A Fayetteville man was sentenced to federal prison Thursday for attempting to smuggle more than $100,000 in cash through Hartsfield-Jackson International airport, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced.
Stephen Willoughby, 37, who was convicted in January of bulk cash smuggling, was sentenced to 1 year 9 months in prison plus three years of supervised release. He also must perform 100 hours of community service.
"The laws requiring international travelers to declare more than $10,000 in cash when entering or leaving the United States serve to prevent money laundering and financing of a variety of illegal conduct," U.S. Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said in the news release.
When Willoughby arrived at Hartsfield on a flight from London on Feb. 13, 2011, customs agents already were on the lookout for him because he previously had failed to properly declare a large amount of currency, authorities said.
This time, Willoughby filled out a declaration form stating that he was carrying less than $10,000 and told Customs and Border Patrol officers that he had only $100, according to the information presented in court.
Agents found almost $107,00 in U.S. currency during a pat-down and a search of Willoughby's luggage, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. Authorities did not say why the man was carrying so much cash.
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