Pubdate: Wed, 19 Nov 2003 Source: New York Post (NY) Contact: 2003 N.Y.P. Holdings, Inc. Website: http://www.nypost.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/296 Author: Kate Sheehy Bookmarks: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Rush+Limbaugh (Limbaugh, Rush) WITHDRAWAL $YMPTOM Conservative radio-show host Rush Limbaugh may be in more big, fat trouble for possibly violating state money-laundering laws while trying to hide the fact he was buying scores of painkillers to feed his addiction. Authorities said that during a probe of New York's U.S. Trust Bank two years ago, they discovered that Limbaugh had made between 30 and 40 cash withdrawals from his account that each totaled just under $10,000, ABC News reported last night. Any time someone makes a single withdrawal of $10,000 or more from a bank, the financial institution is required to report the activity to the government. "That in itself is a suspicious activity," money-laundering expert Jack Blum told ABC News of withdrawals such as Limbaugh's. Those who make them "are structuring their transaction to avoid reporting to the government, and the bank is required to file with the federal government something called a suspicious-activity report," he said. "Now the problem will be: Did [Limbaugh] . . . assist his drug supplier in hiding the proceeds [drug money] from the government?" Limbaugh's lawyers admitted he made the withdrawals. They said the bank offers a service that allows one of its own employees to take out the cash for the client and then personally deliver it to him or her, ABC said. In Limbaugh's case, he would have the money - about $9,900 a pop - delivered to him at his New York studios. But the flamboyant radio host's lawyers said U.S. Trust suggested he do it that way. The bank has already paid a $10 million fine because of such transactions involving Limbaugh and others, ABC said. Limbaugh's lawyer, Roy Black, insisted his client was innocent, merely the victim of enemies who want him off the air. "There's no basis for these charges," Black told ABC. "[Limbaugh] has not committed any acts of money laundering, and he absolutely denies it. "I can assure you - and Rush assures the listeners to his radio station - when we can, we will tell the story, and he will tell it himself. Everybody will see what has really gone on here," Black said. If found guilty of money laundering, Limbaugh could face up to 30 years in jail. He returned to the airwaves just Monday after admitting his addiction and spending five weeks at a drug-rehab clinic. Authorities will decide whether to prosecute Limbaugh on the money-laundering charges in the next few weeks, ABC said. - --- MAP posted-by: Derek