Alias:

Albert D. White

Date of Birth Used:	December 20, 1943	Hair:	Gray
Place of Birth:	Liverpool, England	Eyes:	Blue
Height:	6'3"	Sex:	Male
Weight:	180 pounds	Race:	White
NCIC:	W654913986	Nationality:	British
Occupation:	Unknown
Scars and Marks:	None known
Remarks:	It is believed that Welsh is no longer in the United States and may have fled to Antwerp, Belgium. He may have ties to the following geographical areas: Virginia; England; Belgium; Nigeria; and Western Europe. Additionally, it has been reported that during the Spring of 2003, Welsh may have convalesced for several weeks in an unknown hospital in Belgium. The hospital stay was a result of a broken leg sustained in an automobile accident.

Howard Welsh and Lee Hope Thrasher are being sought for conspiracy to commit money laundering in an investment scam, which was based out of Virginia Beach, Virginia. Additionally, the scam was conducted on a national and international level. From approximately mid-1999 through early 2004, Welsh and Thrasher allegedly participated in a ponzi scheme, which involved the creation of fraudulent nonprofit, tax-exempt religious entities, as well as a nonexistent bank. Victims were lured into this scheme by the promise of high, tax-free returns on their investments in very short periods of time. In order to legitimize the fraudulent bank and investment opportunity, the victims were required to attend three-day training seminars held throughout the United States. The theme of these seminars was deeply religious and boasted a charitable purpose. Reportedly, each victim was also required to form a "corporation sole" registered in the state of Washington. It has also been reported that approximately $29 million in fraudulently-obtained funds allegedly were wire-transferred into bank accounts controlled by Welsh and Thrasher. The funds were received from hundreds of victims across the United States, as well as Great Britain. Reportedly, less than 5 percent of the victims received any portion of their investment back from Welsh and Thrasher.

Howard Welsh was charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering in a federal arrest warrant, which was issued by the United States District Court, Eastern District of Virginia, Norfolk Division, on September 30, 2003.

IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS CASE, PLEASE CONTACT YOUR LOCAL FBI OFFICE OR THE NEAREST AMERICAN EMBASSY OR CONSULATE.