Um…that initial CSAC 1 year suspension (which was reduced to 6 months) is looking like a dream sentence compared to the possible 20 years Chael Sonnen might be facing now. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon says the UFC Middleweight entered a guilty plea today to a charge of Federal Money Laundering. At sentencing, which will take place on March 28th, Sonnen may face up to 20 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $500, 000. This makes that CSAC fine of $2,500 seem very…well, small.
MMAWeekly.com broke down the money laundering incident as:
“The scheme involved Joel Rosabal and Chadwick Amsden, employees of Crown Point Enterprises, dba Lighthouse Financial Group (Lighthouse), a mortgage brokerage service based principally in Vancouver, Washington, with operations in Oregon and elsewhere,” the press release revealed. “Rosabal and Amsden submitted a materially false loan application on the buyer’s behalf… Sonnen acted as the realtor for the transaction. Sonnen submitted a false letter and Sales Agreement Addendum instructing the title company to pay loan proceeds to a plumbing company for repairs to the home. In fact, Sonnen knew and had negotiated with Rosabal that no repairs would be performed on the home and the funds designated to the plumbing company would instead be paid to the buyer as a cash incentive to purchase the home. This agreement was not disclosed to (the mortgage company). Once the loan was funded, the title company paid over $69,000 to the plumbing company and the plumbing company, in turn and at Sonnen’s direction, paid $65,000 to the buyer of the home.”
It was also reported, the usually outspoken Sonnen, who recently appeared on ESPN’s MMA Live and called out CSAC, Wanderlei Silva, as well as Brock Lesnar, could not be reached for comment. Watch the video of his MMA Live appearance below:
*Update: “According to the Oregonian, as part of his guilty plea, Sonnen agreed to give up his realtor’s license and pay a $10,000 fine. The government is recommending two years probation.” (Update provide by Steve Cofield of Cagewriter.com)