Assistant U. S. Attorney Larry Casper (619) 546-6734
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY - April 18, 2019
SAN DIEGO - Gibran Rodriguez-Mejia of Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico, pleaded guilty today to international money laundering in connection with his operation of a currency exchange house that received the proceeds of multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine, methamphetamine and heroin smuggled into the United States by the Sinaloa Cartel. Rodriguez, who was extradited from Mexico to San Diego in September 2018, is the fifth defendant in this case to enter a guilty plea.
Through his plea agreement, Rodriguez admitted to laundering $3.5 million in drug proceeds. He coordinated with couriers, primarily located in Southern California, who smuggled the bulk U.S. currency from the United States to Mexico. Rodriguez also admitted that he arranged for currency to be smuggled to an exchange house in Tijuana, Mexico owned and operated by co-defendant Cesar Hernandez-Martinez, who also recently entered a guilty plea in the case. After the money was converted to Mexican pesos, Mejia provided financial accounts in Mexico into which the money was deposited for the benefit of the Mexican-based cartel drug traffickers.
In addition to the five defendants in this case, approximately twenty other individuals have entered guilty pleas and been sentenced previously in related cases.
Rodriguez pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mitchell D. Dembin. Rodriguez will be sentenced on July 8 at 9 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Roger T. Benitez. Rodriguez faces up to 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $7 million (twice the value of the funds involved). Three other defendants have previously entered guilty pleas in this case and been sentenced (Omar Ayon-Diaz; Osvaldo Contreras-Arriaga; and Joel Acedo-Ojeda) and another (Cesar Hernandez-Martinez) entered his guilty plea on April 4, 2019 and will be sentenced on July 8, 2019 at 9:00 a.m. before Judge Benitez.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Diego Field Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lawrence A. Casper of the Southern District of California and Senior Trial Counsel Mark A. Irish of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section prosecuted the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant support with the defendant’s extradition. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is working together in this matter with the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section.
DEFENDANT Case Number 15-cr-950
Gibran Rodriguez-Mejia Age: 31 Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico
SUMMARY OF CHARGE
Hernandez-Martinez
Conspiracy to Commit International Money Laundering, in violation of Title 18, U.S.C., Sec. 1956(a)(2)(B)(i) and (h).
Maximum Penalties: Twenty years in prison; $500,000 fine or twice the value of the funds involved.
Prior Guilty Pleas and Sentences
Joel Acedo-Ojeda: Pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Commit International Money Laundering, in violation of Title 18, U.S.C., Sec. 1956(a)(2)(B)(i) and (h); sentenced to 135 months custody and $20,000 fine.
Omar Ayon-Diaz: Pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Commit International Money Laundering, in violation of Title 18, U.S.C., Sec. 1956(a)(2)(B)(i) and (h); sentenced to 120 months custody and $15,000 fine.
Osvaldo Contreras-Arriaga: Pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to import cocaine, in violation of Title 21, U.S.C., Secs. 952, 960 and 963; sentenced to 132 months custody and $1,000 fine.
Cesar Hernandez-Martinez: Pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Commit International Money Laundering, in violation of Title 18, U.S.C., Sec. 1956(a)(2)(B)(i) and (h); will be sentenced on July 8, 2019.
INVESTIGATING AGENCY
Homeland Security Investigations
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
