A Bakersfield man has pleaded guilty in federal court to shielding proceeds of a business that sold spice.The sales of the synthetic drug known as spice were over the Internet. Assistant US Attorney Karen Escobar says 42-year-old Ramsey Farraj admitted Monday to depositing $4.2 million in small increments to avoid detection. Banks are required to report deposits of $10 thousand or more in cash to the IRS, so he made smaller deposits. Farraj faces up to five years in prison and must forfeit the drug money, charges against his business partner are pending. A recent case in Fresno had $1.8 million in seized funds handed over to the Sheriff’s department.

Sean Michael Lisle