SHENANDOAH, TX- On Saturday, a Shenandoah Police Officer initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle that was southbound on I-45. A check of the driver’s ID showed he was wanted in Mississippi, with a warrant for felony fraud, so the Officer detained him. An investigation determined the suspect, Istiaque Hemal, is allegedly part of a large online scam ring and in the process of moving over $69,000 in illicit cash when SPD stopped him. Officers found the currency stashed in multiple locations inside the vehicle. As a result, Hemal is charged with money laundering. The investigation is ongoing, with additional charges possible.

Istiaque Hissan Hemal, 27, of Sugarland is charged with third-degree felony Money Laundering, more than $30,000 and less than $150,000 and an out-of-state Fugitive from Justice felony fraud warrant from Mississippi. He remains held in the Montgomery County Jail in Conroe as of this posting.

MCPR will update this story when more information becomes available.