Police in Tennessee say that three people are facing money laundering charges after $121,461 in cash was discovered on March 16 when officers with the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department searched a Lyle Lane home. The property was the residence of a 36-year-old man who had been taken into custody earlier in the day after police allegedly found $89,500 in the center console of his car. In addition to the $225,000 in currency, MNPD officers and agents from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation are said to have also found about 8 kilograms of cocaine and a number of firearms during the searches.
The vehicle stop and subsequent searches were conducted as part of an investigation into the distribution of drugs in the Middle Tennessee region. The Lyle Lane residence was searched after police allegedly observed a woman, who turned out to be the 36-year-old man’s mother, leave the property carrying a bag of money. The woman is said to have told officers that she had been asked by her son to retrieve the cash.
Initial reports indicate that the 36-year-old man and his 29-year-old male passenger are facing felony drug and gun counts in addition to the money laundering charges. However, few details have been provided about what led police to pull the man over and it has not been made clear whether or not a warrant was obtained before his vehicle was searched.
Those facing criminal charges often feel the need to explain themselves, and veteran police officers are skilled at encouraging suspects to act on these urges. However, experienced criminal defense attorneys would likely advise individuals in such situations to avoid spontaneous confessions and remain silent until they have spoken with a lawyer. The penalties for serious drug charge convictions can be severe, and prosecutors may be less willing to reduce criminal charges in return for a swift resolution when the defendants involved have confessed.
Source: Fox 17-Nashville, “8 kilos of cocaine, guns, $225,000 cash seized in Nashville drug distribution bust”, Kaylin Jorge, March 16, 2018
Source: The Lebanon Democrat, “Cocaine distribution investigation leads to seizure of drugs, guns, cash”, Staff report, March 16, 2018
