News Release [print-friendly version]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 6, 2006

Man Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Smuggle $128,090 From U.S. to Brazil

SEPT 6--June W. Stansbury, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration in New England and Kevin J. O’Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that LEVANI DELIMA, 39, a citizen of Brazil recently residing at 805 Seltsam Road, Bridgeport, pleaded guilty today before United States District Judge Christopher F. Droney in Hartford to a one-count indictment charging him with attempting to smuggle $128,090 in U.S. currency from the United States.

        According to documents filed with the court and statements made in court, on December 5, 2005, DELIMA was stopped at a security checkpoint at JFK International Airport in New York as he prepared to board a flight for Sao Paulo, Brazil.  When DELIMA’s carry-on bags were scanned by an x-ray machine, Transportation Security Administration inspectors detected a suspicious item concealed within a video cassette recorder.  A subsequent search of the video cassette recorder revealed $128,090 in U.S. currency wrapped in foil in its interior.

        Judge Droney has scheduled sentencing for November 24, 2006, at which time DELIMA faces a maximum term of imprisonment of five years and a fine of up to $250,000.  Also, as a condition of his plea agreement, DELIMA will forfeit $85,820.30 to the Government.

        This case has been investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation.  The Transportation Security Administration has assisted in the investigation.