Interesting case. I'm sure there is much more to it than just the "under $10,000 deposit issue."
As to being Amish, it is interesting that Mr. Stoltzfoos spells his name differently than most of the Lancaster County Amish named "Stoltzfus." The name is Swiss-German. The German words "stolz" [no "t"; a "z' is pronounced "tz"] and "fuss" in English are "proud" "foot." Yes, there are people in the county and all over named "Proudfoot," but they almost certainly were originally a variation of "Stoltzfus." And, just about every Stoltzfus, and variations thereof, were Amish at one time, like nearly every Beiler, Yoder, Fisher, King/Koenig, Petersheim, what have you. [Doesn't mean they all are still Amish.]
As to his picture, practicing Amish would not give permission to be photographed, whether for the newspaper, passport, voter registration card whatever. [This, from the Ten Commandents on not making a "graven image."] However, religious beliefs notwithstanding, police and government officials can force you to have a photo made over suspected criminal activity. Also, convicted sexual predators must have pictures taken, and you will see a number of Amish pictured in the National Registry web site.

One look at his photo proves that he is NOT Amish. Number 1 -- there is a photo! Number2 -- If he were forced to have his photo taken for alleged criminal activity, he would NOT be smiling at the camera. He would be uncomfortable with the very thought of being photographed. Number 3 -- No Amish would wear that style of shirt or have that style of haircut.
Maybe he thinks he can convince the court, but he certainly will not convince anyone who knows anything about Amish.

The whole Amish-not Amish issue is totally irrelevant, IMO.

October 30, 2006

Attorney General Corbett announces arrest of Lancaster County man on money laundering charges

HARRISBURG - Attorney General Tom Corbett today announced that agents from the Attorney General's Asset Forfeiture & Money Laundering Section have filed criminal charges against a Leola, Lancaster County man accused of trying to circumvent bank reporting requirements for the deposit of more than $500,000 in cash. He is also accused of illegally receiving more than $8,300 in Pennsylvania Turnpike toll tickets.

Corbett identified the defendant as Levi L. Stoltzfoos, 37, 30 S. Groffdale Road, Leola.

Corbett said Stoltzfoos allegedly engaged in an organized and calculated effort to avoid reporting requirements that are triggered when individuals attempt to deposit large sums of cash.

Corbett explained that the federal Bank Secrecy Act requires banks to report any cash transactions totaling more than $10,000. The regulations are intended to help locate possible proceeds of illegal activity and identify suspected money laundering activity. Pennsylvania's money laundering statute includes criminal penalties for anyone attempting to avoid the bank reporting requirements.

The criminal charges state that over a six-week period of time, between Jan. 6 and Feb. 11, 2006, Stoltzfoos made 58 cash deposits totaling $541,100 at ten different banks in Lancaster County. The sporadically employed laborer often made deposits at numerous banks on the same day using bundles of $100 bills, typically divided into amounts just under the $10,000.

Corbett said that Stoltzfoos was allegedly aware of the bank reporting requirements and structured his deposits in an attempt to avoid them. On Jan. 7, 2006, while making a $10,000 cash deposit at a Bank of Lancaster County branch in New Holland, Stoltzfoos observed a bank teller completing a Currency Transaction Report (CTR) and stated, "I thought you only did that on amounts over $10,000." The teller replied that she completed a CTR for any transaction $10,000 or above.

According to the criminal charges, Stoltzfoos visited that same bank branch six more times over the following five weeks, each time depositing between $9,000 and $9,900.

Corbett noted that 53 of the 58 cash deposits made by Stoltzfoos between Jan. 6 and Feb. 11 were for amounts between $9,000 and $9,900.

In addition to structuring his deposits in an effort to avoid the reporting requirements, Stoltzfoos allegedly used multiple bank accounts to disguise the volume of cash he was depositing on any given day.

Corbett said Stoltzfoos used ten different banks throughout Lancaster County to deposit the cash, often visiting multiple banks on the same day. In one case, Stoltzfoos visited 10 different banks on a single day - Jan. 14, 2006 - depositing a total of $97,800 in cash. Nine of the ten deposits made that day were for $9,900.

Based on information about the suspicious bank deposits, agents from the Attorney General's Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section executed a search of Stoltzfoos' Leola home on March 30, 2006. During their search of Stoltzfoos' bedroom, agents located 93 Pennsylvania Turnpike toll tickets with a combined value of $8,390.

Corbett said that according to the criminal charges, officials from the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission examined the toll tickets and determined that they were valid, but also indicated that there was no legitimate reason for Stoltzfoos to be in possession of those tickets.

According to the criminal charges, some of the money deposited by Stoltzfoos in various banks is believed to be the proceeds of scam involving purchases and returns at stores such as Sears, Strawbridge's and Radio Shack. Stoltzfoos would allegedly use a debit card to purchase merchandise at various stores, later returning the items for refunds. By using duplicate or bogus receipts and stolen merchandise, it would be possible to "return" the same item to numerous stores in the same chain, earning a "refund" many times larger than the original purchase.

Stoltzfoos is charged with 58 counts of dealing in the proceeds of unlawful activities (Money Laundering), a first-degree felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $25,000 fine for each count.

Stoltzfoos is also charged with one count of receiving stolen property, a third-degree felony punishable by up to seven years in prison and a $15,000 fine.

Corbett said the criminal charges were filed today before New Holland Magisterial District Judge Rodney H. Hartman, Jr., who scheduled a preliminary hearing for November 9, 2006, at 2:30 p.m.

Stoltzfoos was lodged in the Lancaster County Prison in lieu of $750,000 bail.

The case will be prosecuted in Lancaster County by Deputy Attorney General Stevan K. Portman of the Attorney General's Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section.

Corbett thanked the New Holland Police Department for their assistance with this investigation.

(A person charged with a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty.)
Press: The Attorney General's Press Office - Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General

http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache:NtFS7...spx%3Fid%3D1846 LEVI STOLTZFOOS&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us
damn.. i thought it would be another case of AMISHMAN selling "COKE"

AND
i don't mean the soft drink either.

web link:

Perils of modern world encroach upon Amish. (criminal problems within Anabaptist communities in Lancaster County, PA and Alberta, Canada)(Brief Article) - The Christian Century | Encyclopedia.com
http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache:RTZKa...1-21056440.html

Can I ask what makes you an expert on who is and who is not amish... # 1 - A booking picture would be mandatory, not optional. # 2 - Who knows why people look goofy in there booking pics, I have seen plenty of people who look like there are smiling, and # 3 - Maybe you should spend some more time down in Intercourse and the surrounding countryside, you will see plenty of shirts like this!

Maybe you should spend some more time with some amish folks.