News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 6, 2003

Michael S. Flemmi Sentenced For Laundering Stolen Jewelry

Boston, MA…. Michael S. FLEMMI, a retired Boston Police detective and brother of Stephen J. Flemmi, was sentenced today in federal court on money laundering charges stemming from his role in a 1996 illicit sale of a load of diamond jewelry stolen from a Boston wholesaler that had a retail value of over $100,000.

Mark R. Trouville, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division, Colonel Thomas Foley, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police, and United States Attorney Michael J. Sullivan, announced today that FLEMMI was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Mark L. Wolf to 1 year and 6 months in prison, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release, and a $3,000 fine. FLEMMI pleaded guilty on November 25, 2002, to a three count indictment charging him with selling a load of stolen diamond rings, bracelets, and other jewelry for $40,000 in cash to a contact of FLEMMI's in the jewelry industry with whom FLEMMI had developed an illicit relationship.

At the earlier plea hearing, the prosecutor told the Court that had the case proceeded to trial the Government's evidence would have proven that associates of FLEMMI robbed the jewelry from a former employee of a Boston jewelry wholesaler who had stolen the merchandise in the course of his employment. FLEMMI and his associates then brokered the black-market sale of the jewelry for cash. In connection with this sale, FLEMMI was charged with three violations of federal money laundering laws, which penalize various types of financial transactions involving the proceeds of criminal activity.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Massachusetts State Police.