Fernando Q. Martins, who owns a number of businesses in Newark, was arrested on Friday in connection with the $400 million check-cashing operation.
Martins allegedly cashed checks mostly from construction workers and others in the building trades since at least 2015. Martins also allowed customers to write checks to businesses he operated as part of the scheme, federal authorities said.
The scheme allowed Martins' customers to avoid reporting receipt of the cash on currency transaction reports, helping the customers pay workers off the books to avoid payroll taxes, authorities also said.
If convicted he faces up to five years in prison and a fine.
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