A sprawling criminal network spanning from Baltimore to New York and beyond has been dismantled, leading to the seizure of over $6 million and 2,000 pounds of marijuana. Seventeen individuals were indicted yesterday following a joint investigation by the DEA and Homeland Security Investigations, revealing a sophisticated money laundering operation fueled by illegal marijuana distribution.
The investigation, triggered by two non-fatal shootings in Baltimore in March 2023, uncovered a complex web of individuals involved in laundering millions of dollars in drug proceeds.
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This network included a Chinese Money Laundering Organization (MLO) in New York City and drug traffickers in Maryland who shipped bulk cash to various states to obtain more marijuana and conceal their illicit gains.
The indictment charges the defendants with conspiracy to engage in money laundering and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, with penalties reaching up to 20 years imprisonment and $1 million in fines. Additionally, two individuals face firearm charges.
“When violence erupts in our communities, we will track it down to its core. This investigation demonstrates how organized international money laundering drives gun violence and illegal drug trafficking,” said Erek L. Barron, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland. “Through the coordinated efforts of our OCDETF Strike Force and law enforcement partners, our highest priority is protecting the nation’s safety and security.”
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“This investigation is a clear example of how we use DEA’s collective resources to identify money laundering schemes and drug distribution networks in order to disrupt and dismantle their operations,” emphasized Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge of DEA Washington Division. “The increasingly dynamic and complex nature of the illicit drug trade demands enhanced cooperation with local, state and federal partners that reflects the reality of a globalized supply chain for illegal drugs and its transnational money laundering activities. We will pursue all enablers of these illicit activities by denying the criminal networks of their ill-gotten proceeds and interrupt their ability to transfer working capital to fund their range of illicit activities.”
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