Racing quarter horses used to launder drug cash – feds
Millions of dollars inwards drug distrubution profits were laundered inwards the US through an elaborate American quarter Equus caballus operation, federal regime allege.
A federal grand jury inwards the Western District of Texas has returned an indictment charging xiv people, including the leader of the Los Zetas criminal syndicate inwards Mexico, Miguel Angel Trevino Morales – too known every bit “40” – in addition to his brothers, Oscar Omar Trevino Morales (“42″) in addition to Jose Trevino-Morales.
They are charged inwards connective amongst an alleged conspiracy to wash Los Zetas drug distribution proceeds yesteryear purchasing, training, breeding in addition to racing American quarter horses in the United States, said USA Attorney Robert Pitman, based inwards Texas.
Federal regime are seeking forfeiture of numerous quarter horses inwards the case, including several top-performing animals.
“The allegations inwards this indictment, if proven, would document nevertheless but about other instance of the corrupting influence of Mexican drug cartels inside the United States, facilitated yesteryear the enormous profits generated yesteryear the illicit drug trade,” Pitman said.
On Tuesday, federal regime arrested 7 of the xiv indicted defendants. They included Jose Trevino-Morales 45, in addition to his wife, Zulema Trevino, 38, inwards Lexington, Oklahoma; Fernando Solis Garcia, 29, inwards Ruidoso, New Mexico; Carlos Miguel Nayen Borbolla, 26, Adan Farias, 32, in addition to Felipe Alejandro, 28, all of Quintero, inwards Los Angeles, California; in addition to Eusevio Maldonado Huitron, 48, of Austin, Texas.
All 7 rest inwards federal custody.
Miguel Angel Trevino Morales, 38, in addition to Oscar Omar Trevino Morales, 36, are believed to last inwards Mexico.
Other individuals indicted, but non nevertheless arrested, include: Raul Ramirez, 20, of El Paso, Texas; Francisco Antonio Colorado Cessa, 51, of Veracruz, Mexico; Victor Manuel Lopez, 31, of Nuevo Laredo, Mexico; Sergio Rogelio Guerrero Rincon, 40, of Mexico; and, Luis Gerardo Aguirre, 35, of Mexico.
The indictment, returned on May 30, 2012, in addition to unsealed on Tuesday, charges the defendants amongst ane count of conspiracy to wash monetary instruments.
According to the indictment, the Los Zetas are a powerful drug cartel inwards United Mexican States in addition to generates multi-million dollar revenues from drug sales.
The indictment alleges that, since 2008, Miguel in addition to Oscar Trevino Morales would straight portions of the mass cash generated from the sale of illegal narcotics to Jose in addition to Zulema Trevino for purchasing, training, breeding in addition to racing American quarter horses inwards the US.
The indictment identifies millions of dollars worth of transactions inwards New Mexico, Oklahoma, California in addition to Texas involving a large discover of quarter horses.
Jose Trevino, Zulema Trevino in addition to others used “front” companies to conceal in addition to disguise the truthful ownership of the quarter horses.
FBI Special Agent inwards Charge Armando Fernandez said the investigation revealed the varied attempts yesteryear Mexican drug cartels to farther their criminal enterprises yesteryear whatsoever agency necessary.
“The FBI in addition to its partners stand upwardly cook to fighting all efforts yesteryear transnational criminal organizations to undermine our national safety wherever in addition to whenever they may be uncovered.”
The indictment seeks the forfeiture of numerous quarter horses, including Tempting Dash, winner of the Dash for Cash at the Lone Star Park racetrack inwards Grand Prairie, Texas, on Oct 24, 2009; Mr Piloto, the $US1 meg All American Futurity winner at Ruidoso Downs on Labor Day, 2010; Dashin Follies; Coronita Cartel; in addition to Separate Fire.
The indictment too seeks the forfeiture of farm in addition to ranch equipment, horse-racing equipment, existent estate inwards Lexington, Oklahoma, in addition to inwards Bastrop County, Texas; in addition to funds inwards iii banking company accounts allegedly used inwards the defendants’ scheme.
The indictment too seeks $US20 million, representing the total of coin derived from the defendants’ scheme.
Richard Weber, caput of the Inland Revenue Service Criminal Investigation unit, said: “This instance is a prime number instance of the mightiness of Mexican drug cartels to constitute footholds inwards legitimate US industries in addition to highlights the serious threat coin laundering causes to our fiscal system.
“This laid upwardly on on ane of the Zeta’s close profitable money-laundering schemes is an essential front end inwards the state of war on drugs in addition to volition financially disrupt in addition to assist dismantle this fierce international criminal organization.”
If convicted, the defendants aspect to xx years inwards federal prison.
Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent inwards Charge Javier Peña said laundering drug proceeds through whatsoever fiscal establishment to encompass its source was unlawful.
“DEA, along amongst its counterparts, volition buy the farm on to investigate drug trafficking in addition to coin laundering cases amongst priority.”
In connective amongst the indictment, the Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has designated Francisco Antonio Colorado Cessa every bit a peculiarly designated narcotics trafficker.
“We bring found Francisco Colorado Cessa to last materially assisting the narcotics trafficking activities of Los Zetas in addition to its leaders, Miguel in addition to Omar Trevino Morales,” OFAC manager Adam Szubin said.
“Our activeness cuts Colorado Cessa off from the US fiscal scheme in addition to it is nevertheless but about other betoken to Miguel in addition to Omar Trevino Morales, in addition to the Zetas, that OFAC volition target their fiscal in addition to trace of piece of job organisation network wherever it is found.
“I commend the move of the US Attorney’s Office inwards its hard-hitting investigation.”
Multiple agencies bring been involved inwards the ongoing investigation.
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