United States Attorney
Northern District of Ohio

Gregory A. White
United States Attorney

Robert E. Bulford
Assistant U.S. Attorney
(330) 761-0517

Gregory A. White, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, today announced that a federal grand jury returned a four count indictment charging Michael D. Miller and Paul Monea with a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1956(h), conspiracy to launder monetary instruments; and Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1956(a)(3)(B)(2) and 2, laundering monetary instruments.

Miller, age 66, was last known to reside at 6403 Doral, NW, Canton, Ohio. Monea, age 60, was last known to reside at 8696 Allen Drive, NE, Alliance, Ohio.

The indictment alleges that from at least as early as March 30, 2006, up to and including December 13, 2006, the defendants, Michael D. Miller and Paul Monea, conspired to launder monetary instruments. Further, it was part of the conspiracy that Monea offered for sale a 40 carat diamond and real estate located at 3737 State Route 534, Southington, Ohio, to an individual believed to be connected to drug trafficking organizations. The diamond is known as the “Golden Eye” and the real estate was once the estate of former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson. The indictment further alleges that Paul Monea agreed to sell the estate and the diamond to an undercover agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation for $19,500,000.00 and a boat. In November of 2006, over $100,000.00 was wired to the escrow account of Paul Monea’s attorney in November of 2006. There was a meeting on December 13, 2006, in the conference room of Monea’s attorney in Akron, Ohio. During that meeting, a diamond appraiser inspected the diamond and details of the sale were discussed. At the conclusion of the meeting, Paul Monea and Michael D. Miller were arrested pursuant to complaints and warrants issued by a federal magistrate in Akron, Ohio.

If convicted, each defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.

The indictment was preceded by a coordinated investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Stark County Violent Crimes Task Force, which is a multi-agency task force comprised of the Canton Police Department, Stark County Sheriff’s Office, Jackson Township Police Department, Alliance Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the State Department of Parole.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert E. Bulford.

An indictment is only a charge. It is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial, in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.