Ronald Owens

A businessman who delivered some cash in a golf bag to former County Commissioner Josephus Eggelletion pleaded guilty. Ronald Owens was the bagman in a $900,000 money-laundering conspiracy. He faces a maximum of five years in federal prison when sentenced April 2 but also could serve no prison time. He pleaded guilty to conspiring to launder money.

Owens, Eggelletion and two others alleged to be co-conspirators were arrested in September on charges they worked together to launder money that "asset managers" told them they were trying to hide. The money, they were told, came from a fraudulent investment scheme in Europe. Owens and Eggelletion each received about $23,000 for helping hide money by funneling it to accounts, first in the Bahamas and then in St. Croix, Karadbil said.