Dec.29, 2009

Uriel Sanchez was sentenced to six and a half years in prison for his participation as one of the central players in New York for an international money laundering conspiracy.

According to court records, for over a year, Sanchez collected drug money off the streets, counted it and conducted various financial transactions with it. In order to assist him, the defendant supervised at least two other individuals. Through wire taps, physical surveillance and inspection of records, and tracing the flow of money, the DEA, IRS and NYPD identified the organization’s members, as well as their relative responsibilities and methods of operations. In sum, the organization was led by an individual in Colombia who coordinated with foreign customers who had drug money in the United States.

Once contracted, the person in Colombia would dispatch either the defendant Uriel Sanchez or his co-defendant, Mauro Molina, to collect the drug money in the United States. Once in their possession, Sanchez counted the monies and reported back to Colombia.  Afterwards, Sanchez and his co-defendants deposited the money into different banks throughout New York City, in amounts less than $10,000. Before performing these transactions, the person in Colombia provided Sanchez with the amount that each deposit needed to be and the bank account into which it was to be deposited.