Key Money-Laundering Ring Smashed
Authorities have smashed a $100-million-a-year money-laundering ring linked to a major Colombian cocaine cartel, arresting 12 people, including the ringleader, officials announced Friday.
The network, allegedly headed by Guillermo Gomez, was believed to be responsible for sending millions of dollars out of the United States to Colombia and Panama.
Officials said the ring laundered money for Jose Santa Cruz Londono, a leader of the Cali cartel, which reputedly operates the biggest cocaine ring in New York.
The network was smashed after an investigation began last year when banks in Elizabeth and Paterson, N.J., reported suspicious currency transactions by Colombian nationals, said Edward Litchko, chief of criminal investigation for the Internal Revenue Service in New Jersey.
The investigation culminated with the arrest of the 12 people, including Gomez, during raids in Queens, Paterson and Elizabeth that also netted $500,000 in cash.
The probe was conducted by the IRS, the office of the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District and other law enforcement agencies.
Eleven of the 12 defendants are Colombian nationals and the other was born in Puerto Rico.
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