Alain Bibliowicz Mitrani, a Miami resident and citizen of France and Colombia, faces charges of conspiracy to commit money laundering and operating an unlicensed money transmitting business. The indictment, unsealed at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, accuses Mitrani of leading a scheme that laundered over $300 million for cartels and transnational criminal organizations involved in drug trafficking.
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York John J. Durham announced the charges alongside Michael Alfonso, Acting Special Agent in Charge at Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York, and Harry T. Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge at Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) New York.
“As alleged, the defendant used a seemingly legitimate technology company as a front for engaging in a multi-million dollar scheme that deliberately flouted federal laws to launder over $300 million," stated Durham. "Today’s arrest demonstrates that this Office will arrest and vigorously prosecute those who help facilitate financing for international drug traffickers.”
“Alain Bibliowicz Mitrani’s alleged money laundering scheme crumbled today,” said HSI Acting Special Agent Alfonso. He emphasized that these accusations signify an end to a criminal organization accused of defrauding financial institutions and enabling narcotics availability.
“With no regard for the rule of law, Bibliowicz supposedly laundered more than a quarter billion dollars in drug money," noted IRS-CI's Chavis. "It’s time that he was stopped."
The indictment alleges that from 2020 to 2024, Mitrani led a company that laundered drug proceeds through U.S. financial institutions under the guise of being a legitimate technology business. The operation was based in Florida and Colombia.
Mitrani is accused of establishing shell companies to open bank accounts for transmitting illegal proceeds while misleading U.S. financial institutions about their purpose. The defendant reportedly used profits from this scheme for personal expenses like luxury jewelry from Van Cleef & Arpels, payments on his Miami mansion, and lavish travel.
If convicted on all counts related to money laundering conspiracy offenses, Mitrani could face up to 30 years’ imprisonment. For the unlicensed money transmitting conspiracy offense alone, he faces up to five years’ imprisonment.
The charges remain allegations until proven guilty. This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces investigation aiming to dismantle high-level drug traffickers and associated networks threatening the United States.
Assistant United States Attorneys Adam Amir and Philip Pilmar are leading the prosecution.
