Car buyers named in alleged Hezbollah scheme

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - A lawyer for some Connecticut car buyers that federal authorities say were involved in a $300 million money laundering scheme involving Hezbollah says his clients have no connections to the militant group.

Attorney Scott Resnik tells The Hartford Courant  his clients didn't do anything illegal.

Federal prosecutors filed a lawsuit in Manhattan federal court in December saying Lebanese financial institutions wired more than $300 million into the U.S. to buy cars and ship them to West Africa. Officials say Hezbollah money-laundering channels were used to ship proceeds from the car sales and narcotics trafficking back to Lebanon.

Officials named five Connecticut companies: Golden Eagle Motors of Vernon, EZ Auto Exports of New Britain, Ezedine Brothers of Hartford, Global Auto of South Windsor and MGM Global Trading of South Windsor.

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Information from: The Hartford Courant