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A Montreal-area resident is in custody in the United States and his brother is being sought after a federal grand jury recently indicted both on charges alleging they operated an Internet-based money service to launder money from illegal activity.

This week, the U.S. Department of Justice announced the arrest of Ferhan Patel, 37, who was picked up in Detroit and detained pending a transfer to the District of Columbia where he and his brother Firoz, 43, are charged with conspiring to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business. They are also charged with one count of conspiring to launder money. Authorities are still trying to locate the elder brother.

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During a brief hearing held on Monday at a U.S. District Court in Michigan, Ferhan Patel waived his right to challenge the allegation that he is the person referred to in the indictment filed against him. He also waived his right to a bail hearing but asked a judge that the option for the same type of hearing remain a possibility once he and his case are transferred to D.C.