JSO reacts to officer charged in organized crime ring

JSO officer among 13 named in organized crime indictment

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Operation Thunderstruck handed down 4 indictments charging 13 people, one a Jacksonville police officer, with various federal criminal offenses related to organized crime, according to documents unsealed Thursday by the United States Attorney's Office.

Jacksonville Sheriff's Office Patrol Officer Michael Rounsville, 46, is accused of unauthorized use of the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database to check the criminal history of an undercover agent who was investigating money laundering that involved the purchase of cars from a Westside dealership and wire transfers to various banks. 

Jacksonville Sheriff John Rutherford said he's highly disappointed in hearing the news and said the officer will be fired as quickly as possible. 

"As quickly as possible. We have two processes that we have to go through," Rutherford said. "All I can say is that we assisted in the investigation. We believe in holding everybody accountable obviously, and the officer could be held accountable." 

INDICTMENT: United States of America vs. Michael Rounsville and others

Rounsville was arrested Thursday morning on a charge of unauthorized computer access by members of the JSO integrity/special investigations unit. He was processed and released on bond.

Rounsville faces a maximum of five years in prison if convicted.

The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office released a statement saying Rounsville, a 16-year veteran, is on voluntary leave without pay, pending termination by Sheriff John Rutherford.

"We have been a part of this investigation since its inception," said Undersheriff Dwain Senterfitt. "Obviously, when it was discovered that one of our officers may be involved, I was disappointed. We diligently pursue all allegations of wrongdoing by any member of this agency, and when founded these individuals are held completely accountable. We must hold ourselves to the highest of standards, and will."

The other 12 people were indicted on various charges including narcotics trafficking, conspiracy to commit money laundering and failure to file Internal Revenue Service forms

Also charged are Hedar Khlaf, Manuel Rodriguez, Mollie Bass, Diane Harrison, Erick Estrada-Lopez, Bruce Childs, Christian Magliano, John Amell, Ilia Mato, Vladimir Adunts, Justin Downing and Evan Rajta.

According to court documents, between May 2012 and January 28, 2013, multiple individuals conspired to conduct financial transactions with proceeds represented by an undercover agent to be from the distribution of ecstasy.

As part of the conspiracy, a vehicle was purchased from a car dealership co-owned by Khlaf without filing an IRS Form 8300. An employee who worked at the dealership denied the accusation and said that a former employee of the business acted as a private seller to a buyer and that person committed the crime.  

Wire transfers from bank accounts used in the transaction were structured to avoid triggering the filing of a Currency Transaction Report.

In furtherance of the conspiracy, Rounsville exceeded his authorized access to the NCIC database by performing a criminal history check on the undercover agent.

The indictment also alleges that in January 2013, several of the individuals indicted conspired to distribute marijuana.

Amell, Mato, Adunts, and Downing have each been charged with conspiracy to transmit wagering information related to Internet gambling, and Rajta has been charged with laundering funds represented to be proceeds from the distribution of marijuana.

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service -- Criminal Investigation; the United States Secret Service; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Florida Department of Law Enforcement; the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office; the Washoe County (Nevada) Sheriff's Office; and the Nevada Highway Patrol.

This investigation, is part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Program, which was established in 1982 to mount a comprehensive attack against organized drug traffickers. Today, the OCDETF Program is the centerpiece of the Attorney General's drug strategy to reduce the availability of drugs by disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations, money laundering organizations, and related criminal enterprises.