29th, 2008 11:22 am

You leave beatiful guyana to get rich, this is how it all ends, you work 2 jobs according to report for 14yrs wasn’t that enuff? Nah you want to show you can go to guyana as big bai, full of money and can spend, invest lavishly.. Federal will put you away for 30yrs at lease. Sorry man this is what you have caused up on your self and it goes to many guyanese abroad tooo, they go back portaying NY is life in LONDON…

[Reply to this]
john brown
on September 29th, 2008 3:55 pm

There are many citizens working hard for what they want, why can’t them? Dont play with them throw the book at them.

[Reply to this]
diatonic
on September 30th, 2008 1:06 am

“Meanwhile, the prosecution served a seizure warrant on JP Morgan Chase bank, for an account held there which listed the principal owner as James Morgan, father of Peter Morgan and Sabrina Budhram. In 2004, when Arnold and Sabrina Budhram were arrested, the court was told, James Morgan was serving a ten-year sentence in the United Kingdom for drug importation”

This a clear linkage between James Morgan, father of Peter Morgan and Sabrina Budhram, Arnold Budhram and Roger Khan. This is how tight the lid of their operation were until now.

[Reply to this]
Raj of Richmond Hill
on October 1st, 2008 9:42 am

Read the above-postings of 46 bloggers. They are having a field day. Such glee unheard of.

Look, drug money corrupts people everywhere. I mean everywhere - the world over. This is not unique to Guyana. Do not use this drug story involving a few people to make a statement of the Guyanese people or nation.

Fact is by and large, the Guyanese people are a damn decent and hardworking people. All they want is to make a better life in America.

Let us also express gratitude to the U.S. law enforcement agencies for exposing and cleaning up the mess of a few corrupt people.

Let it leave no taint - no stain - on the Guyanese people as a whole.

[Reply to this]
drumup_change
In reply to the above comment on October 1st, 2008 11:57 pm:
………..it aint easy……..no one person can clean up corruption in guyana……..

[Reply to this]
MAK
on October 1st, 2008 6:48 pm

the da should not make any deals
live sentence is the calling

[Reply to this]
Logic
on October 2nd, 2008 5:06 pm

This does not make sense. Why are they only being sentence now? This is 3 years after the fact, is justice so slow?

[Reply to this]
blkrattler
In reply to the above comment on October 5th, 2008 3:43 pm:
Logic..justice not slow……defendants making deals……helping Feds…..to save themselves….

[Reply to this]
DAn
on October 4th, 2008 2:47 pm

We as Guyanese out here try and promote our people as hard working and peaceful.

The actions of these CRIMINALS undermine all that we try to do.

Even if they used a part of this tainted money for good, it will serve no eternal benefit to them.

I see what distruction drugs brings.

This puts us in the same ball park as those who ship drugs from the EAST.

[Reply to this]
anthony
on October 6th, 2008 11:49 am

well well well; what do we have here? and this is just the tip of the iceberg.many of the big businesses that we know in guyana are funded this way.They are FRONTS for this type of activity
I reallly want the us government to get to the heart of it all and root out the shame that all this is causing to our beautiful guyana.

[Reply to this]