A Deer Park resident has been sentenced to federal prison for operating an illegal money transmitting business, according to an announcement from U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Bobby Charles Lee Sr., 66, pleaded guilty on June 30. U.S. District Court Judge Kenneth Hoyt ordered Lee to serve 33 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. The court imposed strict conditions during supervised release, including restrictions on company and bank account ownership and limits on access to technology. Restitution will be paid to two victims in amounts yet to be determined.
During the sentencing hearing, it was revealed that Lee continued moving illicit funds while out on bond. Judge Hoyt described Lee’s actions as among the “most outrageous” he had seen in his 37 years on the bench, telling Lee: “at your age, you still have not come home to right” and questioning why Lee had not informed his family about the criminal case.
Between 2020 and 2024, Lee operated an unlicensed money-transmitting business by moving funds through various personal and business accounts without obtaining the required state license or federal registration. He permitted others to deposit and transfer funds into accounts under his control and accepted negotiable instruments sent by mail.
Authorities identified several suspicious or fraudulent transactions linked to Lee’s activities, leading banks to close multiple associated accounts. In March 2024, Lee deposited a counterfeit $2.3 million U.S. Treasury check and used part of the proceeds for personal benefit, including purchasing a Cadillac vehicle. Authorities later seized the car and recovered approximately $2.1 million of the fraudulent funds.
Lee has been allowed to remain free on bond until he voluntarily surrenders at a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility yet to be determined.
The investigation was conducted by IRS Criminal Investigation and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration with assistance from the FBI and Deer Park Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie Bauman and Kimberly Ann Leo prosecuted the case with support from Kristine Rollinson of the Asset Recovery Section.
