Three family members on money laundering charges

A Manchester business-woman, her son, and her sister are now before the courts for allegedly laundering some $100 million worth of proceeds from drug trafficking.

It is alleged that they used the money to purchase some 10 properties, as well as invested it in their businesses.

The accused are: businesswoman Eva Mae Sterling, 57, who the court heard is a farmer, and has three registered businesses; her son Nicholas Chang, 34, who is a party promoter; and Sterling's sister Marline Ledford, 45.

Reports are that the drug trafficking money originates from the United States, from Sterling's son, who was convicted in the US in 2013.

The three were arrested and charged by detectives from the Financial Investigation Division and the Counter Terrorism and Organised Crime Investigation Branch.

They were granted bail at $700,000 each when they appeared in the Kinston and St Andrew Court on Friday. They are to return on July 7, as their case files are incomplete.