Quarter horses in alleged money-laundering scheme to be sold
A major auction of American quarter horses inward a racing functioning which the States authorities allege was used to wash Mexican drug coin volition live on held early on inward November.
The Oklahoma City auction follows simply weeks subsequently simply about other major quarter Equus caballus auction triggered yesteryear the States authorities – the dispersal of the well-bred herd of alleged fraudster Rita Crundwell.
Crundwell’s horses were sold yesteryear the the States Marshals Service inward proceedings running with her criminal prosecution for wire fraud, inward which it is alleged she siphoned well-nigh $US53 1000000 from the coffers of the Illinois town of Dixon over a 22-year current piece she worked every bit its fiscal controller. She has denied the charge.
Now, the Inland Revenue Service (IRS) is targeting hundreds of seized quarter horses allegedly at the middle of a money-laundering functioning for the Zetas cartel.
About 379 horses, allegedly bought with drug coin yesteryear Zetas cartel leaders to mask their illegal activities, volition become nether the hammer from Nov 1-3.
The IRS has already sold 99 broodmares inward the case, netting gross proceeds of $US32,175.
A justice has told the taxation subdivision to concord the proceeds, pending the termination of the criminal case.
Money from the horses inward the representative is probable to live on released to the authorities inward the trial of a successful prosecution. The trial is laid downwards for March inward Austin, Texas.
Selling assets earlier a successful criminal prosecution is unusual, but authorities were concerned well-nigh preserving the value of the horses. One approximate pose the monthly terms of caring for the animals at $US200,000.
It is understood that 5 of the most valuable horses are beingness withheld from the sale inward a bargain betwixt the parties.
In all, to a greater extent than than 400 horses were involved inward the alleged functioning across several states.
A federal grand jury inward the Western District of Texas returned an indictment on May thirty charging xiv people, including the leader of the syndicate inward Mexico, Miguel Angel Trevino-Morales – also known every bit “40″ – as well as his brothers, Oscar Omar Trevino-Morales (“42”) as well as Jose Trevino-Morales.
The indictment alleges that, since 2008, Miguel as well as Oscar Trevino-Morales directed portions of the volume cash generated from the sale of illegal narcotics through the Los Zetas cartel to Jose as well as Zulema Trevino for purchasing, training, breeding as well as racing quarter horses inward the US.
The indictment identifies millions of dollars worth of transactions inward New Mexico, Oklahoma, California as well as Texas involving the horses.
Jose Trevino, Zulema Trevino as well as others used “front” companies to conceal as well as disguise the truthful ownership of the quarter horses, it is alleged.
FBI Special Agent inward Charge Armando Fernandez said at the fourth dimension that the investigation revealed the varied attempts yesteryear Mexican drug cartels to farther their criminal enterprises yesteryear whatever way necessary.
“The FBI as well as its partners stand upward cook to fight all efforts yesteryear transnational criminal organizations to undermine our national safety wherever as well as whenever they may live on uncovered.”
As good every bit the horses, the indictment also seeks the forfeiture of farm as well as ranch equipment, horse-racing equipment, existent estate inward Lexington, Oklahoma, as well as inward Bastrop County, Texas; as well as funds inward iii banking concern accounts allegedly used inward the defendants’ scheme.
The indictment also seeks $US20 million, representing the total of coin derived from the defendants’ scheme.
Auction details: www.treasury.gov/ or www.heritageplace.com.
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