The head of a District-based international money-laundering organization has been sentenced to nearly two years in prison after he admitted to handling $2.2 million he believed was linked to al Qaeda and drug traffickers.

Between October 2003 and September 2007, a witness cooperating with federal authorities told Saifullah Ranjha that the money Ranjha was laundering on the witness’ behalf was linked to al Qaeda and drugs. On March 27, Ranjha was sentenced to 21 months in prison.