Four convicted over QH money-laundering scheme
Four people inward Texas convey been convicted for their roles inward a system to wash millions of dollars inward drug coin through a quarter Equus caballus racing operation.
A federal jury inward Austin convicted the men for conspiring to wash cash said to hold out the proceeds of drug trafficking past times the Mexico-based Los Zetas drug cartel.
The men seem to twenty years inward federal prison theatre later a jury convicted them of their roles inward the scheme, which saw the cash laundered through the purchase, training, breeding, together with racing of quarter horses inward the United States.
About 400 horses were involved inward the operation, amongst the agreed sale of the animals netting $US9 1000000 to date. Authorities are likewise chasing farm equipment, racing gear together with Earth said to convey been used inward the operation.
It is likewise chasing $US60 1000000 inward cash derived from the conspiracy.
Jurors convicted 46–year-old Balch Springs, Texas resident Jose Trevino Morales, who is the blood brother of purported Mexico-based Los Zetas leaders Miguel Trevino Morales (also known every bit “40”) together with Oscar Omar Trevino Morales (also known every bit “42”).
The other 3 to hold out convicted were 52-year-old Mexican homo of affairs Francisco Colorado Cessa, 30-year-old Equus caballus trainer together with purchasing agent Fernando Solis Garcia, together with 49-year-old Equus caballus trainer Eusevio Maldonado Huitron.
Each homo was institute guilty of ane count of conspiracy to commit coin laundering.
Jurors acquitted Equus caballus trainer together with domicile builder Jesus Maldonado Huitron, of Austin, of the coin laundering conspiracy charge.
No sentencing engagement has been scheduled.
“This trial documented the violence, brutality, together with corruption generated past times Mexican drug cartels — inward this illustration the especially ruthless Los Zetas,” U.S. Attorney Robert Pitman said.
“The authorities was able to present how the corrupting influence of drug cartels has extended into the U.S. amongst cartel bosses using an otherwise legitimate domestic manufacture to wash proceeds from drug trafficking together with other crimes.
“The Department of Justice, the Treasury Department together with all our federal, state, together with local constabulary enforcement partners are committed to drawing a line inward the sand to preclude the Mexican cartels from importing their laid upwards of vehement crime, corruption, together with ruthlessness into the United States.
“When nosotros detect testify of cartel activity, whether inward the shape of drug trafficking, firearms smuggling, or coin laundering, nosotros volition run tirelessly to source out the perpetrators, deprive them of their profits, together with essay the penalization appropriate to their crimes.”
Evidence presented during the 12-day trial revealed that Los Zetas are a powerful drug cartel based inward United Mexican States together with generate multimillion-dollar revenues from drug trafficking.
Since 2008, Miguel together with Oscar Trevino Morales would straight portions of the mass cash generated from the sale of illegal narcotics to Jose Trevino together with his wife, Zulema Trevino, for purchasing, training, breeding, together with racing quarter horses inward the United States.
Testimony likewise revealed a rhythm out game past times the defendants involving straw purchasers together with transactions worth millions of dollars inward New Mexico, Oklahoma, California, together with Texas to disguise the source drug coin together with laid upwards the proceeds from the sale of quarter horses or their race winnings appear legitimate.
Furthermore, the defendants implemented a system to construction cash deposits inward amounts nether $US10,000 inward lodge to circumvent mandatory banking concern reporting requirements.
FBI Special Agent inward Charge Armando Fernandez said: “Today’s verdict affirms the difficult run together with dedication of the FBI together with our constabulary enforcement partners inward combating drug cartels together with their attempts to influence together with command legitimate enterprises.
“The FBI volition proceed to fighting the efforts of organized criminal enterprises, including the Zetas, who would essay to endanger our communities.”
Over 400 quarter horses seized past times federal authorities inward June every bit business office of the functioning convey been sold for well-nigh $US9 million.
Most of the horses were sold at Heritage Place Auction Facility inward Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, inward the past times twelvemonth including H5N1 Dash of Sweet Heat, who sold for $US1 million.
About 100 broodmares were sold earlier auction for $US35,000.
The federal authorities yet retains possession of ix quarter horses, including Tempting Dash, winner of the Dash for Cash at Lone Star Park race rails inward Grand Prairie, Texas, on Oct 24, 2009; Mr. Piloto, $1 1000000 All American Futurity winner at Ruidoso Downs on Labor Day, 2010; Dashin Follies; Separate Fire; together with Y516, a yearling seized on Zule Farms inward Lexington, Oklahoma. Four of the ix quarter horses, none of whom are named above, are scheduled for sale at auction at Heritage Place Auction Facility inward Oklahoma on May 11, 2013.
Pitman noted that the proceeds from the sale of these quarter horses are held inward escrow pending the resolution of a forfeiture action.
The authorities likewise seeks the forfeiture of farm together with ranch equipment; Equus caballus racing equipment; Earth inward Lexington, Oklahoma, together with inward Bastrop County, Texas; together with funds contained inward 3 banking concern accounts allegedly used inward the defendants’ scheme.
The authorities likewise seeks a monetary judgment inward the total of $US60 million, representing the total of coin derived from the conspiracy.
“This verdict is an of import victory for the American public,” said Richard Weber, principal of Inland Revenue Service Criminal Investigations.
“The Los Zetas used US businesses to legitimize their illegal drug proceeds. Today, the Los Zetas cartel was brought to jurist for their drug trafficking together with coin laundering operations.
“By next the coin trail, [our] special agents were able to financially disrupt together with dismantle this major drug trafficking organization.”
Authorities proceed to essay the apprehension of vii co-defendants inward this illustration including purported leaders of the Los Zetas, Miguel Trevino Morales together with Oscar Trevino Morales, every bit good every bit 32–year-old Victor Manuel Lopez, Sergio Guerrero Rincon, 41-year-old Luis Gerardo Aguirre, Erick Jovan Lozano Diaz, together with Gerardo Garza Quintero.
Co-defendants Zulema Trevino, the married adult woman of Jose Trevino Morales; Alexandra Garcia Trevino, the immature lady of Jose Trevino Morales; 21-year-old Raul Ramirez; 23-year-old Adan Farias; together with 29–year-old Felipe Alejandro Quintero entered pleas of guilty to related charges prior to jury choice together with are awaiting sentencing.
The investigation was conducted past times agents amongst the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, together with the Drug Enforcement Administration, amongst assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service, Immigration together with Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), together with U.S. Customs together with Border Patrol, every bit good every bit local constabulary enforcement agents inward Irving, Texas; Lorena, Texas; Bruceville Eddy, Texas; Fort Worth, Texas; together with Laredo, Texas.
The investigation received assistance from the Texas Army National Guard; Cleveland County, Oklahoma Sheriff’s Office; together with the Oklahoma together with New United Mexican States Racing Commissions. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas prosecuted several members of the Los Zetas drug cartel on drug trafficking charges related to this conspiracy together with provided substantial assistance to this investigation. The U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) provided assistance amongst the forfeiture activity inward this case.
Belum ada Komentar untuk "Four convicted over QH money-laundering scheme"
Posting Komentar