Press Releases
United States thanks Palau’s Attorney General’s Office and gives $54,307.84 Treasury Check to the Bureau of Public Safety for assisting money laundering and tax investigation
Press Release
January 22, 2009
U.S. Embassy Palau Chargé d'Affaires Mark Bezner and U.S Department of Treasury, Internal Revenue Service Attaché Jay Van Kirk wish to acknowledge and thank Palau for the assistance of its Attorney General’s Office and its Bureau of Public Safety in the investigation and prosecution of Jep and Pasquana Ginn. Additionally, the United States takes great pleasure in presenting to the government of Palau a check in the amount of $ 54,307.84, partial proceeds from this very successful United States law enforcement action.
Jep Ginn, a resident of the United States was sentenced in 2005 to 63 months incarceration resulting from his guilty plea to defrauding the Internal Revenue Service, income tax evasion of over $1 million and Bank Secrecy Act violations. Ginn’s wife, Pasquana Ginn, a resident of Palau, was sentenced to 104 days incarceration as a result of her guilty plea to income tax evasion. Three other co-conspirators were charged with federal tax crimes in this case.
The Ginns operated two companies in the U.S. involved in upgrading cable companies to digital signals. They failed to pay required taxes and laundered their profits through institutions in Southeast Asia and Palau. The IRS-Criminal Investigation office in the U.S., with the active assistance of Palau’s Attorney General’s Office, was able to trace the laundered proceeds to various banks throughout the world. Palau’s Bureau of Public Safety officials provided substantial assistance in the arrest and extradition of Pasquana Ginn. They also conducted interviews, obtained search warrants, and were involved in seizing approximately $108,000 at a bank in Palau.
The U.S. seizes assets of lawbreakers to attack the profit motive for crime, impair criminals’ ability to commit crimes, and generally deter individuals from engaging in criminal activity. Monies seized are often shared with participating law enforcement agencies to promote their efforts in detecting and prosecuting crimes. The check presented to the Palau’s Bureau of Public Safety is an expression of gratitude for Palau’s willingness and ability to quickly assist the U.S. - a law enforcement partner.
“Successful prosecutions are always the result of an excellent investigative team that follows every piece of evidence no matter where it may lead,” said Eileen Mayer, Chief, U.S. Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Division. “The Jep Ginn investigation is another example of the commitment law enforcement has with one another truly all over the world. It gives me great pleasure and confidence knowing that an important member of that investigative team included the Republic of Palau, and I am grateful for their assistance that directly led to the successful conclusion of the Ginn investigation.”