Altaf Khanani | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1961-05-02)2 May 1961 (age 64)[1] Karachi, Pakistan |
| Occupation | Money launderer |
| Criminal penalty | 68 months in prison |
| Criminal status | Released |
| Children | 5 |
Altaf Khanani (Urdu:الطاف خانانی; born 2 May 1961) is a Pakistani money launderer who was involved in moving money for terrorist groups and criminal gang groups.[2] After serving three years in prison he was released in July 2020.[3]
He was born in 1961 to aMemon family who were originally fromGujarat, India before migrating to Pakistan after independence.[1] His father Abdul Sattar Khanani was a street dealer and businessman.[1] He was the twin brother of Javed Khanani who was involved inKhanani and Kalia International fraud.[1] His brother allegedly committed suicide in 2016.[4]
Khanani's money laundering organisation was involved in the illicit international movement of money between, among others, Pakistan, theUnited Arab Emirates,United States,United Kingdom,Canada, andAustralia.[5] Among the methods used was the traditionalHawala system. Among others, the organization moved money for drug cartels, biker gangs,Hezbollah,al-Qaeda and the armed terrorists behind the Mumbai attacks of1993 and2008.[6][7]
Khanani was arrested in September 2016 inPanama by theUS Drug Enforcement Administration,[6] and transported to jail in the United States.[5] He was indicted in theUS District Court of the Southern District of Florida on fourteen counts of money laundering in June 2015.[5] In a plea bargain, Khanani pleaded guilty to a single count of conspiracy to commit laundering. His sentence included 68 months in prison, a $250,000 fine,[8][6] blacklisting by the United States along with his son Obaid Khanani and nephew Hozaifa Khanani,[5] and his money laundering network has been designated as a Transnational Criminal Organization under theSDN by theUnited States Department of the Treasury'sOffice of Foreign Assets Control. Its addresses included Australia, Canada, Pakistan, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and United States.[9] Khanani was released from prison on July 13, 2020.[10]
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