For Further Information, Contact: Assistant U.S. Attorney Sherri Hobson (619) 546-6986
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY - Aug. 18, 2015
SAN DIEGO, CA -Ignacio Gonzalez, the prior owner of Del Valle Auto Sales in Calexico, California, pleaded guilty in federal court today, admitting that he laundered tens of thousands of dollars in illicit drug proceeds and failed to file the required financial reports associated with the vehicle sales. In addition to his guilty plea, Gonzalez also agreed to forfeit $43,920 and pay a $20,000 fine.
According to the plea agreement, Gonzalez knowingly transferred and delivered funds from the sales of vehicles that were “represented by a law enforcement officer to be the proceeds of…drug trafficking" during the undercover operation. He then failed to file currency transaction reports, as required by law, in connection with the receipt of $19,420 in cash and $24,500 in cash for the purchase of these vehicles. He agreed to place the vehicles in nominee names, manipulated the purchase agreements, generated false receipts, and agreed not to report the cash transactions to the Internal Revenue Service or any other entity.
Gonzalez entered his plea before U.S. Magistrate Judge Karen Crawford. He is scheduled for sentencing on November 4, 2015, at 9:00 a.m. before Judge Janis L. Sammartino.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
