2003-09-04 -- Black Money Scam -- Guilty Pleas -- News Release

African Nationals Plead Guilty to Conspiracy for Roles in So-Called "Black Money Scam"

NEWARK - Two African nationals living in Newark pleaded guilty today to their roles in a phony counterfeiting conspiracy known to federal law enforcement as the "Black Money Scam," U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie announced.

Mababa Gaye, 27, of Senagal and Omar M'Bamina, 41, of Cameroon, both pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Faith S. Hochberg to one-count Informations charging conspiracy. Gaye and M'Bamina both admitted attempting to use altered U.S. currency to defraud an undercover FBI agent (posing as a wealthy businessman) of thousands of dollars, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard E. Constable, III.

Following the guilty pleas, Judge Hochberg set sentencing for Dec. 11. Both defendants remain detained pending sentencing.

Gaye and M'Bamina both participated in a fraudulent scheme designed to convince targeted individuals that they could create U.S. currency by transferring the image of $100 bills supplied by the willing individuals onto specially treated paper through a so called black-money process (the "Black Money Scam").

According to the Informations, the Black Money Scam was designed to operate this way:

• Before approaching the intended targets, the conspirators would alter real U.S. currency, typically $100 bills, by coating them with a dark chemical solution or powder. The conspirators would also obtain strips of white paper of approximately the same size and texture as U.S. currency, each of which contained an impression, or background image, of a genuine $100 bill (the "imaged paper strips").

• The conspirators would then show the white imaged paper strips to victims, telling them, in substance, that the strips were actual U.S. Treasury paper from which real U.S. currency was made.

• The conspirators would then place chemical solutions and/or powder on two of the white imaged paper strips, causing the strips to turn a dark, almost black color. As the chemicals were applied, the underlying background image of the $100 bill on the imaged paper strips would become apparent.

• The conspirators would then ask the victim to provide a $100 bill, explaining that the real bill was required to activate the transfer process. The victim's $100 bill would then be sandwiched between the two, now darkened imaged paper strips.

• The conspirators would then apply water and/or chemicals to wash away the dark coloring on the papers sandwiching the victim's $100 bill, revealing two $100 bills. The conspirators would then falsely represent to the victim that this process had produced new and "real" U.S. currency.

• In truth, through sleight of hand, the conspirators would have replaced the imaged paper strips with real $100 bills that they had previously altered and coated with chemicals to look almost black. It was these real bills that would be revealed when washed.

• On some occasions, the conspirators would vary the scam by using the altered bills from the outset, sandwiching the victim's bill between real $100 bills that had previously been coated with chemicals to look almost black.

Gaye and M'Bamina admitted that on or about Oct. 10, 2002, they met with an undercover FBI Agent (UC), posing as a wealthy businessman, at a hotel in Newark. There the two solicited thousands of dollars from the Agent and told him that they had access to millions of blank pieces of U.S. Treasury paper, as well as the chemical solution necessary to turn the Treasury paper into U.S. currency. After demonstrating the alleged black money process, Gaye and M'Bamina were arrested by local and federal authorities participating in the coordinated sting operation.

According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Constable, the "Black Money Scam" was developed in West Africa and subsequently exported to the United States and other countries. This case represents the first time that individuals have been prosecuted in New Jersey for their role in a "Black Money Scam" conspiracy.

Gaye and M'Bamina each face a maximum sentence of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and deportation to Africa. Under an Information, a defendant waives the right to have his case presented to a federal grand jury and, instead, pleads guilty to charges presented by the government.

Christie credited Special Agents of the FBI, under the direction of Louie F. Allen for developing the cases. Christie also thanked Special Agents from the Secret Service and Bureau of Immigration and Customs, under the direction of Jan Gilhooly in New Jersey; , the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, under the direction District Director John Torres, as well as the Mountainside Police Department.

The Government is represented by Assistant U.S. Constable of the U.S. Attorney's Terrorism Unit.

Defense Counsel :

Omar M'Bamina: Timothy Donahue Esq., West Orange

Mababa Gaye: Lorraine Gali-Rufo Esq., Newark (Assistant Federal Public Defender)

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