Million-Dollar Cartel Money Laundering Scheme Busted in Texas

Two people, both Mexican citizens, have been sentenced for their involvement in a multimillion-dollar money laundering scheme. They will both serve prison time with a million-dollar fine each.

Massive Money Laundering Bust in Texas

Two Mexican nationals, 53-year-old Mauricio Anzures-Zarate and 63-year-old Beatriz Salcedo-Carreon pleaded guilty to laundering money from drug trafficking efforts through Texas into Mexico.

Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti stated the dangerous nature of what these two individuals were involved in.

These financial facilitators actively promoted cartel operations in cities across the United States, which enabled the flow of deadly narcotics into our communities.

Black Market Peso Exchanges

Anzures-Zarate and Salcedo-Carreon had roles of directing money couriers to operate within various U.S. cities, collecting drug money along the way. This money was then wired through Laredo, TX, to be laundered through local businesses and passed off as clean legal cash.

This cash was then transferred in the form of Mexican pesos to cartel members south of the border. The money exchange into Mexican pesos was done through black market deals, a method that the DEA commonly uses to track efforts of Mexican cartels operating in the U.S.

A total of eight others were arrested previously who were involved in this massive, two-year money laundering scheme.

Prison Sentence for Both Offenders

A prison sentence of 55 months for both offenders was recently imposed by U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison. However, following their sentences, both Anzures-Zarate and Salcedo-Carreon will be deported back to Mexico, where they hold citizenship.

A fine will also be placed on each person. Anzures-Zarate will be expected to pay $1,176,165 while Salcedo-Carreon will have a fine of $887,269, according to the release from the DEA.

"Taking this conspiracy out of commission is a great win," U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei emphasized, "but it's just the beginning."