Horses in money-laundering case go under hammer
An Oklahoma auction of quarter horses which authorities allege were business office of a money-laundering functioning past times a Mexican drug cartel has already fetched $US1 1000000 – for simply i horse.
The 340 horses, many from function past times breeding lines, are going nether the hammer inwards the three-day auction.
The sale of the horses is beingness undertaken amongst the understanding of the defendants inwards the case. Costs of caring for the horses since their seizure inwards June has been substantial, amongst about estimates putting it at upwards to $US200,000 a month.
The starting fourth dimension animals went nether the hammer on Th at the Heritage Place Fall Mixed Sale.
The Equus caballus considered the close valuable, Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Dash of Sweet Heat, fetched $US1 million.
The sale is unusual, inwards that is it unfolding earlier the completion of the criminal prosecution. The coin volition live on held past times the authorities pending the outcome of the case.
In all, fourteen people are charged over the case, inwards which federal authorities allege a major quarter Equus caballus racing functioning was beingness used to wash cash from the Zeta drug cartel.
The horses were across several states, but close came from an Oklahoma ranch run past times Jose Trevino Morales, who is the blood brother OF 2 men federal authorities alleges are leaders of the cartel.
Some of those named inwards the indictment are fugitives believed to live on living inwards Mexico.
The indictment, returned on May 30, 2012, charges the defendants amongst i count of conspiracy to wash monetary instruments.
The indictment alleges that, since 2008, Miguel as well as Oscar Trevino-Morales would straight portions of the mass 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 inwards the US.
The indictment identifies millions of dollars worth of transactions inwards New Mexico, Oklahoma, California as well as Texas involving a large release of quarter 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, the authorities allege.
FBI Special Agent inwards Charge Armando Fernandez said the investigation revealed the varied attempts past times Mexican drug cartels to farther their criminal enterprises past times whatever way necessary.
“The FBI as well as its partners stand upwards cook to fighting all efforts past times transnational criminal organizations to undermine our national safety wherever as well as whenever they may live on uncovered,” he said at the time.
As good equally the horse, the indictment likewise seeks the forfeiture of farm as well as ranch equipment, horse-racing equipment, existent estate inwards Lexington, Oklahoma, as well as inwards Bastrop County, Texas; as well as funds inwards 3 banking concern accounts allegedly used inwards the defendants’ scheme.
The indictment likewise seeks $US20 million, representing the sum of coin derived from the defendants’ scheme.
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