Jury Deliberations Begin in Money-Laundering Case : Courts: In his closing argument, the defense attorney says his client’s sister-in-law lied to avoid a long prison term.

The biggest drug money-laundering case in Ventura County history went to the jury Thursday after a defense attorney argued that a key prosecution witness had lied.

Defense attorney Terrence Roden of Los Angeles told jurors during closing arguments that Luz Urrego lied about Roden’s client, Otoniel Urrego, to avoid a possible long prison sentence.

To emphasize the point, Roden displayed an enlarged version of a Chance card from the game Monopoly, which read: “This card may be kept until needed or sold--Get out of jail free.”

The closing argument capped the monthlong trial during which Deputy Dist. Atty. James Grunert mapped an intricate paper trail to show that Otoniel Urrego coordinated the shipment of millions of dollars from Simi Valley to Colombia.

The 12 jurors began deliberating the case late Thursday.

Urrego, 64, is charged with conspiracy to transport cocaine into the state for sale and possession of more than $100,000 in drug money.

His arrest stems from the May, 1989, confiscation by police in Simi Valley and Chatsworth of almost $2.5 million that was tied immediately to his brother and two sisters-in-law.

Grunert contended that Urrego, who did not testify during the trial, oversaw the money-laundering operation from his home near Miami. Evidence during the trial included 18 faxed memos informing Urrego of how much money was being collected and when it was being shipped to Colombia.

A key witness in the trial was Urrego’s sister-in-law, Luz Urrego, who pleaded guilty to possessing drug money in an arrangement with prosecutors that gives her probation with a short jail term in exchange for her testimony against Otoniel Urrego.

But Roden, who called the arrangement “the deal of the decade,” said Luz Urrego lied about her brother-in-law’s involvement in any alleged criminal activity. Without her testimony, the prosecutor has no case, he contended.

“She knew she was looking at a 20-year prison term unless she pleaded,” Roden said. “She walks after the trial.”

Floriberto Urrego and his wife, Marta Urrego, are in Colombia and cannot be prosecuted unless they return to this country, according to officials.

Roden also said the 18 memos don’t lay out the case as Grunert claimed because there is no proof that the faxes were sent to Otoniel Urrego. “There is no evidence they were ever sent to anyone,” Roden said.

Also, no cocaine was found with the money that was seized and, for that reason, Roden argued, the conspiracy charge was not proved.

“They say it’s dope money, but there is no dope,” he said.