$500,000 in Suspected Drug Money Seized; 3 Colombians Arrested
Drug investigators seized $500,000 in suspected drug money and arrested three Colombian nationals in a purported money-laundering operation, police said Thursday.
Held on suspicion of laundering money obtained through drug sales were Nasly DeCarmen, 31, and Juan Manuel Montoya, 24, both of Fullerton, and Jorge Alberto Munoz Zuleia, 33, of Corona. They were held in the Fullerton City Jail in lieu of $1 million bail each.
DeCarmen and Montoya were arrested Wednesday at their home, at 1592 Avenida Selva, Fullerton Police Capt. Lee DeVore said. Officers with a search warrant found $490,000 at the home, wrapped in bundles bound with rubber bands inside three boxes in a closet, he said.
Earlier that day, officers followed DeCarmen to a post office in East Anaheim, where she tried to mail a package to Colombia, DeVore said. Officers found $10,000 in the package, he said.
Police also found ledgers during searches in both Fullerton and Corona that “indicated the suspects were involved in cocaine sales,” DeVore said.
However, no drugs were found, he said.
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