3 Arrested in Money Laundering Scheme
Three employees of a money exchange business in Los Angeles and Huntington Park have been arrested for allegedly running a $4 million-a-month money laundering operation, U.S. Atty. Lourdes G. Baird said this week.
Charged with conspiracy to launder money were Raul Velasquez, 37, of Huntington Park, president of the money exchange, Unimex Inc.; Nidia Bury, also of Huntington Park, and David Arias, 36, of Los Angeles. Velasquez and Arias also were charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine.
According to an affidavit supporting the charges, Unimex--which has two branches in Huntington Park and one in Los Angeles--was the target of a six-month undercover investigation by the Internal Revenue Service and Los Angeles police.
The defendants were arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Venetta S. Tassopolus.
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