The case against former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn is on the verge of falling apart. Prosecutors investigating charges that he raped a hotel maid in mid-May have found major holes in the woman's story, as well as "possible links to criminal activities, including drug dealing and money laundering," the New York Times reports.

While forensic evidence shows a sexual encounter occurred — and the woman continues to claim Strauss-Kahn attacked her — it's what happened the day after the alleged attack that sheds dramatic new light on the case:

According to the two officials, the woman had a phone conversation with an incarcerated man within a day of her encounter with Mr. Strauss-Kahn in which she discussed the possible benefits of pursuing the charges against him. The conversation was recorded.

That man, the investigators learned, had been arrested on charges of possessing 400 pounds of marijuana. He is among a number of individuals who made multiple cash deposits, totaling around $100,000, into the woman's bank account over the last two years. The deposits were made in Arizona, Georgia, New York and Pennsylvania.

Yeah, it's going to be tough to convince a jury of one's credibility after the prosecutor plays them a conversation that begins, "So tell me, Jimmy the Snake. What do you think are my best sexual-assault-pursuing options?" Developing... [NYT, photo via Getty]