A federal grand jury in Florida has indicted nine individuals accused of laundering drug money through cryptocurrencies for Mexican and Colombian cartels.
According to the US Department of Justice, the defendants allegedly operated a “black market cryptocurrency laundering network and unlicensed money transmitters” to facilitate the scheme.
Crypto drug money laundering scheme
The operation involved collecting money from drug sales in U.S. cities, converting it into cryptocurrency, and transferring it to digital wallets. The crypto was then converted back into cash and delivered to cartel leaders in Mexico and Colombia. The scheme operated between 2020 and 2023.
According to court documents, Nilson Vasquez Duarte, also known as “Sobri,” and his associates managed the transfers to black market money changers. These money changers included Hernan Horacio Richard Samper, Maria Eugenia Landeros Rosas, also known as “Yeni,” Raimundo Carlos Rodriguez Huter, Mayccol Hejeile Morales and Hernan Julian Calvo Bueno.
Additionally, Sergio Alvarez, Juan Muentes, Jesus Martinez, Morales, and Calvo Bueno acted as couriers, transporting money between cities in the United States.
All nine defendants face charges of conspiracy to commit crypto laundering and operating an unlicensed money transmitting business. Prosecutors also charged Duarte, Landeros, Huter, Rincon, Morales, Calvo Bueno and Alvarez with separate money laundering crimes.
This case is part of an investigation by the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The OCDETF targets and dismantles the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations.
“This case highlights how organized crime adapts to exploit technology for illegal activities. We remain focused on dismantling these networks and holding criminals accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe.
Indeed, cryptocurrencies have become a tool for illicit financial activities, including money laundering. The OCDETF is actively addressing these challenges by targeting networks that use crypto to hide and transfer drug trafficking proceeds across borders, as demonstrated in this case.
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