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Drug Money Laundered in Iowa Casinos

IOWA – As reported by the Des Moines Register: "Iowa drug dealers have pinpointed casinos as ideal places to quietly launder the large bills they earn selling methamphetamine, cocaine or other illegal drugs.

"Besides unwittingly helping to erase the trail of drug money to dealers, Iowa's thriving casinos provide all-night entertainment to fill the sleepless hours that come with meth highs, drug users and addiction counselors say. Drug users, who are prone to other addictive behaviors, often add gambling to their lists of problems, experts say.

"…Dexter Temple of Davenport, a confessed former drug dealer who has served 19 months in Iowa prisons for burglary and a probation violation, said he used a Davenport casino to break large bills that might attract attention elsewhere and get rid of bills that he worried might have been marked by undercover drug officers. He said he knew the casino rules and was careful to avoid any transaction over $10,000, which would trigger a paperwork requirement.

"…Illegal drug dealers' and users' association with gambling is likely to grow as Iowa's methamphetamine epidemic worsens, Temple said.

"…There isn't a perfect way to measure the presence of drug dealers and users at the casinos.

"…Mark Hein, the Des Moines-based resident agent for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, said law enforcement officials are aware of the connection.

"…Concerns that criminals might be using casinos more frequently to launder money prompted the federal government to create a new form for casinos to use in reporting any suspicious activity involving amounts over $5,000…"

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