https://www.wlwt.com/article/ohio-man-planned-parenthood-threats-money-laundering/46753546

An Ohio man has pled guilty after being accused of threatening Planned Parenthood employees, saying he would burn down their building, according to federal prosecutors.

Authorities say Mohamed Waes, 33, of Columbus pled guilty to a misdemeanor charge under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act, which prohibits a person from intentionally interfering with, or intimidating, any person because that person is providing reproductive health services.

Officials say Waes also pleaded guilty to felony charges of communicating interstate threats and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Waes intentionally interfered with and intimidated employees of Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio by making a threat over the phone to burn down their building because of the reproductive health services they offer in July 2022.

"Threatening to burn down facilities that provide reproductive health services is not just unlawful, it's conduct that frightens and obstructs patients and providers of reproductive services," said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division. "The Justice Department is committed to enforcing the FACE Act to protect all patients who seek reproductive health services and to protect all staff and facilities that provide these services."

"We will hold accountable individuals who make threats of force against health service providers and institutions," said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker for the Southern District of Ohio. "At the U.S. Attorney's Office, we will do our part in charging those who break federal laws. As a society, we must handle our disagreements in a more civil way than threats of violence and intimidation."

Court documents allege that Waes conspired with others to launder funds using business email compromise fraud schemes.

Officials say as part of the conspiracy, scammers created fake email domains, which mimicked legitimate email donates, and then sent emails to various companies impersonating vendors and asking that payments be made on actual invoices to bank accounts controlled by the schemes' conspirators, including Waes.

Prosecutors say Waes attempted to launder a total of $1,972,792.84 in BEC proceeds, of which he successfully laundered $273,982.08.

"Waes played a crucial role in a business email compromise scheme by attempting to launder nearly $2 million in fraud proceeds," said Acting Special Agent in Charge Karen Wingerd of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS:CI) Cincinnati Field Office in a press release. "IRS:CI remains committed to following the money and bringing those who launder illegal proceeds to justice."

A sentencing hearing will be set at a later date. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.