The Securities and Exchange Commission disclosed that Shearson Lehman Hutton Inc. has uncovered possible instances of money laundering at several New York branch offices of its E.F. Hutton & Co. subsidiary.
The disclosures, contained in documents made public this week by the SEC, could enlarge the scope of previous money laundering charges against Hutton.Shearson, a giant investment firm that acquired Hutton in December 1987, pleaded guilty on Hutton's behalf Monday to three criminal counts of money laundering and conspiracy at Hutton's branch in Providence, R.I. Shearson was fined $1.01 million for the offenses, which occurred between 1982 and 1984.
Also this week, the SEC granted Shearson a temporary exemption from securities laws that would bar it from acting as an investment adviser in Providence because of its guilty plea.
The SEC documents, based on information supplied to the agency early this year by Shearson, said an internal investigation conducted by Shearson turned up possible cases of money laundering at several Hutton branches in the New York City area.
The documents did not disclose how much money may have been laundered through the Hutton branches, the period in which it may have occurred, or how many branches may have been involved.
The new disclosures will not have any impact on Shearson's continuing business operations.