PLANO, Texas (AP) - A federal grand jury has indicted 16 North Texans on money laundering charges relating to a car dealership.
U.S. Attorney John M. Bales of the Eastern District of Texas says the dealership's owner is among those indicted Thursday.
Bales says 54-year-old Richard Alan Arledge of McKinney allegedly used his Suzuki car dealership and financing company to allow drug dealers and those who promote prostitution to buy luxury automobiles with illegal income.
The government also says that in some instances the vehicle's title was placed in the names of third parties to conceal the source of payment and true ownership.
Arledge denied the allegations Friday. He says he's an honest businessman.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
