Chael Sonnen
Former UFC middleweight top contender Chael Sonnen has pled guilty to federal money laundering charges
According to a report in the Lake Oswego Review citing a U.S. Department of Justice press release, Sonnen admitted in court on Monday that he “conducted a financial transaction designed to hide or disguise the ownership and control of proceeds of mortgage fraud.”
A follow-up report published on OregonLive.com states Sonnen cut a plea deal agreeing to give up his realtor’s license and pay a $10,000 fine.
The Oregon University wrestling stand out and one-time congressional candidate removed himself from the race for Oregon House District 37 last year citing a legal issues.
Sonnen’s legal troubles come on the heels of a minor victory in his fighting career. On Dec. 2, Sonnen successfully had a year suspension from MMA competition reduced to six months by the California State Athletic Commission after testing positive to elevated levels of testosterone in a pre-fight urinalysis for his UFC 117 middleweight title bout with Anderson Silva.
Sonnen’s official sentencing will come down on March 28.