The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania is charging Mirela Desouza, 45, of Bangor, Northampton County, with conspiring to violate federal currency transaction requirements for the purpose of sending the proceeds of illegal activities out of the United States.

According to U.S. Attorney Peter Smith, Desouza allegedly conspired to use a Stroudsburg-based money transmitter service operated under the name of Tropic Express Inc., to send money electronically to the Dominican Republic. The money was sent in varying amounts from January 2008 through December 2011, using names of "nominee" senders and receivers of the funds, to fraudulently evade federal record keeping and reporting requirements.The government charges include a claim of forfeiture of property involved in the offense including a bank account at M&T Bank in the name of Tropical Express Inc. and a $25,000 money judgment.Charges stem from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations.The government also filed a plea agreement with Desouza, which is subject to the approval of the court.According to the United States Attorney's Office, the alleged crime of structuring consists of conducting transactions in currency for the purpose of evading federal reporting requirements. Banking institutions are required to file currency transaction reports with the Internal Revenue Service for each deposit, withdraw and/or exchange of currency, or a payment that involves currency of over specified amounts, in this case $3,000. The law also prohibits evading or attempting to evade record keeping requirements.The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Olshefski.