Former FBI Agent Pleads Guilty to Structuring Charges

An Estes Park, Colorado, man and former FBI Agent pleaded guilty today to structuring charges, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.

Gregory Paul Trahan, 60, was charged via criminal information in October. He pleaded guilty today to one count of structuring transactions to evade reporting requirements before U.S. District Judge Andrew S. Hanen.

Because Trahan worked as a Special Agent in the Houston FBI office, and presented cases to the Southern District of Texas U.S. Attorney’s office, the Southern District of Texas Assistant U.S. Attorneys were recused, and Northern District of Texas Assistant U.S. Attorney Marcus Busch was appointed as a Special Attorney to the Attorney General.

In plea papers, Trahan admits to structuring transactions to prevent his spouse at the time from knowing that he had money in undisclosed bank accounts and hiding cash to prevent those funds from becoming part of the resolution of the community estate during their divorce proceedings. Trahan withdrew several hundred thousand dollars from various bank accounts in amounts under the reporting requirements and made deposits, also under the reporting requirements, in other bank accounts. He also stashed money at family residences.

Mr. Trahan now faces up to 5 years in federal prison. His sentencing will be set at a later date.

The Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marcus Busch is prosecuting the case.