Man charged in conspiracy to send money to Syria

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A 44-year-old Jacksonville is charged with one count of conspiracy to structure financial transactions and one count of structuring financial transactions.

If convicted on both counts, Emell Meda Meda faces up to 10 years in federal prison. The indictment also notifies Meda Meda that the United States intends to forfeit $18,500, which is alleged to be traceable to the offense. Meda Meda was arrested Tuesday.

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According to an indictment, on or about June 10, 2009, Meda Meda instructed and paid two other individuals to each send $6,120 to a specific individual in Syria. The individuals were instructed to use their own names, as opposed to using Emell Meda Meda's name, when completing the required paperwork for the international electronic funds transfers.

On June 12, 2009, Meda Meda instructed a third individual to use his/her own name to send $6,630 to an individual in Syria via an electronic funds transfer. On each occasion, the individuals were instructed to send the funds in this manner in order to conceal the fact that Meda Meda was the source of the money.

Syria is a country classified by the U.S. Department of State as a state sponsor of terrorism.