Tue, Mar 4th, 2014

http://www.themonitor.com/news/local/article_01d934a0-a336-11e3-80bc-0017a43b2370.html

BROWNSVILLE — The first of 10 suspects accused of laundering money for the Gulf Cartel was sentenced to prison Monday morning.

U.S. District Judge Andrew S. Hanen sentenced Yezenia V. Campos-Silva, 31, of Brownsville, to seven months in prison for operating an unlicensed money transmitting business from Nov. 4, 2008, until Dec. 3, 2012.

Campos-Silva deposited $58,800 in Gulf Cartel narcotic proceeds over a four-month time period, court documents show.

The 21-count indictment unsealed in October 2013 alleges Campos-Silva and nine other Cameron County residents laundered nearly $2 million in drug proceeds by opening accounts at the Bank of America in Brownsville and withdrawing cash deposited into those accounts by unknown individuals in Florida in amounts under the $10,000 reporting requirement and crossing the cash into Matamoros.

According to court documents, Campos-Silva was just a recruit in the scheme, and the indictment names the alleged ring leader and recruiters.

“It was part of the conspiracy that defendant Oscar J. Aguilar would recruit individuals to open bank accounts, which would then be used to move money through the accounts in an effort to avoid the currency reporting requirements,” the indictment states. “The money would then be turned over for transportation into Mexico. The money was narcotics and controlled substances sales proceeds bound for Matamoros.”

Aguilar, 37, who has pleaded not guilty, is accused of first recruiting Yurixi Guadalupe Vega Martinez, 29, who has also pleaded not guilty, in September 2008 to open a bank account, into which a little more than $400,000 was deposited by unknown individuals in Florida, according to the indictment.

In April 2012, Vega Martinez allegedly recruited Mayte Ayde Diaz, 39, who has pleaded guilty to operating an unlicensed money transmitting business, to open an account, into which more than $500,000 was deposited by unknown individuals for the same purpose, court documents show.

Another accomplice, Lorena M. Moreno-Martinez has pleaded guilty to operating an unlicensed money transmitting business.

A total of $1,893,170 in Gulf Cartel drug proceeds was allegedly deposited into the accounts, court documents show.