Wayne David McAlpin, Jr., 50, of Memphis, TN was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge John T. Fowlkes, Jr. to serve 15 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for his role in selling cars to drug traffickers in an effort to launder drug proceeds, announced Edward L. Stanton III, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee; Brian K. Chambers, the Resident Agent in Charge of the DEA Memphis Resident Office; and Christopher A. Henry, Special Agent in Charge of the Nashville Field Office. There is no parole in the federal system.
McAlpin pled guilty on July 11, 2013 to one count of money laundering and one count of filing fraudulent documents with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
…According to the agreed-upon statement of facts filed with the court during McAlpin, Jr.’s plea hearing, during the time in question, McAlpin, Jr. was president of Budget Auto Sales. This business was frequented by individuals engaged in criminal activity, including, but not limited to, illegal drug trafficking. The business sold multiple vehicles to drug traffickers, knowing they had previously had vehicles seized by law enforcement for transporting and concealing illegal drugs.
As part of the criminal conspiracy to conceal the fact that cars were being purchased with the proceeds of illegal drug trafficking, McAlpin, Jr. submitted IRS Form 8300s with false and misleading information. This form requires any car dealership to report all cash transactions of $10,000 or more. The individuals also titled vehicles in the names of other people, as part of an effort to hide the transactions from law enforcement.