Feds Probe Adelson’s Casino for Money Laundering Activities

[ProSense]

Feds Probe Adelson’s Casino for Money Laundering Activities

The Daily Best has reported that:

The Los Angeles U.S. attorney's office is investigating whether the Las Vegas Sands Corp., the multibillion business controlled by political high roller Sheldon Adelson, and some of its executives are involved in money-laundering activities. Though Adelson himself is not said to be a subject of the probe, the company is reportedly under scrutiny for its relationship with a Mexican businessman who was later indicted in the U.S. for drug trafficking and a California businessman who was convicted of taking kickbacks. Adelson has given millions to Republican candidates this election cycle. His family all but bankrolled Newt Gingrich's failed campaign. Adelson has said he's prepared to spend millions to remove President Obama from the White House and has already pledge large sums to presumptive GOP nominee Mitt Romney.
http://www.thedailybeast.com/cheats/2012/08/04/report-feds-probe-adelson-s-casino.html

The Wall Street Journal has more to say about this probe:

The U.S. attorney's office in Los Angeles is examining the casino company's handling of money received several years ago from a Mexican businessman later accused of drug trafficking and a former California executive subsequently convicted of taking illegal kickbacks, according to the people involved.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390444320704577566803521121134.html

And Adelson may not be in trouble in just in the United States. He may also be in trouble in China. HuffingtonPost reports that:

The Chinese arm of U.S. billionaire Sheldon Adelson's gambling empire is being investigated by Macau privacy authorities over its handling of documents related to a lawsuit by its former CEO, who claims the company has links to crime bosses and encourages prostitution as part of its business strategy.

Sands China Ltd. said Wednesday it was notified by Macau's privacy watchdog that an official investigation has been launched into the alleged transfer of "certain data" from the Asian gambling city to the U.S.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/01/sheldon-adelson-sands-macau_n_1728256.html

Furthermore (again from the HuffPost),

The former CEO, Steve Jacobs, was fired in July 2010 and filed a wrongful dismissal lawsuit three months later. He accuses the company of breach of contract and pushing him into illegal activity in Macau. The suit has drawn interest from U.S. Justice Department and Securities and Exchange Commission investigators for possible violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

Adelson and by extension Romney may indeed have dirty money in their hands.

I think Forbes Magazine summed the situation up best (H/T CotterPerson):

These days what’s bad for Adelson is also bad for Romney. News of the bribery and prostitution investigations had many political groups, most famously the National Jewish Democratic Council, calling on Romney to give back any donations from Adelson. Although Adelson has not been named in this latest laundering charge, it strikes another blow to Adelson and the Republicans. Romney supporters will likely question whether the timing of the U.S. Attorney’s investigation is a just political move set to damage the image of the Republican’s “limitless” money man.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/stevenbertoni/2012/08/04/sheldon-adelsons-sands-targeted-in-money-laundering-investigation/

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/08/04/1116851/-Feds-Probe-Adelson-s-Casino-for-Money-Laundering-Activities

Note:

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[leveymg]

1. Money laundering? Prostitution? What? Us? We're businessmen.

[freshwest]

4. And for their next trick, will they call in the sons of Nixon's plumbers?

[Curmudgeoness]

2. Sheldon Adelson is looking to own the president

with support of Romney---and he has the money to do it. I hope that this stops him in his tracks, but I doubt it. As usual, I expect he will walk away unscathed. Damn it.

[mucifer]

3. yup

[ProSense]

5. Kick! n/t