Four arrested in alleged scheme to sell notes

www.nola.com The Associated Press 1/23/03 9:39 AM

NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- Four people have been arrested on allegations of trying to launder money through the sale of $150 million in government notes from Venezuela.

According to a federal complaint, the four were arrested in suburban New Orleans on Jan. 15 after offering the notes to undercover Secret Service agents posing as front men for drug dealers.

The four suspects were identified as Harry H. Adair, Kenneth Vicknair, David E. Wallace and Chien C. Lam.

The charges were filed in New Orleans but is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office in Baton Rouge. U.S. Attorney David Dugas of Baton Rouge said prosecutors in New Orleans removed themselves from the case because a family member of someone in that office worked with one of the four arrested men.

The complaint said the alleged transaction involved $150 million in promissory notes issued by the Bank of the Republic of Venezuela. An undercover agent said he wanted to buy the notes for two drug dealers, the complaint said.