Suspected money launderers in the Imperial Valley for cartels indicted

Millions have been transferred to Mexico from suspected members

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) - 29 suspected members tied to the Sinaloa Cartel and Jalisco New Generation Cartel have been indicted and charged for money laundering.

Enforcement officials have arrested 21 defendants throughout Southern California this last week who may have been involved in a money-laundering organization (MLO).

The Imperial Valley-based MLO has records showing the transfer of about $32 million from the United States to Mexico, with drug pick-ups found in multiple U.S. regions such as Detroit, Los Angeles, Boston, New York and others.

Officials say the defendants served as couriers and bank account holders to funnel money with, and were used to travel holding cash in concealed bags, where the money was then wire transferred to bank accounts in Mexico.

"Today we heave dealt a serious blow to this Imperial Valley-based international money laundering network with ties to the Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman. “By dismantling this network, the Department of Justice reaffirms its unwavering commitment to bringing to justice those who corrupt our financial systems by laundering their illicit proceeds.”

Grossman also praised several law enforcement organizations for the findings in the investigation, including those in the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Crime Division.

Per law procedures, the defendants are presumed innocent as an indictment is not evidence of guilt, and they are entitled to a fair trial where the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.