South Korea: low penalties for rape.

http://economy.hankooki.com/lpage/society/201509/e2015091607011693800.htm

If a person is drunk when committing crime, the law shows leniency towards his criminal behavior - Penalty: 2-3 years in prison for raping a woman, molesting a 5 years old, etc.

money laundering, hispanics

Federal investigators are targeting nearly 700 businesses in Miami for a money laundering investigation, The Washington Post reports.

http://www.latinpost.com/articles/49304/20150422/businessmen-miami-targeted-money-laundering-investigation.htm

United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced Tuesday that they are investigating businesses to find out about trade-based money laundering schemes involving American criminal organizations.

ICE is focusing on electronics exporters in five ZIP codes near Miami International Airport.

Targeted companies will be required to file certain Treasury Department forms for transactions more than $3,000. Usually, the normal threshold to fill out transaction forms for more than $10,000.

"It's very prevalent among the electronic exporters," said John Tobon, assistant special agent in charge of ICE homeland security investigations in Miami. "These are items that are very easily sold overseas."

Tobon said not all of the targeted businesses are involved in money laundering. He added that some businesses are created just for criminal groups to evade U.S. currency laws.

"We want to let them know this is not an acceptable business practice," Tobon said.

The order in Miami order will remain in effect from April 28 until Oct. 25. Businesses are still required to retain records related to the order for five years after its final date.

None of the businesses in Miami were identified by name, Lancaster Online reports.

Companies targeted are required to identify people involved in transactions for more than $3,000. The investigation is also focusing on third parties who put up the money to complete any deals.

Authorities say the investigation order would enhance law enforcement's ability to find and prosecute money launderers. They could also find businesses involved in illicit drug trade, counterfeit merchandise and human trafficking.

The Treasury Department issued a similar order to more than 2,000 businesses in the Los Angeles area when more than $30 million in bank accounts traced to Mexican drug cartels.

Nearly 700 Miami Businessmen Targeted for Money Laundering Investigation

money laundering VA harrisonburg

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/latestnews/Jamaican-man-charged-in-Virginia-lottery-scheme

HARRISONBURG, Virginia (AP) — A Jamaican citizen living in Virginia has been charged with operating a fraudulent lottery scheme.

A grand jury returned a 27-count federal indictment Thursday charging Carlos O'Brian Ricketts with mail fraud, wire fraud, money laundering and conspiracy. The 31-year-old Frederick County resident's arraignment and detention hearing is set for Monday morning in US District Court in Harrisonburg.

According to the indictment, Ricketts and a co-conspirator tricked victims into sending Ricketts thousands of dollars to cover fees for bogus lottery winnings. The Department of Justice says the indictment is part of the government's crackdown on fraudulent lottery schemes based in Jamaica that target elderly people.

Ricketts' lawyer, Andrea Harris of the federal public defender's office, did not immediately respond to a voicemail message Friday.

VA money laundering law

"Labor traffickers—including labor recruiters, contractors, and employers—use violence, threats, lies, debt bondage, and other forms of coercion to force people to work against their will in many different industries"

Polaris Project 

§ 18.2-246.3

Money laundering; penalties.

A. It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly to conduct a financial transaction where the person knows the property involved in the transaction represents the proceeds of an activity which is punishable as a felony under the laws of the Commonwealth, another state or territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the United States. A violation of this section is punishable by imprisonment of not more than forty years or a fine of not more than $500,000 or by both imprisonment and a fine. 

B. Any person who, for compensation, converts cash into negotiable instruments or electronic funds for another, knowing the cash is the proceeds of some form of activity which is punishable as a felony under the laws of the Commonwealth, another state or territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the United States, shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. Any second or subsequent violation of this subsection shall be punishable as a Class 6 felony