Fri, Dec 13th, 2013

http://www.azcentral.com/news/arizona/articles/20131212six-people-arrested-connection-tucson-money-laundering-ring-abrk.html?nclick_check=1

Six people believed by police to be members of a money laundering organization in Tucson and New York were arrested, according to authorities on Thursday.

Armando Robles Urrea, Conception Suarez-Montijo, Gladis Celaya-Reuelas, Noemi Suarez-Montijo, Frank Babcock, and Maria Yvette Sanchez-Arvizu were arrested in connection with drug trafficking and laundering.

Luis and Julio Villagrana fled law enforcement on Tuesday night and have not been found, according to the state Attorney General’s Office.

Authorities suspect the Sanchez Money Laundering Organization was involved in laundering $1.6 million dollars through a Tucson casino and bank accounts from June 2010 to May 2013, according to the Attorney General’s Office.

Police suspect Sanchez-Arvizu to be the head of the organization and responsible for laundering over $750,000, according to the Attorney General’s Office.

Authorities confiscated 84 pound of marijuana that was sent from Tucson to New York through commercial shipment in October, according to the Attorney General’s Office.

After a tip, law enforcement served a warrant on the shipment and discovered drugs inside a Husky 60 Gallon Air Compression unit that had been resealed and painted over, according to authorities.

The Attorney General’s Office put racketeering liens on 15 bank accounts associated with the six people arrested. Another racketeering lien was placed on a Tucson home that police believe was paid for with money from drug offenses.

Money and property police recover will go toward investigating and prosecuting future racketeering offenses.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, Pima County Sheriff’s Department and the Counter Narcotics Alliance were involved in the investigation.

The Attorney General’s Offices asks that if anyone with information about Luis or Julio Villagrana call the agency. Tucson callers can dial 88-CRIME and non-Tucson callers can dial 520-882-7463, or all callers can contact the DEA at 520-940-0705. All calls are confidential.