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Monea, Miller to serve prison time for schemes; businessmen busted in undercover sting by FBI
Published on Saturday, Dec 08, 2007
By Rick Armon
Beacon Journal staff writer
Two Stark County businessmen — one a well-known auto dealer and another who made millions through television infomercials — were sentenced to federal prison Friday for their roles in related money laundering schemes.
Michael ''Mickey'' Miller, 67, of Jackson Township and Paul Monea, 60, of Marlboro Township appeared at separate sentencings in federal court in Akron.
Miller, who ran Little Guy Worldwide in North Canton, Mickey Miller Family Express Car Dealership in Canton and Mickey Miller Wadsworth Chevrolet in Wadsworth, was sentenced to four years and nine months in prison.
Monea, whose background includes marketing the successful Billy Blanks' Tae Bo videos but who also has a previous conviction for federal income tax evasion, was sentenced to 13 years and four months.
Miller had pleaded guilty earlier this year to 37 counts of laundering drug money through his dealerships and for participating in a planned $19.5 million diamond and real estate sale arranged by Monea.
Monea was found guilty in May by a federal jury of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments and three counts of money laundering for arranging the diamond and property deal.
Both were arrested last year.
'I did some bad things'
Miller, who cooperated with authorities and testified at Monea's trial, said he takes full responsibility for his crimes, which have ruined his reputation and his family's.
''I did some bad things and the fallout has been the most horrible thing that's ever happened to me or my family,'' he said before Judge John R. Adams imposed the sentence.
Miller sold vehicles to drug dealers and put the titles in other people's names to hide the asset; bought vehicles at auctions using cash from suspected drug dealers; and used suspected drug money to buy Wadsworth Chevrolet. He was busted through an undercover sting operation.
Miller's net worth last year was estimated at $9 million. Today, it's about $2 million — but with pending lawsuits and other debts, Miller likely will owe about $1.5 million, defense attorney Lawrence J. Whitney said.
''He may not even be able to save his home,'' he said.
Miller was not placed in custody immediately after his sentence. Adams permitted him to spend the holidays at home before reporting to prison after Jan. 1.
Undercover sting
Before Miller was arrested as part of the sting operation, he introduced an undercover FBI agent posing as a broker for drug dealers to Monea. At the time, Monea was working for Miller, and Miller was serving as the trustee for the Monea Family Trust.
Monea, while on probation for tax evasion, agreed to sell a 43-carat diamond and 62-acre estate in Trumbull County to reputed drug dealers for $19.5 million and a boat. The real estate was once owned by boxer Mike Tyson.
Monea has argued that he was entrapped and coerced by federal authorities.
He did not speak at his sentencing, which lasted nearly six hours as the judge sorted through objections by the defense.
Philanthropist, criminal
His ex-wife Deborah Douglas, who has known him for 31 years, pleaded with the judge not to impose a harsh sentence, saying he has been a generous philanthropist and loving father to his children.
''I don't know the man depicted in the Akron Beacon Journal and Canton Repository,'' she said, referring to articles chronicling the trial.
She cited instances when Monea donated $1 million to the DARE anti-drug organization and helped build churches in South Africa.
Monea even was honored by Congress in 1999 for his philanthropy and entrepreneurship.
But he also ran into problems with federal authorities over the sale of the Stimulator, a therapeutic device that was declared bogus. A federal judge ordered him to offer refunds to customers in 2000.
In 2003, he was sentenced to 30 months in prison for tax evasion and filing false tax returns related to sales of the Stimulator.
Judge Adams opted not to give Monea a prison term within the recommended federal guidelines, which called for a more severe penalty of at least about 20 years. He cited Monea's age and family ties as factors.
He sentenced Monea to 150 months on the money laundering charges and 10 months for probation violations.
Defense plans appeal
But afterward, defense attorney William Whitaker called the 13-year sentence ''outrageous.''
''This crime originated in the mind of the government,'' he said.
The defense is preparing an appeal, he said.
There are still several outstanding issues related to the Monea case. The judge has yet to rule on a motion for a new trial or acquittal based on the defense's claim that an audio recording used at the trial was tampered with.
A leading audio expert and former FBI agent has determined the recording was likely manipulated, Whitaker said. Some audio is missing, specifically where a threat is made against Monea's family, he said.
Adams also is sorting out who has a stake in the diamond, which along with the real estate, has been forfeited to the government and likely will be sold at auction.
The federal investigation into the money laundering schemes also is ongoing. U.S. Assistant Attorney Robert Bulford said that Miller isn't the only car dealer laundering money for drug dealers.
He declined to comment further.
Rick Armon can be reached at 330-996-3569 or rarmon@thebeaconjournal.com.
By Rick Armon
Beacon Journal staff writer
Get the full article here.
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