CRIME

Prosecutors seek to seize cars, planes, homes as FBI probes investments involving Iraqi money

Associated Press
Published | Updated

FILE- In this Dec. 8, 2003 file photo, stacks of old Iraqi dinars portraying ousted leader Saddam Hussein lay in the port of Basra, Iraq. Federal authorities want to seize airplanes, homes, luxury cars and beach properties from a Georgia-based corporation dealing in Iraqi currency. In a federal complaint, prosecutors say Atlanta-based Sterling Currency Group LLC is among the largest sellers of the Iraqi dinar in the U.S. Prosecutors say the business is built on what they describe as a scam to defraud investors hoping to cash in on a "revaluation" of the currency. (AP Photo/Nabil Aljurani, File) (The Associated Press)

A mansion listed as an asset to Sterling Currency Group LLC and associated companies stands at 225 Valley Rd NW, Thursday, June 11, 2015, in Atlanta. Federal authorities want to seize the mansion along with airplanes, luxury cars and beach properties from the Georgia-based corporation dealing in Iraqi currency. In a federal complaint, prosecutors say Atlanta-based Sterling Currency Group LLC is among the largest sellers of the Iraqi dinar in the U.S. Prosecutors say the business is built on what they describe as a scam to defraud investors hoping to cash in on a "revaluation" of the currency. (AP Photo/David Goldman) (The Associated Press)

Federal authorities want to seize airplanes, homes, luxury cars and beach properties controlled by some Georgia-based corporations dealing in Iraqi currency.

In a federal complaint, prosecutors say Atlanta-based Sterling Currency Group LLC is among the largest sellers of the Iraqi dinar.

Prosecutors say the business is built on what they describe as a scam to defraud investigators hoping to cash in on a "revaluation" of the currency.

In the recently unsealed, 48-page complaint, prosecutors say company representatives spread false information in predicting the dinar would rise sharply in value.

No arrests have been made in the case, which seeks the forfeiture of assets controlled by Sterling and associated companies.

Two lawyers who have represented Sterling didn't immediately return telephone and email messages left by The Associated Press on Thursday morning.